I’m Naive
Posted by Anthony
No, really, it's true. And so are you.
Humanity's number one biggest downfall is that we think we understand exponentially more than we do; we think technology can solve every problem, we trust people in positions higher than us to solve those problems, and we ignorantly accept that once we haven't heard about a problem in the news for a couple months, it no longer exists.
If ever there was a period in time that has proven this sentiment accurate, it has been the last decade or so. Last I checked, we (including but not limited to):
- Attempted to restructure entire cultures in Afghanistan and Iraq
- Suffered from a hurricane in New Orleans that devastated the region
- Had an economic meltdown of epic proportions due in large part to the advent of subprime lending
- Leaked hundred of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico that affected sea life & towns within hundred of miles
- Had a nuclear plant fail due to an earthquake, releasing hundreds of millions times a safe radiation level into the air & Pacific Ocean
In the short-term aftermath of nearly every single one of these events, the question on nearly everyone's mind was, "how could this happen?" But the reality that everyone knows - perhaps subconsciously, on a visceral level - is that these sorts of things happen because us humans are not in control of anywhere near as much as we think we are. We think we can dictate cultures, markets, nature - anything we throw enough determination and cash money at.
But we can't. Most grown adults can't even control their children. And then they go to work and try to control the world. It's a mind-numbingly ridiculous concept.
In spite of all of this, humanity's biggest strength is, well, the same arrogance and short-term myopia that kicks it in the ass every once in a while. After all, without dreaming big and quickly putting our failures behind us, we wouldn't get very far. And we use that mentality to accomplish the unthinkable - connecting societies all around the world via wireless signals, traveling across the world and to the moon, saving & extending lives. None of this would be possible without telling ourselves, every single day, that our capabilities are virtually limitless.
We just need to remind ourselves every now and then that most stengths come with corresponding weaknesses. Without understanding that, we're not well-balanced; we're just naive. Ignorant. And that will ultimately lead to our unraveling.
