Is there any reason for humanity to be optimistic at all?

[*Asterisk*]

There was also the Ayodhya bombing and the subsequent communal violence, the Rodney King riots, the intensification of the FARC/ELN conflict, the Sierra Leone civil war. I have no idea what @Ariel is talking about tbh

There was a substantial degree of relief provided by the end of the Cold War, the fall of the USSR, and the boom of easy dotcom money. Especially for those of us in NATO and the Anglosphere, it was easy to ignore the underbelly with how good the times were rolling in our favor.

Hell, I was born in '92, and I didn't even know the Cold War was a thing until after 9/11, let alone the grizzly specifics. I know I'm far from the only one who remembers things as brighter before the Twin Towers fell.

 

[DuskEngine]

I know I'm far from the only one who remembers things as brighter before the Twin Towers fell.

That's true for everyone. Even the people who celebrate it, I'd wager.

 

[Ariel]

There was a substantial degree of relief provided by the end of the Cold War, the fall of the USSR, and the boom of easy dotcom money. Especially for those of us in NATO and the Anglosphere, it was easy to ignore the underbelly with how good the times were rolling in our favor.

Hell, I was born in '92, and I didn't even know the Cold War was a thing until after 9/11, let alone the grizzly specifics. I know I'm far from the only one who remembers things as brighter before the Twin Towers fell.

It should be clear that I meant it in terms of things that had an effect on the west and japan.

 

[Ntwadumela]

Bullshit happens everywhere. This however does not mean we don't have good in the world. The media preys upon catastrophic events like a rabid pack of dogs, and this leads to people having this perspective on the world. Good things will always come in the end, and it'll be even better if you chip-in on them to make the world a better place. That way we can make a difference.

 

[QI 541]

Humanity fucked up hard enough to cause two world wars. It's only a matter of time until the third, and this time everyone has nukes.

 

[darkstar0854]

The following is my (rather optimistic) opinion:

If you look hard enough, you can see many genuinely nice people who want the best for everybody. If anything, we should be optimistic for those people, to make sure they do not become disillusioned with humanity, as that is one of the saddest things of all.

If you do feel like you have no friends, only enemies, live to spite them until you find a better reason to live.

 

[autisticdragonkin]

I see no reason to think that humanity will die out in the next few centuries

 

[feedtheoctopus]

"We Are not afraid of ruins. We who ploughed the prairies and built the cities can build again, only better next time. We carry a new world in our hearts. That world is growing this minute." - Buenaventura Durruti.

 

[Ebola]

Has anyone ever wondered why they were born and are alive now, or why humanity even exists right now, when the odds of such an event occurring are not even possible to calculate? If you are reading this, you beat all the odds and you will continue to do so. The only reason why we exist right now is because we were forged with the potential to overcome all limitations. If we lacked this potential, we wouldn't be here discussing anything. Evolution would have culled us long before we gained our current level of self-awareness.

I would not worry excessively about the future of humanity. To overcome every perceptible problem and limitation, we have all the time in the multiverse.

 

[Generic_username]

Is there any reason, at all, for anyone to be optimistic

Don't worry lad the world has it ups and downs. Just remember we survived all this years without any technology until recently. The human race is made to last.

 

[DoctorJimmyRay]

Given that we haven't extincted ourselves thru nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare yet, I think we have a good shot at surviving until we can colonize other planets. As good a shot that any sapient species like us has when it comes to all the dangers every scientific advance brings. Let's just hope that this "great filter" doesn't off us just yet.

 

[Jan_Hus]

Yeah, I'd say we have cause to be optimistic. I want to point to two very destructive wars, The Thirty Years War and WWI. The catalyst for the Thirty Years War was a man getting tossed out of a window a high window and landing in manure. The assassination of the Archduke kicked off WWI. Fast forward to the modern era. There's a nasty civil war brewing in Syria and other parts of the Middle East. There's also two rather trigger happy countries with their hands in the mess. Both of these countries have strongman leaders with a cult of "machismo" surrounding them. I'm speaking of Turkey and Russia. Around a year ago, (I think, not sure on the specifics) Turkey downed a Russian jet for violating its airspace. One pilot was killed, and the world held their breath... The Russians responded with sanctions and sternly worded letters. That's staggering frankly. Less than a century ago, this would have resulted in both sides firing up their alliances and warring with each other. So, I'd say we have good reason to be optimistic!

 

[Innocuous]

I can think of more reasons for people to be optimistic rather than pessimistic.

 

[Mexican_Wizard_711]

Nope

 

[Angry Alt Right Nerd]

This thread aged well

 

[SuperShibuyaFighter]

I'm going to update OP's post for 2022, it's extremely in need of an update being around 9 years old

Just that, America is full of unrest, shit is still going on within the Middle East etc. the government spies on us to "keep us safe", and everyday in my class someone brings up how bad everyone's financial shit is. Is there any reason, at all, for anyone to be optimistic, about the future of the world? or are we all just screwed?

 

[Don't Tread on Me]

Re: Is there any reason for humanity to be optimistic at all

We're overdue for an influenza pandemic. If it's a highly pathogenic one it could kill off a billion or two. This will mean a sudden abundance of housing, jerbs and resources for a few generations. So you never know what the world will be like in a few years.

This comment hits different in 2022

 

[Skitarii]

God loves you OP, don't worry about the pedos who run society, they'll have eternity to pay

 

[JokahBaybee]

Re: Is there any reason for humanity to be optimistic at all

We're overdue for an influenza pandemic. If it's a highly pathogenic one it could kill off a billion or two. This will mean a sudden abundance of housing, jerbs and resources for a few generations. So you never know what the world will be like in a few years.

>2013

 

[ロボ﹏§¤r﹏h¶rœ]

I enjoy watching the world burn and this is all I have to say.