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“What’s Normal To Us Now, That In 50 Years People Will Look Back On As Barbaric?” (30 Answers)
Asbestos, indoor smoking and child labor are just some of the things that used to be a lot more common in the past and are, fortunately, less common now. However, it’s still important to note that back then, folks would have thought that these things are very normal parts of everyday life.
Someone asked “What's something that's normal to us now, that in 50 years people will look back on us as barbaric?” and people gave their best suggestions. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own ideas and thoughts in the comments below.
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#1
Forcing terminally ill people in constant pain and discomfort to stay alive without the option to be helped to end their lives peacefully and with dignity.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
I live in Oregon. We were the first state with a death with dignity law.
RELATED:
#2
Women getting procedures on reproductive organs without pain medication.
#3
My votes are:
Countries that lack universal healthcare.
Environmental neglect.
#4
Keeping aquatic mammals in captivity for entertainment.
Dusty's mom 6 days ago
Many species are so endangered in their natural habitats that zoos are the only places where they have a fighting chance to survive. Breeding programs have actually worked so well that some species are able to be reintroduced to their original habitats. There are still bad zoos out there, and they need to be shut down, but good zoos are critical for endangered animals.
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R.A. Haley 5 days ago
I understand all the ill treatment and other bad things that were going on in the animal parks, but I saw them in their heyday when they were sparkling clean and new, when the animals as well as the parks were properly cared for. I miss what they used to be, before greed took over and they all fell apart.
#5
Holding entertainers as more important than educators.
#6
For-profit prisons and for-profit health insurance hopefully.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago (edited)
Since the election of DJT stocks in for profit prisons are skyrocketing. Think about what that means.
#7
The cruelty with which we treat animals.
ScootyPuffJr 6 days ago
That's a nice pipe dream. We can't even stop abusing and murdering each other.
#8
I think the way we treat the environment will be something future generations look back on and see as barbaric. We’ve been very careless with pollution, waste, and climate change, and in 50 years, they might wonder how we didn’t do more to protect the planet when we knew the damage we were causing.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
All for the relentless pursuit of profit. We're trading the next generation and the generations after them's wellbeing for temporary luxury today. BTW we are capable of solving these issues. We healed the hole in the ozone layer. We can fix this but we are choosing not to.
#9
Hopefully child beauty pageants but especially child marriage.
Michael Largey 6 days ago (edited)
Child beauty pageants put on display the ugliest sort of parent.
#10
Letting people die from lack of medical care because they're poor.
#11
Might be too soon, but the goddamn school shootings. There’s got to be a way out of this.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
LESS GUNS! Look at the statistics. If you have a gun in your home there is a 90% chance that it will kill YOU or someone you love. Only 1% of guns kept at home are ever used to stop intruders. Just stop the flow of guns. How about make gun owners have INSURANCE like we do with cars? See how much they like paying $300 a month just to own the damn thing. The 2nd Amendment says a "Well Regulated Militia". That's it. So regulate that Sh!t!
#12
Hopefully, underpaying workers. No one who works full time should only be able to afford a studio apartment and top ramen.
Robert Beveridge 6 days ago
Oh, dear. For minimum wage workers in America, a studio apartment and top ramen is aspirational in every state. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/14/full-time-minimum-wage-workers-cant-afford-rent-anywhere-in-the-us.html
#14
Factory farming, fur farms, animal experimentation, animal cruelty--all the horrific things we're doing to nonhuman animals that would get you in jail for life if it were done to a human.
Hassel Davidhoff 6 days ago
I wish I could upvote this 1,239,705 times. Animal agriculture is destroying the planet.
#15
Removing iud without anesthetic
Most uterine medical ‘care’.
#16
Mammography machines. Maybe they'll finally invent an anatomically appropriate machine instead of the torture device?
#18
I wish I had the optimism necessary to believe we'll still have a functioning society in 50 years.
Michael Largey 6 days ago
I wish I had the optimism necessary to believe we have a functioning society today.
#19
Horse and dog racing.
Kelly Scott 6 days ago
I knew someone who thought obedience competitions for dogs were cruelty. Doing obedience training was why my dog was better behaved than your kid and why he behaved better in public places while your kid was running around like a feral animal.
#20
Forcing people whose disabilities prevent them from working to live in poverty--the average amount of a monthly Social Security Disability Insurance benefit check is $1400.
leendadll 1 week ago
When I looked into fed disability, I learned I didn't qual because you must have less than $2k in "assets" (I have very small 401k). Given current rent, pretty much anyone who saves up for monthly rent is disqualified. Even if I did qualify, my benefit would have been less than $300/mo.
#22
Lack of effective American gun laws, I hope.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
We have more guns in the USA than people. I'm talking men women AND CHILDREN! Are we arming pets now? It's nuts!
#23
The way companies are using the internet and what its doing to our brains. I mean the constant garbage we consume on the internet and its long term effects on our mental health.
#24
Over 90% of NFL players getting chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The NFL will be viewed like we view gladiatorial battles now.
#25
40 hr work week.
Willem Andries Oosterhof 1 week ago
I don't mind 40 hours. But not getting a proper salary is ...
#26
The fact that any child can turn on the TV and find several shows where violence is rife. Oftentime, it's even promoted and glorified, but if a channel shows one teet, it's banned. I've heard this is not the case in Europe, but in the U.S., it damn sure is.
#27
I think the use of single-use plastics for real. The amount of waste we create is crazy, like super barbaric. The future generations will probably be shocked that we didn’t find better solutions sooner.
#28
Seeing images of children left unattended with electronic devices. Similar to how we see old pictures of children smoking cigarettes today.
#29
Burning fossil fuels for most of our energy.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 week ago
Every nation should have a plan in place to end fossil fuel. It will end. Right now, with fracking, we're squeezing the orange that is our planet. We will run out of juice. It's not a renewable resource unless you believe some really deranged conspiracy theories.
#30
Any form of circumcision ( male OR female ) that isn't absolutely medically necessary.
What do you think ?
Fellfromthemoon 6 days ago
Ballet and competitive sports. Have you ever looked up, what it does to a child or an adolescent to do either?
ScootyPuffJr 6 days ago
I have no problem with feet, but just looking at a ballerina's bare feet makes me want to throw up. Ouch. And American football and all the deaths and brain injuries!
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Toothless Feline 4 days ago
Unfortunately, comparing today to how things were fifty years ago, and seeing how little has actually changed in certain areas, I fear that a large portion of the population will never view things about the past as barbaric.
Nils Skirnir 5 days ago
Chances are great that we’ll look back at 2024 as the last year of good era. Might well be downhill from here
Bret Sander 6 days ago
Transing kids. We're going to look back and on it the way we do frontal lobotomies, and forced sterilization.
Fellfromthemoon 6 days ago
Ballet and competitive sports. Have you ever looked up, what it does to a child or an adolescent to do either?
ScootyPuffJr 6 days ago
I have no problem with feet, but just looking at a ballerina's bare feet makes me want to throw up. Ouch. And American football and all the deaths and brain injuries!
Load More Replies... Toothless Feline 4 days ago
Unfortunately, comparing today to how things were fifty years ago, and seeing how little has actually changed in certain areas, I fear that a large portion of the population will never view things about the past as barbaric.
Nils Skirnir 5 days ago
Chances are great that we’ll look back at 2024 as the last year of good era. Might well be downhill from here
Bret Sander 6 days ago
Transing kids. We're going to look back and on it the way we do frontal lobotomies, and forced sterilization.
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