I suppose i could mean in the gaia sense but i'm talking about the human level. We're all working, consciously or not, on "building a better tomorrow" in our various ways and I daresay there's probably no moment in modern history when we haven't felt we were on the brink of some cataclysm and maybe we were right to think that, but I realized I can't see the kind of justice and fairness and efficiency and nonviolence and love that I want to see happening basically ever. We're left with this terrible equilibrium or worse (always worse). And I mean that two ways; I can muster up hope on occasion but even then I literally can't envision that world. So i need help. and I shouldn't have to. Where are films and art cracking the utopia code in earnest (without cautionary dramatics, or less of them)? What does it look like to you? draw upon your religion or lack thereof, your skinned knees, your loss. New non-MLK answers please.
― tremendoid, Sunday, 24 February 2008 11:23 (eighteen years ago)
Utopia, in the sense of a society where everyone's needs are met without recourse to violence, if it were ever to happen, is such a remote contingency that looking forward to it it could not possibly meet your present need for hope. The fact that humans are even able to imagine such a thing is part of our peculiarity as a species. Among other things, it tends to trap one in a sense of defeat, painful longing and frustration more than it helps one to live. We humans are strange that way.
The best I can offer you is a greater peace of mind, based upon looking deeply into your fears and overcoming them to the greatest possible extent, and directing your own life and energies toward compassion. I don't mean this in some airy-fairy sense, but as a very physical, present time, making it happen right now kind of work.
Obviously, you can't spend every waking minute meditating and doing good deeds (well, not to begin with) but the best first step is to take one step and begin struggling with it. It works better if you can instill your effort with a sense of urgency -- as if there were a wildcat living in the same room with you -- but any first step is a good one.
It also works well to identify people who seem to have their shit together and look to them for some inspiration. This at least convinces you that progress toward that goal in your own life may be possible.
If you are dissatisfied with what you are doing, either do more of it until it seems sufficient, or try something else.
― Aimless, Sunday, 24 February 2008 21:59 (eighteen years ago)
I can't do anything about anyone else, so I try not to worry about it.
I have no idea how to conceptualize a perfect world, either. I suppose ideally people would be curious, and people would employ skillful cost/benefit analysis. You can't stop people from being jerks but you can stay calm yourself and set a good example. Get enough sleep and eat regularly; you'll feel better about everything.
― Abbott, Sunday, 24 February 2008 22:58 (eighteen years ago)
If think if the European Union can succeed in the long run, then that might set a good example to follow in terms of social democracy, liberalism, etc. Already countries like Turkey are reforming their human rights to gain entry. Expecting everything to be sorted out in our lifetimes is a bit much tho, obvs.
― Bodrick III, Sunday, 24 February 2008 23:32 (eighteen years ago)
two years pass...
According to Thea Alexander's novel 2150, about 10% of people will eventually figure it out and have a psychically powered computer that provides all their material needs. Everyone else lives in an oppressive extension of the modern world, run by a sex-crazed sexy sex couple. This happens after a bunch of global-warming induced natural disasters in the 1990s. So maybe no psychic computer even for the good among us.
― 17th Century Catholic Spain (Abbbottt), Thursday, 4 November 2010 23:03 (fifteen years ago)