just wait and see

I recently stumbled upon a page where photo’s of Russia, before the Russian revolution, had been converted to high-definition colour images. This page reminded me of an idea that I consistently have that is, people have hardly changed at all.

I first had this thought when I heard that the “Wild West”, a time in America’s history known for its bandits and gunfights, had an average of 6 murders a year. This goes against the idea that people who lived in the past had it harder than we do. I guess the image of difficult times without technology comes from people wanting to believe that we are more advanced and therefore better than they were (Also probably a bit of our grandparents always complaining about how much harder it was ‘Back in their Day’).

Before looking at those photo’s from 1900 Russia I had the usual subconscious expectation of the following:

• People who believed the world was flat
• People struggling without computers
• Everyone poor and begging
• Slaves

But when looking at them they almost pass off as modern times, there are a few minor differences but that is the point, they are only minor differences.

I would think that most of the differences  that exist between now and the 1700’s would arise more from the different assumptions one grows up with (Not fundamental differences like the computer and the internet). Today we are raised very logically, we understand how things can work without being able to physically see them work (Computers) and we get told how important education is (Go to uni, get a good job). I can’t speak for people who lived hundreds of years ago but I assume it was different (Not better or worse, just different).

The conclusion I come to when I think that things haven’t changed much is this:

• Technology, although amazing, probably doesn’t have that big an effect on us. The new ‘things’ that we have, actually aren’t that important.

That is why when one disconnects from the grid (Ditches their phone and deletes their Facebook) the world doesn’t end, rather they start to be a little happier.