Random Ramblings

I Was a Fool to Dream

I remember reading science-fiction books as a youngster. At that impressionable age, the concepts of a technological future were delightful and fascinating to imagine. For each dystopian setting, there was always a blessed utopia where humanity fully embraced automation and science to live out days in leisurely activities and the pursuit of personal dreams.

But as the years went on, those rosy depictions of far off decades began to fade out of our collective consciousness.

More tales concerning Orwellian societies and totalitarian governments started cropping up, perhaps in response to our rapidly eroding quality of life. Even the young adult genre was swamped with these themes, overtaken by an enormous glut of rebellious characters fighting against the ever expanding machine. Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, sound familiar?

The bleakness started to become evident to any who dared pay attention. Of course, the aforementioned book series concluded in bittersweet hollow victories, befitting the grim events within. Reality rarely has happy endings. Why should we pull our punches for the adolescent audience?

That was my first warning.

Looking back, I feel like a fool for dreaming about harmonious existence and altruistic advancements. Remember the guy who developed a car which ran on electrolysis and expelled water vapor? It could have single-handedly ended our dependence on fossil fuels and eliminated insane amounts of world-wide pollution.

But no. Oil companies promptly buried the concept in their greed to make billions hand over fist. Oh and the inventor died quite mysteriously as well. How convenient.

The future is a cold, lonely place. We are more isolated than ever, more suspicious and distrustful, wrapped up in our struggle to eke out a meager existence. People live vicariously through others, since they cannot do much else. No wonder why TikTok and other video platforms host streamers who live better than most, watched by millions who can barely interact with others.

Is it a surprise many are socially inept? Why we run across so many selfish and insecure citizens? Technology has caused a huge rift in our lives, alienating and disassociating humanity from friends and family. Why would you need to step outside and touch grass when you can have everything from the comfort of your home?

Can't afford a plane ticket? It's cheaper to witness someone streaming his or her adventures in the safari. Can't eat anything but garbage fast food and dollar store junk? Tune in to observe food lovers traveling from five-star restaurant to high bistros. Can't catch the attention of the opposite sex? Why not chat with eye candy and give them generous tips so they say your name on camera?

We've replaced genuine human connections with clinical interactions. Every facet of our lifestyle has been monetized. Even suicide hotlines are now selling your data so companies can find out ways to market your crippling depression.

This isn't what I imagined as a youth. I never anticipated the cultural and technological stagnation from those who wanted to maintain the status quo until they ran it all into the ground.

I just wanted flying cars and that microwave from Spy Kids that turned cellophane packets into fresh food instantly.

What will be our breaking point? What horrific tragedy will awake our sleepwalking masses into mobilizing? Not the school shootings, the rampant crime, the Dickensian deaths of employees trapped in workplaces, the open corruption of elected officials, the nation-wide exploitation of the middle and lower classes, the disinformation campaigns, the rapid global shifts in climates, the mass extinction event currently underway, the food shortages and oncoming famine...

But hey, at least we have Netflix and two day delivery from Amazon!