Re:Ask HN: What are you optimistic about?
by dmvdoug on Sunday October 08, 2023 @06:09PM
(#37814837)
Future generations. They are less burdened with the baggage we bear. My fear, of course, is that we olds have irrevocably damaged the physical world they will have to live in.
Re:Ask HN: What are you optimistic about?
by pedalpete on Sunday October 08, 2023 @06:24PM
(#37814956)
The future of health, energy, quality of life, new food sources (lab grown, 3D printed, etc) and the potential to reduce impact on the environment.
What I'm not optimistic about it our ability to care for the planet. Our office is at a university, and there are restaurants on campus that serve food, on real plates, but only have take away coffee cups. I'm not blaming "kids these days", because it isn't an age thing. I see people everywhere not caring about the amount of single use plastics being used.
Aside from the environment, what else is there to NOT be optimistic about? Sure, we can say that income inequality is growing, which is true, but I've always wondered if we shouldn't be focused more on quality of life rather than the difference in size between 2 people's bank accounts.
Re:Ask HN: What are you optimistic about?
by mikewarot on Sunday October 08, 2023 @11:28PM
(#37816641)
I think that in the long run, computers will eventually be made secure. It'll require a mind-shift away from ambient authority, but it will happen. Likely in 10-20 years. At that point, it'll be as safe to run any random piece of code as it is to plug in any random appliance into a wall outlet.
I also believe that computing will eventually outgrow the Von Neuman model of computation for many, if not most, tasks. The idea that 99.999% of the transistors in a computer are just sitting, waiting, will seem silly in retrospect.
I believe that we'll find new deeper laws of physics that allow us to generate energy at a far cheaper, and renewable manner that even fission/fusion are capable of today. I want my personal megawatt box that doesn't emit excess heat, nor use fuel.
Re:Ask HN: What are you optimistic about?
by james-revisoai on Monday October 09, 2023 @04:33AM
(#37818290)
Close agree on 1 and 2, not well educated enough on 3.
Current mechanisms of computing and the way things like security build up from them seem so unnatural, so unbeautiful. I think we'll see something soon.
Re:Ask HN: What are you optimistic about?
by drakonka on Monday October 09, 2023 @06:26AM
(#37818872)
Meat alternatives, both cultured and plant-based. Over the years I have seen more and more options come on the market here and they've gotten _really good_. I'm optimistic and happy about the huge variety of meat alternative choices in my local grocery store these days.
What're your goals with lifting?
What I'm not optimistic about it our ability to care for the planet. Our office is at a university, and there are restaurants on campus that serve food, on real plates, but only have take away coffee cups. I'm not blaming "kids these days", because it isn't an age thing. I see people everywhere not caring about the amount of single use plastics being used.
Aside from the environment, what else is there to NOT be optimistic about? Sure, we can say that income inequality is growing, which is true, but I've always wondered if we shouldn't be focused more on quality of life rather than the difference in size between 2 people's bank accounts.
Sure some troubles like climate change ahead but if we don’t nuke ourselves then I reckon it’ll end up just fine
I also believe that computing will eventually outgrow the Von Neuman model of computation for many, if not most, tasks. The idea that 99.999% of the transistors in a computer are just sitting, waiting, will seem silly in retrospect.
I believe that we'll find new deeper laws of physics that allow us to generate energy at a far cheaper, and renewable manner that even fission/fusion are capable of today. I want my personal megawatt box that doesn't emit excess heat, nor use fuel.
Current mechanisms of computing and the way things like security build up from them seem so unnatural, so unbeautiful. I think we'll see something soon.
My kids: watching them grow and change
Work: gradually learning new skills after 25yrs in the industry
Fitness: up and down, but I like to think I can continue to improve even with setbacks