Heinlien, Bradbury, Asimov...and all the other SF writers of their generation; they all shared similar ideas about the future we now inhabit.
Space travel was commonplace.
We had colonies on the nearby planets.
No one starved. Wars were a thing of the past. (Unless it was against alien races.)
A golden age of peace and prosperity, not to mention intellect.
Everyone had a house to live in.
Public transport was so good few people drove their own vehicles. (Unless it was a space yacht.)
Working hours were reduced, leisure time was increased.
World travel was simply a case of hopping on board a cheap shuttle and popping over to another country for a weekend.
But the reality is:
What you see every night when you watch the news.
When you realise most people work longer days than their parents did.
When the mother goes to work, because if you want to raise kids today a single parent's wage isn't enough.
When those kids grow up learning about how to act and what to wear and what to eat from the TV or internet or some video game.
When they interact more with their computers and cell phones than face to face with real people.
When you can't afford to buy a house in the suburb you were born and raised in, because the houses are too expensive.
When the planet is screaming under the weight of overpopulated nations, pollution and flora and fauna reaching extinction every day.
When war is not a final option, but an easy option.
When sports people make more money than scientists.
When many third world countries are de-evolving.
Ah, yes...it's certainly not the bright new future world that the old time SF authors envisioned.
I really have no idea what sort of place the world will be in another 50 years, let alone a 100.
Perhaps some of you might care to hazard a guess?


Reply With Quote

Bookmarks