Depends what you consider better or worse; ultimately, technology progresses, ideas change, but people, for better or worse, do not.
edited 10th Sep '11 9:33:22 PM by tropetown
I changed accounts.
Proud Canadian
Worse, except for Canada, Northern Europe, and Russia (if they get their shit together).
Climate change, mothafolka.
edited 10th Sep '11 9:32:35 PM by Erock
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
To quote Snake Plissken: "the more things change, the more they stay the same."
The world is a crapsachrinne place of course it's going to go in a bad direction but even though we didn't start the fire we can still fight it.
That and I believe that we can keep having faith that something miraclous comes along to save this fallen world.
I changed accounts.
As I like to say, the world is neither better or worse than it was when Christ walked the Roman Empire.
It's merely better advertized.
I am now known as Flyboy.
The world is going trying to find a new way to say it sucks to be you.But the world will not win that easy because I have the power of love,hope,and faith on my side.Who do you think we are!!!
Proud Canadian
The world is 100% better USAF.
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
I changed accounts.
"Better" is relative.
We're enjoying cushy positions and discussing this crap while people starve and die in Africa and Asia—and hell, in America and Canada, too.
I am now known as Flyboy.
Proud Canadian
I can't believe ou can ignore how far we've come.
Not to mention lfie is better everywhere but a few select places in Africa.
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ
the world has gotten better. Virtually everywhere is more prosperous compared to 2000 years ago. the developed world is better than it was 200 years ago.
And there are metrics by which it is possible to measure how better life has been, namely buying power, assets, poverty line, population density, access of information.
The mere fact that we are talking is a sign of the fact that the world is better than the past.
Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry
I changed accounts.
I'm not ignoring it, I'm saying that in the grand scheme of things you're falling into Rule of Perception far too much.
On the surface, it appears to be generally better. That's because we shoved all the problems under the surface...
I am now known as Flyboy.
And as for the statement that people are starving in America...there are over forty kitchens in my town alone that just feed anyone who walks in off the street, so I'm not sure that's as big a problem as you seem to think.
True, there are people who refuse to go to such facilities under any circumstance, but that's generally because they're simply insane.
edited 10th Sep '11 9:51:26 PM by INUH
Infinite Tree: an experimental story
This one honestly thinks that this world is much better place than it used to be (and oh please, do not start all this "privileged few" thing), and that it will continue to improve. But much slower than we would like, with quite a few setbacks along the way, and a decent chance to blow the planet up.
If we disagree, that much, at least, we have in common
This, too
edited 10th Sep '11 9:53:58 PM by Beholderess
If we disagree, that much, at least, we have in common
Certain things are better, due to better technology, and ideas which emphasize the development of humanity. However, people as a whole will never change, and so, the question of how much progress has been made is questionable, as well as anyone's ideas on whether or not we are going forward or backward in progress (I tend to lean toward the former, but there are reasonable arguments for the latter).
I changed accounts.
How would it not be a privileged few?
What is it, some 5-15% of Americans control more than 50% of the money? The top 1% could pay off the national debt nearly 6 times over?
Life is better for some. Mostly crap though, for the majority. Most of us happen to not be a part of the group who's life sucks the most, though, so we don't have a concept of how much it still sucks. We may have a higher standard of what is "poor," but there are still millions of poor people either way...
I am now known as Flyboy.
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
I find the questions highly depends which part of the world you are talking about. I see the world as going several directions with varying degrees of good or bad depending on my perception.
Who watches the watchmen?
The world will always have problems and if I became rich I would live a middle class lifestyle so I put that money into making people's lives better in some way or another.I would a soldier of God by fighting injustice in the world.I might not destroy all evil in the world but I will make sure until Jesus comes back that there are less tears of sadness in the world.
Some aspects of Western society have improved, and others have regressed. Other parts of the world are better off than they were for centuries (Europe comes to mind) while others are worse than they've been for centuries. Whether or not the world as a whole is any better depends purely on your perspective.
I changed accounts.
Great for you. Find a hobo and tell them life is good, then. See what reaction you get.
Once again, Rule of Perception. Life is better for some, and the same, or worse, for others.
I am now known as Flyboy.
Proud Canadian
USAF, 2000 years ago 95% of people had no money.
It is crazy how far we've come.
Funny, I was just thinking of a certain Paul Simon song.
edited 10th Sep '11 9:59:49 PM by Erock
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
Hobos are doing better now than they were in the 1400s; I can say that much for sure. You seem to be under the impression that poverty is a new thing.
Infinite Tree: an experimental story
Or will it go to better direction as it seems to always do in history?