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I can appreciate how daunting the challenge seems to get from what we see around us to the ideal we have in mind, but if its any consolation - this is the kinde

I can appreciate how daunting the challenge seems to get from what we see around us to the ideal we have in mind, but if its any consolation - this is the kindest the planet has ever been (which admittedly might not be saying much). More people have access to transformative resources than has ever been the case. All the ills around you were even worse in the past and its only the incremental efforts of the decent that have gotten us to these heights. We haven't fallen from grace - we're rising out of the muck.

effingwewt 5y ago
I disagree this is the kindest earth, it's just hidden better now. We kill/harm each other at record rates. We are sinking into the muck, using wet naps to clean our eyes to pretend we are making things better.
- prox 5y ago
  I am pretty sure this is not the case. We have less wars than we ever had, and people aren’t dying by the millions anymore in the industrial Revolution of the 19th century. So please elucidate where you think we are killing eachother at record rates, because I don’t think that is the case.
  - effingwewt 5y ago
    Less wars!= less killing. We have mass shootings, military coups, genocides, we fight over resources already. Murder rates in the use rose what 20% in 2020? Need I go on? I'd ask instead what good do you think we humans are doing, and further if you believe it outweighs the bad?
    - prox 5y ago
      You always hear about the bad. You never hear about all the good. In any case, it is never futile to make your slice of the world better. Volunteer, help, donate, all help to turn the ship around. A friend of mine started small with a organisation and now helps tens of people a year with domestic issues. All people who might have been worse off, and perhaps start doing bad things.
      - tailspin2019 5y ago
        Awesome
- jungturk 5y ago
  I think the record's fairly clear that things are (generally) trending up over the last couple hundred years on such diverse topics such as: 1) Access to education 2) Labor norms 3) Lifespan and infant mortality 4) Social justice 5) Depth and breadth of our understanding of subjects from physics to mathematics to philosophy to justice (setting aside that there's also plenty of navel gazing in these efforts) These have made a dent, and there's plenty more to do.

effingwewt 5y ago

I disagree this is the kindest earth, it's just hidden better now. We kill/harm each other at record rates. We are sinking into the muck, using wet naps to clean our eyes to pretend we are making things better.

prox 5y ago
I am pretty sure this is not the case. We have less wars than we ever had, and people aren’t dying by the millions anymore in the industrial Revolution of the 19th century. So please elucidate where you think we are killing eachother at record rates, because I don’t think that is the case.
- effingwewt 5y ago
  Less wars!= less killing. We have mass shootings, military coups, genocides, we fight over resources already. Murder rates in the use rose what 20% in 2020? Need I go on? I'd ask instead what good do you think we humans are doing, and further if you believe it outweighs the bad?
  - prox 5y ago
    You always hear about the bad. You never hear about all the good. In any case, it is never futile to make your slice of the world better. Volunteer, help, donate, all help to turn the ship around. A friend of mine started small with a organisation and now helps tens of people a year with domestic issues. All people who might have been worse off, and perhaps start doing bad things.
    - tailspin2019 5y ago
      Awesome
jungturk 5y ago
I think the record's fairly clear that things are (generally) trending up over the last couple hundred years on such diverse topics such as: 1) Access to education 2) Labor norms 3) Lifespan and infant mortality 4) Social justice 5) Depth and breadth of our understanding of subjects from physics to mathematics to philosophy to justice (setting aside that there's also plenty of navel gazing in these efforts) These have made a dent, and there's plenty more to do.