Thread: Future

Prime numbers start streaming in from Vega.

I've been reading too much Contact.

Oh you know. Ecological devastation, massive crop failures, peak oil and widespread economic unrest.

Of course there will be permanent shelter, fresh drinking water, genetically engineered food, cloned pets and trips to the moon for people that can afford it. And if they can't afford it then they deserve what they get. They should have known better than to be poor while the economic elite was reshaping the world for their own benefit.

Stupid poor people.

That's interesting. That is essentially the picture of that website. I think the thing that you can most reliably say about reality is that it will find a way to lie between the two extremes. Ecological and economic problems will cause a large amount of harm, but technological progress will continue faster than ever in more developed countries.

Though I am inclined to be sceptical of any claims about elites controlling the entire system... the world is a bottom up, emergent thing for me.

I don't think that they control the entire system by any means. I also don't believe in an illuminati or anything like that. Things like Bohemian Grove and the Trilateral Commission are just indications of a socially cohesive upper class and not a monolithic, widespread conspiracy.

However it's no secret that those that control resources make the majority of decisions relating to how those resources are spent. When a minority controls a majority of resources then that puts them in a position of power. Being a mostly capitalist world, it is only expected (and respected) that they use the majority of said power for their own ends.

They don't have to worry about where their food is going to come from if massive droughts and ensuing famine are to strike. So they don't really worry about that as a potential consequence of their actions: they won't have to bear the cost and they'll probably make a killing on the food that they do sell. Most of the rest of us do have to worry. We're just too stupid to think about it in a unified manner. Whereas the extreme upper class is socially cohesive, the poor of the world are divided into crackers, spics, niggers, fags, rednecks, towelheads, religious whackjobs, commie liberals, warmongering conservatives, etc. So there's no cohesion because we don't trust each other enough to mount a unified resistance and slow things down a bit.

Okay yes, I was thinking of elaborating in the same way. I agree with that idea.

The kind of ideas that I'm opposed to are the ones where people are able to steer the entire system through their power and prescience, such as the idea that the recent economic collapse was the result of a group of people coming up with a plan. In reality it can all be explained by the ignorance and greed of individuals in power. The guys up in ivory towers had no idea what happened and still have extremely diverse opinions about the future, there's no way anybody has the ability to exert control over these kinds of large events.

I think a lot of those predictions could be pretty accute, some will come even sooner than they predict. But lol at how it states equal pay for women in 2067, is it not almost that now in 2012?

Spoiler for Data:

Did you lose the power of sight or something..?

But surely if there were ever a case of womens pay being inequal, the employer could be taken to tribunal? If the law is being flouted today, then it will always be and there will never be equality. Btw, is this equal pay for the same job, or just income overall?

You know everything I know. It looks like it's an average. Your claim bears no resemblance to reality; just look at the data, it shows that unequal pay occurs less and less.

I really don't find this particularly interesting; if you want to make your own thread about women's salaries, please go ahead.

Well that graph is only a prediction, one which seems pretty inaccurate. Many of the 2012-2019 predictions seem accurate, but if the economic collapse does occur, then most of the post 2019 stuff will likely not happen at all.

That's why they're threads, not predictions. If we go at our current trend without any major problems, we'll end up with many of the technological advancements around the time they're predicted. However, if say the solar flare thing happens, we might not even be here.

Without a doubt, there are some very tough times ahead, with lots of crises to try and solve. And there are some exciting prospects about how technology will advance in the coming years. I just hope the good outweighs the bad as we head into an uncertain future.

I've been thinking recently how cool it would be if some sort of global fund was set up, dedicated to the advancement of mankind. Something anyone and everyone could contribute towards. It would work on the principle of being open to all, but owned by none. Governments, companies, wealthy individuals, etc, all would be free to give as much as they liked towards the cause, but no one could claim to have an entitlement to funding, no matter how much they've put in. Any donation to the cause would be charitable, rather than a simple investment opportunity. No one would be able to claim the rights to any products or advancements that come about as a result of this fund, so the benefits would be shared by all, and not hoarded as the property of some selfish institution.

It could be used to fund various research projects around the world, in areas like medicine, agriculture, renewable technology and many other important things. Obviously, as a peaceful foundation, with the advancement of the human species as the goal, the funding of research into weapons technology or anything of the like would be strictly forbidden. What would give it an advantage over regular government or private funds, is that it would be a large pot, worth many billions, if not trillions. So we would see a lot more global projects on the scale of CERN's supercollider and NASA's Mars missions.

With such a thing in place, I think our species would advance at a more rapid rate than we are now. This is all most likely an overly optimistic fantasy, that wouldn't be likely to occur for a long time, if ever. But it's a nice thought. And if such a thing already exists, then I would like to claim credit for the idea, with the excuse of time travel.

Originally Posted by Heavy Sleeper

Without a doubt, there are some very tough times ahead, with lots of crises to try and solve. And there are some exciting prospects about how technology will advance in the coming years. I just hope the good outweighs the bad as we head into an uncertain future.

I've been thinking recently how cool it would be if some sort of global fund was set up, dedicated to the advancement of mankind. Something anyone and everyone could contribute towards. It would work on the principle of being open to all, but owned by none. Governments, companies, wealthy individuals, etc, all would be free to give as much as they liked towards the cause, but no one could claim to have an entitlement to funding, no matter how much they've put in. Any donation to the cause would be charitable, rather than a simple investment opportunity. No one would be able to claim the rights to any products or advancements that come about as a result of this fund, so the benefits would be shared by all, and not hoarded as the property of some selfish institution.

It could be used to fund various research projects around the world, in areas like medicine, agriculture, renewable technology and many other important things. Obviously, as a peaceful foundation, with the advancement of the human species as the goal, the funding of research into weapons technology or anything of the like would be strictly forbidden. What would give it an advantage over regular government or private funds, is that it would be a large pot, worth many billions, if not trillions. So we would see a lot more global projects on the scale of CERN's supercollider and NASA's Mars missions.

With such a thing in place, I think our species would advance at a more rapid rate than we are now. This is all most likely an overly optimistic fantasy, that wouldn't be likely to occur for a long time, if ever. But it's a nice thought. And if such a thing already exists, then I would like to claim credit for the idea, with the excuse of time travel.

As long as donations are strictly voluntary, then this would be a wonderful thing.

Originally Posted by cmind

As long as donations are strictly voluntary, then this would be a wonderful thing.

Of course. Mandatory donations would just be stupid.

It's also an oxymoron.

It looked like they were being fairly conservative with a lot of the guesses. I think a lot of the stuff will happen a lot sooner than what is on that site. For example the end of the EU, it looks like it might happen in five years from now, so 2035 seems like a long time. They also have the life extension medication really far out, so far out that you could become a cyborg and live forever before it hit mainstream market. I think that medicine that can't cure aging will come around about the same time as people are becoming more cyborg like. No reason there should be like a 30 year gap there.

I think the one about genders getting equal pay in 2067 is a little silly too. At that point if they are right, desktop computers are smarter than all humans combined, and we are all cyborgs and living on other planets and stuff. I don't think money will be an issue at that point.

There will likely be very rough times ahead, especially if we do make a transition to having no money. I suspect that would be very rough. However, studies have shown that advancements in technology continue regardless of economic problems. For example even during the great depression we had technology advancing without issue. So I suspect we might face large depressions, but it is unlikely to knock us off track or effect technology to a great degree.

Heavy sleeper - it's not exactly the same thing but Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have set up this contract type of thing (although not exactly a contract) where billionaires sign up and say they will donate 50% or more of their money to philanthropic causes. There is also one for millionaires but set up by someone else.
I don't think there is one for average earners, maybe you could set one up.

The only problem I see with some sort of massive fund is who decides what project is worthy of funding from it?

Originally Posted by tommo

Heavy sleeper - it's not exactly the same thing but Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have set up this contract type of thing (although not exactly a contract) where billionaires sign up and say they will donate 50% or more of their money to philanthropic causes.

Nice. Not that I'm criticising or anything, but that sounds like more of a global aid thing, when I was thinking of something more along the lines of a fund dedicated to scientific advancement and things that are essential for the future stability of the world.

It's great to hear about something like this being done though. Buffett and Gates have always been willing to give up their wealth for a worthy cause.

Originally Posted by tommo

The only problem I see with some sort of massive fund is who decides what project is worthy of funding from it?

My guess would be that some sort of panel would be set up to listen to proposals and judge whether or not they are worthy of funding. Of course, detailed records would always be kept for what goes in and what comes out of the fund, down to the last dollar, pound or euro. They would also have to keep track of all proposals heard, with details of exactly what ideas were put forward and the judgements of the panel always being open to the public. Basically putting in place any measures necessary to ensure no bribery or corruption is taking place.

That's my best guess of how things would run. And I fear I may be hijacking the thread with all of this. Sorry to the OP.

This:

"12. California will lead the break-up of the US (Dev 2)

IP: Likelihood 8/10. There are some indications already that California wants to split off and such pressures tend to build over time. It is hard to see this waiting until the end of the century. Maybe an East Coast cluster will want to break off too. Pressures come from the enormous differences in wealth generation capability, and people not wanting to fund others if they can avoid it."

Quoted from:

BBC News - Twenty top predictions for life 100 years from now

That's sad, they're the ones that drag America along to the 21st century. In technology and philosophy/laws.

Maybe those 20th century states will want to see california gotten rid of then I think a US balkanisation will be quite plausible in hte coming decades.

If I were a legislature in California I'd move for secession now. The feds do nothing but interfere, at this point. They suck up california tax dollars and use it to invade california property for their stupid drug war, not to mention their foreign policy and corporate welfare.

California is like two step away from being the Greece of the US. Then again the US is like 5-10 years away from being Greece too, so maybe that isn't saying much.

Originally Posted by Alric

California is like two step away from being the Greece of the US. Then again the US is like 5-10 years away from being Greece too, so maybe that isn't saying much.

???? Last I heard California has the most healthy economy in the country.
Source?