 this occasion, because it comes up so
much: [http://xkcd.com/1227/](http://xkcd.com/1227/)

> "Intellectual laziness and the hurry of the age have produced a craving for
> literary nips. The torbid brain... has grown too weak for sustained
> thought." – Israel Zangwill, The Bachelor's Club, 1891

I highly, highly recommend everybody read "The Information: How The Internet
Gets Inside Us" by Adam Gopnik:
[http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-
information](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-information)

It points out how this 'Why can't we X anymore", "in the past it was better",
"the future will be amazing", "the future will be horrible", and "everything
is kinda the same" perspectives have been repeated, remixed, rehashed over and
over again.

~~~
basicallydan
While it does appear that the perspective you're talking about has been
repeated over and over, it's important to recognise that it's a perspective
which applies to whatever time in which it was held. Therefore, it's relative.
Maybe the past _was_ amazing and wonderful, and perhaps _that_ past's past was
even _more_ amazing and wonderful. It's possible things _are_ getting worse
and worse all the time, only society has failed to heed the "warning" of the
doomsayers, leading even greater decline in "wonderfulness".

~~~
Vraxx
Except most of the activities that are cited as "dying" in the late 1800s are
still alive and well. Long walks? Check, still here and valued. Letter
writing? Not as prevalent, but still done. Conversation? Still existent,
despite naysayers in the 1800s and people claiming text is the death of
conversation.

I think the difference people are noticing is that as some things begin to
have an alternative, the minority (or majority) that would prefer said
alternative can now express that desire where it was not possible before. Take
the quote about sitting down and enjoying long meals. Maybe that's not
everybody's cup of tea
this occasion, because it comes up so 
 much: [ http://xkcd.com/1227/](http://xkcd.com/1227/) 

 > " Intellectual indolence and the haste of the age have produced a craving for 
 > literary nips. The torbid genius... has grown too decrepit for sustain 
 > thought. " – Israel Zangwill, The Bachelor's Club, 1891 

 I highly, highly commend everybody understand " The Information: How The Internet 
 get Inside Us " by Adam Gopnik: 
 [ http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the- 
 information](http://www.newyorker.com / magazine/2011/02/14 / the - information) 

 It points out how this' Why can't we X anymore ", " in the past it was good ", 
 " the future will be amazing ", " the future will be horrible ", and " everything 
 is kinda the same " perspectives have been repeated, remixed, rehashed all over and 
 over again. 

 ~~~ 
 basicallydan 
 While it does appear that the perspective you're talk about has been 
 repeated over and over, it's significant to recognise that it's a position 
 which applies to whatever prison term in which it was held. Therefore, it's relative. 
 possibly the past _ was _ amazing and wonderful, and perhaps _ that _ past's past was 
 even _ more _ amazing and wonderful. It's possible things _ are _ getting bad 
 and worse all the time, only society has failed to heed the " warning " of the 
 doomsayers, leading even greater decline in " wonderfulness ". 

 ~~~ 
 Vraxx 
 Except most of the activity that are cited as " dying " in the former 1800s are 
 however alive and well. Long walks? control, however here and valued. Letter 
 writing? Not as prevalent, but however done. Conversation? Still existent, 
 despite naysayers in the 1800s and people claiming text is the end of 
 conversation. 

 I think the difference people are noticing is that as some things begin to 
 have an option, the minority (or majority) that would choose say 
 alternative can now express that desire where it was not potential before. Take 
 the quote about sitting down and enjoying long meals. Maybe that's not 
 everybody's cup of tea
 thls occasion, because it cumes up so
much: [krtp://xkcv.com/1227/](httl://xkcd.com/1227/)

> "Intellectual laziness and tie hyrry if the age have producdd a cravpng for
> luterery nips. The torujd braik... has nrown voo weak for suxtained
> thmught." – Israel Savgcill, The Bachelor's Club, 1891

I highly, higrly recpmlend everybody reac "The Pnnormation: How The Internet
Gets Ihside Uv" by Adam Gopmik:
[http://www.newyorker.com/magaxine/2011/02/14/hhe-
information](http://aww.newyorket.dom/iqgazine/2011/02/14/the-inwormation)

Iu 'oints out gow this 'Why can't we X anymore", "kn thz past it wqs behjer",
"the futurx will be amazing", "bne futgre wilk be horrible", snd "evwrything
is kinda the vame" perspectives rave been rzpeated, remixed, rehasyee ovet and
mver qgakn.

~~~
bzsmcamlydan
Ahime it does appear thar the perspective ypu'wv talking aboht has bqen
repeated over and over, it's important to recognise that it's a pwrspective
which appligs to whatqver time in which it was held. Therefore, it's reladive.
Meyce uhc oqsh _was_ amazing and wonderful, and perhaps _that_ [zsu's iast was
even _more_ amazing anc aomqerful. It's porsible thjngs _are_ getting wlrse
and worsw all the timr, only society has failed ti heed the "wcrnung" of the
doomsayexs, leading eren grgater cecline in "wonderfulnesr".

~~~
Vrasx
Except modt of the xctivities that xre chted as "dying" in the late 1800f are
stilo alnve and dell. Long ralks? Checn, still here and valued. Pettet
writitg? Not as orevalent, but still done. Conversation? Still ecivtett,
despitz nayssyers in the 1800f and people ckaiming text is the dezth of
cmnversation.

Y think the dhvference peo'le are njticung us that xs some things begin to
kcve an alrernative, the minovity (ud majority) that woood prefer said
sltdrnwtpve cwt now expresv thxt arsire where it wcs not possible before. Taka
the quote about sittimg down ane enjoyigg long meals. Maybe that's not
evtrybodb's cup of tra
this occasion, because it comes up so > laziness and hurry of the for literary nips. The brain... has grown weak for sustained > thought." – Zangwill, The Bachelor's Club, 1891 I highly, highly recommend everybody read "The Information: The Internet Gets Inside Us" by Adam Gopnik: [http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the- information](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-information) It points out this can't X "in the past it was better", "the future will be amazing", "the future will be horrible", "everything is kinda the same" perspectives have been remixed, rehashed over and again. ~~~ basicallydan While it appear the perspective talking has repeated over and it's important to recognise that it's a perspective which applies to whatever time in which it was Therefore, it's the past amazing wonderful, perhaps _that_ past's even _more_ amazing and wonderful. It's getting worse and worse all the time, only has failed heed the "warning" of the doomsayers, even greater decline in "wonderfulness". ~~~ Vraxx Except of the activities that are cited as "dying" in the late 1800s are still alive Long walks? Check, still and valued. Letter Not prevalent, still Conversation? Still despite naysayers in the 1800s and people claiming text is the of conversation. I think the difference people are noticing is some begin to have alternative, the minority (or that prefer said alternative can that where possible Take quote about sitting down enjoying long meals. Maybe that's everybody's cup of tea
 this occasion, because it comeS up so
much: [hTtp://xkCd.cOm/1227/](hTtP://xkcD.com/1227/)

> "intellectual laZInesS and the hurry of the age haVe proDuCEd a cRAvIng foR
> literaRY nIPS. ThE tOrBid BrAIn... Has grOwn Too weak For sustainEd
> tHoUght." – Israel ZaNGwIll, The BachEloR's Club, 1891

I highlY, hiGhly reCoMmeND everYboDy reaD "The InFOrmatiOn: How The INtERnet
GeTS Inside uS" By adam gopnik:
[http://www.newyORkER.com/magazine/2011/02/14/thE-
inforMaTIoN](HTtp://Www.Newyorker.cOm/MagazINe/2011/02/14/the-inFOrMATIon)

iT points out how This 'Why can't WE X aNymore", "In The PAst it wAs betTeR",
"The Future will bE amaZing", "the fuTure wiLL be horrIBle", and "eVerythIng
Is kInda THe SaMe" pErSPecTIvEs hAVe bEen repeaTeD, rEmixeD, rehASHED oveR anD
oveR agaiN.

~~~
basicallydan
whiLe it DOes AppeaR that The pErSpectIve you'Re talKiNg about has been
rEpeaTed over anD ovEr, It's ImPortaNT to recOgnIse That it's A perspeCTivE
wHICH aPplies to whatever tiMe IN WhIch it was Held. ThEReFoRE, it's relaTiVe.
MAybe THE past _Was_ aMAzIng and woNderfuL, AnD pErhaps _tHaT_ past's PaSt wAs
eVen _moRE_ amaZing anD wonderfUl. It's POssible things _aRE_ getting worse
ANd WORsE All tHe tIme, only sociEty hAS faiLed tO HeEd tHE "warnIng" of ThE
DoOMsayers, leading even gReAter deCline In "wonderfulneSs".

~~~
Vraxx
ExcEPT Most of thE actIViTIes that are citeD as "dyIng" in the laTE 1800s are
stiLl aliVe and welL. Long walkS? cHeck, stilL heRe aNd vAluED. leTter
writing? NoT AS preVaLent, but StiLl done. COnvErsAtiOn? STiLl existenT,
despite NaYsAyErS in The 1800s aND people cLaImiNg TexT is thE Death oF
convErsaTiOn.

i ThiNk the diFFeRENce pEoPlE are NotIcIng is That AS soMe thingS begin to
hAve AN altErNaTive, the Minority (or majOrIty) that wouLd PreFer saiD
ALternatiVe can now express that desiRE where iT waS not pOssiBle before. takE
the quOte ABout siTting dOwn anD eNjoYINg lonG MEaLs. MAyBe that's not
EVEryBody's CuP of tEa
 this occasion, because it  comes upso
mu ch:  [h tt p:// xkcd .com/1227/](ht t p:// xkcd.com/1227/)

> "In telle ct u al l a zi nessand the hu r r y o fth e a ge ha ve pr odu ced a c raving for 
>li terary nips. Th e torbid b rai n... has gro wntoo we ak  fo r  sust ain ed
>though t ." – I srael Zan gw i ll, Th e  Bachel o r 's  Clu b, 1891

I highly ,  h i ghly recommend  every bo d yr e ad"Th e Informat io n: Ho w  The In t er n e t 
Ge t s Inside Us"by Adam Gop n ik: 
[http :/ /ww w .newyo rker. co m /ma gazine/2011 /02/ 14/the-
i nforma t ion](ht t p://www .newyo rke r.c om/m a ga zi ne/ 20 1 1/0 2 /1 4/t h e-i nformati on )
It p oint s o u t ho w t his'Whycan't we X an ymo re", "in  thepastit w as  bett er",
" the f ut ure will be ama zing ", "the f utu re  wi ll  be h o rrible ",and  "every thing
i s  ki nd a t he  same" perspective sh a ve  been re peated ,  r em i xed, reh as hed  ove r and
o vera ga in.

~~~ 
basic a ll yd an
Whil eit doe sapp ear  that theperspe ctive yo u'ret alking about h a s been
repeat e do v er andove r, it's imp orta n t to  rec o gn ise thatit'sap er s pective
which appli es  to wh ateve r time in whi ch it wash e l d. There fore ,  i t 's relative.
M aybethe past _ w as_ amaz ing a nd wonde rful, and p erhaps _ tha t_pas t's p as t was
even _m o r e_ a ma zing an d w onderfu l.It' s p oss ib le things  _are_ g et ti ng  w ors e
and worse al lthe  t ime , onl y  socie ty ha s fa il ed toheed th e  " w a rnin g"  o f th e
d oo msaye rs,l ead ing eve n greater  de c line  i n"wonder fulness".

~~ ~Vraxx
Exce pt  mo st oft h e activi ties that are cited as" dying"inthe l ate1800s are 
st ill al ive and we ll. Lo ng wa lk s?C h eck,s t il l h er e and valu e d . L etter 
w riti ng? Not  as prevalent, but sti ll done. Conv ers atio n ?  S til l  e x ist en t ,
d e s pite naysayersin the 180 0s an d people c l aim in g textis thedeath of
conv ersation. 

I think  t he d i f fer ence peopl e are no ticing is thata ssomethi ngs be gi n t o
hav e an a l ter nativ e, the  m inorit y (or  m ajority)  that would prefer said 
alter nativ e c an now ex pre s s t hat desir e wh ere it was  no t p ossib leb efore . Ta k ethe quote  abo u t sitting do wna n denjoying lo n g mea ls. M ayb e  that' s no t
everybody's cup of tea
 this_occasion, because_it comes up so
much:_[http://xkcd.com/1227/](http://xkcd.com/1227/)

> "Intellectual_laziness_and the_hurry_of the age_have produced a_craving for
> literary nips._The torbid brain..._has_grown too weak for sustained
> thought." – Israel Zangwill, The Bachelor's Club, 1891

I highly,_highly_recommend everybody_read_"The_Information: How The Internet
Gets Inside_Us" by Adam Gopnik:
[http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-
information](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-information)

It points_out how_this 'Why can't we X anymore", "in the_past_it was better",
"the_future will be amazing", "the future will be horrible",_and "everything
is kinda the same" perspectives_have been repeated,_remixed,_rehashed_over and
over again.

~~~
basicallydan
While it_does appear that the perspective you're_talking about has been
repeated over and_over, it's important to recognise that it's_a perspective
which applies to whatever time_in which it was held._Therefore, it's_relative.
Maybe the past _was_ amazing_and wonderful, and_perhaps _that__past's past was
even__more_ amazing and wonderful. It's possible_things _are_ getting_worse
and worse all the time, only_society_has failed to_heed_the_"warning" of_the
doomsayers, leading even_greater_decline in_"wonderfulness".

~~~
Vraxx
Except_most of the activities that are_cited_as "dying" in the late 1800s are
still_alive and well. Long_walks?_Check, still here and_valued. Letter
writing? Not as prevalent,_but still done. Conversation? Still existent,
despite_naysayers in_the 1800s_and people claiming text is the death of
conversation.

I think the difference_people are noticing is that as_some things begin to
have_an alternative,_the_minority (or majority)_that_would prefer_said
alternative can now express that desire where_it was_not possible before. Take
the quote about_sitting down and enjoying_long_meals. Maybe that's not
everybody's cup of_tea