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Long term statistics show that humanity is and will keep progressing. Remember this thing called the black plague or the fall of the largest empire in history leading to the dark ages? Did humanity go back to being apes in caves? The planet might be going through some scary changes, but humanity will survive this rough patch too.
It is also increasingly peaceful compared to the past. Yes, we have constant wars but some regions that used to be continuously at war have spent the better part of a century at peace and even set up lasting treaties. There is still a long ways to go of course, but overall it is still getting better.
Imagine explaining to someone 200-years ago that Europe is now one huge political block. Mind. Blown.
"What, and ze English too?"
"Err, well, they were for a little while, but then decided to pull out"
"Eh! I tell you, you can depend on ze English to do something stupid. Perhaps one day they will come to their senses!"
Nothing you just named can come anywhere near climate change in terms of severity. Humanity (and the majority of complex organisms) won't survive climate change, but the planet will. In a million years it will be like we were never here, and life can start over. That's the kind of pragmatic optimism that I find comforting.
I was expecting someone saying this haha but I agree my statement still feels positive. But I don't agree that humanity is going to be wiped off to planet because of climate change. Our numbers will dwindle but we will come out of this.
I feel like nuclear bombs were as severe. I also think that even the worst case realistic scenarios for climate change are not nearly bad enough to cause the scenario you described.
Funny, I’m done being the one always having to take it on the chin for “the greater good”. Let’s have OTHER era’s step up.
This doesn't bring me optimism, personally. Why is that a good or relevant thing at all?
So would your rather we not have modern medicine, electricity, democracy over serfdom? What about cultural values where people are treated equal? Living past 40? I mean c'mon man I don't know what kind of day your having and I'm sorry if it's been rough for you lately. But you most definitely live a better life because of human progress.
The presupposition is that the existence and spread of humans is itself something good. I don't agree with that and find no positivity therein. The people who cried "never again" are ignoring, enabling, or even participating in genocides and the repression of others. There's an environmental disaster going on lead by governments and oligarchs. Inequality in the countries I've lived in has gotten worse in my life, not better. Human rights in many parts of the world continue to be stripped and cultural genocide happens. That's not progress. "Maybe in a couple thousand years, if the species doesn't destroy itself, things might mostly be equal and good and healthy" does nothing to bring positivity to my life, particularly when there is no indication of that happening.
But why rain on people's parade? we are all having a rough life right now and doing our best to get through it. Everyone should find solice in what helps be happy in life.
That's kinda the whole point of living. Being happy and finding meaning.
If this perspective doesn't help you, that's fine. But to hound people for theirs positivity because it doesn't align with your thinking is just part of the problem.
We shouldn't be treating each other shitty, we should all be trying to pull each other up. Dont let these oligarchs you talk about win by doing their bidding.
That wasn't my intent. I was hoping for an answer to the question I posed that might change my mind. If people get solace from that, it's fine; I don't think my disagreement should or would change that.
In what way was I doing that?
Literally everything you're describing was way worse a lifetime ago, not my lifetime, but my grandparent's.
My grandfather was a 10yo jew in occupied france, and my grandmother grew up in a barn with no running water or power with a dozen siblings during the US gilded age. Shit was so much worse back then.