[honza.vseticek]

I was thinking about this a lot... And I ended up a little stuck... Cos where is the line where human is merged with nature but still keeps his mind to know he is a human somewhere in the space. The more we are closer to the nature, the more we get used to be like animals (I'm not differencing humans betweens animals a lot, I just think we know enough to use a stick as a expended arm, no neg), back to explanation, the more nature person u are, the more animal behaviour HAS to be in you. The less you think about extending your arm with a stick, but the less you notify you are merged with nature,, so in the maxim end, you don't even know you are happy with nature.

Here I go with the question, what if this is happiness to know so little. For example a fox in the forrest can't make her some coffee after morning, but it doesn't bother her, cos she doesn't even know some coffee exists. Is the fox happy?

By me, human beign cant be happy unless it know what is it missing, and there still are things u are missing and u are hunting for. In maxim example its cure for cancer, as a human kind we are looking for it so hard, that we are expanding much faster then we should without knowledge there CAN be some cure for cancer.

After all that I ended up with having a zero and be animal, or having all and be a technical human being

[Architecture-er]

Well currently we're two World Wars and a potential nuclear holocaust better off than the last century, so I think we've been doing alright so far..

[sangston]

(Original post by Belowski)
I wholeheartedly agree with everything you have said. I do see myself as a bit of a hippie, to be honest, and I just feel it's absolutely pathetic that terms such as "nature deficit disorder" have to be coined in the 21st century to describe its generation of children. It annoys me so much.

I love nature and the sound of the rain or the sounds of the ocean and seagulls, the sounds of the rustling leaves in the forest, the gentle breeze on my face....

I love to be by myself with nature. In my opinion, it is the purest form of self-realisation. Experiencing the peace and perfect beauty all around me, energises me and makes feel whole. If it wasn't for the fact that my family would eventually track me down and drag me back kicking and screaming, I'd probably stay out there for days.

I just feel that today's society doesn't share this view, and doesn't respect nature anymore now that everything is industrialised. There is nothing more that I can say other than it would be my wish that we stop being so self absorbed and look at the gift that has been given to us and treat it as such.

So why do you use the Internet? is this consistent conduct?

[Belowski]

(Original post by sangston)
So why do you use the Internet? is this consistent conduct?

What do you mean?

[sangston]

If modern technology is so evil and detrimental, why utilise it?

Anybody who detests modern technology should be prepared to die from getting the flu or common cold. I'm just pointing out hypocrisy in this thread lol...

[Belowski]

(Original post by sangston)
If modern technology is so evil and detrimental, why utilise it?

Anybody who detests modern technology should be prepared to die from getting the flu or common cold. I'm just pointing out hypocrisy in this thread lol...

Oh, I see. So modern technology came into being as a result of capitalism, did it? That's insightful. Not too educated, are you. It's industry (in other words, Capitalism) that I am against, which is basically what I was expressing in my post, but obviously you couldn't seem to understand that.

I have no qualms with modern technology of the 21st century, because a majority of it came about as a result of intelligent thinking. A trait which some, unfortunately, lack. It's only when technology prevents us from enjoying the pure and natural things in life that I would ever have a problem with it. Again, what I was expressing in my post.

[sangston]

the general sentiment of the thread is that the 21st century is ****ty due to an excess of technology (which is odd since it's our nature to manipulate technology in whatever form).

It's widely hypocritical to bemoan modern life, when living off its fruits. Hence this should mean, logically, no Internet and having centuries old medicine. When you next see the doctor, ask him if your Humors are not in balance, and get him to apply leeches to you.

[geetar]

Er, I think by by any objective standpoint this is the best time to live (if you live in country like Britain) since...well, ever. This whole thread reeks of whiny middle class Westerners who have no idea who lucky they are.

What you and others have said in this thread, and my responses:

Spoiler:

Show

-"We are forgetting what it is like to be human" - There is no 'what it is like to be human'. Ironically for your argument, people in the past had a very different idea of what it is to be human, and would consider our ideas quite strange, even immoral. Was slavery 'human'? Were the auto-da-fes of the Inquisition 'human'? No.

-"Breathing the fresh air of nature" - People in ye olden dayes didn't go outside because they wanted to frolic about in the beauty of the natural world, as you so quaintly suggest. They did it because they had to. I'm sure you're average medieval peasant didn't enjoy spending 10 hours a day outside, in all weathers, planting turnips. I imagine they would have preferred being a centrally-heated house, playing Call of Duty.

-"Our society is shallow and image-obsessed" - Why does it matter if people get plastic surgery? To take one particular example, disfigured people have been able to improve their lives through doing this, in ways in which their ancestors could never have dreamed.

-"Technology doesn't make people happy" - Maybe not, but it provides not only a better quality of life, but also the facilitation of new ideas. The internet and social networking (which someone else derided) enabled Egyptian citizens to unite more effectively to bring down a dictatorship. Its spreads knowledge, and leads to a more educated society.

-"Misfits are cast out by the majority" - Maybe so, but is this anything new? From 1199 to the 1600s, Jews weren't allowed to be in England. Look at the French Wars of Religion. Look at Colonialism. There has never been a time when minorities haven't been persecuted by the masses. All the ism's, like racism, sexism, are far less tolerated than they once were. We have people tweeting racist abuse to footballers. The 1500s had the widespread hanging and burning of people just because they liked their Bibles to be in a different language. You can't seriously suggest that persecution and discrimination is worse than it once was.

-"Do people communicate with full emotion any more?" - Again, what do you mean by 'full emotion'? It's a meaningless statement. Did people in 1690s New England communicate with 'full emotion' when they denounced defenceless old women as witches?

-"Adding vitamin D to cereals" - People were a hell of a lot less healthy then than they are now. And someone has taken the decision to add vitamin D, because our society is more empathetic and caring than it was in the past. No NHS, because providing a wide state of social security wasn't seen to be important.

-"Everything is done for us" - And why is this a bad thing? I'm sure if you went up to an overworked cotton worker of the Industrial Revolution, and told them that they were lucky to 'not have their work done for them', they would have laughed at you/punched you.

-"You can see [the increasing nature of of greed] in the inequality statistics" - People now are far more 'equal' in our society than they have ever been. Go and look at the relationship between an Absolute monarch and his subjects in the Renaissance period, and tell me that inequality was less of a problem then. Look at the Sumptuary laws, which stipulated that people could only wear clothes according to their social class. As a student, I'm sure this poster has dreams of getting an education, a career, etc. That wasn't event possible up until relatively recently. You were born a medieval peasant, you died a medieval peasant. No chance to go to university, to study, to have a CV, to train to work in a different field, to marry or socialise with people above you social station. It was only in the very late nineteenth century when a majority of people were able to read. Broadly speaking, people have far more chances to 'be equal' than they have ever done.

"Twisted morals" - It may be fashionable to accuse the bankers of being bad people, but compare them to Genghis Khan, Vlad Tepes, Ivan the Terrible. There are fewer wars, fewer conflicts, than there have ever been. We have things like the Geneva Convention, and the United Nations to attempt to create a more peaceful world. That spirit of internationalism is a recent thing, and a damned good one.

[cheese_cake]

(Original post by Darklady.)
I don't know if this is the right sub-forum, but i've had this on my mind for quite some time now. I actually dislike the 21st century, most of it is about technology and money, we are forgetting what it is like to be human and breathing the fresh air of nature. I'm not a hippy btw, but the majority of society is now shallow and obsessed with appearances than ever, which is increasing the depression rates because most are striving for perfection but are unable to obtain it, anyone who doesn't fit media perfection is outcast by the majority. But people are going to great lengths to change their appearance i.e surgery, everything is fake and synthetic about that - are we really going to have a future like this? Where you have to look perfect or you get killed? Because i feel like it is going down that road. I know this is ironic, but technology is not healthy at all, yes it is good in the short-term i.e able to do things easier, entertaining ect, but now the majority seem to be addicted to this - do people really go out anymore? Do people even communicate with full human emotion anymore? I find it pathetic they have to add vitamin D to kids cereals because they don't get it from the sun anymore. When i was a kid i used to play out every single day. The only good things i find good about the 21st century is the healthcare, and that we live longer, new science discoveries ect. But our lives have become so synthetic that everything is done for us. I think i've been born way too late, i wish i could live a simpler life.

I agree 100%! I 'm not a hippie either but I feel as if everything is so fake now! You know what happened? ... TELEVISION thats it! i can't believe people wants to imitate the garbage on tv so much! I quite frankly find it sad how stupid idealistic images created by rubbish media esp portraying what girls should be like is fed to kids these days who are way too young to realize that celebs are just airbrushed, plastic cartoon. I feel sorry for girls trying to please others or themselves going through unnecessary procedures. This woman in my city wanted to surprise her husband by getting LIPO... unfortunately she died on the operating table or whatever. I mean i totally understand burn victims, breast cancer patients and people like that getting cosmetic surgery and stuff but normal people? seriously? In my opinion people need to calm the f*** down and chill lol! Men on the other hand are also responsible to some extent I think because most girls I spoke to who are obsessive over their appearance do it because of a boy issue mostly... which I find quite funny and amusing. I ****ing hate media for playing with women's image in particular... I mean I havent seen the Ideal man's body change..however for women first its her face, then hair, then targeted body parts... WTF??? I'm not saying you should prance about the street like a hobo... I am totally for looking and feeling great but hey why extremes? I really feel sorry for kids going nuts over their appearance ...and the money+looks obsession is just sickening! esp men who think they can get any girl around with their $$$ ...so ugh! sorry about the rant guys... just felt like blurting out! kthanksbye!

PS: someone invent a brain implant already we need some effin brains!

[cheese_cake]

pps: in my opinion modern technology is like a double edged sword... creates wonders as well as disasters... lol i can't go for or against it completely!

[TheHansa]

(Original post by SoulfulBoy)
Sorry but I think that people moaning about their age are just hopeless lazy whinning citizens that criticizes but do not help to change things. If you dislike technology why are you on a computer writing a post on a forum few people visit? Why don't you make example and go outside to breathe fresh (cold) air?

1- People has ALWAYS been shallow

2- People has ALWAYS strive for perfection

3- Unfit people have ALWAYS been outcast from society

4- People have ALWAYS go to insane lengths to "improve" their appearance

5- Full human emotion? Please. I do not think that I live in the best age (I obviously I don't) but neither do I dislike the age I am living in. If you wanna change something, go and do it but don't complain because no one do that because you probably trying to fit, using "unhealthy" technology, eating synthetic food (when you can buy more natural food) and displaying "partial" emotions when you could display it fully.

I cannot be arsed to write more. Stop talking, go outside and do something.

So true especially number 4. victorian slap was lethal.

[DoctorJay]

I don't believe for a second that the heart of man has changed. The same greed, hatred and inequality existed for hundreds of years. Technology is not "bad" or "good", it's a tool which makes it easier for what humans desire to accomplish, and yes - this has made it easier to strive for perfection in terms of looks.. etc.

also greed is promoted by our monetary situation and capitalism.
I agree with capitalism because it increases the rate of technological advancements, I don't believe it creates greed - I believe that is human nature.

[Ewan]

(Original post by Ewan)
Are you suggesting life is worse now than it was 100 years ago? You look at people in the country & think, "What a lovely lifestyle, free from problems". What you don't realise is in the past most of the country were in abject poverty. Look at those in Africa & think 10 times worse, doesn't quite look so rosy does it? Do you think our ancestors had access to devices like Slingshot to produce clean drinking water? Did they heck.

It's so crazy how many have this view. They see the news & think the world is going to ****. The problem is they don't realise how good they have it compared to those in the past. You know world life expectancy in 1900 was 30 years old, now it's 65. Relative income now is exponentially better than it was in the past, you should find this graph interesting...



In most developed nations even those below the poverty line still have access to food, shelter, clean water, electricity, healthcare, education. This wasn't the case even 100 years ago. In fact 100 years ago even in the west only the privileged had access to half that list, and many of the poor had none of it.

The above mostly concerns the western world too. Look at China, think about where they were 50 years ago. Life expectancy in 1960 China was 43 years old, now it's 73 years old. That's about 0.6 years added to your life for every year that you live, that's astonishing!

People today in the west, and even many of those in poor countries, live today better than even kings did in the past (you'll live a hell of a lot longer too, with a better standard of living to boot). Do you think a factory worker in industrial Britain had money to pay for a doctor to see him when he got ill? Like hell he did, if you got ill back then you'd either survive on your own or die. Hell there wasn't a treatment for most illnesses even if you could see a doctor.

Post I made on a similar topic. OP, if you want a simple life no one is stopping you from going & living on your own in the country. There are lots of groups who choose to relinquish technology & live in the wild. At least now you have the choice, something people in the past had very very little of.

You guys may find this guy interesting, watch a few of his videos & he may change your mind.



Enjoy.

By the way, to answer your question. I think we've probably been born at the most fortunate time in history. We live longer, happier lives thanks to technology & that's only going to get even better over time.

[SoulfulBoy]

(Original post by TheHansa)
So true especially number 4. victorian slap was lethal.

lol crazy sig, man.

[M4LLY]

I love the 21st century

[Nephilim]

(Original post by Architecture-er)
Well currently we're two World Wars and a potential nuclear holocaust better off than the last century, so I think we've been doing alright so far..

Patience, friend, the century is just beginning

[jaklargerne]

(Original post by Darklady.)
I don't know if this is the right sub-forum, but i've had this on my mind for quite some time now. I actually dislike the 21st century, most of it is about technology and money, we are forgetting what it is like to be human and breathing the fresh air of nature. I'm not a hippy btw, but the majority of society is now shallow and obsessed with appearances than ever, which is increasing the depression rates because most are striving for perfection but are unable to obtain it, anyone who doesn't fit media perfection is outcast by the majority. But people are going to great lengths to change their appearance i.e surgery, everything is fake and synthetic about that - are we really going to have a future like this? Where you have to look perfect or you get killed? Because i feel like it is going down that road. I know this is ironic, but technology is not healthy at all, yes it is good in the short-term i.e able to do things easier, entertaining ect, but now the majority seem to be addicted to this - do people really go out anymore? Do people even communicate with full human emotion anymore? I find it pathetic they have to add vitamin D to kids cereals because they don't get it from the sun anymore. When i was a kid i used to play out every single day. The only good things i find good about the 21st century is the healthcare, and that we live longer, new science discoveries ect. But our lives have become so synthetic that everything is done for us. I think i've been born way too late, i wish i could live a simpler life.

They give it to children because especially in Northern Europe the sunlight in winter isn't providing sufficient vitamin d synthesis. Nothing to do with them not being enough in the sun.

[Nick100]

(Original post by Belowski)
Oh, I see. So modern technology came into being as a result of capitalism, did it? That's insightful. Not too educated, are you. It's industry (in other words, Capitalism) that I am against, which is basically what I was expressing in my post, but obviously you couldn't seem to understand that.

I have no qualms with modern technology of the 21st century, because a majority of it came about as a result of intelligent thinking. A trait which some, unfortunately, lack. It's only when technology prevents us from enjoying the pure and natural things in life that I would ever have a problem with it. Again, what I was expressing in my post.

Your access to modern technology did come about through capitalism and its industries. If you took designs for a jet engine or a computer back to the year 1800 they would be unable to do anything with them; the infrastructure required to make those things did not exist. It would require a massive undertaking to make even one - never mind to give an entire population access to them as our industry has done.

[cheese_cake]

lol the Current Generation will ALWAYS think:
Its SMARTER than its previous generation
Yet WISER than the next generation

[Bellissima]

i don't dislike the 21st century... i do not dislike the technology we have (it benefits us majorly not just in the home but behind the scenes too), the IMMENSE improvements in public services from the NHS to the fire brigade... we are INCREDIBLY lucky to be living in this day and age in this country...

however, i dislike the rigiditiy of society and how it seems to try and force us into a formulaic straight lined path from birth until death. born, school, work, retire, die... that is how i see things... that's how most peoples lives are... maybe you get 4 weeks off per year when you're working, if you're lucky... it just seems there isn't enough time for actually living in this society...