Do you think almost everything about modern society is unfit for humans? (granted, we have medicine, and other benefits, I know)
Examples:
1) The stuff we eat isn't meant for us to digest (junk food, fast food).
2) Food was scarce in caveman days so overeating wasn't detrimental. Now food is abundant, and more tempting, so it leads to obesity
3) We don't need to hunt for our food, and sit for 8 hours a day.
4) We live in crammed cities, everyone is a stranger, and everything seems impersonal. Back then we lived in a tribe, or close community and everyone depended on each other for survival.
5) Temptations are all around us, from sex to alcohol, drugs, food, etc, which puts a strain on our willpower. In the past, such temptations weren't present, so the dopamine rush we get from having sex, or eating food just allowed us to survive. Now, it leads to cheating on partners, overeating, etc.
Your views?
UPDATE: Not sure why I'm being downvoted. I'm not being intentionally negative, or anything. He asked if anyone wanted help, and I need arguably the MOST help out of all the people asking questions. I'm pretty depressed about the state of the world and want to know what I can do to change that.
So your first question was a leading question, and it was different than your (much more interesting) second question of "How do I help the world?"
There's been an idea bouncing around HN that writing software can be a service. I can't find the post, but there have been stories of everyday businesses wasting gobs of time doing things that software could be written for. (Really dumb things like: Having a secretary spend 3hours/day printing out plumbing contracts.) These things save people time and reduce boredom.
Also, I agree that we eat too many unhealthy things, but I think you might be taking it too far. This TED talk is good: http://www.ted.com/talks/heribert_watzke_the_brain_in_your_g... It makes the claim that we aren't omnivores, we're cook-ivores. (We eat cooked food.)
I really agree with #4. It's why I go to Burning Man-- to live in a tribal setting, if only for a week.
I'm not really sure what you mean by "unfit for humans". If you're talking about the problems we are creating for ourselves as a result of the unforseen/long-term effects of our "progress", I think these are inevitable. And even though many of these things exist, there are groups who are aware of them and choose to exclude themselves from those activities.
I'm no sociologist, but I think groups of people organize themselves around common goals. The problems which are the most mainstream will get the most attention and support for corrective action. As well developed nations remove these common problems, people are less incentivized to participate in quorum and will do their best to fulfill their own desires to whatever end.
Examples: 1) The stuff we eat isn't meant for us to digest (junk food, fast food).
2) Food was scarce in caveman days so overeating wasn't detrimental. Now food is abundant, and more tempting, so it leads to obesity
3) We don't need to hunt for our food, and sit for 8 hours a day.
4) We live in crammed cities, everyone is a stranger, and everything seems impersonal. Back then we lived in a tribe, or close community and everyone depended on each other for survival.
5) Temptations are all around us, from sex to alcohol, drugs, food, etc, which puts a strain on our willpower. In the past, such temptations weren't present, so the dopamine rush we get from having sex, or eating food just allowed us to survive. Now, it leads to cheating on partners, overeating, etc.
Your views?
UPDATE: Not sure why I'm being downvoted. I'm not being intentionally negative, or anything. He asked if anyone wanted help, and I need arguably the MOST help out of all the people asking questions. I'm pretty depressed about the state of the world and want to know what I can do to change that.