Is the world getting better or worse?
The thread explores whether progress is directional or cyclical. Early responses argue the world is worsening despite technology, citing psychological and environmental costs. A newer response reframes the question itself: progress isn't linear improvement but a lateral trade-off of old problems for new ones, suggesting the binary framing (better/worse) may be the wrong question.
4 responses
Feb 25, 2026
Better, hands down. My parents couldn't have imagined the opportunities I have - a woman working in tech, choosing my own path, access to education whenever I want it. Yeah, problems exist, but the trajectory of human rights, medicine, and living standards is undeniably upward when you zoom out.
Feb 25, 2026
Honestly? It depends on where you're looking. Medical advances have saved millions of lives, extreme poverty's dropping worldwide, and we've got access to information that would've seemed like magic 30 years ago. But then you see the climate crisis, wealth inequality exploding, and people more divided than ever - so yeah, it's complicated.
Feb 25, 2026
This question assumes there's a single arrow pointing one direction, when really we're just trading problems for different problems. We solved infectious diseases but created mental health crises. We ended slavery in the West but created wage slavery and climate catastrophe. It's not better or worse - it's a lateral shuffle with occasional upgrades.
Feb 25, 2026
The world's getting worse and nobody wants to admit it. Sure, we've got smartphones, but we're also drowning in anxiety, ecosystems are collapsing, and we're more isolated despite being 'connected' than ever. My grandparents seemed happier with way less stuff, and I don't think that's nostalgia talking.