Do you feel like you were born in the right era?

Question

Ever since I can remember Ive been questioning and analyzing the society that we live in. It seems that materialiasm has taken over individualism. If im correct there was a time where knowledge was valued and appreciated. A time where people thrived on great literature and philosophy. Entertainment, food, and sex are valued in our so called "progressive" society. If all we need are physical pleasures then we may as well become farm animals. I believe we are several centuries behind in terms of social culture. I dont feel like I was supposed to be born in this era. Does anyone feel the same? No ignorant answers please!

Obviously most of you are answering from an ignorant standpoint. Maybe I shouldnt have asked this on yahoo. I get pleasure from enhancing myself intellectually while the rest of you are happy with the your "simple" lives. All you people care about is some air conditioning or television. This is what Im talking about. Your so bombarded with media that you cant even think for yourselves.

Does the enlightenment era ring any bells to any of you? Yet all you still talk about is how no era is perfect. Obviously no era is perfect in any sense of the word. I am speaking of a time when people were actually interested in creating a society of people who thought for themselves. The mind is a wonderful thing. Too bad most of us waste it!

Answer 1

*new* Judge of a man by his questions rather than by his answers-Voltaire
The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people.” Karl Marx

Thinking about it I would like to change my answer.
The enlightenment ok i agree that there were people that sought to change society (Europe) during the Enlightenment. I think you have to look at the time for what it was and the circumstances were happening that made this time different and what the goals where of the people of the enlightenment . While agree that the goals were to bring about change in society this was to be done in both secular and religion and they brought about great change the "classic Liberal" ways that governments function in the world. It was during that era where some people questioned the views of both the church and state and looked into scientific reason.
However, It was not the Majority of the population that were the thinkers of the enlightenment but a few it was those that had money and leisure time to be able to think and wright about morality. The majority of people were working and struggling to eat, live, and have some sort of pleasure in life. The word has gone to consumerism where many seek to get by without asking questions or wondering how they can make the world better but the majorty does not ask these questions the minority does. Make your voice heard and if you can cause others to think then your starting a new age of thought.

Answer 2

I have often thought I would have been happier, or at least less stressed, if I had been born in a much earlier time. A time when people never travelled faster than a horse could run, and a trip "to town" once or twice a month was a big deal. A time when people read books in a house so quiet you could hear the clock ticking. Maybe somewhere between 1850 and 1910.

Answer 3

To be honest,I am glad I wasn't born in this era.Far to many bad things going on in this world, compared to the 50's and 60's. You never had to worry about locking doors,your kids being unsafe in school,etc. I think back then, there was alot less crime and people killing one another.
I feel sorry for the kids coming into the world today because the world is such a mess,and I think it's just going to keep getting worse. It will take millions of people to change it. I think many things bother you as they do me,but all we can do is keep praying and hope for the best.

Answer 4

There are many who feel the same and increasing in number. If I remember right, Diana Cooper calls them Star People in her book "A Little Light on the Spiritual World." In that book she said: "divine discontent is entering people"s hearts. The mass consciousness on Earth is changing so that people are no longer satisfied with need and greed."

The age of aquarius (enlightenment) has dawned and is preparing everyone for something new. Your conscousness is in a higher level.

Answer 5

Personally, I'm glad to be alive now. Do you really want to live before the time of antibiotics? Before central heating? Before democracy? A time when only about 2 out of 5 children survive childhood. Of course, you probably wouldn't want to be born in any situation except that of a wealthy, educated, upper-class male, probably less than 1/2 % of the population. Think about it.

Answer 6

I'd have rather been around in the 60's when hippies ruled the world, rock and roll was young and new, and there was no stupid gas shortages yet. Back then you didn't have to feel guilty for taking a road trip or driving a normal size car, polluting and using up the gas and all that.

Answer 7

Yes, right era, wrong financial standing. : )

Seriously though, education is still very valued by many groups of people, you may just not be in the right environment. You may need to look around for people that have similar interests.

Answer 8

materialism and individualism are one in the same. i believe that our society is centuries ahead of its time and thats why its so unnatural. because we value individualism is really the only thing that keeps us from being farm animals. Has there every been a period of time where every single part of life has been good? the Pax Romana was not perfect...

Answer 9

yes. you know how you hear "u will grow to love him/her" back in the day of arranged marriages?? well....i take that to heart and remember it every time i get mad at my husband....and everything is better. while the advances in technology do help us...perhaps we should look back at some of the morals and values that our ancestors held. I truly believe that people (mostly) used to be better people than what we have today!

Answer 10

I'd rather be here now, at least I am alive.

No, wait!

I'd rather been married to some hot chick back in the day, have a good life, & die happy.