worldpol (+)
as much as the thinkpieces may say "we can't know what will happen, this is unprecedented in history," and then go on to predict stuff--there is one thing they seem to *constantly* ignore/downplay: the internet. and I am not fucking kidding. IT HAS CHANGED *EVERYTHING*, and is still changing things in ways we literally cannot imagine.
for better or worse--we are connected. you and me, and everybody who can read this. this is *truly unprecedented in history*.
worldpol (+)
the change is going to be slow, and like all major changes, it's not going to be easy. but *it is happening now*. I personally believe that the authoritarianism and racism we're seeing is a terrified backlash to that change, and that it is destined to fizzle out, for a variety of reasons I could explain at length over coffee or something but I'm just gonna handwave here for now.
worldpol (+)
we are the equivalents of medieval peasants trying to understand the world after the industrial revolution. it will not look like anything most people have seen or even imagined before. I don't know for sure what it will look like. but I believe that if humanity doesn't go extinct or have a drastic civilization collapse in the next couple of decades (and I *really* don't believe we will), it will emerge a big step closer towards adulthood as a species.
worldpol (+)
yes, keep fighting. yes, be worried. yes, keep working towards the future. but also remember you are connected to us, to all of us. and humans have *never had this before*. remember to take care of yourself. every thread of this beautiful, emerging tapestry is important. trust the strength of the weave to hold you when you need to rest.
worldpol (+)
@green it's pretty much like europe after the introduction of the printing press all over again, in fast forward - reformation, counter-reformation, then the wave of scientific progress of the 17th and 18th centuries
similarly, social progress over the course of the '90s up to the mid-'10s starting in niche places online and then spreading increasingly outwards, now this nonsense (2014 - ???), then people collectively actually adapting to all this
worldpol (+)
@Thaminga yesyesyesyesyesssssss. :D
worldpol (~)
@green (that said let's do it without murdering and enslaving millions of people this time around)
worldpol (~)
@Thaminga also big yes there. I ~believe~ (like clapping my hands for fairies or something idk) that this increased connectivity already has and will continue to increase empathy for each other. we're running some seriously crappy socially-installed software on buggy wetware, but I think our odds of significantly improving the whole system are very good and increasing. :)