Future Shock
Nearly 40 years ago Alvin Toffler wrote a sociological discourse in the form of a book called Future Shock, and although I read it some time back with only casual interest, these two themes have stuck with me: data overload, and too much change too soon. What way will our lives, cultures, and societies deal with and change during this age of informational and technological onslaught? What role does affluence, globalisation, and the internet play in the evolution of our species?
We like to consider ourselves social creatures; but, how social are we becoming? Where once we banded together in groups or clans who shared the tasks, joys, and disappointments of day to day life we have now become independent, isolated, and intolerant of others. It is becoming evident by recent news that we cannot handle stress, financial pressures, or misfortune without acting out in violence and abuse or some other offensive/defensive manner.
The family is of course the basic social group or clan and instead of building on that solid structure it seems to be diminishing in importance to this new human. Are the successes of Social Networking sites the proof that there is a void in our need to belong? somewhere, anywhere? I wonder. Once we have acquired some wealth, or in the process of seeking it, we tend to leave those who have nurtured us, taught us, and shared our burdens. Do we spend the rest of our lives in search of that sense of belonging?
A wealthy, well travelled, and high-tech populace is growing on all continents and within all cultures. We can communicate instantaneously to all regions of the earth and physically travel to any point on the globe within 24 hours. We may take these marvels for granted today; but, this is only a recent phenomenon in human history. Toffler’s future is our present. How will we change or adapt to handle these changes? Euro Yank offers the theory that Eastern and Western cultures are fundamentally different in that the West focuses on the independence of man while the East is more concerned with the interdependence of man. Will one culture surpass the other in it’s ability to adapt? Or, will the cultures of the world become more homogenous and grow so much alike as to become indistinguishable from one another?
What price will technology extract from the social, cultural, and emotional qualities of human nature?
- Environment, Culture, Caoimhin, Health, Irish Culture, misc, All posts, Techie, Web/Tech | Time: 12:50 am (UTC+8)
Congratulations for being one of the first to host an episode of the Battle of the Blogs Debates
Consider this … The USA came into existence in 1776. How long did it take the USA to free the slaves, allow women to vote, ban forced child labor … over 150 years - on the other hand The People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949 and these rights were granted immediately … just 60 years. (of course this example is not very popular), but China will become the leading power, and it is because of the shift of technology from West to East. Consider this post China Will Soon Trump U.S. in Science & Technology and regarding human nature consider this … three driving forces of society
Comment by EuroYank — April 29, 2008 @ 1:34 am
I think instead of us becoming more homogeneous and sticking together for the common good of mankind, we will become more and more heterogeneous and only cling together to further our selfish needs via the process of defragmentation.
Today you are my friend because you agree with me, tomorrow you are my enemy because you disagree! Likes and dislikes are irrelevant as long as the personal goal is achieved.
Comment by Igor The Troll — April 29, 2008 @ 1:57 am
Euro: In all fairness the Chinese culture was thousands of years old before those changes came to be! There was a pretty equal division of (cheap)labour, constant internal war, and a huge population to unite. What real progress is it to let women vote when there is only one name on the ballot?
Igor: Yes, that is a possible scenario! Is there a way to make sure your prediction doesn’t come true?
Comment by Cao — April 29, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
The colonies were around since 1492. We are talking about governments Cao, and many European governments were around for thousands of years. Governments not culture Cao!
Comment by EuroYank — April 29, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
I meant to say many European cultures have been around for thousands of years also. Government not Culture Cao!
Comment by EuroYank — April 29, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
and Cao one last thing your post was about technology and humanism. We all know the difference between capitalism, democracy and communism. Because the USA prides itself on Democracy I merely drew attention to the fact not the ideal!
Comment by EuroYank — April 29, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
True enough Euro. As the cultures change so must the governments, have the Eastern cultures changed as dramatically as the Western ones? The East had the most advanced technology for thousands of years, was it the government or the culture which held them back?
Comment by Cao — April 29, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
Cao, I think as a nation of peoples, it is going to be very hard for us to put aside our differences and prejudices and unite for the good of mankind. Hopefully there will be enough of us around with such a vision to preserve humanity and prevent total Armageddon! We will be borderline, but at the end human beings will prevail, that is our trade to survive!
Comment by Igor The Troll — April 29, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Indeed Igor, we are survivors! We’ve almost always lived on the edge of danger one way or another!
Comment by Cao — April 29, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
Take your pick Cao … Feudalism, Wars, Tribes, nations, cities that were nations, religion, the British Empire … In China Mao called the new beginning the Cultural Revolution … that did not work either until investments from the West were encouraged, and profitable.
Comment by EuroYank — April 29, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
It seems Euro that human kind has tried on many types of systems and is evolving into a government/culture/society that wants a system to feel as comfortable to wear as an old coat!
Comment by Cao — April 29, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
Well said Administrator … too bad Cao could not debate himself because you are the MAN!
Comment by EuroYank — April 29, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
There is some glitch with my comments and I have to go back and edit to add my name…
Comment by Cao — April 29, 2008 @ 2:49 pm
I do not believe capitalism is the solution. Once we tie importance to the value of how much money one has or does not, we diminish the importance of creativity and intellect.
People are not for sale, period!
Comment by Igor The Troll — April 29, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
Good point Igor, but how many people have sold themselves, or their own souls, to chase the brass ring? Capitalism probably isn’t the answer, but for now, the majority think it’s the most comfortable coat to wear! That’s Democracy for ya!
Comment by Cao — April 29, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
Yeah money is useful but it is not salvation. You just need some of it to pay the bills and enjoy doing what makes you feel good at heart! Unfortunately many people all over the world feel that money equals power, status, and recognition. Anyone who respects you because one of these does not really respect you at all. Only in poverty do we learn true friendship! Only through hardships and triumphs do we learn the meaning of life.
Comment by Igor The Troll — April 29, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
Well said Igor!
Comment by Cao — April 29, 2008 @ 6:45 pm
Well what said is indeed correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by cutie pie — April 30, 2008 @ 4:31 am
Thanks for the visit and the comment Cutie Pie!
Comment by Cao — April 30, 2008 @ 12:47 pm
I was looking at a similar thought in a different way lately, see this. I have a big problem with the way we are continuously segmented as markets, down to the individual. iPods themselves are fine, but they promote a self centered mentality that I believe undermines much of the strength that has been built up in society over the centuries. I think a jolt of positive freedom is needed for cohesion rather than the all pervasive vacuum of negative freedom.
Comment by Thriftcriminal — April 30, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
Yeah TC, the discussion you depict in your post is very interesting, a disaster, like a “common enemy” can galvanise a nation. That is why prior to wars there has to be a recognisable “bad guy” put out to the public by the aggressors. It’s a shame that it has to take a natural disaster to bring out the best in humanity!
Comment by Cao — April 30, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
It just seems wrong that people cannot be galvanised by issues like peak oil, or the general betterment of society itself. The nature of western society is dissipative, phenomenal levels of cleverness and effort go into the production of the least of the consumer devices we buy, use and discard every day. The governments operate on the principle of “ah, sure, ’tis good enough” therefore resort to PR rather than policy to bring our lot from the level of acceptable to that of a really decent society. Oh, Mr. McWilliams is on a peak oil jaunt today, he’s almost sounding lefty ?
Comment by Thriftcriminal — April 30, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
People will rise to the occasion if the threat is great enough TC, usually the majority will be behind the curve though. Being the “canary in a coal mine” isn’t an attractive position as the ones who warn of impending doom are often criticised and castigated for their efforts. Just about the time it is nearly too late will the majority rise up and demand action, seems that’s been the way it was, can you see it changing?
Comment by Cao — April 30, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
CHEER up All - After the next terrorist attack on the USA (if it IS a covered up inside job or NOT,) AMERICAN FASCISM will TOP the LAST FASCISM that started World War II, and this debate will be over, and so will all these theories!
Comment by EuroYank — April 30, 2008 @ 9:08 pm
Sorry but Eastern cultures are especially unfair in comparison to the west. Individuality is still shunned in China (a place where theres thousands of executions) and hell theres still arranged marriages. China may become the next superpower but it will never exceed the human rights progress made by the US since China does not care about human rights, since after all its all about the collective good. Now an uncaring hive society with US materialism and greed? Spells disaster for everybody.
Comment by Survive — April 30, 2008 @ 9:30 pm
Ah Euro, always the optimist!
Comment by Cao — May 1, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
Thanks Survive for the input! The problem is this: would a Super Power even care for human rights if it’s absolute control were threatened?
Comment by Cao — May 1, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
Probably not. As we’ve seen with every person or govt with massive or absolute power, they will do anything to preserve their power. Including massive abuses of human rights.
Comment by Survive — May 1, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
Very true Survive, sad but true!
Comment by Cao — May 1, 2008 @ 7:02 pm
So intresting, the question how are we going ot survive doesn’t have a easy answer, maybe and for sure how things are going with the world now, for sure not all are going to survive, the answer will be focused in what do you think matters the most to save and preserve?, do this people think oil is the most important thing in the world to save? or is the enviroment?, or is the human race all alone? or is the spiritual?, while devating and taking wrong decisions and putting on a panick attack to the whole world this people forgets our origen, I think the earth is changing because its natural course and cicles, and the univers is in constant change and movement, how can we be afecting the temperature in the earth? when we have a whole Universe and cosmos around us and we are under their influence too… We do pollute here and there, and we can distroy forest and rivers and lakes with uncouncions acts against our Earth but I don’t think we have nothing to do with the heating of the earth, or the cooling of the earth,or the ice ages in earth, or the black spots in the sun, not with our pollution, no with our toxins in air and water, but YES, WITH OUR SPIRITUAL POLLUTION, there is a world that we cannot see all the time, but we can feel it, and we know is there, but most of time we decide to ignore, that is the world we need to start paying more attention too, and do what is right acording with our councience and soul, we are all related we are all together on this one, we need to be prepare, for what comes next in this world
I love your blog, always something intesting to talk about 
Comment by Shine — May 2, 2008 @ 6:42 pm
Thank you for your comment Shine! You are right, we are all in this together and we better get our priorities straight, if all our souls were in the right place we wouldn’t be having all these problems!
Comment by Cao — May 2, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
With divorce rates up over the 50% mark (in the U.S.), too many families are at war with themselves. To me, it begins here. Not that people shouldn’t get divorced, but it’s up to us to attempt to stem the family wars that further fragment all the relationships between parents, siblings, grandparents and extended family. I know of a handful of divorced people who can get along with their ex’s–and they are couples who are profoundly devoted to the well-being of their children. Not that any of this is easy, but until we can become more responsible for our own situations, especially spiritually, as Shine points out, how can we expect “nations” and “multinational corporations” to behave ethically when as individuals, we may pull the same crap within our own families?
Comment by Renee — May 2, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
Well said Renee, if we as family groups cannot get along how can we expect any other, larger, groups to accomplish it!
Comment by Cao — May 2, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
Excellent discussion! True, true, true… It is amazing at how isolated we have become, even though we seem to be so social, the basis of our efforts are more purposeful than sociable… I have noticed this more and more, I first noticed it about 10 years ago, and it is more and more evident daily. People blame being too busy, too stressed, too tired, but, I think that the underlying reason is more selfish than any of those… Oh, I could go on and on, so, will stop and congratualte you on a fine post, thought provoking and stimulating… thank you and take care!
)))
Comment by LYN — May 8, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
Hi LYN, thanks for dropping by and leaving such a nice comment! Being stressed and tired is part of life these days isn’t it? It used to be that you “work hard and get ahead”, now it seems that you work hard just to not get so far behind!
Comment by Cao — May 8, 2008 @ 6:36 pm