On: Global living conditions are getting better

[orangecat]

As well as thermonuclear warheads which weren't present in the era of our great grandparents.

Your great grandparents might have had some comments on the weapons used in WW1. Assuming they survived.

Progress is eagerly believed fiction.

True or false: you would prefer to have been born in 1900 rather than 2000.

[Retric → orangecat]

There was a lot of stuff in the 1930's that was not so great, but we don't know what the 2030's are going to be like. Making the question hard to judge. However, if you would have said 1900 vs 1800 that's a more interesting question and I would probably pick 1800. But, I would also pick 1950 over 1850.

More interestingly I would pick 10,000 BCE over 500CE if I was stuck in a random body, but 500CE if I got to chose my parents.

[akarma → Retric]

What would lead you to choose 1800 over 1900?

[Retric → akarma]

1900 WWI, WWII, Great Depression etc. Now, someone born in 1800 could have been born a slave in the US, but you could also be born into slavery in the 1900 or even 2000 in other places.

[kingmanaz → orangecat]

True.

True or false: You would prefer to have been born and raised in Southern California starting in 1900 rather than 2000.

Be honest.

[orangecat → kingmanaz]

Clearly false. I guess we just have substantially different utility functions.