Reasons to expect the next 10 years to be more exciting than the last

Re:Reasons to expect the next 10 years to be more exciting t... by pyrhho on Sunday December 12, 2010 @05:12PM (#1998217)

The increasing power of motivated and intelligent individuals is a major force, which I feel the author missed. In modern times (particularly in the last 10 years) it has become easier and easier for the motivated and intelligent individual to wield ever-increasing amounts of power. Today, and even more-so in coming years, a few motivated people can wield power which would rival the super-powers of a few decades ago. SpaceX for example with their recent launch is on par with the early NASA progress.

I hate to reference wikileaks in yet another thread, but 20 years ago it would have been unimaginable that a small group of people could set themselves to rival[1] a super-power and be so effective at it. A similar argument could be made about Al-Qaeda, Anonymous, and many other organizations.

Further Reading: Vernor Vinge touches briefly on this trend and some of its implications in Rainbow's End.

Edit: [1] 'rival' may have been the wrong word. 'baffle'?

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Re:Reasons to expect the next 10 years to be more exciting t... by ebaysucks on Sunday December 12, 2010 @05:20PM (#1998250)

Agreed.

As "combat methods" require more intelligence, it will become harder for governments to control the population.

Convincing an army of hackers to follow a military order without questioning it is much harder than convincing some kids it's cool and patriotic to run towards a front line with a gun in their hands.

Flags and national anthems will lose much of their political importance.

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Re:Reasons to expect the next 10 years to be more exciting t... by elai on Sunday December 12, 2010 @05:16PM (#1998230)

9/11 could of happened as soon as airliners were invented and became a public transit system...

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Re:Reasons to expect the next 10 years to be more exciting t... by pyrhho on Sunday December 12, 2010 @05:31PM (#1998290)

True, it could have. But it didn't until the organizational and persuasive ability of a small group of people could out-do the FBI, CIA, etc..

That being said, there is a lot more behind 9/11, and increasing power of individuals relative to super-powers is just one factor.

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