Comments on: Bruce Sterling’s annual State of the World, 2008 http://futurismic.com/2008/01/08/bruce-sterlings-annual-state-of-the-world-2008/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Sat, 19 May 2012 23:03:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tomas Martin http://futurismic.com/2008/01/08/bruce-sterlings-annual-state-of-the-world-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-11805 Tomas Martin Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:36:40 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2008/01/08/bruce-sterlings-annual-state-of-the-world-2008/#comment-11805 What I mean to say is that the solutions are exciting. As a science fiction writer, it excites me to think that these new technologies and strategies might create a different way of living, just like the internet or the car or the jet. The cynic in me agrees with you that very little action will be taken until there is a crisis. The optimist in me thinks that the cooler and more economically viable solutions are already getting investment. And even if the cynic is right, why glorify that and alienate the people reading? I'd prefer to aim for an optimistic 'we can tackle this and create this exciting future' than doom and gloom people into inaction. What I mean to say is that the solutions are exciting. As a science fiction writer, it excites me to think that these new technologies and strategies might create a different way of living, just like the internet or the car or the jet.

The cynic in me agrees with you that very little action will be taken until there is a crisis. The optimist in me thinks that the cooler and more economically viable solutions are already getting investment. And even if the cynic is right, why glorify that and alienate the people reading? I’d prefer to aim for an optimistic ‘we can tackle this and create this exciting future’ than doom and gloom people into inaction.

]]> By: Reality bytes http://futurismic.com/2008/01/08/bruce-sterlings-annual-state-of-the-world-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-11801 Reality bytes Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:36:15 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2008/01/08/bruce-sterlings-annual-state-of-the-world-2008/#comment-11801 I think what you really mean to say is that the solutions are beneficial to our aching planet. Sure the solutions are great, but I imagine there will be pain associated with their acceptance. I say this because, I assume that very little action will be taken until there is crisis. E.g. 5 dollar a gallon gas, skyrocketing food prices, riots in the streets. I think what you really mean to say is that the solutions are beneficial to our aching planet. Sure the solutions are great, but I imagine there will be pain associated with their acceptance. I say this because, I assume that very little action will be taken until there is crisis. E.g. 5 dollar a gallon gas, skyrocketing food prices, riots in the streets.

]]> By: Tomas Martin http://futurismic.com/2008/01/08/bruce-sterlings-annual-state-of-the-world-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-11777 Tomas Martin Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:43:27 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2008/01/08/bruce-sterlings-annual-state-of-the-world-2008/#comment-11777 Definitely, Stephen. Added to the fact that the negative, doomsday style of talking about real issues turns people off to the ideas. When presented with such a negative outlook, how can people get excited about doing something? We have to present the positives of such a change. Definitely, Stephen. Added to the fact that the negative, doomsday style of talking about real issues turns people off to the ideas. When presented with such a negative outlook, how can people get excited about doing something? We have to present the positives of such a change.

]]> By: Stephen Years http://futurismic.com/2008/01/08/bruce-sterlings-annual-state-of-the-world-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-11726 Stephen Years Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:16:52 +0000 http://futurismic.com/2008/01/08/bruce-sterlings-annual-state-of-the-world-2008/#comment-11726 Bravo, Thomas, for the last sentence of this post. I'm no stranger to blogging about natural resource constraints - but I feel too often the people who are at the vanguard of (almost any kind of ) activism do so from almost a self-loathing perspective; e.g. "Can you believe what a horrible species Man is for what we have done to the environment," implying a willful malice in the harm that we have caused. We learn, we grow, we make mistakes along the way... and hopefully, eventually we make things better. Does anyone honestly think the ancient Romans were evil for building their plumbing out of lead pipes? Bravo, Thomas, for the last sentence of this post. I’m no stranger to blogging about natural resource constraints – but I feel too often the people who are at the vanguard of (almost any kind of ) activism do so from almost a self-loathing perspective; e.g. “Can you believe what a horrible species Man is for what we have done to the environment,” implying a willful malice in the harm that we have caused. We learn, we grow, we make mistakes along the way… and hopefully, eventually we make things better. Does anyone honestly think the ancient Romans were evil for building their plumbing out of lead pipes?

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