Society & Culture Looking Into the Future

[PaddyO]

As a basic point level, I completely agree.

On another level what is the big difference between someone being 15 years and 364 days old, and somebody being 16 years and 0 days old? Consent is consent. Is age alone enough to determine whether somebody is mature enough to gove that consent?
Are some 13 year olds more capable of giving consent than some 19 year olds? (This is a purely hypothetical extreme, I am not advocating that it is OK for 13 year to be deemed sexually desirable by adults.)

I guess I'm not arguing that pedophilia is right, but questioning the grounds for determining right and wrong.

It's 16 because it's based on the average persons cognitive ability to make choices for themselves at that age.

It's not about "grounds for determining right or wrong". It's about protecting the vulnerable.

 

[Seeds]

Religious ed will continue.
Despite 150 years of evolution theory and the hopes of atheists everywhere, evolution has failed to put a significant dent upon religious belief around the world.

That's not even remotely true. The whole Western world a couple of centuries ago used to be religous nuts like the deep south of the USA. In most western countries today those practising their religion are in the minority (despite the majority still claiming they are religious even though they don't practise their religion) with church attendances at record lows and many churches being forced to merge because they can't attract enough members on their own anymore. This trend will continue, its only a matter of how fast.

 

[Cmarsh]

That's not even remotely true. The whole Western world a couple of centuries ago used to be religous nuts like the deep south of the USA. In most western countries today those practising their religion are in the minority (despite the majority still claiming they are religious even though they don't practise their religion) with church attendances at record lows and many churches being forced to merge because they can't attract enough members on their own anymore. This trend will continue, its only a matter of how fast.

I said the whole world, not just the Western world. Stop cherrypicking.

 

[Seeds]

I said the whole world, not just the Western world. Stop cherrypicking.

Fair point I missed that. However there is a very big negative correlation between levels of education and religious support and Education standards are rising quickly in those non western regions now that communication is much easier today.

 

[St 07]

Snails will become faster.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

I could see a country outlaw inhumane farming practices and possibly eating meat all together.

This, I believe we will get to a point where we understand animals share similar consciousness to humans, ore primitive yes, but consciousness nonetheless, and the slaughtering of animals will be outlawed. I also see humans grading animals in terms of consciousness, and only eating animals that are below a certain level of consciousness eg chickens, fish etc.

I also believe we will look back on how primitive our medication is when advancements in science allow humans to make much more effective medications.

I also think there will come a point where humans will look back and think how wasteful we were in terms of resources and how we pilfered and polluted the earth for capital gains without furthering the human race. This will come when natural resources are depleted and population is at breaking point.

 

[Catfish Alley]

The meat one is interesting. It would go against everything humans have done since the beginning. I don't think meat will be outlawed but perhaps 'farmed' in labs. So, no animal - just chunks of meat created.

They'll do the same thing with human organs and limbs.

 

[Scotland]

As a basic point level, I completely agree.

On another level what is the big difference between someone being 15 years and 364 days old, and somebody being 16 years and 0 days old? Consent is consent. Is age alone enough to determine whether somebody is mature enough to gove that consent?
Are some 13 year olds more capable of giving consent than some 19 year olds? (This is a purely hypothetical extreme, I am not advocating that it is OK for 13 year to be deemed sexually desirable by adults.)

I guess I'm not arguing that pedophilia is right, but questioning the grounds for determining right and wrong.

I reckon age is an arbitrary qualifier for a lot of things.

I could drink in a pub at 18 years and 1 day, and kids who were 17 years and 364 days but looked about 5 years older and were a lot more physically mature than I was at the time could not.

If you're 17 and and shag a bird who is 15 and 364 days I don't think it should be a court marshal offence, but it is still against the law. Say you get a don't do it again (until tomorrow anyway) warning and then decide to shag a 12 year old on the basis it's only a guideline then that's another matter.

Kinda like drink driving. Three drinks for one person might mean 0.04, to another 0.06. If you blow 0.06 you will still be punished, but not nearly as much as if you blow 0.2.

 

[crownie]

We will look ridiculous in 50 years time for:

Not having wealth taxes.
War on Drugs
Allowing kids to be brainwashed by religious education.
Being extreme coffee drinkers.
Nudity in public places being illegal.
Allowing the government to have the power to choose the size of the fiscal surplus/deficit.
Youth apathy to politics.
Tattoos
Concerns regarding overpopulation

don't be jealous just cause some people have worked hard for a nice living and you haven't

 

[Bunk Moreland]

don't be jealous just cause some people have worked hard for a nice living and you haven't

What if they haven't worked hard for it?

 

[bresker]

Soon they'll have robots that can play sport as good as humans. When the first team of robots indistinguishable from real players can beat your Messis and Ronaldos and Abletts we'll evolve into just watching robots play as they'll be more perfect and skilful. Then the TV companies will demand robot spectators to bump up crowds and we'll all be wTching robot AFL.

Humans will still play but it will be poor and amateurish by comparison. crowds will be low and only channel 31 will show it.

 

[Seeds]

don't be jealous just cause some people have worked hard for a nice living and you haven't

inheritors have done zero work for the inheritance they have earned. Having welfare taxes, rather than income taxes, benefits the hard workers. That's the whole point.

 

[crownie]

What if they haven't worked hard for it?

notice i said some?

 

[JuddsABlue]

Somebody worked hard for it and paid the rightful tax on it at the time

 

[Illinois Nazi]

I could see a country outlaw inhumane farming practices and possibly eating meat all together.

I think it would be too difficult to co-ordinate an entire country eating meat all together.

 

[bresker]

I'm not doing the washing up

 

[SizeMatters]

thought i posted this before but must have forgotten to hit post button but I believe that the western world will have a white minority in 25 years. god save my children.

 

[bresker]

Why? Are your children racists?

 

[JuddsABlue]

I predict the Apple smart watch will be a flop

It feels like an idea just stolen from a bad movie

It would need a very important characteristic that the iphone/other smart devices doesnt have for people to want it and I cant imagine what that is

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Somebody worked hard for it and paid the rightful tax on it at the time

Well if we closed all tax loopholes that are exploited by many of the wealthy who end up with obscenely low effective tax rates, then fair enough.

 

[Dazb86]

The date we celebrate Australia day will be changed.

 

[vapid1]

hopefully our debt based monetary system

 

[ioppolo]

The date we celebrate Australia day will be changed.

To what?

 

[PACatter]

The way in which we treat our mentally deficient will be seen as morally reprehensible. Of course, that's an ongoing thing, at least we don't lobotomize them anymore.

 

[MrsEddieBetts]

Stem cell research and genetically modifying food will be widely accepted rather than protested against.