Is AI coming for our livelihoods? Jury is still out. My two cents is currently no, based on experience with various platforms. At least until it actually becomes AI and self-aware, it will remain an irritating inconvenience.
Is the world going to sh*t ( or to hell without the proverbial handbasket)? The short answer ... yes. The long answer is still yes, but with historical qualifiers. No big change in human history hasn't followed a deep dive into the worst that mankind can dredge up, and our current situation has been simmering for almost 50 years. Fear over cultural changes, fear over changes in the political landscape, and fear over technological advancement.
Despite all our good and civilized intentions, we are still primates, and react thusly. As long as intelligence, and the greater good can prevent the fear mongers from wiping all of us off the game board, the cream will eventually rise to the top. It just will be an insufferable journey.
Poetically put! I think you're right - we are in the fourth turning and things will change a lot... but we'll likely be ok. When AI becomes self-aware I suspect that too will be irritating... think of the smugness!
Fear is the real enemy, fear of change, the unwillingness, to adopt new paradigms creates further uncertainty, insecurity and “ our” inability to recognise that beauty and goodness surround us. One of my most enjoyable experiences was flying above the cumulus clouds with the the hum of ,m the plane’s engines the only intrusive noise, the beauty the serenity was incredible and quite humbling , it made me recognise the beauty of our planet, it’s pureness, unspoiled by the fear mongers worried about what maybe!
This is so true Ken. Fear will only ever keep us small and distracted from the things that matter. That’s also one of my favourite things about flying - getting up out of the weeds and seeing the big picture… both literally and metaphorically!
Where were you 9 years ago? Wish I'd had someone tell me all this. I was at my wits end and seriously depressed when the orange turd was elected here in the U.S. (and BTW I absolutely never write about politics so this is a big reveal). I was constantly angry, crying, annoyed at literally everyone who might-possibly have voted for him. The whole world was shit. And.... then it got worse!
So, the moral of the story is that life goes on, being angry and puffed up doesn't change a damned thing, and it most certainly was and most likely will be worse again at some point in the future. Nothing stays the same and life isn't ever going to be perfect, and just and sensible.
I could either choose to wallow in the crap and miss my life, or find a way to focus on what's good and try to do actively do something like make sure everyone I know actually votes. I decided about five years ago to do the later and stop listening and watching to the news constantly, to stay fairly informed and knowledable about what's going on and then MOVE ON with my day, and learn more about history which reminds us how good life is now.
I think you nailed it and although some may find call this approach avoidance - I think it's the only way to make a meaningful difference. I like to justify it by remembering that if more of us spend our days sharing good will, bringing joy and beauty into the world, wouldn't the world be a better place???? I say yes.
Ahhh thank you Miriam - I know, I needed this 9 years ago too!! The year that Trump happened and Brexit happened was a serious "WTF"?! moment in my life.
Bravo to your new approach! I think you're right - it's all about awareness of the impact this has on us and proactively deciding if it's helpful or not. But if we let it cripple us... what's the point in being informed?!
Can’t beat the irony that the cure for doom scrolling is an 1,800-word essay about doom scrolling. My generation learned this decades ago, we just didn't need a neuroscience explainer. My dad's version was 'quit your bellyaching,' and if you were still at it, 'for crying out loud, go find something useful to do.'
Hahahahaha - punch in the face is always a useful back stop! It's all about balance, right? We all need a moan sometimes... but we also need to let it out and then move on!
I keep coming back to this tweet I saw a while ago:
The news: everything is bad.
Poets: okay, but what if everything is bad and we still fall in love with the moon and learn something from the flowers.
Hahaha - I love this!! SO TRUE! Both things can be true at once - that's something I'm only just learning, I think.
I think we’re all learning that — it’s a process, and it’s an especially hard thought to hold right now.
Is AI coming for our livelihoods? Jury is still out. My two cents is currently no, based on experience with various platforms. At least until it actually becomes AI and self-aware, it will remain an irritating inconvenience.
Is the world going to sh*t ( or to hell without the proverbial handbasket)? The short answer ... yes. The long answer is still yes, but with historical qualifiers. No big change in human history hasn't followed a deep dive into the worst that mankind can dredge up, and our current situation has been simmering for almost 50 years. Fear over cultural changes, fear over changes in the political landscape, and fear over technological advancement.
Despite all our good and civilized intentions, we are still primates, and react thusly. As long as intelligence, and the greater good can prevent the fear mongers from wiping all of us off the game board, the cream will eventually rise to the top. It just will be an insufferable journey.
Poetically put! I think you're right - we are in the fourth turning and things will change a lot... but we'll likely be ok. When AI becomes self-aware I suspect that too will be irritating... think of the smugness!
Fear is the real enemy, fear of change, the unwillingness, to adopt new paradigms creates further uncertainty, insecurity and “ our” inability to recognise that beauty and goodness surround us. One of my most enjoyable experiences was flying above the cumulus clouds with the the hum of ,m the plane’s engines the only intrusive noise, the beauty the serenity was incredible and quite humbling , it made me recognise the beauty of our planet, it’s pureness, unspoiled by the fear mongers worried about what maybe!
This is so true Ken. Fear will only ever keep us small and distracted from the things that matter. That’s also one of my favourite things about flying - getting up out of the weeds and seeing the big picture… both literally and metaphorically!
Is this what the kids mean when they tell us to touch grass?
Hahahahaha - yeah I think so?! Unless they're talking about their 'marijuana cigarettes'...
Where were you 9 years ago? Wish I'd had someone tell me all this. I was at my wits end and seriously depressed when the orange turd was elected here in the U.S. (and BTW I absolutely never write about politics so this is a big reveal). I was constantly angry, crying, annoyed at literally everyone who might-possibly have voted for him. The whole world was shit. And.... then it got worse!
So, the moral of the story is that life goes on, being angry and puffed up doesn't change a damned thing, and it most certainly was and most likely will be worse again at some point in the future. Nothing stays the same and life isn't ever going to be perfect, and just and sensible.
I could either choose to wallow in the crap and miss my life, or find a way to focus on what's good and try to do actively do something like make sure everyone I know actually votes. I decided about five years ago to do the later and stop listening and watching to the news constantly, to stay fairly informed and knowledable about what's going on and then MOVE ON with my day, and learn more about history which reminds us how good life is now.
I think you nailed it and although some may find call this approach avoidance - I think it's the only way to make a meaningful difference. I like to justify it by remembering that if more of us spend our days sharing good will, bringing joy and beauty into the world, wouldn't the world be a better place???? I say yes.
Ahhh thank you Miriam - I know, I needed this 9 years ago too!! The year that Trump happened and Brexit happened was a serious "WTF"?! moment in my life.
Bravo to your new approach! I think you're right - it's all about awareness of the impact this has on us and proactively deciding if it's helpful or not. But if we let it cripple us... what's the point in being informed?!
Yes to more joy and beauty in the world!
That was brilliant!! After months of extreme ( to me) stress, that was just the advice I need!!! No more “ Chicken Little” approach !!! Thanks!
YAAAAAS!! And my work here is done!
Read while reading my oat milk cold brew latte... I'm not saying a word!
Hahahahahahaha - hope you enjoyed it! What a time to be alive!
Agreed!!! Xx
Annie
Can’t beat the irony that the cure for doom scrolling is an 1,800-word essay about doom scrolling. My generation learned this decades ago, we just didn't need a neuroscience explainer. My dad's version was 'quit your bellyaching,' and if you were still at it, 'for crying out loud, go find something useful to do.'
Or a smack in the face.
It all worked.
Hahahahaha - punch in the face is always a useful back stop! It's all about balance, right? We all need a moan sometimes... but we also need to let it out and then move on!
Team "continuous slow improvement"
YES! This is my team!! It's not sexy but it's powerful...