panic?

I thought Thursday night's conversation was interesting, though I had a few qualms with critiquing today's society without providing good reason and exploring all factors. First, I disagree with the idea that life was better at any point. My main argument is that we have no proof that life was better in the 50's, 1800's, pre-renaissance, you name it. A 50 year old might argue that their life was better growing up, more simple, less stressed. I would agree that at least subjectively their life felt more fulfilling at that point, but where I disagree is where you place a subjective experience as a starting point for sociological thought. Absolutely, the post-world war 2 years were great, so wholesome (sarcasm), but were people really free? What was the place of women, of African Americans, of gays and lesbians?

2nd, you could argue that life up until the industrial revolution was pretty drab for most people and you could expect to die early after working hard in the fields. Was the quality of life better? Were people happier? The only "proof" we have is the impressions of writers, artists, and other accounts, but that doesn't necessarily lead me to think that an individual was happier. 

Back to the main point, has the quality of our life lessened because of technology, globalization, and sharing this space with 6.7 billion other beings? I don't think so. Hunger, violence, war still are around, but if you crack open a history book, it's nothing new. There is more and at a bigger scale because there are more of us. Overall, though, more people can read, more people can have an education, more people have access to knowledge through the internet, fine arts and music are no longer only for the elite, and, at least developed countries, we can count on a democracy (i use that term loosely in this case...). 

so is my quality of life, is society today better, yes. More people are getting basic needs met thanks to advances in technology, transportation, etc. I'm never hungry, have (almost) equal rights, and can count on a job. That sounds good to me! But, I would agree, a downside is that we tend to overdo it and replace friends with a BlackBerry, but does everyone? Don't we still hang out with friends, go see movies, spend time with loved ones? I do... 

To summarize, society has always had its good and its bad side. I think it's fair to examine our current society from an objective, global standpoint. There are parts that are in need of major repair, but overall, I think we're better off than we were 500, 100 or 50 years ago, cell or no cell phone.