this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2023
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Futurology
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I'm a member of the much maligned boomer generation. I was a highschooler before microwaves and personal computers. We were promised those things, also personal flying cars, because technology was going to bring us so many benefits. Well we got most of the things, tho not flying cars. But to many of us, much more importantly we were led to expect a shorter work week. I never needed more things; I wanted more time to enjoy my own life. It's time and past time for the 32 hour work week.
I'm gen x, was at school when the first personal computers were becoming a thing, they started a computing class and IT stuff as I was going through secondary. Was told how technology would free up time for us once we reached the work force. Haven't seen that, what I have seen is where there used to be an office of dozens, there is now a couple of people with computers and great software, producing the same output, the company kept all the benefit.
Our standard of living is pretty sweet though. For some that was similar to now but I feel like across the bar that's been lifted somewhat?
Seems a funny point we're at, feels like it's going backwards. people aren't affording their own homes anymore, renting seems to be more of thing, or the young guys in the office are getting help with deposits from family, carrying LOADS more debt than I had to at that age. Though I say that age, a good few of them are several years older than I was for buying my first house. There's several that have either reduced their planned family size or are currently holding off having kids as they can't afford to have any/ have anymore. Leasure activities, there's certainly a lot more choice, Internet, access to sports online or on TV, quality of TV shows and def quantity... I'd guess there's studies into this that are scientific over this circumstantial example though
It sure does feel like backwards recently, just the last couple of decades...
Not sure if that's just the boomers pulling up the ladder, presumably there's a lot more to it than that