What’s up with the world?
And I'm not talking about our planet Earth, I'm talking about us, humans. And I'm asking myself some basic but pertinent questions: Has the human world become more complicated, or did people become dumber, or am I getting too old? Probably all the above.
I mean, stop what you're doing for a minute, put your phone back in your pocket, and take the time to look around you for a minute or so. What do you see?
Good attitude and politeness no longer exist. People no longer know how to speak intelligently or adequately, or even how to communicate with each other. Common sense and logic are neither common nor logical. Nothing makes much sense anymore, and everything seems controversial. There is no right or wrong; only the opinions of the strongest or the loudest matter, no matter whether it is true or false.
People are in total denial. They no longer assume their words or actions. What was acceptable yesterday is no longer acceptable today. You have to be careful about what you say and how you say it, as anything can be used against you. What was previously free or came for free yesterday is no longer free today. For everything you previously wanted that was included in the price, you now need to subscribe and pay more to access it.
For everything that used to involve human skill and knowledge, time, and manual labor, the solution of automating and robotizing was supposed to reduce time, labor, and cost. Yet, it now costs even more than ever before. Worse still, it is nearly impossible to do things yourself anymore, such as repairing your car, etc...
And every day, examples of human stupidity and foolishness are so numerous that they have become the norm. And it no longer shocks anyone. Worse still, they have become so accustomed to it that people have incorporated it into their daily lives.
Stupidity is everywhere, and it no longer bothers anyone because most people themselves are oblivious to others and numb from their addiction to cell phones, apps, games, and social media.
The result: people no longer know how to speak, think, exchange, interact, or react with each other. No more critical thinking either. They no longer communicate, intimately, personally, or even professionally, living as if they were alone in the world, trapped in their own bubble, primarily interacting with a screen 24/7. Consequently, they have lost all sense of emotions, sensibility, sociability, social behaviors and attitudes, as well as their awareness of reality and their surroundings.
Most people are in a state of loneliness accompanied by solitude and depression, as they isolate themselves from the rest of the world, in their own heads, at work, at home, even when with family and friends. Most people now suffer from attention disorder, short attention span, difficulties concentrating, and even finishing daily targets and goals at work and in their own lives.
There is no longer any personal or social discipline. People do what they want and how they want (which is a good thing in a way), but unfortunately, they often fail to consider the responsibilities or the consequences of their thoughts and actions on others.
We can see it every day. The way people walk down the street, for example, without looking, without paying attention, glaring at their phones, often with a detached, nonchalant, even careless attitude, or, on the contrary, an angry, provocative, even aggressive attitude.
Gradually, over the last 15-20 years, and especially in the past 10 years, we have become a "zombie society" due to cell phone addiction, where people have become so engrossed in their smartphones that they appear detached, disengaged, and even unaware of their surroundings, much like zombies. This is fueled by the addictive nature of social media, mobile games, and constant connectivity offered by smartphones. Beware of smartphone zombies!
This world is definitely not the same one as the one I grew up in, back 40 to 50 years ago. In a way, yes, it was better before. Life was simpler and easier in so many ways. People still knew how to talk and communicate with each other, appreciate one another, be more respectful, and spend time together. No phones, no social media, no easy access to information and news, so less stress, less anxiety, and less time alone.
It was a world where we were freer, with no real dependence or addiction on anything or anyone. Of course, this world had its share of problems as well (financial, economic, geopolitical, war, famine, violence, drugs, and alcohol, among others). Similar to nowadays. Yet, it seems different back then.
It was a world where we could still think, speak, act, react, and share opinions with critical thinking, common sense, and adequate social behaviors, without immediately creating an argument or a quarrel, a fight, or worse. I mean, sure, violence and insecurity existed back then, too. But not at the current level, it seems.
Moreover, it was a world where we could still laugh at anything and anyone without fear of hurting someone else or being judged or ridiculed on Social Media. A world where we were dancing and singing and acting the way we wanted, without care of being caught or judged, because, as we say in French, "Le ridicule ne tue pas!" (ridicule doesn't kill). Where did all these go? Nowadays, everything is recorded, one way or another, and posted on social media or other platforms, resulting in a deluge of nasty comments from anonymous people acting behind their screens.
And yes, although I embrace the future, the changes that come with each generations, and the advance of techniques and technologies, and try to live my life in the present, I’m still nostalgic about this past where everyone had to use their brains, intelligence, skills, know-how, imagination, creativity, and ambition to reach and concretise their dreams.
Not like nowadays, where everything and anything is accessible to everyone and anyone, and is as easy as a simple “cut and paste” or a "prompt". Worse still, nowadays, computer algorithms and artificial intelligence are doing pretty much everything for you, without you having to do anything. Where is the fun in that?
It takes away your cognition, referring to the mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding through thoughts, experiences, and the senses. It gradually erases a wide range of your abilities, like thinking, learning, remembering, perceiving, and using judgment. It annihilates the way you process information and interact with the world around you. It inhibits your cognitive faculties, encompassing the mental processes of thinking, learning, and understanding. It essentially prevents your ability to process information, form concepts, have discernment, make decisions, and make judgments.
That's why many of us, especially those between 45 and 55 years old, around my age, are so nostalgic about that time, growing up in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. And I don't think that we are the only ones. Even younger generations, who did not live through these decades, are somewhat searching to revisit or even recreate these years.
I see it with the generation of my kids, Gen Z. They are trying to go back in time: clothes, music, fashions, modes, cars, even games, movies, and TV shows. Why? Because it was more authentic, more real, more "analog" as we say, less "digital" or "virtual". It had more energy, vibrancy, and depth. It had more meaning. It was real and happening in real life, with real people and real characters who made mistakes and had flaws. It was more human, less computerized. It was not a perfect world, and it was not trying to be either.
The latest trend I've noticed on social media is a return to the past. Dressing like in the 90s. Having cellphones that are not smartphones, for the convenience of making and receiving calls and messages without the distractions of other apps. Use an MP3 music player instead of relying on apps on their phone. Listening to more analog sounds with vinyls and even cassettes. Taking pictures with old cameras, which use mirrors and film rather than digital cameras, because they offer a more natural and distinct experience compared to using digital cameras nowadays, which are often automatically enhanced with AI and rarely deliver the desired results, etc.
Not everything was easier back then, but some things definitely were. As we say in French: "C'etait le temps de l'insouciance!" A time of carefree happiness. A period of my youth, from my childhood to my young adult years. A state of mind characterized by a lack of worry and a joyful, lighthearted attitude. Those were good times! From which I still cherish many memories (and try to recall only the best ones).
That said, I could continue writing many pages on the subject, but I will stop here for today, as I do not want to burden you further with these things that you can also observe in your everyday life.
To resume and answer the questions in the header of this post, I would like to say: Yes, the world is more complicated and complex than it was before during my youth. Yes, in my opinion, people are getting dumber, and I witness it countless times every day. And, yes, I'm getting old too, as I rant about the state of the world today and feel nostalgic about a past that will soon be history. The world is changing from one generation to the next; that's just the natural path of life and the passage of time.
As long as we make the best of it while living it, the rest does not matter!
Cheers! Santé!
Dom
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