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The problem is that everything is relative to where you are. Humanity has experienced rapid and nigh-unending improvements in quality of life, from ancient hist

The problem is that everything is relative to where you are. Humanity has experienced rapid and nigh-unending improvements in quality of life, from ancient history riiiight up to the present. People are now looking into the future and the only apparent path forward involves a decline in that quality of life. It might be a quirk of human psychology to not be able to really "feel" the difference between relative and absolute, but it doesn't matter. Its just how people see the world.

emodendroket 3y ago
I wouldn't say it's exactly been going only one way since ancient history, but certainly for living memory.
hdjjhhvvhga 3y ago
> People are now looking into the future and the only apparent path forward involves a decline in that quality of life. I'm not sure I could agree with that statement. Regarding global warming, sure, although we can't be certain to what degree. But many other aspects, such as treatment options, simply weren't available before - and for sure many other will appear (as will new diseases, but still...).
TigeriusKirk 3y ago
>the only apparent path forward involves a decline in that quality of life. The paths they focus on, maybe. Certainly not the only paths, or even the likely paths.
- mrguyorama 3y ago
  Because having a neat smartphone or a fast GPU completely counteracts the rising cost of food, housing, the rising blatant inequality and utter lack of political will to address it, the lashing out of an entire section of the population against any "others" that were born different and a rising animosity towards education, reality, and intellectuals of all stripes. To the chagrin of hyper capitalists and tech boosters, being able to run a million computations a second in your pocket is NOT a replacement for affordable food, housing, and a society that believes in helping other people. Candy crush doesn't fill your stomach. Cheap entertainment doesn't stop you from getting arrested for sleeping on the sidewalk because you were thrown out of your tent on the side of the road. Different products and market segments do not replace each other in the majority of cases. Previous generations could live a full life on a single, boring, average salary, including paying for occasional entertainment and splurges. Microchips don't magically unfuck the rest of the economy, and arguably have only worsened income inequality, the imbalance of power due to individual wealth, and the hatred of the destitute and "have nots"
huijzer 3y ago
> People are now looking into the future and the only apparent path forward involves a decline in that quality of life. There is always something to worry about Peter Lynch said in the 90s. And yes I worry about climate change. It’s a big problem. However, technology innovations as a whole go up exponentially since the industrial revolution. I don’t see clear evidence why that would stop now.

emodendroket 3y ago

I wouldn't say it's exactly been going only one way since ancient history, but certainly for living memory.

hdjjhhvvhga 3y ago

> People are now looking into the future and the only apparent path forward involves a decline in that quality of life. I'm not sure I could agree with that statement. Regarding global warming, sure, although we can't be certain to what degree. But many other aspects, such as treatment options, simply weren't available before - and for sure many other will appear (as will new diseases, but still...).

TigeriusKirk 3y ago

>the only apparent path forward involves a decline in that quality of life. The paths they focus on, maybe. Certainly not the only paths, or even the likely paths.

mrguyorama 3y ago
Because having a neat smartphone or a fast GPU completely counteracts the rising cost of food, housing, the rising blatant inequality and utter lack of political will to address it, the lashing out of an entire section of the population against any "others" that were born different and a rising animosity towards education, reality, and intellectuals of all stripes. To the chagrin of hyper capitalists and tech boosters, being able to run a million computations a second in your pocket is NOT a replacement for affordable food, housing, and a society that believes in helping other people. Candy crush doesn't fill your stomach. Cheap entertainment doesn't stop you from getting arrested for sleeping on the sidewalk because you were thrown out of your tent on the side of the road. Different products and market segments do not replace each other in the majority of cases. Previous generations could live a full life on a single, boring, average salary, including paying for occasional entertainment and splurges. Microchips don't magically unfuck the rest of the economy, and arguably have only worsened income inequality, the imbalance of power due to individual wealth, and the hatred of the destitute and "have nots"

huijzer 3y ago

> People are now looking into the future and the only apparent path forward involves a decline in that quality of life. There is always something to worry about Peter Lynch said in the 90s. And yes I worry about climate change. It’s a big problem. However, technology innovations as a whole go up exponentially since the industrial revolution. I don’t see clear evidence why that would stop now.