Humans of the future

[ThinkAgain]

Wasn't it Ax who, more than once, commented on the evil that humans were capable of, and how the Yeerks were in over their heads? I think it's safe to say that humanity as a whole can be a hell of a lot more evil than the Yeerks.

I agree. It's just that the Yeerks are 'gifted' with the ability to control people, which allows the Hitlers and Stalins to rise more prominently. If humans had a way to control others completely in body and mind, you can be sure it would be completely exploited.

[KitsuneMarie]

I think the issue with humans becoming the technological equals or superiors of Andalites is that humans rarely think things through and rarely delay satisfaction for greater benefits down the road. Despite some of their less likable traits, Andalites have used the time it took them to make technological advances to be methodical and intentional. Didn't Ax say at some point that most Andalites have only a few morphs, if any at all? They don't tend to abuse the technological power they have.

But humans would move so quickly into technological advances that I imagine that they'd act like a ten-year-old just approved for a credit card. Humans may have earned their technological advances (although they do owe their latest strides to the Andalites), but they probably wouldn't be thinking of using them in the most useful, morally upright, or beneficial ways. Like the credit card kid who will be spending money in what ways please him or make him popular with his peers, humans would probably continue use technology in ways that benefit only a few (like Jessi said, probably the rich and powerful few). Ater all, humans can be incredibly selfish. Even though humanity would have achieved such a state of technological advance faster than other races thanks to Andalite influence, I imagine the race will come to feel a sense of entitlement to Z-space travel and morphing technology in time.

[Dameg]

I think the issue with humans becoming the technological equals or superiors of Andalites is that humans rarely think things through and rarely delay satisfaction for greater benefits down the road. Despite some of their less likable traits, Andalites have used the time it took them to make technological advances to be methodical and intentional. Didn't Ax say at some point that most Andalites have only a few morphs, if any at all? They don't tend to abuse the technological power they have.

But humans would move so quickly into technological advances that I imagine that they'd act like a ten-year-old just approved for a credit card. Humans may have earned their technological advances (although they do owe their latest strides to the Andalites), but they probably wouldn't be thinking of using them in the most useful, morally upright, or beneficial ways. Like the credit card kid who will be spending money in what ways please him or make him popular with his peers, humans would probably continue use technology in ways that benefit only a few (like Jessi said, probably the rich and powerful few). Ater all, humans can be incredibly selfish. Even though humanity would have achieved such a state of technological advance faster than other races thanks to Andalite influence, I imagine the race will come to feel a sense of entitlement to Z-space travel and morphing technology in time.

I think you have a good point here.

[Aluminator (Kit)]

I'm not sure any of us can really make accurate predictions about our future based on human history at this point. This might sound a bit nuts, but I see humanity at this very moment as being on the verge of a revolution that will make the industrial revolution look like nothing. I'm talking about information- freely available and readily accessible by anyone, anywhere, at any time. Power in the hands of the people at large, rather than just governments and executives. RAF sort of showcases what I'm talking about- people from different nations and backgrounds are able to come together and discuss things just like this. We've already seen examples of internet information changing the real world in very measurable ways at unprecedented rates, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I predict that, a century from now, humanity will hardly resemble what we know today. The coming wave of information will roll over everything we have ever known, and no power on Earth- not current education systems, not the RIAA, not the Chinese government- will be able to stand up against that tide for long. I predict thousand-year-old empires simply dissolving in the face of it - it's very scary and very exciting to me.

Human beings have a tendency to gravitate towards perceived power wherever possible, and lately, we're seeing an increasing trend towards both people trying to make their voices heard (see Twitter, for example) and people conforming to peer opinion (see basically anything popular). Basically, I'm saying the future of humanity is equally likely to be run by people who are moral (like most of the people here, it seems) as it is by those who are hateful or just imperialistic.

That said, I don't see it as an easy thing to predict where modern humanity is headed- let alone humanity given help with Andalite faster-than-light technology and morphing abilities. My best guess is that eventually humanity will see relative unity under a centralized "government" with most people belonging to smaller, indistinctly divided "factions" with varying loyalty to each other and humanity at large. All of humanity becomes one big high school with a million cliques  

I guess the one word I see aliens species using to describe humans is "opportunistic." If a human sees an advantage to something, they'll take it. It would make us unpredictable and annoying to deal with, but not consistently evil. Depending on who you talk to, you might get people with the ability to look ahead and see that the smartest thing to do is to deal fairly with your species, or you might get the corporate type who sees it as more profitable to blow up your tree to get at your unobtainium (Avatar's probably more accurate than I thought at first). Sadly, humanity's overall shortsightedness would probably lead us to be a race of uncontainable, disorganized conquerors in most cases. The Andalites, Yeerks, Hork-Bajir, any anyone else who we encountered would wind up being exploited in whatever way suits the moment. Sort of a more competitive Skrit Na.

[Terenia]

All of humanity becomes one big high school with a million cliques  

Dear God, that concept terrifies me.

You have some valid points, we are at the crux of a new era. Who knows where our own technology will lead us, let alone throwing alien tech into the mix. I don't see morality winning out, though, but that's because I'm a cynic.

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Haha... so take the reigns, Terenia. As moral people (I like to think of myself as one), it will be our responsibility to steer humanity towards a more moral future. The future is now! Carpe diem! Half off all used appliances! Wait... 

You're right, though, the cynic in me agrees with the cynical you. Human beings are naturally too selfish for the future to be too remarkably bright.

[Terenia]

Haha... so take the reigns, Terenia. As moral people (I like to think of myself as one), it will be our responsibility to steer humanity towards a more moral future. The future is now! Carpe diem! Half off all used appliances! Wait... 

Hah. I already spend all of my spare time trying to instill values on the youth of tomorrow. If you want me to take on the whole world, I demand a pay raise.

Regardless, I think that the coming of our own and alien technology will result in a very interesting resource issue. What becomes a valuable resource then? If all information is freely available, what will humans covet? Humans always seek to be the 'best', and we are inherently selfish. I see that basic aspect of human nature over-riding any morality. Not for everyone, of course, but for the ones who manage to seat themselves in a position of power.

Maybe in the future it'll be the owners of sites like Twitter and Facebook and MySpace and Craigslist who rule the earth, and control the resources. But just because it's a different structure with different rulers, that doesn't mean it is less corrupt.

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Human nature is to be selfish, and yes, those in power will always have a tendency to try to bolster their power in whatever way possible. The information thing, to me, makes it so that they have to work ever harder to maintain public favor so they can retain their power. If they do something people don't like, they can be called out on it hardcore. The motivation may not be a sense of morality, but the end result would be, at least superficially. It's a start, anyway.

At least enough to hold us until the robot overlords take over and make "free will" and "pain" both things of the past 

[voodooqueen126]

I see the animorphs universe as being a great place for humanity: The andalites seem to be stuck in a confucian mold and don't advance technology very quickly so we would surpass them quickly, with so many former yeerks/yeerk human nothlits the andalites depriving earth of military technolgy would quicly become meaningless. The Hork-Bajir would be forever grateful for us (our morality pets) and we could cheerfully mine the yeerk and taxxon homeworlds to dust. Capitalism and technology have  brought more people out of poverty than at any time (read george gilder-he explains the importance of technology in improving humanity)in human histoy, therefore the influx of Andalite and Human technology would create exponential development and wealth, this wealth might lower our birth rate (the best contraceptive is money after all) but I am sure Earth could establish colonies to other planets and therefore provide homes (it would also be a great way to get rid of criminals as well-a whole planet for everybodies convicts!) for earths ever expanding population. Of course the old elites (the Andalites would) object to our growth on moral grounds (as is the tendency of elites  to keep down the proto elites on phony grounds) but stuck in their Confucian/herbivorous/low population paradigm they would quickly become irrelevant. Nor do I see a problem with Russia/China/America etc having their own colonies consisting solely of their people: if the population of a planet is mono-cultural then there will be less conflict, and why should nations pick and chose what to do with their own resources and technology?
 Nor do I see the need to have a centralised world goverment because:
Why should the world be ruled by the Chinese/Indians on alternate years (the nations with largest populations would always win any elections) which would be unfair on low population nations such as France or Italy or New Zealand (to be ruled in what would essentially be a global empire pretending to be a democracy)
Or a bunch of
Must run now.

[Hunter]

... Teach's uber long post here

See teach, that's where i disagree. Humanity could only survive 50 - 100 years post 54 IF the current world gov't. was abolished and a Socalist Communism gov't. type was founded.

Even though the only person who could possibly run that government type is Ghandi, it is the ONLY type that could possibly work in this senario.

I think the issue with humans becoming the technological equals or superiors of Andalites is that humans rarely think things through and rarely delay satisfaction for greater benefits down the road. Despite some of their less likable traits, Andalites have used the time it took them to make technological advances to be methodical and intentional. Didn't Ax say at some point that most Andalites have only a few morphs, if any at all? They don't tend to abuse the technological power they have.

But humans would move so quickly into technological advances that I imagine that they'd act like a ten-year-old just approved for a credit card. Humans may have earned their technological advances (although they do owe their latest strides to the Andalites), but they probably wouldn't be thinking of using them in the most useful, morally upright, or beneficial ways. Like the credit card kid who will be spending money in what ways please him or make him popular with his peers, humans would probably continue use technology in ways that benefit only a few (like Jessi said, probably the rich and powerful few). Ater all, humans can be incredibly selfish. Even though humanity would have achieved such a state of technological advance faster than other races thanks to Andalite influence, I imagine the race will come to feel a sense of entitlement to Z-space travel and morphing technology in time.

Marie, that is exactly the point i'm trying to make here! Unless the world government controls everything (and i mean, EVERYTHING), it is impossible for the Human species as a race to survive 50 - 100 years post #54.



and another thing. with my above point about the Socalist Communism Government, it IS impossible for a normal person to run it, because as stated in a post before, humans are naturally greedy, so we (as a race) would just end up either killing ourselves OR overcolonizing but that just makes moot point to my above arguments.

[Terenia]

... Teach's uber long post here

See teach, that's where i disagree. Humanity could only survive 50 - 100 years post 54 IF the current world gov't. was abolished and a Socalist Communism gov't. type was founded.

Even though the only person who could possibly run that government type is Ghandi, it is the ONLY type that could possibly work in this senario.

Haha, nice quote, Hunter. 

Maybe we couldn't survive unless we had one overarching government/economic system. However, I find it difficult to imagine our societies all jumping on the bandwagon with that one. Which, as you predict, may be humanities ultimate demise.

If we did end up going to one socialist/communist government I imagine it would be preceded by a large amount of dissent and war. I mean, if tomorrow the UN said, "Alright, everyone is on OUR system now! Our economy, our laws, our bills, our monetary system, and by the way everyone is on metric!" ....well, quite a few people would disagree (especially the countries who don't have a permanent seat), especially considering that the UN represents 192 countries, all of which have very different ways of running things.

I do agree with Marie, though. The credit card analogy is a good one and, like the ten year old, I can see humanity getting itself in a lot of trouble.

[voodooqueen126]

See teach, that's where i disagree. Humanity could only survive 50 - 100 years post 54 IF the current world gov't. was abolished and a Socalist Communism gov't. type was founded.

Even though the only person who could possibly run that government type is Ghandi, it is the ONLY type that could possibly work in this senario.

Marie, that is exactly the point i'm trying to make here! Unless the world government controls everything (and i mean, EVERYTHING), it is impossible for the Human species as a race to survive 50 - 100 years post #54.

:and another thing. with my above point about the Socalist Communism Government, it IS impossible for a normal person to run it, because as stated in a post before, humans are naturally greedy, so we (as a race) would just end up either killing ourselves OR overcolonizing but that just makes moot point to my above arguments.

You do realise that communism/socialism is the worst system of government ever invented don't you? Or do you not care about 100 million people it has killed in a single century? verily the road to hell is paved by ideologists. The way to make the world better is make it more free economically and politically, the only problem is the evil of human interpersonal relationship, and nothing but religion will ever come close to ever fixing that. as internet technology has made the world a more free place (observe the role of twitter in iran) gradually (nothing good ever came quickly) so too would the influx of andalite and yeerk technology make Earth more free (politically and economically) , this development would be positivie (something wrong with computer can't type much)

[MoppingBear]

really? communism is worse than a dictatorship where poor people are tagged with GPS chips, along with bloodtype and immune information so that when a rich person gets sick, they can be tracked down and have the needed organs removed?

[Hunter]

i didn't mean it like that, at all russianspy1234.

by what i posted, i meant that the only way we would be able to survive 50-100 years post-54 would to have one unified government type. i was only using Socalist Communism as a basis for my argument.

[Acalio-Laron-Jaham]

well, the andalites, what governing system do they have? they don't seem to have dividing nations with each its own government and laws dividing their species apart like how humans. The andalites all seem to be unified as one single country so to speak, under one government. Maybe the andalite homeworld has just one massive piece of land and that land is a single nation? who knows. Anyway, they have the electorate, which is chosen and influenced by the peoples votes. the people seem to have alot of power and say, as evident in alot of times where it is where andalite has to do things in secret or cover up things, being scared that the andalite public would know, for example - elfangor giving morphing power, time and time again ax mentioning that the rest of the andalite people must not have known this and that of what the andalites in charge were doing, and especially in book #54, how ax hacked into the civilian net and broadcasted their meeting with that feylorn guy tlaking about quaranting earth and not giving yeerks the morphing ability. So, it seems that it is like a democracy of sorts. But from elfangors description of his and other andalites families work, each family or communities do their small bit which then once combined with others altogether contributes the greater good of their world. maybe its somekind of middle ground between democracy and socialism or communism or wateva. Like they picked out aspects of each which seemed to work best along with eatchother. pick out each systems best qualities and join them up to make the ultimate, best governing system.

Maybe humans of the future could adopt this kind of system too?