An optimistic OTC thread

Reading thru most of the threads here, it sometimes give the impression that the world is getting worse and worse. But that's simply not true. Despite what the media would have you believe, gun violence and terrorism have been declining for decades. We live in one of the most peaceful eras in history. I thought I could try to make a thread that discusses good things that are happening politically around the world , to help dispel this pessimism.

This is a very broad topic, but let's give it a go. Usually an OTC thread has a fairly limited scope, but if we don't make massive digressions we should be able to stay on track. I might end up closing this thread, or it might die a natural death from lack of posts. As I said, though, we can take a shot.

This site for good news should be a good pick-me-up.

Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will. That's how I tend to look at the world.

I'm not sure I'm parsing that correctly. People are idiots, but we're too stubborn to die?

You guys remember the ALS Ice bucket challenge? Well, it's helped to contribute to the finding of a gene related to ALS.

Nah.

The People is better than we thought.

Thanks for the information.

According to Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, rates of violence and death by violence have been going steadily down for centuries.

“Violent deaths of all kinds have declined, from around 500 per 100,000 people per year in prestate societies to around 50 in the Middle Ages, to around six to eight today worldwide, and fewer than one in most of Europe.”

While the statistics Pinker cites seems pretty solid, his theory for why it's happening seems to rely on a series of institutional changes over history starting with the invention of states about 5000 years ago and continuing with the growth of commerce and the cultural changes introduced by the Enlightenment.

War is on its way out, apparently.

War... War has changed.

Here's a good video to watch if you want some optimistic news.

Declawing cats is now illegal in New Jersey.

I bet that happened only after big bribes by the Scratching Pole industry.

Seriously, though, good job.

EU on track to meet 2020 renewable energy target, report shows

[Cracked]34 Positive Stories That Got Lost In The 24/7 Outrage Cycle I like #7 in particular.

York to become UK's 'first Human Rights City'

The Quakers have won. Way to go, York!

Billionare uses fortune to help with cleaning the ocean.

edited 20th May '17 10:31:14 PM by I-Teleported-Bread

Unlike most people, I believe that the world is getting a lot better than the past, and i'm also one of the few who doesn't think 2016 was the worst year in modern times (2001 and 2008 were worse, perhaps 2003 and 2011 as well) Max Roser's fantastic Our Worldin Data website shows just how things have improved. Child Mortality, Maternal mortality, violence, world hunger, deforestation, poverty, child labor, and discrimination have all decreased a lot in the last 40-50 years, while technology and healthcare have exponentially improved, as well as life expectancy, renewable energy use, literacy, education, human development, democracy, and more. I don't think the world's going to hell in a handbasket.

I'm a big optimist, for example I believe that Brexit can be a success, and that Trump is not gonna get much of the bad things he's said done, and that 2016 was not "annus horriblus".

edited 24th May '17 6:22:00 AM by WhatArtThee

If Brexit ends up being "Hard" Brexit after all...things won't be good for the UK.

Well, maybe it will. Still, i'd take 2016 over "Global economic meltdown" (2008) "Deadliest western terrorist attack that is catalyst for pointless wars that killed millions" (2001) and possibly "Revolts that lead to catastrophic situation in a major region of the world" (2011).

Thing is, 2016 didn't happen in a vacuum. It was the culmination of a lot of bad things, including the stuff mentioned in the years you listed.

And do you have any solid evidence to back up your belief that Brexit will work out fine aside from wishful thinking?

I don't think it will but the reason why I feel it could is because they have control over their own destiny, and if they make the right decisions it could be a success, and since Conservatives have really declined in polling lately there could be a chance of a Labor majority which would be very good, I think.

edited 24th May '17 6:39:26 AM by WhatArtThee

It's not impossible for saner heads to prevail in the UK to ensure that Brexit isn't a complete disaster...but it is not likely.

Let us not forget that the UK actually does not have much control over the Brexit process. That's on the EU. Fortunately, the EU does not seem to be particularly vindictive. Firm, but not vindictive.

edited 24th May '17 6:40:37 AM by M84