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Don't be depressed. Angry? Sure. But not depressed. We're living in the last decades/centuries of a doomed empire. Our leaders have shot themselves in the ass

Don't be depressed. Angry? Sure. But not depressed. We're living in the last decades/centuries of a doomed empire. Our leaders have shot themselves in the ass and are now too stupid and stubborn to admit it or figure it out on their own. The system they have created will not work. It will lean toward tyranny, and corruption, and there will be a long, boring, dull fizzle as it all grinds down. But trade is still good. Technology rocks. Robots should dramatically change the lives of every first-world human, as will auto-drive cars. There's a long way to fall, and I don't see any huge explosions. (Although I would recommend a good backup power supply) It's the last days of Rome. Sure, the barbarians are at the gates, the government is hosed, and in places the people are rioting. But out in the country, on a farm, away from the spotlight, it's possible to lead a quiet and successful life with a family. The question is whether you want to make a difference or lead that quiet life. I'm not sure you can have both.

zwtaylor 13y ago
We're living in the last decades/centuries of a doomed empire... The system they have created will not work. It will lean toward tyranny, and corruption, and there will be a long, boring, dull fizzle as it all grinds down. This reminds me of Venkatesh Rao's idea of 'Hackstability'. Part of this concept describes how the antiquated and inefficient institutions of present could be maintained indefinitely through the continuous application of hacks and jury-rigging. This is proposed as an alternative to oft-entertained future trajectories like an apocalyptic cataclysm or technological singularity. Rao envisions our present system hobbling along for another century or so, growing incrementally more kludgey with each passing day, but persevering nonetheless. Mr. Rao describes it far more lucidly than I, if you've never read his work you ought to check it out. http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2012/04/18/hacking-the-non-disposable-planet/ http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2012/04/18/hacking-the-non-disposa...

zwtaylor 13y ago

We're living in the last decades/centuries of a doomed empire... The system they have created will not work. It will lean toward tyranny, and corruption, and there will be a long, boring, dull fizzle as it all grinds down. This reminds me of Venkatesh Rao's idea of 'Hackstability'. Part of this concept describes how the antiquated and inefficient institutions of present could be maintained indefinitely through the continuous application of hacks and jury-rigging. This is proposed as an alternative to oft-entertained future trajectories like an apocalyptic cataclysm or technological singularity. Rao envisions our present system hobbling along for another century or so, growing incrementally more kludgey with each passing day, but persevering nonetheless. Mr. Rao describes it far more lucidly than I, if you've never read his work you ought to check it out. http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2012/04/18/hacking-the-non-disposable-planet/ http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2012/04/18/hacking-the-non-disposa...