Trolling with optimism

[kmo]

I recently shared a Facebook post in which SF writer David Brin excerpted some happy talk from Steven Pinker about how the world is growing less violent with far fewer people dying in wars than was the norm just 50 years ago. Not only are fewer people dying in wars, but violent crime statistics in the USA are on a decades-long downward trend

Comments

"You Want it Darker"Leonard Cohen

[coremarc]

KMO,
Thanks for your insights. Isn't the situation you describe just a microcosm of the current US political conversation? Nothing can be stated, negative or affirmative, without stern rebuke.

I have my convictions, but there seem to be no moorings by which to anchor a "reasonable" argument.
Trying to keep my head up. You may not ever turn the doomer tide, but I enjoy your optimistic episodes.

Core
https://youtu.be/v0nmHymgM7Y

[kmo]

Thanks, Mark.

How did you know that I posted something to LiveJournal? Was it the Twitter link?

LJ Post indicator

[coremarc]

Yes, the Twitter link.

[peristaltor]

I would object to the claim that much of the improvement has been due to mere rationality. The physical conditions that encourage rationality need to be optimal before we can credit good thinking that avoided disastrous irrationality