Against the Wall-E

Professor J,

Of course there was one film (Pixar) showing less than perfect bodies in unitards and what might happen if we continue on our current path. Wall-E depicts a futuristic lethargic lifestyle where no one walks anywhere but everyone  rides around in high tech wheelchairs. Our sedentary descendents are pictured consuming things like milkshakes constantly, and not communicating to one another,  but spending all day in front of computer screens. A natural progression of things perhaps, if we don't change our ways?  And why were these humans living in space? Ah yes, because their ancestors (us) had trashed the planet and it was uninhabitable.

Huh.

Of course there is a delicious irony in a Disney owned company making such a film.

I had an interesting (to me anyway) thought during these last couple of posts. I've often heard a rule for worrying about things that goes something like "Will it matter 100 years from now?" How about ten? One? Which isn't actually a bad trick for personal problems of individuals. We spend a lot of time thinking in terms of "what if?" and "if only." For the most part worrying about things other than what we actually have control of, which often means working on changing ourselves, is an act of futility. There are only a few life choices that are going to fall into the "yes" column for any of those questions.

Isn't it funny then that as as a society this kind of worrying about how things will affect the future is exactly what we most need, and are least likely to do? The group dynamic seems to bring about change very slowly, tipping points are hard to reach.

Question: How much impact would you say that world wide communication, instant information, and access to visual documentation of events has on the "universality of war slipping?" It seems to me that in the past century that would be the biggest change but perhaps the good professor has another idea or two. ;) And while we are waiting to see if this trend continues, can we really expect to see that during our lifetimes?

I agree with you that we focus on whatever the current crisis is instead of formulating any long term strategy. We have trouble with long term thinking don't we? We are not a people who are familiar with delayed gratification. I think anyone of a certain age would note a new urgent, intense feeling of entitlement among the current younger generation. They are smart and connected enough to come up with answers, but the waiting, planning, investing may prove difficult for them. (I'm bordering sounding like a cranky old broad here. "When I was young...") :)