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Anyone who follows the course of our society will notice that certain elements that used to be the norm are slowly declining.
This deterioration goes unnoticed by most people as their handheld devices distract them from the truth.
However, many of us are watching it unfold and sharing these things in online discussion posts. Here are some takeaways from a recent-such debate.
1. Ownership
“Basically, the concept of ownership is disappearing,” admits the first awake individual.
Those who follow the mysterious goings on with dollar-store Bond villain Klaus Schwab’s Davos collective — also known as the World Economic Forum — will know about the organization’s now-deleted mission statement: “You will own nothing and be happy.” Will we, Klaus? Why don’t you lead by example?
2. Subscriptions
One observer jokes that one day, everything will be subscription-based, including bodily organs.
“Would you like to renew or upgrade to SpleenProTM for an ad-free, high-definition auto-immune experience?” asks the commenter with more than a hint of mockery. As satirical as it sounds, you know a medical exec somewhere has thought about it.
3. Apps for Everything
I recall a Bill Burr skit in which he talks about losing his mind over his wife’s new coffee machine, for which the owner must have a phone app to use.
A similar story appears in the thread here. “My electric wheelchair has “bonus functions” which you can unlock in an app for just 300 euros,” shares the commenter. “I refuse to pay, but the fact that this exists bothers me.”
4. The Ad-pocalypse
It can become overwhelming when the entire online world runs on affiliate marketing and targeted ads. “Hopefully, they won’t invade our dreams like in Futurama,” one joker muses, unaware of another’s experience.
“I had a dream about a month ago of a full movie, and my dream would stop for ads in the middle of the movie,” says the user. “The ads were for insane products like vacuum cleaners for Anteaters that attach to their nose.”
5. Conspicuous Consumption
One observer notes that the commercial, consumerist onslaught now goes hand-in-hand with net-zero carbon guilt-tripping.
“The weirdness of living on a finite planet with limited resources, and yet being constantly bombarded by messages to consume more resources is absolutely weird,” argues a witness to the hypocrisy. This one can be filed under. “I will tell you to watch your carbon footprint while I tour the world in my private jet.”
6. No Cures, Just Treatments
According to some sides of the argument, several cancer cures are already in circulation but have been suppressed by those in power. “Cure? No, no: cures you sell only once,” adds a kindred observer. “But treatments? Much more profitable.”
Some more cynical humans feel a cure for cancer would just put too many powerful people out of a job. If antivirus companies found a widget that would rid the world of computer viruses forever, would they share it? No.
7. Language Policing
When politically correct ‘newspeak’ makes its way into everyday society, we know we are on the losing team.
When a perfectly good part of our lexicon is earmarked for scuttling, it feels like a cyberpunk or Orwellian subplot. “Like people getting used to not being able to say words like ‘dead’ on TikTok because advertisers don’t like it,” suggests an observer, “so then you see a bunch of people saying words like ‘unalive’ in real life.”
8. Disconnection From Nature
“We can live very good lives while still being connected to the natural world,” declares a thread user who refers to most of the human race.
People’s lack of awe for the natural world is unnerving — and forms the basis for so much of its failing. A line from Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is apt here. “A love of nature keeps no factories busy,” says the narrator in Huxley’s crucial book. Eyes on the prize, humans!
9. Ears Everywhere
“When you’re talking about something specific with a friend in person, and then later ads for that very same thing start popping up in your browser,” suggests an observant individual.
I am so with you on this one, oh, forum poster. I have disabled voice activation on all my devices, though even my association with others can bring them keyword-target ads. We are living in a cybernetic algorithm.
10. The Justice System
“Lawyers advise hiring the most expensive and capable representation you can afford if you’re facing any accusation,” believes one contributor.
“The fact that your ability to spend determines your guilt or punishment is horrifying.” As a non-American citizen, this horrifies me, though it applies to most Western countries.
11. Trash
We’ve been conditioned to believe everything is disposable, so we toss everything in the garbage without thinking about where it is going or what it is doing to our environment.
12. Feel Good Stories
You hear a lot of feel good stories on the news, but when you stop and think about it, the story is actually sad.
For example, “Teacher runs out of PTO days fighting cancer so the whole school district started to donate sick days”. Why does she need to use vacation days to try to save her life?
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This thread inspired this article.
I have over 15 years experience in the financial services industry and 20 years investing in the stock market. I have both my undergrad and graduate degrees in Finance, and am FINRA Series 65 licensed and have a Certificate in Financial Planning.
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