Originally Posted By: Owain
The chief benefit of not having died for a reasonably long period of time is that generally, you have seen it all before. These are neither the best of times, nor are the the worst of times. They are just the times we have at the moment.

I think it is more than a bit narcissistic for anyone to think these times are in any way special just because they happen to live in these times.


If the times are special, it is because humans evolved physically and socially in a completely different information environment. We, as a species, don't seem suited to living in a digital age, inside a massive cloud of noise, where we naturally seem to take refuge in thick social bubbles.

Plus it isn't about being special in any regard, history runs according to a few repeated patterns and cycles. It isn't that nothing similar has occurred before, but rather identifying our current pattern, and where in the cycle we sit. (and what might be different this time, because something always is a bit different) This is of course made more difficult by the new information and social environment. But still, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Just, at a faster pace, and larger scale.

Writers write, fighters fight, and pol nerds argue with other pol nerds about anything and everything in whatever venue is made available. Those three things are more or less eternally human.


For who could be free when every other man's humour might domineer over him? - John Locke (2nd Treatise, sect 57)