Is the world safer today that it was a century ago?

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   Goodpalposted 10 years ago

   Is the world safer today that it was a century ago?
   
   There is far too much destruction power available today with nations than a hundred years ago. Are we heading towards a ugly future with so many automatic and brilliant machines to kill people (called "enemies" by civilized people!). If Americans used the ugly Atom bombs on Japanese decades ago, lately they have been busy chasing the most un-human "Human bombs" not invented by them. Besides, the world climate was rather orderly a century ago, it is messed up now.
   
   I personally see no lasting peace or prosperous world in coming years or decades. Please prove me wrong.

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   DreamerMegposted 10 years ago

   It depends what you mean by "safer". Just under 100 years ago, my grandmother's sister died of (probably) the 'flu' at the age of 16 years. My grandfather had lost his arm working in the pits (mines) digging coal and many soldiers were about to die in WWI. According to Wikipedia, there were 37 million civilian and military casualties in WWI Just over 100 years ago, my grandmother's youngest brother died as a baby. He was the youngest of about 10 children and his mother would have been considered quite "old" to become a mother again. Life expectancy in the developed world has increased considerably over the last 100 years. At that time, women's life expectancy was lower than men's because they often died in childbirth. When I was a young child, there were still child deaths from diphtheria and polio in the UK. My father was lucky to survive an attack of tetanus as a child. 100 years ago, there were deaths from cholera.
   
   Coming forward a little in time, there were 60 million casualties in World War Ii, according to Wikipedia, 2.5% of the world's population.
   
   Going back still further, half the world's population may have died in the Black death in the 14th century.

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      Goodpalposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Scientific advances in medical science has certainly helped people feel safe from diseases, that is wonderful. The so called world-wars.are a shame on human civilization. There must be ways to curtail negative forces - technological or otherwise.

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   LandmarkWealthposted 9 years ago

   That depends on where in the world you live.  But in general safer.  In 1821 the NYC area was hit with a storm equal to what happened in Hurricane Sandy.  Nearly half the borough of Brooklyn was under water.  Sea levels rose 13 feet in and hour.  These storms are not as rare as people think.  They have hit NY about every 80 years.  But thanks to the technology we have today, we were better prepared for the storm as we could see it coming and warned people way in advance, which saved lives.
   
   The medical technology today is allowing people to live far longer than they had once before.  65 was once old.  Today, you're just beginning to enjoy your retirement years in your mid 60's. 
   
   And technology is not needed to kill people in masses.  More people have been killed by the bow and arrow than the gun.  Humans have will unfortunately commit acts of violence no matter what technology is at their disposal.  I would challenge anyone to point to any extended period in recorded human history that did not contain acts of violent mass atrocities somewhere in the world.

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      Goodpalposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      How about working towards changing history and working for a world where there is peace and harmony among people. If technology can make people live longer it can also make them less violent and not wage or incite wars. Are we working towards it?

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      LandmarkWealthposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Utopian societies sound great.  But I would not hold my breath.  War and violence are born out of differing views and perspectives.  Humans will never universally agree about everything. And there will always be those that seek to dominate others.

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   Healthy Mikeposted 9 years ago

   This is a rather tricky question. Last century had its own challenges, starting from epidemics,wars and economic slump world over,crime among others. Today, despite advancement in technology, criminals have become smarter, plastic money hasn't made things any better as electronic fraud  is on the rise,kidnappings, burglary and hijackings.In relative terms, none of the two periods can be said to be better than the other in a big margin.

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      Goodpalposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      So, effectively people today are as evil or as good as they were a century ago. Technology has created better facilities, cured diseases, reduced labor and is also creating deadlier weapons. A safer world needs more good people, not more technology.

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   mdiggs1234posted 9 years ago

   Ttthe world is better as far as technology and cures for diseases.  I personally agree that the world is nnot safer..with all the advances in war technology..countries have the capacity to set off bombs with the touch of a button..if the Lord doesnt come back...we will destroy our world and each other...my joy is in him and not what the world has to offer...

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      Goodpalposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I admire your positive attitude. World will be a better place if such sentiments spread across the globe. Media can do a lot here if it gives up its obsession of negative events and focus on the positive side of life and society.

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   Old Empresarioposted 9 years ago

   It's much, much safer today than in 1913. In those days, European colonialism was at its height and locals were being starved, overworked, and slaughtered. Blacks in the US were being lynched, terrorized, and their successful and well-assimilated communities were burned down. The Russian Empire and the German Empire were both standing toe-to-toe to fight for domination of Eurasia. The Ottoman Empire was barely violently holding the Middle East together while France and the UK were preparing to take those provinces away. US Marines were invading parts of Latin America. Influenza was a serious killer. Crime in US cities was out of control. Riots were common among workers and police.

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      Goodpalposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Despite technological advancements, do we now have ways available that won't allow all such uncivilized activities as chronicled here? Technology only in the hands of good people can make the world safer and better. But how can it be ensured?

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   Lor's Storiesposted 9 years ago

   I thought after 9/11 we would come together for peace.
   Is it safer? Yes and no. We have that nut in North Korea.
   I wish we lived in Utopia but with new technology the world is dangerous,
   There are robbers and raped, murders.
   I thought after the children were killed in Newtown Ct. There'd be peace.
   It's gotten worse.
   What can we do? Pray,
   Nothing but God can cure what ails the world.
   It's sad. Very sad.
   Prayer can change.things.

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      Goodpalposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Weapons in the hands of irresponsible people can never make the societies and the world safer. We need more responsible and good people, and less weapons in the world. We need to think how can we achieve that. Business as usual attitude won't help.

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      Lor's Storiesposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      What I meant was I thought killing would stop after the shooting in Sandy Hook.

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   Say Yes To Lifeposted 9 years ago

   Technology has done a tremendous amount to improve the quality of people's lives.  It used to be half the world went to bed hungry every night.  Now, it's one fourth.  Also, hunger used to be caused by lack of goods; now, it is caused by dirty politics and lack of distribution.  There's more than enough food to feed everyone; the hungry people simply can't get access to it.
   
   War is one of the few things that technology has made worse.  Perhaps realizing that World War III really will be the war to end all wars - because there won't be any planet left - will prevent us from launching it.
   
   While technology has not improved the basic character of people, it has made it easier to avoid the bad guys - and to catch the ones we can't avoid.  During the crash of 2008, people were still able to withdraw their passbook savings from banks.  They could not do that after the crash in 1929.

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      Goodpalposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      So in nutshell developing technologies don't develop people. World would be safer if we develop people into better humans. I see no institution teaching good  human values, ethical living, the art of being kind to others, or respect for nature..

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      Say Yes To Lifeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Actually, churches have been trying to do that for centuries. It's unfortunate that many lose slight of their purpose and engage in scandals and cultlike thinking. But many instances exist where they have done major good, like Mother Theresa.

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      Goodpalposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Mother Teresa is what we need in every country and every town. She was full of real human qualities - love and compassion. There is need to promote these virtues and moral and ethical values. Why can't schools focus on this issue?

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