Could Science/Technology be Simplified?

"We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces."
-Carl Sagan

Our world has become complex and requiring one to spend more time learning its intricacies in order to find success within its systems. We need to find ways to make our society more approachable for the generations that precede us.
A.I. may be able to help humanity make sense of the complexities of science and technology for future generation but we also need to find ways to simplify information in order not to require an expert to understand it.

10-20 years ago existed a "for dummies" book series which was designed to be the first step in learning any new subject. The authors essentially simplifying complex subjects and sprinkling a bit of humour into the mix in order to keep the attention of the reader. It was a genius idea that seems to have died down.

Of course, individuals also have their parts to play as it doesn't matter how simple we make something people will still need to learn it.

What Happened in the USA can Happen Anywhere...

"A constitution should be structured to permanently protect the people from the human frailties of their rulers."

-W. Cleon Skousen

The transition from Federal Republic to Oligarchy/Dictatorship/Kleptocracy that is currently happening in the United States of America can happen anywhere. If anything, this is a reminder that we must pay closer attention to our governments/leaders because if we don't then we may see changes that will make things worse for our country.

• Netherlands, Italy, Hungary and Poland have seen a rise in far-right extremist beliefs.
• Germany is facing similar problems with the rise of the AfD political party.
• In Canada, the conservative leader seems to be using similar strategies as Trump did during his campaign.

It's a concerning trend, as these movements often target marginalized communities and push for more illiberal democratic systems. The rise of such parties can have real-world consequences, including the rollback of human rights for various communities.

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."

-Jiddu Krishnamurti

It's important that we vote, while we still can, and develop an ability to identify good vs bad leaders. If, for example, a leader keeps saying he'll "become a dictator on day 1" this may not be the person you want to represent your country no matter what other silly promises he may be talking about.

Nature Documentaries Have Changed

When I was a kid, I used to find nature documentaries quite inspiring but nowadays most of those documentaries are alarming - for good reasons. Rare is the documentary that doesn't mention climate change, an animal that is now critically endangered, or an ecosystem that's been almost completely destroyed due to human activity.

Humans have assumed control of our planet's stewardship, but our management skills have fallen woefully short.

Perhaps one of the biggest problems is that too much of our economy is based on the destruction of our environment and the planet is now fighting back. If we don't learn how to work with nature then it's a battle that we'll most definitely loose.

Never Stop Learning!

“There is a theory of human behavior that says people subconsciously retard their own intellectual growth. They come to rely on clichés and habits. Once they reach the age of their own personal comfort with the world, they stop learning and their mind runs on idle for the rest of their days. They may progress organizationally, they may be ambitious and eager, and they may even work night and day. But they learn no more. The bigoted, the narrow-minded, the stubborn, and the perpetually optimistic have all stopped learning.”
-Philip Crosby

Almost 20 years ago now, I was approached by a successful business owner who told me that I was worth minimum wage from the neck down and it was what I knew that would ultimately determine how successful I was going to be in life. He then proceeded to mentor me for the next 5 years.

This changed my life and I'm fully aware it isn't the sort of experience most people go through which is why most people don't prioritize learning at all. For me, learning has been a companion all those years. I saw, first hands, the benefits of reading good books and listening to self-improvement materials.

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."

-Dorothy Parker

It's now my turn to mentor others to do the same but I can't just walk to strangers and tell them they need to read - I need to find ways to inspire others by being the example for them to follow.
This blog has been used for various purposes over the years including to help with my mission. Hopefully, you see value in it and I've helped, in a small way, instil a desire for you to learn.

Never stop learning!

The Majority Can Be Wrong

 

“Religion, is a mistake of geography. If you where born in America you are Christan, if you where born in the middle east you are Muslim, China Buddha, and before that Zeus, Thor, and people believed that the earth was flat and the sun went around the earth, though they where wrong & not only that but all of these things have no evidence.”
-Richard Dawkins

Let us suppose that Christian leaders of ancient times managed to sway people's beliefs towards Christianity and that today its become the biggest religion in the world. Does that necessarily mean that Christianity is true?

"The majority is always wrong; the minority is rarely right."

-Henrik Ibsen

Having the majority believe in something without facts doesn't make it true but the opposition, being so great, may make it difficult for any competing ideas to take flight. Scientists of the middle ages were censored when they made discoveries that were against the popular religious beliefs of the day. Time has proven them right regardless but sometimes I wished we lived in a world where we would be more opened to challenge our own beliefs rather than discourage who ever is doing it. Let's constantly improve both ourselves and the society that we live in.