How Do We Make A Better World?

So we live in a time where human interaction is based mainly upon technology, social media, devices, video game systems, etc. Long are the days when the telephone used to ring often. We "text" each other so much more than we "talk" to one another. The wars that continue, the famine out there. The selfishness, and overly-opinionated culture we live in. Invisible universes we call our own walking lives... Hmmm. I dunno I've just been thinking a lot lately. Haven't been able to watch the news in almost 4 years now. I used to watch it a lot, but all that's promoted is death, war, famine, racism, outrageous pop culture (that now is also blatantly showcasing symbols - I won't get into it but you know what I mean), etc.

I wake up everyday pretty happy. But not to pleased about the world we live in. It's been on my mind since I was a young child. We're quick to point out the issues we face on a day to day basis (like I just did). But what can we do to solve these issues? Really here we are a large group of people with slightly above average intellect (at least tech wise). & I wonder, if we can spend all day, all month, and years helping each other out with "gadget problem solving." Can't some of us with all of this intellectual power ponder up some ideas in relation to what we can do for one another on this planet? This changing planet... Whether you believe in religion, science, or what have you maybe nothing but "just being here." You've got to admit we live in crazy times.

Sure the Egyptians were rulers, the Chinese had dynasty's, war has been steady throughout history, and we've always seemed to take more than we've given back to this planet... Back to our fellow humans. Seriously what is to become of us if we continue the way we are as a global community? This goes beyond pinpointing specific issues I just mentioned. We've developed a world of distraction. With so many layers blinding us from seeing our problems. You get home from work, probably watch the news, eat, and go about your day. We know there are people starving. But we don't do anything about it. That could include myself too (I try to do things but could do more). Why is it in our nature to behave this way? I bet someones going to quote Darwin! How about Einstein, how about the things he said about "love?" I bet someones going to quote Hawkings. Ok maybe you're not religious, as he apparently recently supposedly "debunked" God's existence. It doesn't matter what you believe in terms of spiritualism.

We STILL live in a crazy world that's moving faster than any period in the history of mankind.

I know someones probably going to quote some science. Which is cool. But... Science hasn't always been right. Science did demote Pluto as a planet, and at one point we humans even thought the world was flat until about 1500AD, or that the Earth was the center of the universe. I'm not here to trash science though. I was just curious all week to hear opinions from a lot of bright minds here on Majorgeeks. Opinions as to what we can do as the so called "smart people" in our families, work, or friendships. You know that good ole "Talk to him he/she fixes computers" ordeal we're confronted with all of the time? The so called "Smart Guy." Well that's what I mean if we're so smart, while a lot of scientists, thinkers, and such get exposure. People like us usually don't get the chance to give our *rational two cents about how we can better this world. Whether it be some new new system, some sort of new discovery, or social change (and I don't mean a new PEACE app for iPhone).

Given the fact that you were born with both a mouth, mind, and heart. What would you have to say if this for instance was your last day on Earth. & you were asked to give your two cents in terms of what we could do to better this planet? The global family which we share. Black, white, hispanic, asian, filipino, italian, etc. We are one family. & time is ticking. I'm not saying "Tomorrow is the end." But you also don't know what tomorrow brings. Many of us know that we may have already been on the verge of some very negative global circumstances, that we probably will never know about. It's crazy I still see the beauty in this world, but sadly a lot of very bad things are still out there.

What can we do?

I'm not talking about your furious YouTube style comment/post/opinion (we all know what those sound like). I'm talking about posts that help rather than cause more confusion, and debate. You might think I'm asking about rainbows and sunshine. No. Given the fact that things are the way they are globally. Just think to yourself if this were your last day on Earth (whether you believe in an after life or not). & you were given a small window of time to work as a team to create solutions to our worldly problems. Solutions you could leave for others to follow, what would they be? What specific problem would you choose to solve/work on, and how? What would you need, or what would we need to see it through?



Thanks,



P.s.
I know there's going to be a couple of sarcastically mouthed people in here. Before you go in on your "things are the way they are and will be this way, who cares" speech. Think about someone you love, and how this world would continue to affect them if you weren't here. & by that I mean even to the point if you didn't exist at all on this planet. But had some sort of a outsiders view of seeing the way we live. A space traveler or something, viewing down at us. Being handed the problems in a notebook. & simply asked "What do you think and what can they do about it?" Funny it seems like we can never get ourselves out of some messes. I remember the Dali Lama (whom I don't follow much at all). Said that one of the greatest things humans can do is practice "Critical thinking, followed by action." I'm curious to know your opinions. Maybe one of us will have a light bulb moment and follow through... We put a lot of emphasis on fixing computers. How much emphasis would you place in on fixing small pieces of this broken world?

 

I agree with most of what you are saying. I may not know the answers but I do know if we continue to do nothing things will only get worse. All anyone has to do is study the history of the rise and fall of nations to see where we are headed.
We can argue beliefs and theories for ever and change nothing! The first step seems to be a real need for people to wake up and realize how bad things are. Then get up and do what you personally can. I know it is not that simple but it is a start.

 

I change a video card, clean some malware or reinstall windows every now and then, none of those solutions can fix mankind.

As for the worlds problems all wars,famine, medical care for disease is caused by one thing, over population or an ever expanding population with limited resources. If theres not enough food, water, land, medical supplies ect. we either let the people die, feed or treat or go to war and fight for resources.

The direct solutions are; Increase the speed we release resources from the earth i.e we have an ever increasing oil production and farming industry, but there are limits on oil reserves and land space and we're reaching those limits now, so it's unsustainable over the long term. Limit the number of children born similar to what China did with it's one child policy, the only way to do that is for the whole world to agree on a child limit and inforce it, a silly notion as it's seems almost impossible to get two countries to agree on even trivial differences.

So in light of that the best way of improving the world is for everyone to keep working, improving the world in small ways, make some food and coffee for the scientist who's working to increase crop production, fix the tyres on the car of the doctor researching cures for Ibola so he can get to the lab. Make new houses so the ever increasing population has somewhere to live.

Just because you don't directly come up with solutions to the big problems it doesn't mean you aren't making the world a better place.

Everyone keeps working keeping their country running so the government can assign part of the coutries resources toward improving the conditions for people in war torn, diseased or starving countries.

Eventually or in the near future our science and society will have answers to these problems, as long as the world keeps ticking over at a steady pace.

If you stop learning about the world, seeing what's happening beyond your front door or even stop caring give up 'I've been there.' Not only do you not create solutions to problems but you cease contributing to a thriving world where solutions can be created by society.

My two pence.

 

Do the things your heart and mind tell you is right or even just good to do. Tell someone 'you just made my day' Give your time or energy or resources where you feel right.

Was in Jackson Ms one year. Letter ad in the Jackson Clarion paper was a mom with kids asking for christmas help. Saw the ad every day till 2 weeks before christmas.I was in town working no family no christmas plans and one day it hit me. Don't have to buy gifts just do something. Took out my wallet and mailed one of every bill denomination i had. Hundred and something bucks. Never thought of again until after new year a car drove up lady driver says "you're Mr so-n-so." i say yeah. She says you're one of the few that helped these kids (in the cars two real younguns). But thanks for their christmas.

I never doubted my feeling again. Let someone know they've done good. Make someone feel they're needed. Tell someone you just noticed what they're really doing.

Was in a neighborhood I'm not from. Man and his young son comes out a store.I see the kid's tee-shirt says"Dad's the Boss" I tell the guy I like that shirt. He says 'you didn't see the small print?" I look again and the kid turns around poking out his shirt for me to see and it says 'till mom gets home'. We all had a good laugh. But I tell you that kid will remember someone noticed his shirt.

Every little bit ads up. Just like 4 bits turned to 8 bits turn to 16 turned to 32 turned to 64 and on and on. If everyone does one positive thing involving someone else it will multiply and spread.

 

I agree with all of you on most everything! Seems like a dream doesn't it? I too believe the small things add up. So glad you guys actually took it seriously and approached this topic with an open mind. I especially like the post above where Imandy Mann was selfless in giving to others during the holidays. That's great stuff and I applaud you for that. Surely we won't always be recognized for the good deeds we do, but you must do them anyways. I also notice that a lot of people are waking up nowadays and actually trying to create change. While at the same time many others are still stagnant in their lives. Over consuming, staying in greed, lust, violence, political back and forth issues, etc. Things are happening right now if you just open your eyes. A lot of things that to me seem like a tipping point in humanities record on Earth. For the good or worse I'm not sure. Nevertheless we will all see (or our descendants will), what ends up happening. I pray we do make it through the test of time.

 

Maybe that is the wrong question.
We cannot live together so we need to live separately. We need more worlds.
I ask why we try to conquer each other when we should conquer new worlds?

 

What is "staying in greed" and "over consuming"? As far as political back and forth issues, that will always go on.

 

My rule number one is never take more than you give. The adoption of such a philosophy could change our world markedly.

I've always said if we want to cure cancer, we should stop poisoning the planet. It would probably work.

What we really need is for the old ways of doing things that result in aristocracy or oligarchy to end. Orgiastic greed, fraud, chicanery, and a lack of looking beyond your own backyard isn't healthy for anyone. It's a tough fight, but we had a good thing going in the States before the Civil War. No lobbyists, or "borers". Corporations were not permitted to participate in civic life, influence elections, or donate to political campaigns. Heck, the U.S. invented the middle class. In fact, one thing that really p****d off the Federalists was the "middling sorts" referring to themselves as "Mr. & Mrs." which were titles once reserved for aristocrats. Remember, poverty is the root of discord (archaic verb) and crime.

What we need not only at home, but worldwide is more stability, and a whole lot less greed. Greed is such a primitive trait, like the chimpanzee at the top of the tree tossing rinds down at the rest of the group. There are a lot of four letter words: love/lust, live/kill, good/evil, kind/mean, and so many more. Confusing one for the other is something many do to not only their own disadvantage as a member of humanity, but as a disservice to all their fellow Homo Sapiens. "Cruel to be kind" is not always healthy, especially when taken too far. Avarice is the root of all ill, and mercy is a very advanced trait after all...

 

But, who defines what one "needs", as one person might need more than another, and another might earn more than they need. I agree with you overall Mekanic. :cool

 

Ahh, mercy, perhaps the worst trait of all for the misguided.
I was setting things up around Nome Alaska when the Eskimo tribes finally won the money for being displaced from their land. I watched the "mercy" and "justice" turn a functioning tribe into a bunch of drunks.
Greed can be good, mercy can be evil, all must be decided with wisdom and an understanding of the greater good. Of course defining the greater good will be difficult.

 

John Lennon - Imagine. One of the best! Reflects my view.

Thanks Muskie for reminding me of the Beatles and John L.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8

 

Here's a story about one company using some of it's maybe ill-gotten weight and resources to help a bad situation. If true- it's a good example for other corporations to follow in more cases.

http://www.newser.com/story/196923/how-firestone-shut-ebola-down.html

 

Too much of any "good" thing, DOA...

:major

 

An interesting topic and some interesting comments.

Let's face a few facts.

When we (man) made the transition from hunter-gatherer/scavenger to being members of small co-operatives, we created an environment which necessitated behaviour at odds with our natural, genetically inherited, instincts.

Those instincts, still with us today, have to be suppressed for our artificially imposed society to function. An expanding population exacerbates the, albeit subconscious, psychological conflict.

Although reservations about our planet's ability to support the continued proliferation of its human inhabitants were first voiced many years' ago, there is now wide acceptance of its certainty.

We all know that natural resources are being continuously and unnaturally depleted at alarming rates.
The results of the depletion are competition and conflict, and the extinction of species.

One of our forgotten or overlooked inherited instincts is distrust, or even fear, of the unknown. Those of another race, tribe, religious conviction, political persuasion, etc. are perceived as threats.

The artificial restraint of law and order, necessary both domestically and internationally, is frequently undermined by those who purport to administer it. Results being, amongst others, perfidious "allies", and, closer to home, disgraceful episodes such as "The Guildford Four", and "Judge Sues Cleaner for $65M Over Pants".


How Do We Make A Better World?

Make better people.

An impossible task, methinks.



(In the interests of brevity I have discarded material which threatened to make this a magnum opus, and decided not to venture into controversial territory which, for instance, might look at pragmatic, rather than theoretical/philosophical (they don't work, do they?), solutions to some of our most serious problems.)

A couple, amongst many, interesting items which might interest you:


John Pugsley's
"The Twilight of the Gene
From Genesis to ... Genocide"
ISBN 1 85756 397 2

and

http://www.independent.co.uk/enviro...n--the-greatest-threat-to-mankind-397939.html

 

I am a global cooling, oops, global warming, ahh, man made climate change denier. :-D

 

Sadly enough the people we empower to make the changes will not.
Political, religious and banking institutions come readily to mind.

 

What changes though:confused I've been around this world a while now and I know for a fact there isn't some concerted effort or decision by the ruling elite to hold mankind back, to keep everyone in their place so 'they' can stay rich and powerful.

The world works this way because everyone wants it this way. If our countries stopped making money to pursue an ideological doctrine, everyone's standard of living would go down, the people would say they sucked and voted out they would be.

If there were an easy answer that appealed to everyone and helped everyone there's no reason any political institution wouldn't use it.

 

"I know for a fact there isn't some concerted effort or decision by the ruling elite to hold mankind back, to keep everyone in their place so 'they' can stay rich and powerful."

I wish I knew that or even had a moment of belief in it.
History is full of tyrants that will abuse their people to stay in power. To a lesser degree most democratic processes succumb to this as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram
only two of a never ending list

 

Possibly the simplest answer and it would make a huge difference if everyone just did those two things!

 

http://constitutioncenter.org/learn...he-constitution-a-republic-if-you-can-keep-it

 

Gotta love the John Lennon post, and oh yeah the unforgettable Bill & Ted post above me! Lol

 

Great read. I highly recommend it:

http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Liberty-History-Republic-1789-1815/dp/0199832463

 

Seeing how Africa is a continent, and there are many oppressive gubments there, don't see how the 2'nd quote is accurate. It might be a good example of Capitalism.

 

"How Do We Make A Better World?"

We start by asking such questions as above. We then then figure out your version of 'better world', whatever that means.
We can try and change the world, (v.hard - and do we even have the right??) Or we can can, and should change ourselves for the better. You can work out 'better; for yourselves, LoL!. Treating others, as you would like to be treated, for starters. Accepting and realizing, (actualization) of self-improvement and encouraging others to do like-wise.
We make a better world by making a better you. If the majority do this - a so-called better world would be a reality.
But then what, LoL!!??

 

Exactly my opinion. We need to direct more resources to interstellar space travel and terraformation of other worlds before it is too late for us. I know that it is quite far ahead in the future, but eventually the Sun will die and the Earth will perish along with it. I feel like we could be doing more to escape this planet and colonize others before we are extinguished.

Also, stop drinking pop. It's really, really bad for you.

 

I think the better world starts with the better us. Better "us" includes the system of principles and values we define for ourselves and follow them. Better us means integrity and following your heart. It also means that before doing something to anyone, think if you want that same thing done to you.

 

Any historian worth their salt will tell you that the health of a Democratic Republic is fully and unadulteratedly dependent on the conduct, scruples, and values of it's citizenry.

Oligarchy, aristocracy, and "dark money" have made a once shining symbol of freedom and progress into a gridlocked fiscal disaster with a D- graded infrastructure. There is a reason why the men who founded the United States barred corporations from civic life. No influencing elections, no campaign contributions, zero. They existed to conduct business, period; full stop.

If we shifted all the resources we squander on weaponry and war, and turned it to sustainable technologies and infrastructure we would have a far better country, and world.

Election Day is tomorrow in the United States. If you want a better world, perform your due diligence and vote for the people who will help you as a citizenry to create it. Voting isn't just your right, it's your responsibility.