Human civilization has done decisions that it can’t exactly be proud of. Whether real or fake, here’s an Internet meme that illustrates what went wrong:
Society has made free things more difficult.
The problem with the Western civilization is that it solves problems that have been caused by the society itself. The biggest things in our society have been built not for the people but for the society. Think of the biggest industries globally:
- Banking & investments. Produces nothing of value.
- Insurance. Produces nothing of value.
- Oil production. Exploits non-renewable resources.
In contrast, let’s look at the favorite pastimes of Facebook users. Some highlights:
- Farming. Like growing tomatoes and stuff.
- Fishing. Growing and catching them etc.
- Keeping pets. Having your own animals.
Two Eagles knew this already. People don’t need money or the infrastructure as we know it. They just want a farm by a lake to go fishing to with their cat.
How to Make a Million Before 30 
I don’t see the point in comparing industries to Facebook pastimes, why not just normal pastimes or why pastimes at all? Industry will almost always differ from peoples pastimes, especially in the raw-material sector.
Also I think you’re pointing out industries that work out for you. Those industries, apart from oil (and only due to the size of the energy industry) are not the largest. Food and tourism are generally estimated to be the largest industries in the world. These are both related to enjoyable pastimes.
True enough. If you want to put it that way the contrast sure looks hazy.
The point I try to make here is that people want plain, simple and oldskool. Industries and infrastructure aren’t really that important to them.
Take food for example. Increasing number of people want food straight from the farm instead of through the industry.
Tourism as an industry is an interesting concept that I should probably dig deeper into. But isn’t tourism to people what banking is to money. Just sending them around and taking a small profit in between?
Absolutely brilliant topics you bring up in these updates. Many of them have reminded about the real values of life and it’s good to know someone is spreading the word with such a passion. Much luck with your journey!
Thank you for your encouraging comment Tuomas! Hope you find this journey interesting all the way till the end.
I think the point you want to make is that people want simple ;). That I totally agree with. I for example wouldn’t want an oldskool healthcare system or oldskool technology and the related infrastructure. People strive to understand things and the simpler stuff gets the better it is in all account. Simple doesn’t exclude sophisticated and modern.
It’s true that industry and infrastructure are not important to people, but that doesn’t make them any less important to how the world works as a whole. They still fill important roles. Due to globalization, most industries have become quite a bit more intricate and complicated, and it’s true that people have, mostly, lost touch with them.
I always like to think of shoes, which about 80 years ago were still produced in a totally different manner, and in a way that people were in touch with. Today however , shoes are cheaper, easier to buy, come in more variance, and I can still find a cordwainer if I truly want artisan made shoes.
The fact that people want unprocessed food is mostly due to the (at least illusory) health benefits of getting good grade meat, vegetables, milk and so on. They also want to support ethical causes like proper land management when they by organic. This I admit is a case where oldskool might be a good word to use, even though in general I don’t really agree with or believe the “back then everything was better” mindset.
The current situation that we have with food is actually the cause of people wanting things simpler. Modern food is really simple. Slap it in the oven or microwave and it’s done. Now we’re having issues with the quality of the food and it’s ingredients and the markets are starting to change somewhat.
Your point about tourism, clever as it might be, is rather shallow :). Tourism encompasses much more than just the transport of people. I in fact love tourism as an industry as it generates some rather lovely things apart from money on the side. For example it promotes knowledge of differing cultures and the widening one’s world view and at the same time reduces stress.
The reason why I’m being so pissy about all this is that I usually find your posts very creative and sharp, but this one I though was rater lax :).
Wow, Jere. Quite a bit of insight in your comment. I guess I’ll have to throw in a few lax posts also in the future since they seem to be a good way to spur discussion. 😉
Writing lax posts is a good way to lose readership ;).