“I have observed that not the man who hopes when others despair, but the man who despairs when others hope, is admired by a large class of persons as a sage.” - John Stuart Mill
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Middle class by what standard, Pinker? Also, why should it make news when there’s so much suffering in the world? Last (most important point), this emphasis on these kinds of stats contradicts what some of your points in The Better Angels of Our Nature.
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Hi Max, when you have time dig into book called
#Factfullness or anything from Yuhal Harari. -
My issue with Harari is that he’s becoming somewhat of a futurist. I can’t take that seriously. But I was going to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation.
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Perhaps, but in contrast to other futurists, Harari is constantly hedging by saying that much of what he imagines may not come to pass. The main thrust of his writing about the future is simply to get ppl to think about it more.
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No one wants to watch news about good things happening.
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Disagree. The public appetite for good news is huge and growing. Good news is also an antidote to burn out from bad news and can energize action to continue working for the greater good. Balance is vital
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Well I shouldn't say no one wants good news. Maybe people are learning to appreciate the good more now? I know networks will run whatever news gets them better ratings now.
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At some point we will all have to acknowledge that the “media“ is simply another form of entertainment. The “news media“ is meant to make profit as surely as a marvel – comic movie. Sad and disgusting but true. I guess it’s time we all grew up.
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It doesn’t have to be this way. Consumer choice drives the market, consumers have to be taught to want accurate information information and to explore opposing viewpoints.
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I don’t disagree, but in order to teach someone you have to have a willing student. I am increasingly convinced that willing students are far and few between.
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So I’m at once an ideological liberal and a huge critic of what we have done with our freedom. It’s almost as if we have replaced God with ourselves, leading to epic levels of narcissism. Problem is, I don’t think the personal God most religious people believe in exists.
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And we’re on the verge of ecological collapse. Your half full glass is made out of disappearing permafrost.
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There’s no money, click bait, or research grants in it.
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this article was written by the most well-funded and regarded policy think tank in the US
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But isn't your dubious optimism here based on unsustainable economic growth based largely on burning of fossil fuels?
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Does your world include Africa? If yes, then your study is flawed
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More specifically, sub Sahara Africa
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Perhaps many people don’t think that earning $4k/year is a particularly useful measure of a healthy “Middle Class”.
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