People Explain What They Believe Is Currently Holding Civilization Back
What is up with civilization?
If it seems like the news is depressing you all the time, that's okay. You are not alone. Thanks to so much access to information, we always know about the horrible things that are happening around the world at any given time.
As you can imagine, this has given people plenty of time to consider the root causes of so much civil strife.
People shared their thoughts after Redditor Tedsthebest11 asked the online community,
"What do you think is currently holding civilization back?"
"It's an easy target..."
"It's an easy target, but even with the press it has these days, I don't think people realize how destructive misinformation, and thinking you're correct without any training at all, actually is."
VerbNoun_Member
We are definitely seeing the consequences of this around the world; it has certainly split the United States in different factions.
"I shudder for the future..."
"The Internet has spawned a new form of communication people simply don't have good filters for."
"Civilization has thousands of years of experience learning to resist nonsense passed by word of mouth, hundreds of years of experience resisting nonsense passed by the printed word, a century resisting nonsense passed by radio and television, but only a couple of decades learning to resist nonsense passed by the Internet."
"People will evolve filters eventually -- but what will happen in the meantime? Could the dictators of WW2 have come to prominence without radio to spread their lies?"
"I shudder for the future when direct neural interfaces give demagogues the ability to communicate ideas and emotions straight to the brain."
DanTheTerrible
Okay, this is really not going to help me sleep at night, FYI. Oh dear.
"As long as corporations..."
"In the US, I think one of the things that are holding us back the most is money in politics. As long as corporations are able to keep politicians in their pockets, we will never have any real substantial structural change."
duckblunted
"The man was the leading cause..."
"Robert Maxwell, father of Ghislaine. The man was the leading cause of paywalled scientific articles today. Before him, science publishing was relatively open. He helped shape the industry into the cancer on academia it is today."
Hollywood899
We don't talk about Robert Maxwell nearly as much as we should.
That family is truly... something else.
"People who are convinced..."
"People who are convinced they're geniuses without any actual training or education."
NoPeanut4U
"Societal acceptance..."
"Societal acceptance that accumulation of material possession is more important than the pursuit of knowledge, enrichment, self-improvement, and individual well-being."
viperchrisz4
This is probably the answer to end all answers, come to think of it.
"I know that's kinda broad..."
"Tribalism. I know that's kinda broad but the whole 'I love everyone on my team and hate everyone on the other team' thing is the root of most problems."
waxies14
The Strangest 'Wrong Number' Stories | George Takei’s Oh Myyy
Before we all had caller ID, wrong numbers phone calls were commonplace. But now that almost everyone screens their calls, it's wrong number texts that have ...Tribalism impedes plenty of progress, though, so you might be on to something. It's definitely what allows people to view politics like a sports team.
"Greedy bastards..."
"Greedy bastards who have enough money for 1000 lifetimes, yet are still screwing the rest of us over to keep grabbing more."
kwijbot64
More than 1,000 lifetimes at this rate, and that's a depressing thought.
"Workers and lower classes..."
"Workers and lower classes are divided along racial, gender, and political lines; they lack solidarity, and they don't organize."
miss_firecracker
Karl Marx was on to something. His Communist Manifesto has only become more relevant year after year.
"In a lot of the world, half the population (women) is uneducated, denied equal rights, and pressured into marriage and motherhood at a young age, sidelining their potential."
miss_firecracker
And allowing these women to reach their potential would do wonders for cutting down poverty (allowing the United Nations to reach their Sustainable Development Goals, FYI).
We live in a wonderful world. It's also a complicated one, with a host of problems. Resolving them is not easy, but as long as there are good humans around, others have the capacity to hope.
Have some thoughts of your own? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!
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People Share Which Things They Think Should Have Been Invented By Now
How in the world are we this far behind?!?!
After a decade of the hit show "Shark Tank" you'd think that there would be nothing left to invent. How could there possibly be anything we haven't realized we're missing? We're already the laziest generation of record, what more could there be? Apparently there are a multitude of visions and ideas just waiting to materialize. So maybe we need to stop thinking and get on it. Science and innovation waits for no man.
Redditor stephen_d wanted to discuss what special projects are long overdue for civilization by asking....
What should have been invented by now?
"What subject is that?"
GiphyA way of inserting knowledge into my brain. Goodbye school. Trickypr
In the movie THX1138 little kids are playing with IVs running into their arms. A middle aged guy stops one and asks "What subject is that?" when the kid answers the guy says "Really? It's so small. When I was your age that subject was THIS BIG and we had to lay down to get it!".
It's been years since I watched the show so obviously the dialogue isn't close to exact hopefully you get the gist. It was a great "I had to walk uphill, in the snow, barefoot, both ways" moment in the show. huckDexterWard
Shower Diet.
A churro you can eat in the shower. hfroxE
very churro is a shower churro if you want it bad enough. 1iopen
Flipped.
An umbrella that doesn't flip cause of wind. jimtothetim
Search wind proof umbrella you can find several brands. :) 👍🏼 Flamingo492
Choices of Zzzzz....
GiphyA "select a sleep" device, where you can dial in whether to dream, how long you'll be out, and hit "Z" to fall asleep instantly. eclectic-radish
Science doesn't even understand why we need sleep entirely so that's a bit away. rattpackfan301
Clickers.
A clicker pen that makes a different animal noise each time you click it. BlezlTheRainbow
This would last about two weeks before every teachers desk was full and the schools ban them. Sullivan17
Teleporting.
Teleporting. I wake up everyday waiting for it. These damn train cartels preventing it from happening. TempStepDad
When teleportation becomes a thing, who's to argue that it's just killing current you then perfectly reproducing a new you without the memories of your original's death? rattpackfan301
Hovering....
Hover boards. Back to the Future is a bunch of bull! comrade_batman
It's possible, but not profitable. rattpackfan301
Not profitable? When it rains and there's gigantic puddles everywhere I'd rather a hover board then wet socks. 0AzRen0
Cured.
A cure for the common cold! manseydoll
Its tough because the common cold is more of a symptom more than anything else. There are over 200 different viruses that cause the Common Cold, its why you keep getting colds and why kids get so many. Too many to build up immunity to everything and too many to cure. If they cured 1 they'd still have 200+ to go. little_fatty
All the Feels.
A phone that can not only let you see and hear things, but also touch and smell. _HastaLaPasta_
Back when the internet was first getting big, there was a device that plugged into a PC that supposedly replicated smells. It had some stupid name like smell o vision or some shit. It did not sell well. bernyzilla
Remote Patrol.
GiphyA button on a TV that makes the remote beep. dead_wolf_walkin
My tv doesn't even have buttons anymore. God forbid I lose the remote while the tv is on. Reddit
Stoned.
A pill that dissolves kidney stones. intelligent_cement
I think I heard something about a procedure using ultrasounds to try to break them up. ArcWolf713
Lithotripsy. When I had it done to break up the golf ball sized stone blocking my ureter, they put me under for it and put a stent in to help the pieces pass more easily.
It was still like peeing shards of glass for a few days.
Plus, as an added bonus, they don't knock you out to remove the stent, they just put a small tube, grab it, and pull.
All in all, I'd rather have a pill that dissolves them. KhaoticMess
Lasered.
Better printers. Kn1ght0fN169
Advice I got from r/askengineers.
"Get a brother laser printer and never look back."
I bought one. Haven't looked back. It's wonderful. lulzdemort
Glass temps...
Every window in your car has a heating element so you don't have to stand in the freezing cold scraping all the windows . And likewise they wont steam up in cold weather with 3 or more people in the car. inked29inked29
it needs to remain indirect. My old chebby gains heat within seconds even at 20 below. I have cracked windshields in ice storms just starting the truck. I leave it on floor settings to go easier on that frail stuff called double laminated safety glass. bgd73
boy control.
GiphyLegit birth control for men. Varvatos_Vex
There was one in the works but it made the test subjects depressed/suicidal. One person even supposedly committed suicide. The sick part was the stay at home mom talk shows were like "men are such wimps" :( Ensec
Shiny Heads.
A legitimate cure for balding. What's the hold up? There have got to be bald scientists dedicating their lives to this. anon3220
It's a very profitable industry, and heck yes there are. The future is cloning hair follicles, but we still need to figure out the ethics with stem cells. rattpackfan301
Dental Works.
A method to regrow teeth. discostud1515
They're working on it. Recently read something about regenerating enamel. While ago read something about soaking teeny spongy things in an Alzheimer's medication and they pack it in a cavity or something and it regrows dentin. I'm too tired to find you the sauce but it's out there. Bolognabaybe
Freeze Blast.
A microwave, but for making stuff cold. EggsAndBeerKegs
Most professional kitchens have blast chillers which are pretty similar. Or there's always an anti griddle. prongslover77
Whose got the Power?!
Fusion power. A clean power source who's base product is literally everywhere, allowing us to replace much (comparatively) more expensive fuel sources?
We should be dumping hundreds of billions of dollars into researching it and finally get rid of fossil fuels. hockeypeg18
If I don't live to see it (58), I'm confident a 20yo will. The science is there, what's needed is the technology and engineering. Not to underestimate that challenge but it's grunt it out work that can be solved with money. tatersdad
Health First.
GiphyThe medical kiosk where you can walk in and get your finger pricked and pee in a cup and maybe even get an X-ray all while chatting with a medical professional. Pay your $50 and leave. 2K_Argo
Okay, we want all of these please! What would you add to this? Let us know in the comments below.
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We really should pay closer attention in History class, or at the very least, every once and awhile we should watch a program on the History channel. At first glance the past merely seems like a boring, overstuffed cavalcade of useless information. But when you look closer you realize the past is a fascinating onslaught of entertaining tales and shocking facts. There are some things you learn when you dig a little deeper that will leave you gobsmacked.
Redditor pygmypuffonacid wanted to compare notes about what we all know when it comes to history by asking...
What is your favorite random historical fact?
Kurt.
Giphy"One of the most famous and important mathematicians and logicians in history, Kurt Gödel, developed a crippling obsessive fear of being poisoned. He would only eat food that his wife prepared. When she ended up being hospitalized for six months, he literally starved himself to death."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Gödel
BattleHall
In 1814....
"In 1814 when the British marched into Washington DC, they didn't burn everything down right away."
"First they sat down to eat the freshly prepared presidential meal at the White House and then they made a bunch of presidential proclamations like better training for American troops and freedom for all the slaves."
tarepandaz
Eat Up.
"Charles Darwin ate every animal that he studied."
PrimalMusk
"I'm suddenly uncomfortable that he wrote a book called The Descent of Man."
AtheistBibleScholar
Lupercalia.....
"The Romans celebrated a festival known as the Lupercalia. This involved priests sacrificing a goat, briefly anointing themselves with its blood, cutting off strips of its flesh for use as whips, and running naked around the Palatine hill whipping anyone they encountered, laughing as they did so."
"Typically women would attempt to get themselves whipped as this supposedly ensured fertility and a safe childbirth."
TheSuperCactus
Mongolia.
"The mongols waited until the winter to start their invasion of Russia."
LackOfAnotherName
"This doesn't surprise me. Mongolia is very, very, cold. It's capital city, Ulaanbaatar, is the coldest capital city in the world. The average high temperature in January is 3.9 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of -14.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Compared to that, Moscow's balmy."
sapphic_saracen
Kilt It.
Giphy"Wearing kilts was illegal in Scotland after the failed Jacobite Uprising of 1745-6. However, there were very few British troops in the remote Highlands and islands, so the more bold Scotsmen would wear kilts when they were near home. On the island of Seil, then, there was an inn called "Tigh an Truish," or "House of Trousers," where those men would change from a kilt to pants when they were going to the more tightly controlled mainland (and vice versa)."
Obligatory-Reference
During the siege....
"During the siege of Tenochtitlan, cortez's conquistadors build a trebuchet that fired one shot. It fired straight up, and the projectile destroyed the trebuchet on its way back down."
VolJin
Good Ole Abe...
"Abraham Lincoln visited a friend often at his farm. They were sharpening knives for some reason, Lincoln used it last and the man couldn't find the whetstone for several years until Lincoln returned. When asked where Lincoln had left it, he walked over to the post they were next to when using it, and picked it up off the top of it, where the man couldn't see just a foot out of sight."
GrizzledTheGrizzly
Tommy F....
"In 1956 a man named Tommy Fitzpatrick stole a small plane from New Jersey for a bet and then landed it perfectly on the narrow street in front of the bar he had been drinking at in Manhattan. Two years later, he did it again after someone didn't believe he had done it the first time."
"Here is an article about it."
-eDgAR-
Everyone loves Mickey....
Giphy"Hitler loved Disney movies, and did some watercolours of Bashful and Doc."
InternetCrab7
Ben Bathes.
Giphy"Ben Franklin used to go through his morning routine butt naked. He called them "air baths."
-ItsMyProcess
"I'm gonna use this the next time someone asks me to shower."
-blink0r
Richard's the Bomb!
"King Richard's troops catapulted live bee hives as "bombs" during the Third Crusade."
-IguanaTapThatAxolotl
"Richard the Lionheart was truly fascinating. He pretty much steamrolled his way to Jerusalem before realizing, "Wait a second... hmm okay, so if I lay siege to the city, I'd be pinned down if enemy reinforcements arrive. And even if I take the city... well heck, I'm the King of England."
"I can't just stay in Jerusalem for the rest of my life, and I can't leave my entire army behind to hold the city either. And if I leave a small force to hold the city... crap, they'll be left hugely outnumbered and get massacred once the rest of us are gone. Okay yeah, um, let's call it a draw."
"Not to mention the fact that he got killed trying to suppress a small peasant uprising that had taken up residence in a small keep. And by a random schnook with a crossbow no less, all because he decided to ride around with no armor on and yell at the archers up on top of the walls."
-JTCMuehlenkamp
Fly High.
"The first man to fly an airplane and the first man to step foot on the moon lived at the same time."
-CaptainWisconsin
"Orville Wright died in 1948, and Neil was born in 1930."
"I think the bigger thing when looking at these dates is Orville Wright witnessing the advancement of war with aircraft. Bombing (Conventional and Nuclear), Air-Raids, Parachute Drops."
-StickSauce
Children of God
"The Children of God cult was so controlling that they had rules for how many squares of toilet paper members could use."
"Otherwise, Mike the Chicken was a headless chicken that survived for about a year and a half after his accident."
-FinAdartse
Define Average.
Giphy"The average ww2 solder saw 10 days of combat a year. In Vietnam, it was 240 days."
-moxin84
You mean an average WW2 American soldier, right?"
"Because both the Soviets and the Germans definitely did not have enough reserves to rotate units so much. And they were in constant contact on a very long front."
-DefenestrationPraha
The Dutch Forget.
"There once existed an alleged theoretical state of war that lasted 335 years and 19 days, and was between the Dutch and an archipelago off the coast of southwest England called the Isles of Scilly."
"What's more, there were no casualties (because the Dutch forgot that they were at war with the Isles)."
"It wasn't until a Scilly historian contacted the Dutch about the "war" in 1985, and received the information that the "war" was still technically ongoing, that a peace treaty was signed in 1986."
-Being_grateful
"Stinky Horse Blanket"
"There once was a Lakota warrior whose name meant something like "fights so hard he doesn't even take time to care for his own needs." His name in English due to translation errors was "Stinky Horse Blanket."
-DrJeckylMrHyde
The Allied powers...
"Not sure if this has already been shared, but here's one of my favorites:"
"In WW2 in an attempt to fool the allied powers, Germany built a small airbase and filled it with wooden mockups that were made to look like aircraft so they could make it seem that they had more aircraft then they really had. The British then rolled up and dropped a single wooden bomb on it soon after."
-Billytheninja1
Wiped out.
"Smallpox could've been completely eradicated, but two samples were kept. One for the US CDC and one in Russia. Then Russia made 2000 tons of smallpox bioweapon that disappeared after the Cold War."
TheCopenhagenCowboy
"They kept the samples in case we ever needed to make more vaccine, because there's always the chance that there's some tiny pocket of it out there that was overlooked through which it could come back."
SolDarkHunter
Tuts Away....
Giphy"King Tut wasn't some great King. He was severely physically deformed, and didn't reign that long."
"Ironically, he was so mediocre that his tomb was left alone by raiders. For this reason, his tomb was discovered later by historians untouched, making him the most famous Pharaoh of all time!"
_forum_mod
History is littered with cool information just waiting for us to dig it up!