topic Re: The Future in Community Chat

The Future

jellyBEAN — Sun, 03 May 2020 02:35:42 GMT

I am in my early 60's now. But when I was growing up as a kid, and thinking about The Future, this is not what I had in mind.

As a kid, I thought the Future would be more like 'The Jetsons'. Really. I thought we'd have flying cars, we'd live in futuristic looking high rises and jet around in our vehicles hovering outside our apartments. We'd have robots and our food would be so extremely nutritious because the soils and fertilizers would be perfected to grow abundant healthy food which would be minimal and everyone would be slim.

I'd also had the chance to go the '64 World's Fair in NY and see all the planned technologies for the future. We stood on conveyor belts that took us thru huge buildings and saw phones where we could see who we were talking to (OK, that part happened - at least). My point being the Future looked so marvelous and exciting. And now we have this. No better off than 100 years ago.

What did everyone else think about the Future when they were growing up? Did you think it would be like this?

Re: The Future

stevieb — Sun, 03 May 2020 02:48:35 GMT

I enjoyed your poignant observations, @jellyBEAN... I don't really know what I expected the future would hold but it sure as hell wasn't this...

Re: The Future

germanshepherdlove — Sun, 03 May 2020 03:02:06 GMT

I thought the problem with air pollution would be fixed. CA with the exception of San Franscisdo gets failing grades in every category according to the State of the Air report. Sad knowing that living there is like smoking every day of your life. I guess all the regs in their toolbox can't fix it.

Regarding flying cars, no never anticipated that would really happen. I loved the Jetsons though and our family got a chuckle out of it for sure including our parents.

Re: The Future

denisemb — Sun, 03 May 2020 03:05:30 GMT

@jellyBEAN

I'll be 67 this month and reading your first paragraph, immediately thought "The Jetsons!"

Even being a complete pessimist about many things, never imagined a worldwide pandemic would develop so quickly!

Re: The Future

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 03 May 2020 03:10:14 GMT

I remember hearing about the possibility of a global viral pandemic, but always hoped the world leaders would have a plan to neutralize the threat.

Re: The Future

KarenQVC — Sun, 03 May 2020 03:20:58 GMT

I grew up thinking the US can do just about anything. It seems at least 1/3 of us now think if it's hard don't even try. I never thought that attitude would become so popular.

Re: The Future

Drythe — Sun, 03 May 2020 03:56:31 GMT

I grew up thinking we could, and would make it a better world.

Re: The Future

patbz — Sun, 03 May 2020 04:09:27 GMT

I'm 76 and this certainly isn't what I expected from the "future". Growing up, I fully expected atomic fallout at some point (grew up in suburban MD/DC) but never imagined a pandemic.

Re: The Future

noodleann — Sun, 03 May 2020 04:11:24 GMT

No, I didn't think it would be like this.

I thought I'd have a waist.

Re: The Future

Linmo — Sun, 03 May 2020 04:12:28 GMT

Life seemed a lot simpler when I grew up in the sixties. Now that we're here, I can't imagine living without a cell phone for my kids to call me if they need help or the internet to find things when I need help. Technology has definitely come a long way!

Re: The Future

Desertdi — Sun, 03 May 2020 04:13:51 GMT

I keep wondering what could top THIS..........a world depression with giant locusts???

Re: The Future

KarenQVC — Sun, 03 May 2020 04:20:49 GMT

@Desertdi Didn't you read yet about the Asian Murder Bees, or is it wasps? I'm serious--reported today.

Re: The Future

Puppy Lips — Sun, 03 May 2020 04:46:03 GMT

My only thoughts about the future were what I thought it would be like to be an adult. I thought I would have all the money I needed. I thought I could do what I wanted, within reason. I thought my kids would handle their own problems. I was wrong on all accounts. I thought being an adult would be great. Now I think being a kid, going to school, and playing with friends sounds pretty awesome.

Re: The Future

Desertdi — Sun, 03 May 2020 07:34:28 GMT

@KarenQVC wrote:
@Desertdi Didn't you read yet about the Asian Murder Bees, or is it wasps? I'm serious--reported today.

@KarenQVC OH NO..........and on top of that, I'm TERRIFIED of bees.

Re: The Future

hckynut — Sun, 03 May 2020 07:57:17 GMT

@jellyBEAN

Never been one to look very far into the future. When young my looking ahead was moving out of Public Housing Projects and into a house.

Then it was saving the money from my jobs to buy a car. Couldn't wait to turn 16 so I could get my drivers license and go racing on legal Drag Strips around the close cities and states.

Based pretty much my whole life on living in the present, not looking beyond another weekend to go racing. In the winter is was pretty much all ice skating/ watching and playing hockey games.

Now at close to 81 and during this virus? I look only to having another tomorrow, along with staying as physically fit as possible to resume my ice skating once again.

Said it here many times. I have followed this saying most of my life:

"Man was born to live, not to prepare for life"!

Through many life threatening illnesses I have never changed that outlook, and this virus has not and will not change that way of looking at my future.

hckynut(john)

Re: The Future

jellyBEAN — Sun, 03 May 2020 11:11:41 GMT

Looking back as an adult at my younger years, I could recall being in Kindergarten class. It was Nov. of '63. Someone came to our classrom door to speak w/our teacher. At 6 years old at this time, I can recall there being something wrong. I was too young to know what it was, but I could sense something had happened. Of course years later, looking back, it was the day JFK was shot. Even as a little kid, who never watched any news, or knew much about Presidents and such, something was wrong, you could just sense it. Something in the air.

Sure we had air raid drills, we all had to go out into the hallways, stand facing the wall with our head in our hands. Talk about protection!! There were always "things" that happened, but as a kid then, it didn't really affect us. Maybe today, the little ones are aware, and know something is wrong, but they are just too young to really understand.

I also recall seeing 'Planet of the Apes' when it came out in theaters. The ending was very futuristic, with the Statue of Liberty being buried among the rubble on the planet. A few humans had survived, but basically the planet had been taken over by apes. And it was Earth. I am not one for science fiction, believe it or not, but somehow that ending always intrigued me. It was Earth and it had been taken over because Man had failed.

Just makes me wonder.......Sorry, don't mean to be morbid on a Sunday morning, but this is all very interesting to me. I guess I have too much time on my hands.

Re: The Future

jellyBEAN — Sun, 03 May 2020 11:37:41 GMT

On Microsoft News there is an article showing photos of 49 landmarks across the world, all lit up in blue for the healthcare workers, and lit up in their country's flag colors - it really is heartwarming so view these photos if you get a chance. (sorry I don't know how to post a link)

Last thing I will say is that after looking at these photos, from all across the world, if somehow, someday, this pandemic doesn't somehow bring the world together. It can't be done by one man, one country or super power, it has to be done as a whole. Maybe when the dust settles and begins to clear, the Earth as a whole, will be a better place.

That's my hope for the future.

Re: The Future

Isobel Archer — Sun, 03 May 2020 12:30:18 GMT

So interesting. Just read an article about more of the "silver lining" of the virus.

Since - as it predicts - we will have another Great Depression - maybe even worse this time - this is a great opportunity for another New Deal - this time Green.

We can have massive government handouts for those who lost jobs and we can also spend massive amounts for Green improvements.

We can abolish gasoline driven cars. Those still working - can mostly work from home - and everyone else can drive electric cars when they leave their solar powered houses.

No worries about cost. And the air will be so much cleaner.

Re: The Future

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 03 May 2020 13:19:33 GMT

The Jetsons was really a favlorite of mine. I truly loved it and I also thought --- yes, in my future, when I grow up, I bet my world will be similar to this. How wonderful! I really thought we'd be flying around in our own little cars for one thing. We'd travel to different galaxies for vacations. I imagined our whole bodies being scanned through a diagnostic machine --- like they do with cars. We'd get a print-out and it would should us every system in our body and everything that was right and wrong and how it could be fixed. I remember the Foodaracacycle!!! Don't know how that was spelled. But thought --- how great! Just push a button and you can have any food you want. And, of course, there was Rosie --- she was amazing!!! And automatic cleaning. Of course, there are Roomba's now, but not quite the same thing.

I did not think that my so-called golden years would involve a pandemic and that I would pretty much have to be secluded and stay nearly 24-7 in my home. Just praying that I will have a few years left to live fairly normally without this virus and all the restrictions.

Re: The Future

LindaSal — Sun, 03 May 2020 13:51:14 GMT

@jellyBEAN Interesting post. I actually was 3 years old when Kennedy was shot so we are close in age. I have a painted glass from the world's fair in 1964, my parents had gone to that! As far as wondering what the future would hold for me....... Well I didn't marry the man I always thought I would (thankfully) LOL. I have two kids instead of the 4 or 5 I thought I would have (thankfully) and I never thought I would go through a serious case of breast cancer and survive (thankfully). I guess what I am getting at is life has been full of surprises, but I truly am thankful for all I have been blessed with and appreciate each day