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Ask HN: Is now the best time to be alive?

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Re: Ask HN: Is now the best time to be alive?

#11

Post by shoo »

simonblack wrote: post #5

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” - Dickens Nothing is all good, and nothing is all bad. Now is as good a time as any other to be alive.

in the greater scheme of things, probably almost all elements of Places \cross Times lack the conditions to support life . But right here has been amazingly, unusually good for quite a long time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geological_history_of_Earth#/m...

Re: Ask HN: Is now the best time to be alive?

#13

Post by alimw »

I don't think we are necessarily happier or more fulfilled than we were as hunter-gatherers. For many of us the disconnect between the situation in which we find ourselves and the situation for which we evolved is psychologically problematic.

Re: Ask HN: Is now the best time to be alive?

#14

Post by cm2012 »

simonblack wrote: post #5

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” - Dickens Nothing is all good, and nothing is all bad. Now is as good a time as any other to be alive.

the wise man bowed his head solemnly and spoke: "theres actually zero difference between good & bad things. you imbecile. you fucking moron"

Re: Ask HN: Is now the best time to be alive?

#15

Post by quickthrower2 »

badpun wrote: post #12
quickthrower2 wrote: post #8

I’d swap places with my kids so they could enjoy pre climate change and I’d live in that future, assuming we don’t solve the problem.

How do you imagine climate change affecting them specifically?

Depending on where they live more adverse weather. Fire, flooding, drought, food supply issues.

Re: Ask HN: Is now the best time to be alive?

#16

Post by badpun »

quickthrower2 wrote: post #15
badpun wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you imagine climate change affecting them specifically?

Depending on where they live more adverse weather. Fire, flooding, drought, food supply issues.

Do you think it will really impact them significantly? I mean, some areas will become less hospitable, while others will probably improve. Food may become a little bit more expensive because of draughts, but we spend so little on food now that even 50% rise won’t be too terrible. All in all, I don’t see global warming having a dramatic impact on people’s lives, perhaps with the exception of people having to move because of it - but then again, even that’s not huge, as people move all the time.

The biggest risk is probably when a lot of people in a given place will want to move at the same time (and/or into the same destination), as it can cause political instability.

Re: Ask HN: Is now the best time to be alive?

#17

Post by shrimp_emoji »

cm2012 wrote: post #14
simonblack wrote: post #5

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” - Dickens Nothing is all good, and nothing is all bad. Now is as good a time as any other to be alive.

the wise man bowed his head solemnly and spoke: "theres actually zero difference between good & bad things. you imbecile. you fucking moron"

https://i.imgur.com/ohchNyd.png xD

Re: Ask HN: Is now the best time to be alive?

#18

Post by tmm84 »

I grateful to live in the time I currently live in because I have no idea how much worse or better the "future" is. It is easy to look back and say that somethings are better than in previous decades or centuries.

As for 100 years from now, the future of the world hasn't been written so it is up to the people of today and tomorrow to make sure we write a good one. If we succeed then 100 years from now may just end up being a better time to live in.

Re: Ask HN: Is now the best time to be alive?

#20

Post by gremlinsinc »

nocubicles wrote: post #6

Pragmatically thinking I can't imagine what could be better age or place to be alive. We have abundance of food and can pick what and when we eat. We can travel freely and its relatively cheap. We work less hours and the work is physically not demanding. We have time for self fulfillment and hobbies. Medicine is widely available at least in Europe. Technology and communication is widely available and cheap. What coul…

20 years from now will be better... I think anytime in the future is good to be alive at that time because you're alive at the 'latest' point in time. Everyone who died yesterday would love to be alive today. We can only know what we have and can experience today though, someday there may be FTL travel, that'll be exciting. Someday we may even find friendly or even non-friendly E.T.'s that'll be exciting too. Someday robots may do ALL menial tasks while mankind enjoys our time in research and scientific endeavors. Money may not even exist and we might value knowledge and learning above all else.

This time is definitely the best time we've had, but the future looks very interesting. I long for immortality tech not because I fear for death, I fear missing out on what the future holds.

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