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It feels like author is depressed. It's a bit sad to read. He manages to pull so much negativity out of the things that are generally have a net-positive impact

It feels like author is depressed. It's a bit sad to read. He manages to pull so much negativity out of the things that are generally have a net-positive impact, things that drive the progress, that are progress. Disappointing article. I don't need this negativity in my life.

pron 7y ago
Almost every big positive change in society is a result of people feeling negative about the status quo. This reminds me of Steven Pinker who goes around saying, please stop whining; some/many/most/all things are better than they used to be! while somehow neglecting the fact that to the degree things are better, they usually are because people didn't stop whining.
- eej2ya1K 7y ago
  Whining doesn't help. Steven Pinker is not telling people not to do what they can to make the world a better place. Your resentment is showing.
- rinchik 7y ago
  Well, yeah I agree that makes sense. I misspoke. Only idiots are always happy and this endless treadmill, our ability to see possible improvements in systems that were already perceived as decent, drives the progress.
- schnable 7y ago
  I think Pinker's point is that many of the people whining are trying to "fix" things by changing the very things that got us here in the first place -- much of which was luck, or success after many failures, not just people whining.
situational87 7y ago
Progress for a select few, for everyone else things are going backwards. Life expectancy and quality of life is doing nothing but going down year after year in the United States. If you're one of the few privileged elites who benefited from the internet, congrats! You're a very small minority.
- lotsofpulp 7y ago
  A very small minority of people benefit from instantaneous and cheap communication with anyone around the world?
- Stupulous 7y ago
  *Life expectancy has done nothing but go down year after year /after year/. Let's not undersell this, it has been 3 years.
- thekyle 7y ago
  Do you consider yourself a privileged elite since you're benefiting from the internet right now by being able to post this comment?

pron 7y ago

Almost every big positive change in society is a result of people feeling negative about the status quo. This reminds me of Steven Pinker who goes around saying, please stop whining; some/many/most/all things are better than they used to be! while somehow neglecting the fact that to the degree things are better, they usually are because people didn't stop whining.

eej2ya1K 7y ago
Whining doesn't help. Steven Pinker is not telling people not to do what they can to make the world a better place. Your resentment is showing.
rinchik 7y ago
Well, yeah I agree that makes sense. I misspoke. Only idiots are always happy and this endless treadmill, our ability to see possible improvements in systems that were already perceived as decent, drives the progress.
schnable 7y ago
I think Pinker's point is that many of the people whining are trying to "fix" things by changing the very things that got us here in the first place -- much of which was luck, or success after many failures, not just people whining.

situational87 7y ago

Progress for a select few, for everyone else things are going backwards. Life expectancy and quality of life is doing nothing but going down year after year in the United States. If you're one of the few privileged elites who benefited from the internet, congrats! You're a very small minority.

lotsofpulp 7y ago
A very small minority of people benefit from instantaneous and cheap communication with anyone around the world?
Stupulous 7y ago
*Life expectancy has done nothing but go down year after year /after year/. Let's not undersell this, it has been 3 years.
thekyle 7y ago
Do you consider yourself a privileged elite since you're benefiting from the internet right now by being able to post this comment?