Future Regrets?

[4est_4est_Gump]

"What did Mises have to say about the Industrial Revolution creating a miserable, poor underclass and slave labor? I genuinely don't know the answer to that."


That there is always a time of transition, that they were not better off before, but clearly, their children were better off for it, and isn't that why so many have struggled so hard for so many centuries?

Take the issue of child labor, as the Austrian School points out, most of the production of the nations emerging out of mercantilism was based upon sustenance farming and animal husbandry and the adults could not leave the farm. Instead of just continuing the tradition, which was also being marginalized, the children went to factories to help the family. And they did. However, children are not productive workers. Once the industries became more stabilized, they brought aboard more adult labor, but untrained, so they were paid at that rate. But as they trained and gained education, their value increased, so their wages increased. All of society was thusly uplifted into an age of wealth which the common man had never known before as the common man was truly the chattel of the elite ruling classes and taxed to death, but the worker, as poor as his lot may have been at times, was the master of his destiny and taxed in a more reasonable manner that was not putative and designed to keep him firmly in his place.

 

[Phelia]

I am alright at avoiding regrets just for myself. I used to suffer intergalactic FOMO and despair that I'd never be able to visit every nebula, read every book, explore every crevasse of the mariana trench. I was jealous of the future and the knowledge they'd have that I came too early for. But you can't do everything you'd enjoy, so I focus on enjoying the things I do. I try never to be bored, and the easiest way to do it is not to be boring.

Regrets involving other people are trickier. I have a big one in my mind, now. It makes me sad to think about, but it was impactful, too, because it taught me that it is important to ask for what I want.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Kids! Yes, for sure. There's always these moments. I remember being really upset at missing a chance to take a pic of my niece. Like, it felt like a major tragedy. Silly, in retrospect; I remember the moment like it just happened this morning.

Over the years, I have learned not to miss so many moments, but know those moments are testing their wings and wanting to leave the nest...

That will leave an empty hole in our happy home.

 

[Phelia]

Single use plastic and styrofoam containers.

Was your dinner or soda worth a container that never breaks down or takes over 500 to 1000 years to break down? No it was not.

This is a good one! I do have some regret over the state the world is in, and will have serious regret if it does not get better in my lifetime. I try to be good, but I still like my teas in plastic bottles sometimes. And I buy things that are "cheap" without factoring in the human and environmental costs.

I will try harder

He used to seem like a human being with some bad ideas. Now he seems like a bad idea with some human moments.

Well said.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

I just within the past week received a medical diagnosis that was far more optimistic than what was horrifically possible given my obvious symptoms. I'll need surgery, but this is well repairable. I don't have what I feared I could very easily have.

As a result, I will never again have the future regret that I now have -- having spent most of my life taking life itself for granted. I am resolved to live life with a far greater attitude of appreciation during whatever time I have left.

 

[Peregrinator]

"What did Mises have to say about the Industrial Revolution creating a miserable, poor underclass and slave labor? I genuinely don't know the answer to that."


That there is always a time of transition, that they were not better off before, but clearly, their children were better off for it, and isn't that why so many have struggled so hard for so many centuries?

Take the issue of child labor, as the Austrian School points out, most of the production of the nations emerging out of mercantilism was based upon sustenance farming and animal husbandry and the adults could not leave the farm. Instead of just continuing the tradition, which was also being marginalized, the children went to factories to help the family. And they did. However, children are not productive workers. Once the industries became more stabilized, they brought aboard more adult labor, but untrained, so they were paid at that rate. But as they trained and gained education, their value increased, so their wages increased. All of society was thusly uplifted into an age of wealth which the common man had never known before as the common man was truly the chattel of the elite ruling classes and taxed to death, but the worker, as poor as his lot may have been at times, was the master of his destiny and taxed in a more reasonable manner that was not putative and designed to keep him firmly in his place.

Stalin and Mao both claimed transition, too. I think we need to be very careful of the cost-benefit.

I wonder if I'm getting a glimpse here of your resistance to things like the EPA and the mountain of science about global warming. If this notion of material wealth isnthe highest good, then anything that challenges it must be destroyed at all costs.

 

[Peregrinator]

I am alright at avoiding regrets just for myself. I used to suffer intergalactic FOMO and despair that I'd never be able to visit every nebula, read every book, explore every crevasse of the mariana trench. I was jealous of the future and the knowledge they'd have that I came too early for. But you can't do everything you'd enjoy, so I focus on enjoying the things I do. I try never to be bored, and the easiest way to do it is not to be boring.

Regrets involving other people are trickier. I have a big one in my mind, now. It makes me sad to think about, but it was impactful, too, because it taught me that it is important to ask for what I want.

Oh, darling, I'll take you to space. But yeah, I know what you mean..."I hear babies crying; I watch them grow/They'll learn much more than I'll never know..." That couplet used to make me seriously envious. The questions you and I will never see answered. And the ones that we could answer, except it would require us to dedicate our lives to answering them, to the exclusion of so many others.

Huh. I did a thread about that saying once, only boring people get bored.

Yeah...there are an awful lot of things I'd like to say or unsay, do or undo, regarding other people. Many, many lessons learned there.

 

[Peregrinator]

Over the years, I have learned not to miss so many moments, but know those moments are testing their wings and wanting to leave the nest...

That will leave an empty hole in our happy home.

This is a nice microcsom of how bittersweet life can be. I am constantly mindful of how old my parents are, how I could lose one or both at any moment.

 

[Peregrinator]

I just within the past week received a medical diagnosis that was far more optimistic than what was horrifically possible given my obvious symptoms. I'll need surgery, but this is well repairable. I don't have what I feared I could very easily have.

As a result, I will never again have the future regret that I now have -- having spent most of my life taking life itself for granted. I am resolved to live life with a far greater attitude of appreciation during whatever time I have left.

Oh, man, yeah, thank god for the good news. But there's nothing quite like that experience to make you refocus and get motivated, huh? I had some cardiac shit going on for a year or so until we got it straightened out, and I really, reallly started wondering what I wouldn't ever be able to do again. Kinda got refocused on what's important to me.

 

[jaF0]

I know I'm gonna regret waking up this morning.

Oh wait ... I already do.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

Oh, man, yeah, thank god for the good news. But there's nothing quite like that experience to make you refocus and get motivated, huh? I had some cardiac shit going on for a year or so until we got it straightened out, and I really, reallly started wondering what I wouldn't ever be able to do again. Kinda got refocused on what's important to me.

Glad to hear that, Perg. And it is so great to have you back on the G-board!!

 

[Phelia]

I just within the past week received a medical diagnosis that was far more optimistic than what was horrifically possible given my obvious symptoms. I'll need surgery, but this is well repairable. I don't have what I feared I could very easily have.

As a result, I will never again have the future regret that I now have -- having spent most of my life taking life itself for granted. I am resolved to live life with a far greater attitude of appreciation during whatever time I have left.

That's great to hear Speedy recovery!

Oh, darling, I'll take you to space. But yeah, I know what you mean..."I hear babies crying; I watch them grow/They'll learn much more than I'll never know..." That couplet used to make me seriously envious. The questions you and I will never see answered. And the ones that we could answer, except it would require us to dedicate our lives to answering them, to the exclusion of so many others.

Huh. I did a thread about that saying once, only boring people get bored.

Yeah...there are an awful lot of things I'd like to say or unsay, do or undo, regarding other people. Many, many lessons learned there.

Haha, yes. This reminds me of an exchange I had with my mother once - I think I've posted it here before.

Me: Did you know that Newton died a virgin?

Mom: So? He invented calculus!! I would have died a virgin if it meant I could invent calculus.

Me: But that would mean I'd never be born.

Mom: IT'S CALCULUS!

If you want to feel a little sad and a little awestruck and fairly wistful, check out The Tail End. Are you familiar with Wait Buy Why? Seems like something you'd enjoy.

 

[Peregrinator]

I know I'm gonna regret waking up this morning.

Oh wait ... I already do.

Go to bed earlier!

 

[Peregrinator]

Glad to hear that, Perg. And it is so great to have you back on the G-board!!

Thanks, and it's ...surprisingly gratifying to be back.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

That's great to hear Speedy recovery!

Thanks, Phelia. Given our history, it means a lot to me that you don't "wish me dead."

 

[Colonel Hogan]

Thanks, and it's ...surprisingly gratifying to be back.

And I actually get that "surprisingly" part.

 

[Peregrinator]

That's great to hear Speedy recovery!



Haha, yes. This reminds me of an exchange I had with my mother once - I think I've posted it here before.

Me: Did you know that Newton died a virgin?

Mom: So? He invented calculus!! I would have died a virgin if it meant I could invent calculus.

Me: But that would mean I'd never be born.

Mom: IT'S CALCULUS!

If you want to feel a little sad and a little awestruck and fairly wistful, check out The Tail End. Are you familiar with Wait Buy Why? Seems like something you'd enjoy.

Bwahaha! Oh, Mother. I never knew that about calculus. Reminds me of a story...my brother did a post-doc in Israel and one of his roommates was this crazy Italian mathematician. This guy could look at a whole page of high-level calc and immediately know if there was an error. Like, at a glance. Always accurate. My brother asked him how he did it and the answer was "Colors." He saw math in colors, and he could tell if something was off. It sometimes took him several days to find the error, but knowing it was there was immediate. Anyway, he was also a staunch Catholic, and said that if he only had sex twice in his life, that would be fine, as long as it led to children.

One wonders what THAT guy might regret someday. He'll be on his deathbed, thinking, "I should have motorboated Phelia's tits."

 

[Conager]

@ the Colonel : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D8axAKaObDo

 

[Peregrinator]

And I actually get that "surprisingly" part.

I knew you would. You're sane.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

@ the Colonel : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D8axAKaObDo

I don't believe in tattoos. But I might get those lyrics printed on my back.

Tearing up like a baby right now. Thanks, man.

 

[butters]

I just within the past week received a medical diagnosis that was far more optimistic than what was horrifically possible given my obvious symptoms. I'll need surgery, but this is well repairable. I don't have what I feared I could very easily have.

As a result, I will never again have the future regret that I now have -- having spent most of my life taking life itself for granted. I am resolved to live life with a far greater attitude of appreciation during whatever time I have left.

so happy the news is positive for you

you seemed super grumpy recently, and maybe your worries were part of the cause

Thanks, Phelia. Given our history, it means a lot to me that you don't "wish me dead."

that is so not phelia. she's a diamond.

 

[butters]

my regrets have to be lived with, as do all of ours

they range from not going to uni as intended but, instead, taking a shop job and leaving the 6th form before completing my A-level studies when it was free to attend university back then, through other life-choices. they all stemmed from realising my own value far too late to prevent the earlier choices

so good to see you back, mr P

 

[MelissaBaby]

I was going to adopt you in the n00b thread, but I wasn't sure I could handle you. I see now that was an accurate assessment.

Feel free to respond to the OP! This is a Perg thread, a notoriously anarchistic place historically. But even if that weren't true, in this case I'm interested in people's thoughts on both topics.

I love your idea of paired regrets. I'm testing it in my head by trying to come up with a counter example, but not finding much. It resonates with what Widow said, too.

Healthcare is an interesting one. I've been saying for quite some time that a healthy, educated populace is essential for a republic to prosper. We tend to get so involved with the means of achieving these things that we let them wither.

One place we can look to is science fiction. William Gibson has written of people able to move their consciousness into different bodies; at one point a character who was formerly a man and is now in a woman's body is described as not having changed his preference for female sexual partners, just his means of expressing it. I wonder, in that potential future, if we won't realize that procreating is just one more thing that we can manage intentionally, choosing the body and time...and that procreation is just one very small piece of gender as a concept. Right now, we have a situation we've seen before, where people who are non-binary are seen as anomalies, freaks, mentally ill, etc. Typically, there's a group of folks who insist on those characterizations because they are slow to examine their own assumptions.

I have, for some time, rejected the system of spending the vast majority of one's waking hours doing something horrid and inconsequential in order to have stuff. I also wonder what will happen as we replace human workers.

A pleasure! Thanks for meeting me eye to eye, brain to brain!

Befriended is better than adopted. You would not want to try to live up to my mother, nor down to my father.

I style myself a bit of an expert on regrets. And I don't mean " I should have applied for that promotion" regrets, but " Maybe coke and crime wasn't my best lifestyle choice" regrets. But that's a tale for another day.

I read a science fiction book a few years ago, I'm sorry I can't recall the author or title, in which virtual reality technology had reached the point where people would go through their whole lives immersed in artificial worlds overlaid on their daily lives. So, some people saw the world as if it were anime, some had the world transposed into various historical eras, etc. it seems like we are close to something like that, even without the technology.

The world is going to need fewer and fewer workers, but the economy still needs consumers. I think the notion of a guaranteed income will gain acceptance in the near future. In the long term, it will change society in ways , both positive and negative, that we can't begin to imagine.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

so happy the news is positive for you

you seemed super grumpy recently, and maybe your worries were part of the cause


that is so not phelia. she's a diamond.

Thanks, b. I can't blame all my grumpiness on emotional stress. Part of it is a reflexive response to people who refuse to admit they're wrong when the documentation is staring them in the face.

But that's still a poor excuse.

Tryin' to do better.

 

[VaticanAssassin]

I am future regretting not preparing more for a 20 in 20 out hike going from 9k-13K feet.