A Nicollian Poll

[mindstalk]

1a: Do you expect the world to be better off 50 years from now than it is today? Feel free to expand, if you wish.
1b (Control): Do you think the world is better off today than it was 50 years ago?

2a: The first question is something of a Rorschach test. A more specific question might be "Do you think a randomly selected human 50 years from now will be better off than a randomly selected human today, such as in the sense of being happy with their time and not wanting to swap (ignoring things like when friends and family live?" If this wasn't the question you answered for 1, answer this one.
2b: Same deal, now vs. 50 years ago.

3: If the question of 2 isn't the question you answered in 1, what question were you answering in 1?

Comments

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

Probably and absolutely.

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

1a yes
1b yes

2a yes
2b yes

[saganhawk.livejournal.com]

1a. Barring any major catastrophes (world wars, natural disasters), I think the world will be better in 50 years. By that point the technological advances of today should have spread across the world, raising the standard of living for all, and hopefully eliminating most of the poverty in today's third-world countries.
1b. Yes. Not that everyone is better off, but those who weren't already at the very bottom of the socio-economic ladder have seen significant opportunity for advancement.