wmw999 2,167 #1 January 2, 2014 If you could change two things and improve the world, what would they be? Describe, and justify. Might be a fun discussion... No fair wishing for world peace; it's too amorphous. Me, it'd be 24-hour news, and antagonistic and political radio talk-show hosts. 24-hour news means that what used to have to be judged as worthy of the one hour of news coverage in the day, now has to be pumped up so that there's enough content to fill all 24 hours. Meaning that piddly stuff assumes more importance than it should. Radio talk-show hosts make their living off antagonizing people. Even before the rise of the talkosphere, I tried to listen to a local one, and found it impossible. All he did was try to get a rise out of people to raise his ratings. There was never any thought given to actual content. I'm sure there are worthier things, like a cure to cancer, etc, but these are things that occurred to me today. Wendy P.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
champu 1 #2 January 2, 2014 I started writing a longer reply but I just canned it and decided instead to say I think it would improve the world if people on the whole were more likely to laugh at things that happen and things they read and less likely to get angry or self-righteous about them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #3 January 2, 2014 Well like you said, "peace on earth and good will towards man" is overdone and nonspecific. In that case, I'd wish for hypocrisy to be punished and personal opinions to be allowed (AKA not a crime to offend people and allowed to tell people when you think they're wrong).witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 38 #4 January 2, 2014 My world: if my daughter would take things less seriously, and my son would take things more seriously. The world in general: if those take every thing too seriously, took it less so, and those who think every thing is a joke would realise it's not, really. In other words: not everything is a joke or an earth-shattering event.lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfzombie13 310 #5 January 2, 2014 first, that all people would have an innate sense of sameness, not of tribe. in other words, that we all act like brothers, not different groups. not taking away individuality, just removing prejudice. second, that no matter how technologically advanced we become, that we stay rooted to the earth. in other words, that we would all instinctively make choices which are good for the planet, not what is good for us in the short term._________________________________________ Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mistercwood 287 #6 January 2, 2014 Every person should be required to work a minimum of 1 year in some form of customer service i.e retail, hospitality, call centre etc, preferably just after finishing school. The world would become a much, much kinder place within a generation...You are playing chicken with a planet - you can't dodge and planets don't blink. Act accordingly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,077 #7 January 2, 2014 Hi Wendy, QuoteNo fair wishing for world peace Aw, shucking darn!!! I have been fortunate to have traveled in the Far East, South America and a really good chunk of Europe, so I have given this some thought for quite some time. 1. A singular language throughout the world 2. The complete & total elimination of all forms of religion To many people, I am very biased; but you asked. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 212 #8 January 2, 2014 wmw999If you could change two things and improve the world, what would they be? Describe, and justify. Might be a fun discussion... No fair wishing for world peace; it's too amorphous. Me, it'd be 24-hour news, and antagonistic and political radio talk-show hosts. 24-hour news means that what used to have to be judged as worthy of the one hour of news coverage in the day, now has to be pumped up so that there's enough content to fill all 24 hours. Meaning that piddly stuff assumes more importance than it should. Radio talk-show hosts make their living off antagonizing people. Even before the rise of the talkosphere, I tried to listen to a local one, and found it impossible. All he did was try to get a rise out of people to raise his ratings. There was never any thought given to actual content. I'm sure there are worthier things, like a cure to cancer, etc, but these are things that occurred to me today. Wendy P. 1. Exponentiation of technology, world wide, for exploration and development of extra solar space. 2. A viable alternative to Obama Care. One that will not smash our economy at the end of this year.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #9 January 2, 2014 1) Public statements made by businesses (from CEO to salesmen) and politicians (President to dog catcher) are to be considered "under oath" and subject to prosecution for perjury. Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to lie when dealing with the public. Persons found guilty of intentionally lying to the public for the purposes of profit (including non-profit and religious businesses) or political gain would be subject to mandatory minimum sentences of 5 years imprisonment. Yeah, it's a stiff penalty. Fuck 'em. They're dealing with people's lives; they should be kept honest. 2) Repeal EO 12333. It has resulted in unintended consequences that are unbearable; a security state and, ironically, inability to properly deal with the individual that causes problems which instead results in all out wars costing thousands of lives.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arvoitus 1 #10 January 2, 2014 No lawyers. No politicians.Your rights end where my feelings begin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #11 January 2, 2014 (1) Treat people with respect. (stop spying!) (2) Keep your nose (and troops) out of other countries affairs. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #12 January 2, 2014 Arvoitus No lawyers. No politicians. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CornishChris 5 #13 January 2, 2014 The world a better place, not just the US a better place... 1. Less wastage on food and materials - we throw away so much in the west and the poorer countries starve 2. Less dependance on fossil fuels. Climate change aside we live in a closed ecosystem and, sooner or later, they will run out and we need to find a way to live without them. CJP Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #14 January 2, 2014 Arvoitus No lawyers. No politicians. I can't help but notice that the vast majority of politicians are lawyers (at least they are up here in Canuckistan). Get ride of one and you might cull the other. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,104 #15 January 2, 2014 1. Bring the leaders of the three Abrahamic religions together to come up with a long-term peace plan. 2. Get rid of oil dependance.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #16 January 2, 2014 Arvoitus No lawyers. No politicians. That's only one thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,150 #17 January 2, 2014 1) Caring for others is not seen as a weakness. 2) sfzombies first statement. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #18 January 2, 2014 (1) For everyone to be offered training in how to check one's ego. Is there a problem in this world that doesn't have a genesis in "I'm right and you're wrong?" From the smallest quibble to World Wars, the lack of respect for differing interests is the genesis. (2) To quit identifying groups of people to punish or eliminate. Sure, that gets rid of most of the posts, but wanting to see the end of politicians, lawyers, socialists, the wealthy, secularists, religious, etc. is possibly a reason why world peace is unobtainable. This goes along with #1, so perhaps it should be 1a. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Channman 2 #19 January 2, 2014 1. Self Reliance "The worst thing you can do for anyone you care about is anything that they can do on their own" Abraham Lincoln 2. Learning to control one's Envy "There is perhaps no phenomenon which contains so much destructive feeling as 'moral indignation,' which permits envy or hate to be acted out under the guise of virtue." Erich Fromm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 3 #20 January 2, 2014 CornishChrisThe world a better place, not just the US a better place... Depending on the changes suggested, making the US a better place would make the world a better place.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
winsor 189 #21 January 2, 2014 1) A population no more than 1.5 billion, consisting of the top socioeconomic demographic. 2) Absence of religion or other fantasy-based social structures. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
champu 1 #22 January 2, 2014 lawrocket(2) To quit identifying groups of people to punish or eliminate. Highly resonate with this one. The fact that people are asked the open ended question of trying to improve the world and what theysome come up with is, "get rid of " or "use the power of government to punish " is very sad. Edited to clarify that this doesn't apply to all the comments here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #23 January 2, 2014 winsor1) A population no more than 1.5 billion, consisting of the top socioeconomic demographic. . Shame then that the poorest are often the nicest. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,150 #24 January 2, 2014 QuoteAbsence of religion or other fantasy-based social structures. Like being Jewish? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #25 January 2, 2014 2 Space Arks The B-Ark will hold all of the Bankers, Lawyers, politicians, etc.. and be blasted into space (or pieces - really doesn't matter which) The rest of us will have a fucking great party and forget to start the A-Ark [/Douglas Adams] (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
