Can we stand the rate of change in the world?
By darwinall
@darwinall (44)
United States
July 18, 2008 12:47am CST
Everything changes so quickly in the world. Computers, the Internet, satellite link-ups to everything, stealth technology...but humanity used to change over centuries, sometimes a thousand years could go by with little change. But at some point, change in a single lifetime accelerated. Consider this about Winston Churchill: When he was a young officer, he took part in a cavalry charge at Omduran. He was trained in fighting with a sword from horseback, in a way of fighting that went back unbroken through many generations to over 2,000 years ago. Then when he was Prime Minister in the 1950's, he had at his command a very different weapon - the atomic bomb. In his one lifetime, he went from the weapon at his hand being a sword to an atomic bomb! Has humanity coped with that rate of change? And the rate of change keeps accelerating. So much more has happened since Churchill. 50 years since he died...an eyeblink on the scale of human history.
2 responses
@Xdrowninghavocx (3117)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Certain things are changing. But not the right things. Technology will continue to change throughout our entire lifetime. However, what about people? Some of us has become more open minded, but it's going to take a lot more to gain acceptance from everyone. Then the world can be considered great and wonderful and such.
@darwinall (44)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Yeah, that's the problem. Technology is easy to change, by it's nature. People are not easy to change. We have the same set of social skills as we did 5,000 or 50,000 years ago. People were selfish to their own little clan. And the swordsman is now dealing with nuclear weapons. Maybe it's a wonder we're not in worse shape. Being open minded and inclusive is rare in the world, and in history. It's so easy and self satisfying to indulge in intolerance. On odd days, I despair of humanity improving, having acceptance as a majority view. On even days, I note that rational viewpoints are spreading in many ways...and on those days, why not enjoy the parts that are wonderful?
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Many, many things have changed since 1950, the year I was born. But, all of those things have been taken in stride by me because I know that things change. The more technology the faster things change, but, it doesn't mean that I must embrace the newest and the latest thing.I know that these days the new will soon be old 
If you worry about all the changes going on you will only live a life filled with stress that you do not need since you cannot control the things you worry about. Relax and enjoy what is here
If you worry about all the changes going on you will only live a life filled with stress that you do not need since you cannot control the things you worry about. Relax and enjoy what is here @darwinall (44)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Hey, someone on MyLot who's even 5 years older than me. Well, we're both contemporaries of Churchill (technically). I don't let so much change stress me. I do note that when I was young I thought unquestioningly that change was good, technology was wonderful. My view is now much wider. I do enjoy news of a good science find with wonder, still.
