My father is celebrating his 63rd birthday today. Despite his age, he doesn't look or feel like he's in his sixties. He's incredibly physically active, and even though he's approaching retirement age, he seems to have more vitality than I do at times. I deeply admire him for this.
With each passing generation, there's a tendency to believe that the present is the perfect time to be alive, that we have the ideal conditions for everything. If you were to ask the younger generations if they'd prefer to live in a world without the internet, smartphones, VR, computer games, and all the modern tech marvels, they would undoubtedly say no.
Conversely, if you inquire about my father's youth, a time when there was no internet, limited cable TV if any, no sprawling malls, less variety in clothing, and fewer distractions than we have today, he would likely reminisce about those days as the best times of his life.
When you observe how the world is being shaped by the media, social media influencers, and the government itself, you start to ponder whether our extensive access to real-time information might be causing us more harm than good. Technology has undeniably played a crucial role in our evolution as a species and in the convenience of modern society. However, an excess of such technologies has arguably caused some damage.
Recently, I watched a clip of an American senator quoting passages from a few children's books, and frankly, the content was disturbing. Teaching topics like pornography and gender diversity to children at a young age can have a profound impact on their minds.
There's an old Buddhist saying that goes something like this: "Give me a child from the age of a few months to seven years, and I will guarantee that they will become a man of the temple." Well, imagine what kind of "temples" we're building with the current trends that infiltrate the lives of many kids.
My dad likely didn't have to read explicit material as a child, yet he managed to build a family and provide us with a proper education. The so-called educators today and those responsible for the curriculum seem to have misplaced priorities. One can't help but wonder about the kind of generations we're nurturing with this type of literature.
Eventually, kids will naturally discover aspects of life like sexuality. However, it feels as though the world is intentionally being thrown into chaos, with what was once considered nonscientific now being labeled as science, absurdities becoming the new normal, lies masquerading as truth, and so on.
Politics has also taken a nosedive. Joe Biden appears to be senile, and when the media (the few interviewers with the courage to ask tough questions) inquire about the Biden family's activities or Joe's health, official representatives either dodge the questions or exit the room.
Their evasiveness is evident. Joe Biden doesn't seem to be running the show; he couldn't even manage a runny nose properly. The educational system is deteriorating rapidly, so what's the solution?
Honestly, much of what I learned in school hasn't proven to be highly useful after graduating from high school and college, except for basic skills like reading, writing, basic math, and proficiency in the English language (which isn't my native tongue). Perhaps, as we move forward, AI and computational power are the way to go.
Despite my reservations a couple of years ago, I'm beginning to realize that AI and software can potentially surpass the current systems of governance and education. However, it's crucial to remember that generative AI is shaped by the data it's fed. But do we have any other options?
We can't turn back the clock and live as my father did forty years ago, and we certainly can't halt technological progress. Nevertheless, we should consider diverging from the mainstream and embracing alternatives more fervently. Exploring alternative ways of thinking, exploring financial sovereignty through cryptocurrency (the "fuck you money"), seeking out alternative social media platforms like Hive, and being open to what's outside the bounds of the establishment is vital.
Modern humanity has become so complacent that even critical thinking seems to be a rare commodity these days.
Thanks for your attention,
Adrian
