3 ms·
The existence of an average citizen of the Culture always seemed terrifyingly vacuous and stagnant. 99.999% of the trillions of individuals that exist are not
by ThrowawayR2 4y ago
The existence of an average citizen of the Culture always seemed terrifyingly vacuous and stagnant. 99.999% of the trillions of individuals that exist are not talented or interesting enough to produce any artistic works or scientific research (particularly compared with the vastly superior intellects of the Minds) of value so they simply amuse themselves any way they can, under the gentle care and supervision of the Minds, until their body stops working. I am reminded in particular of the ship's crew who gave themselves colds simply because they wanted to experience being ill and the Minds' "Infinite Fun Space".
It is a very comfortable dystopia to be sure and possibly even the best outcome any sapient species could ever hope for but there is something very bleak about it.
- MichaelZuo 4y agoIn any possible future, y% of the x number of individuals that exist are not talented or interesting enough to produce any artistic works or scientific research.
- concordDance 4y ago> 99.999% of the trillions of individuals that exist are not talented or interesting enough to produce any artistic works or scientific research This sadly sounds like the modern world.
- alexvoda 4y agoNo, it sounds like life in general. 99.999% of the humans in history were not talented or interesting enough to produce any artistic works or scientific research. 99.9999...% of the organisms that exist or ever existed are not special enough to produce any notable heritage. Most have not even produced a fossil. And even those who have will eventually be erased as the tectonic plate undergoes subduction.