History in the Making

[SaShman]

Alright what do you think our society will be remembered by? I'm talking about 50, 100, 1000 years in the future when people are studying our society in history class.

What do you think historians will see when they look at the world we currently live in? The Middle ages are often referred to as a period between the Classical age and the Renaissance, a period of ignorance in between two periods of 'enlightenment'. A lot of people refer to the Twentieth century as a time of turmoil and social, political and technological revolution. What about us?

What are some key events/phenomena that will be cited as evidence in some kids history essay 100 years from now? How will they describe our political, social and cultural values?

 

[The Witch]

No, I don't. We just haven't done anything rememberable. Well, I think landing on the moon is pretty historic, the same with WWII. But that's it.

 

[Æon Flux]

I think they will remember us for bringing the world to a warfield....
We are what will be the brink of disaster for the world.
But thats my opinion and has yet to fully come in to its glorious impending doom.

 

[Judicator]

Of course, it's very difficult to view history through any lens other than our own, which may wind up shifting rapidly. Our generation is marked by informational globalization by way of the birth of the Internet. Through this system, mostly anyone (in theory) and just about ANYONE (in practice) can add his or her own piece of the discussion of history from any point in the world at any time.

History used to be determined by the victorious parties on a battlefield. Now and forever (barring some universal cataclysm) history will be determined by those victorious of the battlefield of information literacy.

Now, where does that lead us? I think, to a place where history is constantly gone-over, done and done again, revised ad infinitum without resolution, as people add in their perspectives and viewpoints to the discussion.

Synthesis is the wave of the future.

 

[Warrior of Light]

I think this will be viewed as the Information Age, which is kinda ironic as it should be viewed as the Misinformation Age. Or the Information Overload Age. Whichever.

 

[Judicator]

So, that leads to a pertinent question. How useful is our "Information Overload?" What percentage of it will be carried forward, ultimately significant? And how much will eventually be deleted and forgotten?

Are we in the business of producing constant waves of ephemera?

 

[Warrior of Light]

I'd say about 99.9999999% will be totally forgotten, while the rest will be remembered for the next, say century or so.

The consequences of the human race just having too much to say!

 

[Ohri-Jin]

In my eyes 100 years from now they wont have essays about us.

Like the people above me posted - All information can be altered and manipulated and most will be forgotten.

But my concern is what will our children and grandchildren go through in 100 years from now?

Food/crops might be deplenished (is this the right word?)

The Guardian, 1 May 2010
The world may be on the brink of biological disaster after news that a third of US bee colonies did not survive the winter

Ive seen the documentary.

On tv (national geographic channel) ive seen a programme discussing the "Failure" of earth's magnetic field (protecting us from the sun's radiation).

Next Solar Maximum (SolarFlare = scheduled/predicted on the year 2012)
Weird coincidence imo.


Ok this might not concern us yet, but still it CAN affect our future obviously.

This is all nature wise_ human wise I think we will be the history of total stupidity, with all our resources and technology we STILL RAGE WAR AND KILL LIKE WE ARE BARBARIANS.

 

[SaShman]

No, I don't. We just haven't done anything rememberable. Well, I think landing on the moon is pretty historic, the same with WWII. But that's it.

It wasn't really meant to be a yes or no question. Also I wasn't really referring to the period which you are referring to. I guess I should have defined the 'modern world' a bit better. I'm talking about the post-cold war period, i.e the end of the Soviet Union. In my opinion this serves as an easy starting point in viewing the modern world because it drastically changed the political landscape and resulted in the emergence of new issues and challenges. In other words, think early 90's to now.

Also I disagree, in my opinion our time has seen plenty of events that will be considered memorable. Some of the more obvious ones include 9/11 and the election of Barack Obama. But I think there have been many more.

Our generation is marked by informational globalization by way of the birth of the Internet. Through this system, mostly anyone (in theory) and just about ANYONE (in practice) can add his or her own piece of the discussion of history from any point in the world at any time.

I'd rate the internet as probably the most significant development of the modern world. The world (or at least the west) is more interconnected now than ever before. There has been no other time in history in which I could talk to a completely random stranger on the other side of the world instantaneously and for free.

On the social/cultural side of things there is the issue that pornography is easier to access than ever before. Whether that's a good or bad thing is really an issue for another debate. But I think it definitely marks a significant change about sexuality in our culture.

The internet also has had great implications on the political side of things too. Because more and more information is available, governments have come under closer scrutiny than ever before.

Of course, it's very difficult to view history through any lens other than our own, which may wind up shifting rapidly.

I agree. But this thread is more so about speculation as to what we think may be significant about our time to later generations. Obviously this would also change depending what kind of world is researching us.

There are plenty of other things, but I'd rather wait and read what everyone else has to say.

 

[Martel]

Honestly, I don't think anything that has occured in this age has been particularly ground-breaking, but things are always more impressive with hindsight, aren't they? Once people have had time to twist and glamourise events using incomplete and biased memories.

Anyways...I suppose the recession will factor into one of the biggest events of this age, along with this supposed "war on terror" that is currently being conducted. Depending on what our government does, the coalition between Cameron and Clegg could become a big part of history, as well.

 

[Jamesy]

Two of the bloodiest wars in history.

An era of international co-operation and the founding of binding international law on a massive scale.

Nuclear power and warfare.


Now for some more upbeat ones..

Football (..soccer..). The influence it has on virtually every country on earth in politics, culture, pride, national identity and friendship.

The invention of the Internet.

 

[Channizard]

Over the last 100 years, we haven't done much. Two World Wars, the invention of the Internet, Landing on the Moon and 9/11. That's all I can say that would logically be reflected upon us in the future.

 

[Donald Trump]

I think future Dan Brown will be remembered which is quite sad.

The decline of the USA as a superpower.

The decline of South Africa into a typical Sub-Saharan Shithole.

The supposed failure of capitalism but people not wanting to change it in anyway.

Al-Qaida being the first global terrorist group.

Cyber-terrorism.

Fuel shortage.

 

[Valvalis]

No, I don't. We just haven't done anything rememberable. Well, I think landing on the moon is pretty historic, the same with WWII. But that's it.

That's selling us incredibly short. Not to mention that the way history is generally studied, even the cups someone drank out of a thousand years ago are fascinating and worthy of research. Take it from a history major--life isn't always about the big things :dave:

As far as what this relative time period will be remembered for...well, supposing we get that far and don't inadvertently kill ourselves by destroying the planet without paying attention, I think information technology will certainly be a factor. The idea that people have gone from having to congregate in town squares to get any kind of information or entertainment, to now being entirely self-sufficient from your own bedroom, is absolutely mind-blowing. People now have the ability to be almost entirely anti-social and still know what's going on in the world, the ramifications of which could be incredibly beneficial or detrimental, depending on how you view the value of social interaction. Another milestone might be the distinctions between the types of governments that exist now and the widespread monarchies that existed in previous time periods. There have definitely been some improvements in the way people are governed, but at the same time the structures of the new systems have created other problems that never existed before, and this would certainly be a point of intense discussion in a future history class concerning this time period.
A third, and most saddening concept, would be the notion that we have more information about science and the natural environment than we ever have before, and yet we are destroying the earth more quickly and voraciously than ever before. Commercialization, strong feelings of personal entitlement, and the global expansion of certain industries have made us some of the most detrimental humans to ever exist, concerning our relationship with this planet; and I have a sickening feeling that the still-widespread ignorance about our civilizations' impact on the natural world will inevitably give us very few more years to discuss ourselves in history classes. We will be known as the "people who could have done something more but didn't"--a disappointing reputation, but a true one nonetheless.

 

[Dr. Percival Cox]

I'd say being the first generation to be completely dependent on advanced technology would probably be something that is written down about us. In these times, you can find very few people who don't own alteast a few hundred if not thousands of dollars worth of technological trinkets. I'm aware that for the past sixty or so years, we've relied on computers to help us produce data and control many of our government systems, which in turn controls the nations (I personally don't like the idea of nuclear missles being controlled by a computer program). We live in an age where a high school student with a high enough I.Q. and a decent internet connection can hack into Pentagon databases. I'm sure that we see ourselves as enlightened. But we only believe that because the people who create the iPhones and Dell computers present us with the idea that we're beyond the mark of human capabilities because we have a computer that can upload YouTube videos in mere seconds. I honestly don't believe we'll be remembered for much. But I do think that it will in turn depend on the nations and how they want themselves to be seen. Korea threatening other countries with nuclear missle strikes (mostly us), Britian giving into mass paranoia by constantly spying on their civilians with camera equipment, and then there's us. We spend countless tax payer dollars trying to help other countries. It's a good cause, but the fact is that we have people in THIS country that need the money and assistance of it's government. Maybe we do it for the sake of our historical reputation.

 

[SaShman]

I think future Dan Brown will be remembered which is quite sad.

Lol Dan Brown will probably be remembered more for the controversy around the Da Vinci Code rather than his work. He's kinda like the Salman Rushdie of Catholicism. :dave:

The decline of the USA as a superpower.

Agreed. The US emerged from the Cold War as almost a hegemonic power and now it is starting to decline in power. At the same time there are a few Asian nations which are rising in power such as China and India. I think this indicates a reformation of the political landscape and potentially the cultural landscape (if a non-western superpower emerges).

People now have the ability to be almost entirely anti-social and still know what's going on in the world, the ramifications of which could be incredibly beneficial or detrimental, depending on how you view the value of social interaction.

Good point. I think an argument can also be made about mobile phones, ipods etc. which essentially make day to day interaction unnecessary for many people.

We live in an age where a high school student with a high enough I.Q. and a decent internet connection can hack into Pentagon databases.

Good point. There is also the point that anyone can access confidential information on websites like wikileaks without needing any real IT skills.


To add something, I think our world will largely be remembered for its widespread hedonism. Not to say that hedonism hasn't been prevalent in other societies but pop culture has surely presented it in a way that is unique to our time.

We now have reality shows devoted to watching how the rich and famous go about their lives. Shows like cribs which give us a tour of their mansions. Shows like the apprentice which televise a job interview for an incredible high paid job. etc Don't get me started on music and music video's as well.

Also I think the fact that poker is now broad casted on TV is somewhat significant. A show in which we watch people take each other's money.

 

[Ayumi Hamasaki]

No one will exist a hundred years from now to remember.

It seems extreme but if we stay on our current path, it's almost sure to be true.

 

[GalaxyFlare]

The Decline of the USA as super power will be based on them having spread them selves to thin, capitalism does not work, military might only goes so far in the modern world sure the US has the most powerful intelligence network on the planet.

Unless we can rectify the problems posed by global warming I think we will be the generation who wrecked the planet, With our over dependence on the humble yet highly devastating Combustion Engine.

I hope One of the thing we can be remembered for is the discovery of a new energy scource. With the combined effort of CERN with there large Hadron Collider and Us DOF Alternating Gradient Synchroton we may finally be able give away our dependence on fossil fuels.

This may not happen for 20-25 years but it sounds promising!

I thik we will also br remembered for this being the age of celebrity......Look at all the useless people who are "famous for being famous" what ever happened to doing something for your fame?

Kim kardashian is smoking though.

I hope history in Australia does not remeber this time as great time for Racial Intolerance
It can get pretty bad down here. Certainly Tolerance towards Gay/lesbian people has shifted to general acceptance, people have other thing to put there energy towards.

And quite frankly If Gay people were any kind of threat, would'nt they have done something by now lol!

Certainly its a time of decadence and self indulgence We are getting Fatter after all, well not me personally but others sure are, gone are the days of Having 24" Biceps meant your were overly muscular.

If anyone can get to book in a hundred years I will be Impressed.

Technology,Decadence,Celebrity,Zero Point Energy & kim Kardashian
5 things worthy of remeberance!

Really what has been a great age in the current concept of history?.In all context of history involving man there will be war and killing and happiness, exploitation the subjugation of the weak those willing to fight for freedom, Law and Order, Chaos & enlightenment War & peace, these things are in our nature now more than ever.

And in the future there will be more of humans than ever and if you multiply the amount of humans on the earth right now by those born and the amount that die every year, a sustainable Population of more than 10 billion people is just not practical.

War as we know it nothing more than an advanced version of primal battle for ascendency and more war is exactly what we are gonna get.People of the future will have little care of our struggles for they will have there own and life as we know may very well have changed if not disappeared.

Its all very well to say lets have faith in human nature but history has taught me
that man cannot win against himself ne matter how he knows himself.

Bleak with a chance of Hope as they say......

 

[RedJeepXJ]

I think we are still just in the dawn of the information age, things are changing, technology is progressing. we aren't that far off from being able to build huge nuclear powered city-ships that can travel from one galaxy to another (granted cost wise it would be tremendous - but we could in theory)

information is just starting to get out there, there will always be problems but the more informed and connected each group of people are the less likelihood of major issues arising

I'm still waiting for the dawn of the space age (when we actually start colonizing)... that period is gonna be awesome.. but sadly don't think I'll be able to see it.

I don't doubt the possibility of a world war 3, but when and if that happens the casualties will be high but we are advanced enough it will unlikely throw us back tech wise, we will recover and move forward