What will they think about us in 2085?

3:18 "give it a century" proceeds to add extra 900 years

I’m still waiting for all sorts things they predicted in the sixties would be with us by the year 2000. Dinner in a pill, flying cars, self-cleaning clothes, moon bases …. What most people didn’t foresee was the internet and a computer on everyone’s desk or in their hand, amongst other things. You can’t predict things arising from things you don’t know you don’t know.

I grew up in the 60’s and it’s remarkable how little has really changed, i.e. in how we live our daily lives. We lived in single family houses, watched TV and complained about commercials, went to the movies, rode in cars, flew in airplanes, rode bikes, went to school every weekday except in the summer, rode in yellow school busses, mocked the lunch ladies, had parents who worked a job 40 hours/week or kept house, ate out in restaurants and got take out from McDonald’s or Burger King, drank coke or Pepsi, bought food in grocery stores, fueled up cars with pumps at the gas station, had bank accounts, mowed our lawns with gas powered mowers, had washers, dryers, electric or gas stoves, refrigerators and dishwashers, had backyard BBQs with the neighbors, played in sports, watched sports on TV, listened to music, got married in churches, had babies in hospitals, went to college and lived in dorms, protested in the Quad, wore blue jeans and t-shirts

"Our ancestors had giant flying birds made of metal to travel over the seas, they were able to unchain rains of fire upon the earth, they could see what was happening on the other side of the Earth... Truly, they were godlike. And then, that day happened..."

When using a touchscreen, I'm not thinking "man, I wish I didn't have to touch anything at all", I'm thinking "give me buttons back. i want to feel what I'm doing." But alas, I'm getting old. EDIT: Damn, I find myself disliking a number of those prospects.

My one hope is that they will look back and say, “Wow, it’s terrible how they were plagued by these horrible diseases. We are so fortunate to have figured out how to prevent, treat, or cure every single one them.”

Thirty-something years ago the lab I worked in was hooked up to the local university using TCP/IP and I imagined a golden age where everyone around the globe could access the information of every university around the world. I never in my worst nightmares imagined the way it is now used to swamp us with misinformation. I have given up trying to predict the future, but I look at the increasing polarisation and intolerance of societies around the world and feel deeply afraid for my children.

I really want small business to come back. Knowledgeable proffessionals working in small shops and cafés. Like in children’s stories. :) The sweet shop, the fruit and the vegetable shop, the tailor who makes your clothes after your measurments and taste, the music shop with pianos and other instruments, the small family owned café…. Just so cute.

What always will look stupid when looking back, are the predictions for the future they made in the past.

Being forced to watch commercials is a human right violation in 2085.

“My great-great-great grandmother lived up on the surface and breathed up there. The sun was bright and water fell from the sky. There were lots of colors and pretty things like trees and little animals that sang and floated in the air!” “Abigail 261, you are such a liar.”

The fact that there's almost always harm in non monogamous relationships is what makes it a problem. It's not strictly a moral thing, like many people likes to think it is.

When my wife was pregnant she bought a portable ultrasound device and I was surprised, as it had never occurred to me that such a thing could even exist.

I am quite sure people 60 years ago wouldn’t have guessed everybody would walk around oblivious to the surroundings staring at a small rectangle. So, who knows?

There was a study that monogamy keeps societies peaceful, because all men have access to females. In polygamy (as already seen in dating apps) only the best males will be selected, whereas relationships decrease aggression. Isolation of too many people is not helpful

In support of monogamy It’s difficult enough to make one person happy but more than one? Further, a group of three is a two against one situation just waiting to happen. Last but not least, do you really want to get yelled at in stereo or three part harmony?

Based upon previous performances of people predicting the future, these guesses are likely to be completely wrong.

Back in the 1950s I'd occasionally see someone walking down the street having a loud conversation with someone who wasn't there. I wasn't puzzled. There were 5 large mental hospitals within cycling distance. In the 2020s I see lots of people walking down the street having a loud conversation with someone who isn't there. ...

If we'll progress we'll say something like "this was very gross but understandable", if we stay the same we'll say "this was very gross and I would have never done that".

The touchscreen one is the most unbelievable imo. We have such a fine sense of touch that it just makes sense to physically interact with your devices, rather than gesticulating or whatever.