We are computational and predictive machines.
It is our superpower. It is how we have evolved to be the species that can split atoms and explore other planets. Yet, while we credit our intelligence, what we rarely consider is what that intelligence of ours focuses its attention on.
Problems.
The reason that we have advanced is that at least some of us have gone about solving problems consistently, generation after generation. No matter the language, community, culture, location, environment, available resources... over and over, we have continued to solve the problems that we could. And solving wasn't enough, because with each solution, we gained knowledge and understood more problems, so we could solve more, and improve upon what we had previously solved.
We are told to be positive. To have faith.
Being positive doesn't solve problems. Having faith doesn't solve problems. What solves problems is working on a solution. Firstly, one has to be able to identify the problems at hand, then one has to go about developing strategies to deal with those problems. It isn't always possible for the person to identify and find a solution, but this doesn't mean that people shouldn't be discussing the problems of the world, because as they say, think globally, act locally.
And there are a lot of global problems, but none of them live in a vacuum. Everything is connected. Yet, if talking to most people openly about the problems of the world, it is depressing. And that makes me, depressing to talk to, because, I focus on the problems I see. And, I am sceptical in today's social environment as to whether there are enough capable people who are willing to work on solving the problems we face. For the majority of people, I believe that they are mostly attempting to avoid dealing with problems at any level.
Other than finding new ways to avoid dealing with problems.
The problems we face as a global community are unfortunately not going to be truly worked on, because most of the resources go to solving problems that might not be worth solving. For instance, I have written about the problem of racism recently, but in actual fact, it is easy to fix.
Stop being racist.
Done. Problem solved. It is a belief problem, not a practical problem, even though the beliefs affect our practical behaviours in many ways. Yet, if we were to immediately change our minds simultaneously, all the problems of racism disappear and our behaviours and their impacts would change.
However a problem like pollution isn't as "simple" to solve, because even if we instantly stopped polluting, the pollution that currently exists would still be there, impacting negatively and creating problems. So, it is a group of problems at a practical level, no matter what we think about it. After stopping polluting, we would then have to deal with the problems associated with clean up and the problem with cleaning up the clean up and storage and whatever else. And to deal with the problem effectively, we would all need to be in on the solution. Or forced.
Similarly, a problem like generating clean electricity at scale is a problem that even if we had an immediate solution to the generation, we would then have to work out distribution. However, in the current environment, even with a viable solution, the major problem would be our belief systems - namely, making profit from the technology. Rather than solving a global issue, those with the solution want to earn from it too. Which creates more problems.
The problems never end.
I am often accused of being negative and not seeing the positives in the world, but I am absolutely positive that we as a species can solve all the problems we have currently. However, I do not have much faith in humanity to be able to change its mindset in the timeframe needed in order to fix the problems we face, before the issues get so large, they are unfixable, or we kill each other out of our own greed and idiocy.
I think it would be interesting to have a clarity on how many of the world's greatest problem solvers were positive people and had a positive mindset and outlook of the world. I predict that most of them were like me - negatively inclined - just much, much smarter and more skilled than me. I predict that they didn't have "faith" that there would be a solution, they had work ethic to solve the problem. Ton continually focus on the negative, until they were able to find a solution that negated the negative.
The multiplication of two negatives make a positive.
It's not untrue.
Positive outcomes don't require a positive mindset, and I might even go as far as a positive mindset could get in the way of finding solutions in many cases. For instance, rather than working on the solution oneself, a person can be positive that someone smart will find a solution later. Or, rather than exploring to understand a problem, a person can positively believe that some god will provide the solution.
I can't solve the world's problems.
But, by exploring the world's problems, I am able to see how my own thoughts and behaviours can change to improve the problems that are within my limits to solve. It might not be meaningful at scale, but all the little solutions add up. Like learning how to be the best parent I can be to raise a child valuable to society. Or improving the relationships with neighbours so that they are more likely to extend their neighbour improvement network outward further. Small things to rebuild a community at the local level, that we can see is failing through all the various problems at the global level.
I am depressing.
Talk to me face to face about these things, and you will be depressed too. But it is interesting when people mention this like I am the problem, rather than asking themselves why they are depressed. They are depressed because through the discussions, they recognise that I may just be right, and all their beliefs of a positive future run the risk of crashing down. Yet, most will then walk away and find something to take their mind off the depression again - so they don't have to have their "worldview" torn apart, nor do they have to change their behaviours.
Most people, will do nothing to improve, until they feel the pain of degradation. Most people don't join up at a gym to maintain their perfectly performing body, they join because their body is not performing well enough. Why wait to join when ten kilos over weight, rather than join when five over weight? Well, the five didn't cause enough pain.
How much pain do we need to be in to start solving the problems around us?
None.
We can start before the pain begins.
We just don't.
Taraz
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