Disappointed and Disillusioned with the 21st Century

Hello,

I'm rather new to all of this (posting on blogs), being a bit of a technophobe stuck in the 20th century, a century that had, in my not so humble opinion, so much more going for it than the current one. I don't mean to sound negative, but...

1. There were no surveillance cameras, and the mere suggestion of them being installed anywhere in public would - and did - provoke outrage, rather than sheepish apathy.
2. No political correctness!
3. Less violence and corporate propaganda (a.k.a. advertisements) on television. The shows were actually worth watching back then as well, and there were'nt as many crappy 'remakes' of old shows either.
4. People were'nt so rude. On the internet too many people swear and denigrate others, thinking perhaps that they are being 'sophisticated' when they do so. Well, they're not, they're just being boorish and crude.
5. American cowboy diplomacy was kept in check by a counter-balancing force; the Soviet Union. I'm breaking my rule number four here, just this ONE time, when I say that I blame that naive simpleton Gorbachev for destroying 70 years of hard work and the hopes of millions. May he eventually rot in Hell with his good buddies Ronnie 'Star Wars' Raygun, Boris, Pope John Paul II and others too long to list. Then again, he is the reason for my stubling onto this site when I typed in 'Gorbachev CIA agent', but of course if not for him there would be no NEED for this website...
6. No creepy people taking your photograph without your permission, because the technology to do so did not exist (i.e. mobile phone-cameras - what a silly idea).
7. Everything now is made in that sweat-shop centre of slavery known as the People's Republic of China. Since the death of Mao the ideals the nation once stood for have been betrayed in the interests of pleasing people like Steve Jobs ...and, no, I do not, nor have I ever, used any of 'his' products.

Okay, I think seven will do. I was thinking of making the list up to ten, but that would have been too depressing for me. I suppose if anyone wants to add more to the list they can do so.
Oh yes, before I forget. This is where I have to say a bit about myself, even though I find doing so a bit strange, a tad awkward. I grew up during the 1970's thinking that, if nothing else, the future would be less bleak than the past had been. I guess I was naive in the H.G. Wells kind of way, thinking that by now we would have eliminated, or at least managed to control, the less pleasant aspects of life. You know, like war, crime, poverty, unemployment, mindless consumerism, debt et cetera, but it seems to me that not only have we as a species failed to do so, but there are even those who take an almost perverse pleasure in the fact, and this troubles me greatly. The way things are going now, I often think that no only does the human race not have a future, but that it doesn't even deserve one, being just another one of nature's failed experiments. Am I being too pessimistic? Perhaps.
I tried leaving a message before (about two days ago) but it never showed up. Maybe I did something wrong, clicked on an icon I shouldn't have or something. Oh well... Let's see if it works this time.

Peter

I'm not sure I understand the point of that list but I'm sure you'll find many people here that share your admiration for that particular century. Please, though, tell us a big more about yourself. Where do you come from, what are your ideologies?

Welcome to SE, although Chaz is right, this is a forum, not a blog.

Hope you find what you're looking for

Okay, I'm sorry, a 'forum' not a blog. That just goes to show how behind I am with technology

The point? Um, well, I guess I just needed to get my complaints out of my system, there aren't too many people I know who actually agree with my gripes about life today.

More about myself. Well, I'm 44, live in the state of Victoria, Australia, with my brother and sister (we own a house, big block of land, great view...), none of us ever married (hence the living arrangements), no debt, no mortgage... um, let me know when this gets boring ...and, I now have just ten minutes to go before I am kicked out of here (local library).
Anyway, I'm not really as pessimistic about life and the way things are as my first post might indicate. Many things are better for me personally, but... the world? Could be better.

Oh well, time to go...

Do your siblings share your affinity for older times? Is the house you live in modern or do you attempt to live in a style of olden times?

You're in a unique situation, curious if you take advantage of the possibilities.

Welcome aboard. Consumerism is hell.

the progress is not applied to improve lives, but to improve profit and expand capital.

Chthonic_Comrade wrote:

Do your siblings share your affinity for older times? Is the house you live in modern or do you attempt to live in a style of olden times?

You're in a unique situation, curious if you take advantage of the possibilities.

Yes, actually they do, perhaps because they are older than I am. The house is modern, built circa 1960, with a fantasic view of the hills. Perfect spot, and location is everything if what they say in real estate circles is true.

Unique situation? Possibilities? Really? Such as?

"Chthonic" - How is that pronounced?

Yes, and thanks for the welcome everyone!

Peter wrote:

"Chthonic" - How is that pronounced?

Ah, the age old question.

There appear to be different pronunciations for English speakers. Some say KUH-thonic, thonic, CHU-thonic etc. I get asked that a lot.

And idk. I wish I could live somewhere remote sometimes. Do things in an old-fashioned manner. I mostly want a dark, aged den I can retire to and do studious-type things by candlelight. I long for simplicity mostly. Every Friday I celebrate the Shabbas which essentially means no electricity for half a weekend. It would be nice to have somewhere peaceful and beautiful like it sounds like you have.

Plus, the opportunity to be entirely self-sufficient should be appealing to any Communist

Chthonic = Chronic

Oh yeah, baby.