Are we better off than our ancestors?

a reply to: SpecialSauce

The definition of "real man" has changed. It is not that those who feel at home with all the trappings of modernity are less than men, simply that the requirements for the job have changed. In today's world, I am sub par as a man, because although I work hard to maintain my business, I find the entire business of life utterly ghastly and am enraged by the necessities of it.

I am largely obsolete, an out of date model, a throw back, caught between two epochs, one in which I would have done well, and the one in which I live, and barely understand. I simply do not belong here, and yet here is where I am. I am making the best of it, for what it is worth.

a reply to: SpecialSauce

Are we better off than our ancestors?

I think it has to be taken into context; technology itself is not what has pretty much stripped the meaning of life here in the 21st century, it is how it has been applied.

Example? We have a star that could supply us with every drop of energy we require but because such would basically put the energy industry out of business by opening the door for human access to it, we are still drilling, fracking, refining and polluting.

Anything can be abused. Greed and avarice are running rampage right now.
Being a devout cynic, I just don't see much hope of our species ever truly evolving beyond itself... but I hope I am wrong.

Good subject

a reply to: redoubt

I think the old way of living (anarchy) can coexist with technology but I don't think technology can replace it, which is what it is intended to do. They used beads, wampum and tobacco for money. So they were capitalists. They had a tribal council who voted so they were a republic. They shared resources so they were socialists. Much like America today.

a reply to: SpecialSauce

Technology made us thick in terms of using brain as a computer
i used to memorise about 8-10 mobile numbers when young, ringing my friends in phone box.
Now i have to check my own number on my phone

the rest i beilve the masses dont want you to remember. Such as good plants with healing powers - -here take this manufactured poison pill instead and give us your money.

so yes i truly beilve we are more stupid and less dependable than our ancestors. its structured to be so.
like now i relie on spell checker to pick up my grammer mistakes, otherwise Yoda cant decipher my response.

Double post

a reply to: solve

Outhouses existed then.

originally posted by: Praetorius
a reply to: SpecialSauce
Simply answer: quantity < quality.We might PRESENTLY be living much longer

Studies showing that our ancestors died sooner are somewhat misleading because average life expectancy is defined as the life expectancy from birth and infant mortality rates have been slashed. When you take infant mortality out of the equation our ancestors lived 70 to 80 years, and probably longer. Does anyone really believe that the average beer-drinking, overweight lumbering American has a better quality of life than someone living off the land, eating entirely organic food? Sure, you could argue that we have better health-care today, but equally, how many Americans die every year as a result of adverse side-effects from drugs that are meant to help them? It's the third biggest killer.

originally posted by: Nathan-D

originally posted by: Praetorius
a reply to: SpecialSauce
Simply answer: quantity < quality.We might PRESENTLY be living much longer

Studies showing that our ancestors died sooner are somewhat misleading because average life expectancy is defined as the life expectancy from birth and infant mortality rates have been slashed. When you take infant mortality out of the equation our ancestors lived 70 to 80 years, and probably longer. Does anyone really believe that the average beer-drinking, overweight lumbering American has a better quality of life than someone living off the land, eating entirely organic food? Sure, you could argue that we have better health-care today, but equally, how many Americans die every year as a result of adverse side-effects from drugs that are meant to help them? It's the third biggest killer.

People died of simple injuries and illnesses back then. Go visit any cemetary dating back into the 1700/1800s. They are full of headstones of people who died in the 30s and 40s. Kids grew up quicker and people died younger.

I agree with the notions in this thread to a point, but how many people are willing to give up their modern conveniences like air conditions, toilets, deodorant, etc?

I think we all tend to fantasize about living off the land, but it wasn't as easy as it looks. It was a hard life.

a reply to: Nathan-D

Childhood autism is way up now.

a reply to: SpecialSauceYou have made your point, admirably. It makes you wonder who the real "heathens" are.

a reply to: All Seeing Eye
Thanks but.....
I can't take credit for it. Ted Kaczynski's manifesto is supposedly about this very topic but I've never read it. Heard of it though, read reviews of it too. Shame one jerk had to ruin it for everyone. We don't hate Casio just because Osama wore a digital watch. It must've gotten into my sub conscious.

originally posted by: rukia
a reply to: SpecialSauce

Absolutely not.

Things are worse than ever, now, in fact.

History repeats itself--and things just keep on getting worse and worse.

We are absolutely better off than our ancestors regarding standard of living (OECD nations), combatting disease, health, education, food etc etc...

To the OP: what poppycock. The Native Americans did not know any of that because those things weren't around (you used the past tense: knew).

Oh noble savage...

Are we better off than our ancestors?

Yes and no.
We have great benefits at the moment. Luxuries. Higher standards of living. But we have lost what makes us, us. The "life" that we live now is not a life, just motions, and I -and I'm sure many of us- would prefer to live.

a reply to: kaelci

What makes us 'us'?
Struggling for food, shelter, security, health?

I prefer this life that I am living...

a reply to: aorAki

Being in tune with nature, with our inner selves, -doing- things, supporting yourself, filled with pride that you are surviving because you have worked for it. Is sitting in a house, at the computer, on your phone, staring at the TV, shoveling packaged food from the grocery store into your mouth without a thought of where it came from, being stressed at finances, truly living?

originally posted by: SpecialSauce
a reply to: All Seeing Eye
Thanks but.....
I can't take credit for it. Ted Kaczynski's manifesto is supposedly about this very topic but I've never read it. Heard of it though, read reviews of it too. Shame one jerk had to ruin it for everyone. We don't hate Casio just because Osama wore a digital watch. It must've gotten into my sub conscious.

I have read his manifesto, but it was years ago and it rambled on, but I do remember there was a lot of logic in it.

a reply to: All Seeing Eye

I guess if they figure out a way to live longer we'll all find out when we run out of oil and gas. Or our grandchildren will.