Kids, get off my lawn!
Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
541–550 of 835 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
#542Earlier quoted context omitted.
Telling people that the reality is not what they see and they imagine things, is - so to speak - the definition of gaslighting. Gaslighting might be hyperbole and surely I made it a bit more pointed, however I see how his post can be seen as gaslighting.
Gaslighting by definition requires ill intent or manipulation and you are conveniently ignoring that. In your version pretty much any internet disagreement is gaslighting.
> Gaslighting by definition requires ill intent or manipulation and you are conveniently ignoring that.
You cannot determine or know ill intent, so it's not really helpful as a property.
> In your version pretty much any internet disagreement is gaslighting.
Disagreement alone does not suffice. You need to tell the other person that what they see is not real and/or that they imagine things. But as I said, it's a bit exaggerated, however it's not so farfetched either.
Re: Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
#543Earlier quoted context omitted.
Try turning off the news, avoiding social media sites (Reddit, Twitter, HN, anywhere people share bad stories), and getting more in person interaction. You don’t need to be invested in the finer details of global politics or stories of violence hundreds of miles a way. Disconnect and recharge. Reconnect with people around you and enjoy the world as it exists, not for some representation of all the terrible things on…
>Try turning off the news, avoiding social media sites (Reddit, Twitter, HN, anywhere people share bad stories), 300% this. I heard on several occasions long ago how newspapers aren't worth reading and news programs aren't worth watching. At the time I didn't understand why and thought it was bad advice, young and naive greenhorn that I was: The news is there to inform us! Being informed is a good thing! Now that I'm…
What is "the news"?
I'm also in my 3rd decade, and wisdom tells me there is much to gain from good news sources: NPR (there are others) teaches me something every day: People outside my socio-economic bubble their triumphs, their struggles.
Do you ever think how the divisions in this country are not because of divisive news, but the lack of learning about and empathizing with people different than us?
Re: Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
#544Earlier quoted context omitted.
One reason is changing geopolitics. USA is not the sole superpower that it was in the 60s. Other countries are also doing a lot better now. A lot of the jobs in manufacturing have been outsourced to China, in service industry to India. This has led to shift of wealth from US to these countries. The days of American exceptionalism are probably ending. It's only going to get tougher from here.
The USA weren't the sole superpower in 1960s.
I'd go so far as to say that the US is more the sole superpower in the 2020s than it was in the 1960s.
Re: Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
#545I don't know your age but I'm going to guess 30+. This is just happens when you get old. When you were younger you probably noticed that all the older people you knew pined for some earlier time (say the 1970s or 1950s). And you probably thought they were being silly. Well, now you've become one of those people. The fact is the world always seems better when you are younger, not because the world necessarily better,…
I'm 21 and I think everything's going to shit as well... is it doomerism or reality? Politicians appear increasingly corrupt and selfish. Geopolitics are becoming less stable. Innovation is coming to a standstill. The average person just wants a decent job, a nice place to live, and maybe a family. All of these are becoming more and more difficult to achieve. Is it any wonder kids are checking out of life en masse?
> Innovation is coming to a standstill
Machine learning is getting significantly more powerful by the month, nuclear fusion technology has been advancing at a much faster pace recently (not even counting the NIF's breakthrough), though shrouded in scams and misrepresentation the technology behind cryptocurrency is extremely impressive, the cost and efficiency of green technology just keeps improving, the cost and efficiency of going into space has improved dramatically, pills which can cure obesity, cancer wins, longer lifespans than ever before, I could go on.
I imagine one of the reasons you think innovation is stagnating is because the industry which has innovated at an incredible rate for the past 50 years, where you spend most of your life and time, is finally maturing. This was always going to happen. It was just a matter of time.
Re: Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
#546Earlier quoted context omitted.
It only affects people who care about what other people wear, and those people shouldn’t have any sort of societal influence because that’s stupid. Name literally one reason that wearing pajamas in public will cause another person actual harm and I’ll take back this statement.
Would you dress that way to meet your partner's parents for the first time? Or to see a friend you haven't seen in years? Or to represent your company at an event? What about going somewhere where you are expected to be a role model? Of course not. That's because you give a shit about the impression you give in those situations and understand the kind of atmosphere and impression it gives if you dress like a bum. Now…
I wouldn't but that is purely because of the social expectation which is grounded in nothing. Moving away from expectations that are based on arbitrary status signaling is a good thing.
Re: Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
#547People notice and express this pattern every year for all of recorded history. People also express the opposite, seemingly as often and seemingly as perpetually. It might just be subjective. There are countless things to see in the world and you can make a list of examples affirming whatever you want to (or dread to) believe.
People express this pattern many times in history because it was indeed better to live in some eras than in others.
Re: Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
#548Not 100% sure.
What I do notice is the frenzy with which certain people attack those small parts of the globe where these things are less of an issue (the usual tired assaults upon Singapore and Japan for their crime of being cleaner and safer).
So maybe the answer is - the people that matter don't think the juice is worth the squeeze when it comes to a more civilised society. And the rest of us just have to suffer.
Re: Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
#549You are too ingrained in the internet news. If you just turn off your news and actually look at things that directly affect you, you will find out that it is pretty great for Americans right now.
Re: Ask HN: Why Is Everything Declining?
#550I think you're way off base. It's called rosy retrospection, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosy_retrospection . As you already mentioned in your comments, you're judging the past disproportionately more positive that the present. If you really want to know if everything is declining, try measure it everyday for the next five years. For example, every day, rate your personal well being, track how (un)happy you are wit…
Everyone claims stuff like this. Or they say that "kids these days" and quote archimedes or plato or something...
But just seriously watch leave it to beaver and then watch any modern tv show and compare the "disrespect". Even if people have been saying "kids these days" for 1000 years, that does NOT mean things haven't been changing for 1000 years for the worse.