Tuesday, March 29, 2005

The Long Emergency

"It has been very hard for Americans -- lost in dark raptures of nonstop infotainment, recreational shopping and compulsive motoring -- to make sense of the gathering forces that will fundamentally alter the terms of everyday life in our technological society. Even after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, America is still sleepwalking into the future."
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8 comments:

Ken said...

I welcome the peak oil crisis. It might actually redeem America from the dehumanized cesspool into which I see it plunging. We are headed for interesting times (too bad we won't be going to Mars).

2:01 PM
Anonymous said...

"May you live in interesting times." --Ancient Arab curse

--WMB

4:02 PM
Ken said...

Yep, and militant Islam will become that curse incarnate. Just think of all the havoc they can (and most definitely will) inflict on our poor, defenseless nation once we get ourselves into that economic predicament. Fun stuff.

6:57 PM
Anonymous said...

I'm afraid that we do have it coming. I've even had (extremely depressing) visions of Islam becoming THE world religion eventually, with jihadi spreading out the stars, etc. (If you think creationists and right-to-lifers are bad.... But I'm scared to write the novel for fear of imminent arrest and incarceration/torture without right to an attorney or trial.)
--WMB

8:43 PM
Mac said...

I think all religions are equally distasteful. My pet theory is that the "need" for religious superstition was genetically implanted by aliens to make sure we never got off this planet -- a quarantine measure.

9:20 PM
Anonymous said...

It's exoteric or institutional religion that's the culprit, not belief in divinity per se. Basically, institutional religions maintain social control through dogma based essentially on superstitious fear. This has been recognized since the Enlightenment but doesn't seem to help much. In fact, if anything, things have gotten worse. But Mac, if aliens are cultivating us (a not implausible prospect) why can't they cultivate us to explore the cosmos rather than limiting us to mooching and mucking around down here?
--WMB

5:09 PM
Mac said...

Of course, my alien idea is just a loopy hypothesis. But, if true, I can think of a number of reasons a more advanced civilization might cause another one to fail. Mainly, to root out flaws. (Like in "The Matrix Reloaded.") Push the system to its limits and observe how it fails, then take the necessary pains to avoid a similar disaster among your own civilization.

10:40 PM
Anonymous said...

Interesting. Sounds like they might have the equivalent of an ET George Bush in charge!
--WMB

9:40 AM

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