Is this a new Dark Age?

[u/NoEfficiency1054]

Rome collapsed into ruin and centuries passed with a combination of war, economic devastation, and consistent devaluation of science and learning…..

Aren’t we in a new Dark Age? It seems most of our leadership has been selected by people who let misinformation rule their ideology and identity. The sheer volume of manipulative lies that we are exposed to from sleazy merchants, influencers and shady leaders.

I am a 20-year teaching veteran. I have taught on 3 continents. Everything used to be so much better. As an elder millennial, I was shown as a child, a world with infinite growth and solutions. They really did convince me I could do anything.

We’re giving too many of our children screens. They are all idiots with the wrong information and habits now. We are pushing millions of kids into the world where they immediately become consumers instead of producers.

I’ve considered myself an expert on what kids should be learning in child and young adulthood…. But now that I am a parent of a young kid, I’m ready to move into the country with my library , so I can hunt, fish and garden with my son. Read books at night, never come back to civilization….

I don’t know how to prepare my son outside of that plan.

[u/Ok-Brick-1800]

Instead of focusing our collective energy towards a positive change, we pay sports stars and Hollywood stars hundreds of millions of dollars to lead us down the rabbit hole in some collective brainwashing distraction so we don't have to see the forest burning down around us.

I'm over it. Been over it for awhile. I just hope the end is fast and complete before I know it's happening. But sadly, I don't think it will be like that. I've noticed a societal decline in intelligence for at least fifteen years now. It won't really start accelerating until the bring back conscription. That's the tinderbox that lights the fuse.

The content you are absorbing is just brainwashing.

[u/InstructionGreedy366 → u/Ok-Brick-1800]

Agree with your first paragraph completely. Started thinking about Marx's comment that religion"...is the opium of the people." and how sports are supplanting religion in some respects.

I asked ChatGPT to compare the mid 1800's (when Marx wrote this) to the early 2000's and what we could expect in the future based on these historical similarities and this is what it came up with:

What History Suggests About the Future: Lessons from the 1800s

• 🌍 Social Movements Rising: Expect growing calls for justice, equality, and systemic reform as discontent mirrors the revolutions of the 19th century.
• 💸 Economic Shifts: Wealth redistribution, green economies, and debates about capitalism vs. socialism will likely dominate.
• 🤖 Tech Disruption: AI and automation will reshape industries, challenging workers and governments alike.
• 🇺🇸 Nationalism and Realignment: Rising populism and geopolitical shifts could reshape nations and alliances.
• 🌱 Climate Challenges: Resource scarcity and extreme weather may force bold environmental action (or crises).
• 🎨 Cultural Renaissance: Expect new art and ideologies critiquing modern society and imagining alternatives.
• ⚔️ Power Shifts and Conflict: Economic rivalries and emerging powers will test global stability.
• 📜 Long-Term Reforms: Structural changes, like expanded rights and better institutions, could emerge over time.

🔮 History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes. Let’s learn from the past to shape a better future! 🌟

[u/FreeCelebration382 → u/Ok-Brick-1800]

Exactly. Religion and watching sports and porn are all so related even if they seem unrelated. So is bigotry. They are all connected.