7 reasons the 21 century is making us miserable.

[Ferret]

http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/misery.html

I thought this was a really good read.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/misery.html

I thought this was a really good read.

F@#$ing awesome read. Thanks.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Very interesting and thought provoking.

Thanks Ferret.

Olaf the Stout

 

[GlassJaw]

Cool read. His whole site is pretty wild.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Ya know,

I read this title & thought it was goig to be some sort of Realtor Horror Story.

As in Century 21 the Real Estate Company.

(Of course, my wife & I are house hunting).

For a strange reason I feel better.

Sure civilization is crumbling before our eyes, but at least we can still lock in a good rate on a 30 year loan right now.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Some of that stuff actually makes sense.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I knew that all my problems could be blamed on EN World!

Actually it does make some good points. When I walk past people I don't know, make eye contact with them and say hello, it really freaks many of them out. Now I realize I'm doing a service by helping to build up their annoyance immune system just a little bit.

 

[Wombat]

I recognize these problems, far too well.

I am happy to know that I have a lot of Real World (tm) friends to help me through my crises and that I get out enough to get annoyed with things that are graspable (as opposed to Big Problems Of The World That I Will Never Fix On My Own).

One underlying current in this article, however, is the reliance on spatially limiting technology. We are tied to computer screens, phone message pads, tvs, etc. We limit our field of vision and get annoyed when people "distract" us away from small screens. It's like taking the blinders off of a horse (to use a terribly archaic image) -- suddenly there is so much more out there! We also get out less, and when we do, we tend to take the tech with us, thus continuing to limit our worldview.

Ultimately, I feel we are victims of our own technology.

 

[Storminator]

I knew that all my problems could be blamed on EN World!

Actually it does make some good points. When I walk past people I don't know, make eye contact with them and say hello, it really freaks many of them out. Now I realize I'm doing a service by helping to build up their annoyance immune system just a little bit.

That's because you live in Mass. If you lived in CA, or the South, or the Midwest, or Texas, or... really anywhere but the Northeast... folks would smile back and say hi.



PS

 

[Jeysie]

That's because you live in Mass. If you lived in CA, or the South, or the Midwest, or Texas, or... really anywhere but the Northeast... folks would smile back and say hi.

I dunno... both in my current place and in my hometown, people smile, nod, and say hello to passerby frequently while walking around, boarding the bus, etc. We also hold doors for each other (regardless of gender) and other little niceties.

I've heard of the whole "Northeasteners are unfriendly" bit before, and always wondered where it came from, because it didn't come from Western MA. In fact, my being used to friendliness caused me a bit of embarrassment in NYC once... but that's another discussion.

Anyhoo. I think the article linked makes a number of good points. Although one could argue towards the opposite as well... technology makes it easier to stay social and connected in situations where people would otherwise be isolated and/or separated from each other. Certainly I wouldn't have gotten into D&D if it wasn't for the Internet.

Peace & Luv, Liz