Are we going backward?

[zionforsell]

From making fire from scratch to modern technology, human has come a long way in evolution. But are we really going forward?

Nature, the sole thing provides us shelter and resources, are in great damage. Oil is running out. Forests are disappearing. The ozone with a hole. Seems like the planet earth are going to destruction. Instead of balancing life, new technologies seem to create chaos. Of course the impact doesn't seem obvious now. But the side effect of it already came to light. Enviroment is in danger. It poses the question of whether or not human are killing itself.

But one of the hot topic today is about social life. It is true that we have come a long way from slavery. But there is more and more issues coming up. Clothing trend day by day becomes skimpier, to the point that it is vulgar but be considered "sexy". From not shaving, we now have botox, eyecream, plastic surgery. Is it a step forward when we abandon what is given and chasing dreams of perfection? It has been ancient history when living legends are truly talented. Nowaday, celebrity are measured by scandals and wardrobe. Anyone who has a pretty face with minimal talent can be made out a big star anyday. Money is the top priority. Even bitches with money can be made into the most saint-like, influencial star of the year. Or you can date a big-time star then cheat on him or let him cheat on you, cameras are gonna be all over you. Celebrities now acre more about partying then really giving something out.

A long time ago, the voice, the talent is what makes you a star. Rite now, it is more about the way you dress, how much clothes are you gonna take off your body. Music, from meaningful lyrics, rich with imagery, has degraded into a whole alike-bunch with sexual words mimicking the process of f******. People call those reality art. Hemingway's "In Love and War", Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mocking Bird", ect IS reality ART. Not songs where the lyrics goes on like : "Im gonna lick you....,ect ect"

Everyone starts to do the crap: this song is about me and ect ect. But they all sound the same, lyrics are all the same topic. A movie these days require some love-making sence or a hottie to be able to hit blockbuster. If you look at the cover of the DVD Into the Blue, it is one of the ridiculous cover ever with pics of the two main characters posing their bodies. Yet, movies like that make top choices of audience. The more vulgar and sexual the language is, the more it sells. Is it going forward? Or is it a warning that our society has become a bunch of brain-dead people who looks for nothing more than a disdain fun meaningless time? It is now wrong to have one once in a while. BUt it has become a trend and is considered what's cool. Are we really getting smarter? Or just become puppets refusing to think?

Not everyone is following this trend. Those who don't (like me) are viewed as being no-fun, can't catch up with time,.... But are we? Or we are actually the smarter ones in the going backward society???

[rimpelcut]

I get your points. won't make it long but: you know those people that only start laughing when someone else laughs? It is like they need to get reminded that it is funny. Why do people use drugs? if you use drugs and I know for a fact, the stress and the clouded mind won't go away. ONly when you are past acting normally(really past) does it go away but who wants that.
People know of the problems in the world but like every other problem in their life they block it out of their minds and sight until problems begin to accur in their shallow lifes, friends, work, uuh thats it. Then they start crying.
You know when suffering accurs? when you have unfinished bissnes to do.

[Peliqua]

This question is pretty unanswerable, you know. xD;

Well, I'd say to answer this you have to first define 'improving' the human race, or what going forward is. If it means making humans themselves better, then I'd say we've come a long way. Humans get taller, bigger, more naturally healthy with every generation. Half of the world is educated and can live in comfort, and in safety.

But, if you measure how we're faring based on the cost of these luxuries, then i'd say we're taking two steps back for every one step forward. As you've said, the planet is in relative disarray, and morals are few and far between. Humans are easily swayed from values, and we're all very emotional, illogical people... we all KNOW that global warming is taking place, but we FEEL like ignoring it, or at least putting it on the sidelines. We're not up to much when it comes to sensibility and whatnot.

However, Im optimistic... I think that in the end, the improvements of humans themselves will allow us to right our wrongs between each other and the planet. (Although I guess it could just aseasily be said that our improvements will make for war, etc..)

[princesstaco]

I don't know that we can definatively say that we are getting better or worse, culturally speaking. I definately agree with you when you say that there are a lot of shitty movies, song lyrics without substance, and don't get me started on the invasiveness of adverstisments... Furthermore, I don't understand how anyone could willingly disfigure themselves, undergoing extensive surgery, just to meet some obscure level of 'beauty.'

But I think a lot of people tend to gloss over the past. I'm sure pop culture contained just as much horribly shallow trends/song lyrics/fashion statements X years ago; as a result of their lack of substance no one remembers them!

I think the difference between then and now lies within the propogation of ideas through the media. Any Joe Schmoe with a little cash or a camera can stick their mug on T.V. and have it seen by practically everyone instantly! What exactly is Paris Hilton famous for again? With the internet, television, and newspapers we are constantly being bombarded with information. There is no way we could possibly process everything being thrown at us. So we pay attention to the flashiest trends, and to what 'everyone else' is doing. If the media perpetuates the idea that dressing like a skank is socially acceptible people will follow along. Songs and movies don't have to be 'good', they just have to hold our attention the longest.

I'm sure this existed to a degree before television and the internet took over; new technology simply allows it to happen faster.

[Pestilence]

This topic reminds me of the band DEVO. (devolution) Anyway, society on the whole, and many individuals are going backward, but roughly half of all people are moving forward.

[Haruka]

Infact, the forests are not dissapearing. We have more vegetation and forests compared to in the 1900's.

[Razgriez]

Well technically your wrong about environment heading to the shitter. If we had the same systems and laws for car emitions from the 1970s the world's ozone lawyer would be gone by now but since the advancement of technology we have managed extremely slow down the process.

The forests are fine in the United States.

Government is constantly heading towards a socialist system regardless of which party is in power.

Once we start seeing a huge lack of oil and it becomes scarce to the point where it maybe gone in a few years we will go on over drive to design a new fuel system.

[Robotkiller]

Well this mainly applies to pop culture but if you look at technology we are progressing in leaps and bounds.

[rimpelcut]

yeah the environment is improving, maybe in another 100 years we will have steurs again in europe and can breath normally in the cities. the last 50 years the clouds have become 8 km thicker on average. This has never accurded in this melenium and wasn't known to happen before that.

[Gisaku Kimura]

Well, the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that all things in a closed environment increase in entropy, seeing how this galaxy could be considered a closed environment. Yes, I would say that we are "going backwards" as you put it.

[CrazyMoronX]

When FOX becomes hardcore porno, then we'll talk.

I think it's obvious that society is decaying, and becomning more corrupt by the day. But no one is going to do anything about it, less they be called a strak raving lunatic ignorant bigot.

So, I guess we have to either sit back and take it in the ass, or do something about it ourselves.

Personally, I see us taking it in the ass, since the world's people for the most part, have become a bunch of take it in the assers.

[Machinesister]

Well, the media wants money, and how better to do it than to appeal to our animal instincts?

And we are to procreate, so skankiness/sluttiness is IMO just a manifestation of the instinct to carry out said activity. Which could mean we are falling back on primitive desires more openly. But what about all this spiffy new modern technology?

I'm personally rather old-fashioned in some respects. But I digress!

I have no idea whether we are going backwards or forwards. As to my point...um...

[Ultimate_Idiot]

Yup, the majority would prefer to know the most recent celeb news than save the human race for another 2,000 years. However, it's less painful not knowing the truth. It's a miracle that I havn't commit suicide because i just happened to find my bro's shonen jump one day.

[rimpelcut]

to stop this decaying you have to stop doing. That is why all the efforts of the people that see the problems in the world are in vain.
The source of the problems was doing. The world is ruled by letting things take their course.
It cannot be ruled by interfering.
Stillness and tranquility set things in order in the universe.
While you might see this unlogical, realize that you are not acting on your own; you act because something else acts. If you act on your own you are interfering. That is why a sage works without doing.

[GOD'S BITCH]

I'm not sure if we're going backwards. We are destroying our environment and society's ideals. But his will only lead to our destruction. Perhaps progress leads to demise. Going backward would probably save humanity.

[rimpelcut]

just don't go to far.

maybe so but all of this crap made our lifes crap.