# The Future just ain't what it used to be... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010 "2001-05-02T00:52:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/1 "2001-05-02T00:52:37Z")
Rather than hijack the giant robots thread any further, I’ll start this one here. Yes, for the year 2001 we live in a rather mundane world. Among the things we don’t have: -Autonomous robots or true A.I. -Cost effective SSTs, commercial suborbital flight, vacations in space, a moonbase, or manned expeditions to Mars. -Flying cars or moving sidewalks. -cheap, clean nuclear energy Of course, on the other hand, we also don’t have: -WW3, nuclear holocaust, or a 99% death rate global plague. -Totalitarian one-world state, mass mind control, or a society run by (not “with”) computers. -Runaway population explosion with mass starvation and the death of the world’s ecosystem (not yet anyway.) We **do** now have (or are just starting): - An tunnel under the English Channel - cloning of humans - genetic engineering - commercially available flat-screen t.v.'s - surgical body modification (Lasik, etc.) And we never even thought we’d have: -personal computers for everyone -a global computer network that’s _not government controlled!_ In summation: Life is a bit lousier in some ways and better in other ways than it used to be; but it is neither as great or as lousy as some people thought it might be. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/2 "2001-05-02T01:09:57Z")
Sorry if I’m missing something obvious, **Lumpy** , but what exactly do you want us to do with this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/3 "2001-05-02T01:23:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > \*\*Sorry if I’m missing something obvious, **Lumpy** , but what exactly do you want us to do with this thread? \*\* I’m content to use it as a venue to bitch about the lack of flying cars. It’s 2001. I want my goddamned flying car. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/4 "2001-05-02T02:33:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lux Fiat \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > > \*\*Sorry if I’m missing something obvious, **Lumpy** , but what exactly do you want us to do with this thread? \*\* > > I’m content to use it as a venue to bitch about the lack of flying cars. > > It’s 2001. I want my goddamned flying car. \*\* [Here’s your damned flying car.](http://www.moller.com) Now shaddup. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/5 "2001-05-02T03:03:51Z")
I’m going to have to agree with Lux Fiat here. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/6 "2001-05-02T06:07:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*- cloning of humans \*\* Interesting how all the SF writers predicted we’d have evil government bureaucrats making us clone people. None of them ever thought that evil bureaucrats would make it illegal to clone people. Oh, and Gunslinger, I want a flying VW Beetle. A yellow one. ---
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/7 "2001-05-02T09:34:44Z")
We do have wood though. Ever notice how films of the future have no furniture made of wood? ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/8 "2001-05-02T10:03:05Z")
We also don’t have robotic babes a la Bladerunner and many other films. But liking my girls real I suppose I can deal with it. TV Dinners still suck. But at least we don’t eat pills or Soylent Green. We also don’t have 10 billion ppl … yet We don’t have really good cheap video phone, and the best chance we would have them soon is being drowned under billions of dollars of debt. I can’t speak to my computer a la Star Trek. “Computer? … Computer? … COMPUTER!!!” See? nothing. Thankfully we have yet to adopt an “Earth Dress Code” and can still wear what we want, although some people really shouldn’t. Hydroponics is still an iffy situation Where’s my laser gun? And now TV shows about the future aren’t 2001, they’re 2400 or worse 3000. I can’t wait that long, I’ll be dead! ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/9 "2001-05-02T10:09:34Z")
I don’t want a flying car. I’m surrounded by people who can’t drive a car in two dimensions, their heads would explode if you added a third. I just want a robot to wash my windows. Where are the robots? Where’s Rosie with her little cap and apron? **We were promised robots dammit! I demand my robot!** :mad: _(Editor’s Note: Ignore her. She’s been under a lot of stress lately.)_ ---
**Author:** ![Morrison\_s\_Lament](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Morrison\_s\_Lament](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morrison_s_Lament)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/10 "2001-05-02T10:29:34Z")
I am SO gonna get one of those flying cars! — G. Raven ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/11 "2001-05-02T12:05:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lumpy \* > **-Flying cars or moving sidewalks.** The Infamous Flying Car has already been linked. And we have moving sidewalks in airports. So, the Future is Here. You just don’t appreciate it enough. (Yeah, I know that’s not what you meant. But you can still toss on a jumpsuit and go to the airport and pretend you’re George Jetson for a while.) ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/12 "2001-05-02T12:34:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brother rat \* > \*\*We also don’t have 10 billion ppl … yet > > \*\* ugghh, you haven’t been to Atlanta lately, have you? I am still patiently waiting for teleportation. I have a room ready and everything. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/13 "2001-05-02T13:00:15Z")
What about space travel for The Common Man? It seems like if I want to go to space now, I have to unspool and then cut through _reels_ of red tape and then cough up $20 million. To the Russkies. Not to be rude or anything, but I wouldn’t cough up $5 to the Russkies for a bus ride. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/14 "2001-05-02T13:23:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brother rat \* > \*\*I can’t speak to my computer a la Star Trek. “Computer? … Computer? … COMPUTER!!!” See? nothing. > \*\* Sadly enough I knew a guy in college who had his macintosh “trained” to respond to star trek-like voice commands. Not worth the trouble, though, imo. Where’s my damn moon colony, anyway? (Edited to add the close-bolding tag, which I hope doesn’t lessen the emphasis about really, really wanting a moon colony.) [Edited by TVeblen on 05-02-2001 at 08:06 PM] ---
**Author:** ![Akatsukami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@Akatsukami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akatsukami)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/15 "2001-05-02T18:40:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lux Fiat \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > > \*\*Sorry if I’m missing something obvious, **Lumpy** , but what exactly do you want us to do with this thread? \*\* > > I’m content to use it as a venue to bitch about the lack of flying cars. > > It’s 2001. I want my goddamned flying car. \*\* In an alternate universe, the flying car has been widely available since the mid-50’s. In that alternate universe, the alternate Pit contains the threads “Assholes Who Fly over My Backyard While I’m Sunbathing Nude”, “Soccer-Mom Bitches Who Fly Boeing 767s (or It Seems Like That)”, and “Who Was the Dipshit Who Invented the Flying Car, and Why Wasn’t He Strangled in His Crib?” ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/16 "2001-05-02T19:20:02Z")
You want a flying car, you want a jet-pack, you want a robot, you want a trip to outer-space? You can have it all…NOW…if you got the bucks. Personally, I want my own transporter pad and holodeck… oh yeah, and a phaser and light saber and personal shuttle (it only needs to go the speed of light…I don’t plan on exploring past our solar system). I want a temporal scanner that will tell me with 95+% accuracy what will happen in my immediate vicinity up to 5 minutes in the future, so I can avoid trouble (and hit the lottery). I want Borg implants, so I can hook up directly to the internet, hack Corporate and government databases, and fight agents in the matrix. I want medical regenerators, so any cut and broken bone will instantly heal. I want a replicator, to make anything I want. (Lets see…I’ll have a prime rib, lobster, key-lime pie, Jack Daniels, etc.) I WANT IT ALL…NOW. ---
**Author:** ![Tabeitha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b3f665/32.png) [@Tabeitha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabeitha)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/17 "2001-05-02T20:16:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Akatsukami \* > > In that alternate universe, the alternate Pit contains the threads “Assholes Who Fly over My Backyard While I’m Sunbathing Nude”, “Soccer-Mom Bitches Who Fly Boeing 767s (or It Seems Like That)”, and “Who Was the Dipshit Who Invented the Flying Car, and Why Wasn’t He Strangled in His Crib?” \*\* hahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Thanks for the laugh! ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/18 "2001-05-03T00:32:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by enolancooper \* > \*\*You want a flying car, you want a jet-pack, you want a robot, you want a trip to outer-space? > > You can have it all…NOW…if you got the bucks. > > I want a replicator, to make anything I want. (Lets see…I’ll have a prime rib, lobster, key-lime pie, Jack Daniels, etc.) > > I WANT IT ALL…NOW. \*\* Well, I’d invite you over to my house, but my replicator is off-line. I order…“Erroll Grey Tea, Hot” and all I get is a cup full of Arkellian sausage. Stupid thing. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/19 "2001-05-03T00:44:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by enolancooper \* > \*\*You want a flying car, you want a jet-pack, you want a robot, you want a trip to outer-space? > > You can have it all…NOW…if you got the bucks. > > Personally, I want my own transporter pad and holodeck… > oh yeah, and a phaser and light saber and personal shuttle > (it only needs to go the speed of light…I don’t plan on exploring past our solar system). I want a temporal scanner that will tell me with 95+% accuracy what will happen in my immediate vicinity up to 5 minutes in the future, so I can avoid trouble (and hit the lottery). > I want Borg implants, so I can hook up directly to the internet, hack Corporate and government databases, and fight agents in the matrix. I want medical regenerators, so any cut and broken bone will instantly heal. I want a replicator, to make anything I want. (Lets see…I’ll have a prime rib, lobster, key-lime pie, Jack Daniels, etc.) > > I WANT IT ALL…NOW. \*\* You forgot: “SCI FI Me.” Or, “I am Sci Fi.” Dammit, I want my own Crow T. Robot! And a personal Mike Nelson. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010/20 "2001-05-03T02:28:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lumpy \* > \*\* > -Totalitarian one-world state, mass mind control, or a society run by (not “with”) computers. \*\* While we don’t have these things in the way they are pictured in speculative fiction ala 1984, we do seem to be headed for a one-world type culture. Geo-political borders don’t seem to have the same weight they once had, though they are by no means gone. The division nowadays seems to be more along the lines of sucessfully capitalistic culture, with the less financially successful cultures working hard to adapt and catch up. Not totalitarian, but still less dependent on geographical location or guiding political philosophy. And along the same lines, I think mind-control as a conscious goal does exist in the guise of consumerism. I don’t see this as a conspiracy, but as an often mis-prioritized goal. Nor do I see it as an Us vs.Them sort of thing. It’s something that just about all of us take part in. Convenience is great. Being financially successful is a fine thing, but sometimes it seems like the only thing which matters in popular culture. When it comes to computers, no, they don’t run the world, but they are increasingly the core upon which the world is run. Looking back at all the fear and preparation that surrounded Y2K, it’s amazing to think just how intertwined they are in the workings of modern society, and amazing at the predictions made for society’s outcome if they were to fail on a large scale. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-just-aint-what-it-used-to-be/64010.md?page=2)