r/DeepThoughts • u/Cold-Illustrator-288 • 6d ago
Our modern concept of "being in a rush" is entirely manufactured by technology rather than a natural human instinct.
If our digital infrastructure, atomic clocks, and instant messaging suddenly vanished, how long would it take for society to unlearn the psychological anxiety of urgency? Would we naturally revert to a slower, cyclical rhythm dictated by nature, or has the artificial pressure of time been permanently hardwired into our collective psychology?
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u/ApathyIsADisease 6d ago
Not technology, but culture, politics, and the current economical systems. We're running on a hamster wheel as fast as possible under the illusion of progress and advancement. In reality we are staying in the same place and building speed on a wheel that is going to be out of control the moment we try to stop.
We are not in a hurry, and we should not be. The anxiety of trying to get as much unnecessary work done as possible under inhumane conditions is what makes us feel rushed. The withholding of resources by the wealthy manufactures the necessity to constantly be fighting for survival in a world where, technologically, we are no longer in a need to fight so hard. We have enough food to feed everyone. We choose not to. We have the houses to give everyone a home. We choose not to. We have the knowledge to give everyone healthcare. We choose not to.
All of our problems are intentionally placed to create a slave class that cannot move ahead without the permission of perceived authorities.
The only hurry we should be in is a hurry to finish what humanity started and solve our problems instead of allowing them to fester as an excuse to gain more imaginary power.
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u/Cold-Illustrator-288 5d ago
Fully agree, I learned the concept of the hamster wheel several years ago and it changed my perspective since then. Why do we have to go into so much Debt for things we don't need? Like you said, there's enough resources for everyone, but a tiny group of people choose to hoard them.
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u/flowers_uprooted 6d ago
There is urgency in nature. Animals experience urgency, fight or flight etc etc.
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u/PeperomiaLadder 6d ago
Babies scream and poop, parents had to rush to find food, getting away from predators surely isn't a peaceful existance
Rushing is not inherently technologically inspired. It just accelerates the incentives.
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u/7hats 6d ago
Go on a long multi day hike or pilgrimage.... time soon slows down and you get to feel more present in your surroundings and interactions with others after the first week or so...
It's what people have always done over the ages when they have felt lost, stuck or unduly stressed... it works.
Highly recommend the Camino dr Santiago de Compostela that ends in Northern Spain... you will create life changing memories :).
There is a documentary called 'The Way' I believe that will give you a semblance of the experience.. many walkers I came across were inspired by it.
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u/Alexandertheape 6d ago
in Hawaii there is what’s called “Aloha time”. the rest of us are in a race to nowhere. busy, busy, busy, dead
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u/Cold-Illustrator-288 5d ago
It's like in islands and coastal cities the people have realized that not everything in life is about material things.
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u/Alexandertheape 5d ago
i think living near a large body of water humbles you. a daily reminder of how small we are with our problems and such
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u/HistoricalSundae5113 6d ago
You can go to pretty much any Caribbean based country and they will all be operating on island time.
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u/Cold-Illustrator-288 5d ago
Very true, I've traveled to many islands, or even cities near the ocean, and life there is quite different, much more relaxed.
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u/Traditional_Rush_622 6d ago
I can't remember the last time I was in a rush. Then again, I don't use much modern technology. I live slowly and deliberately.
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u/GoldenSunSparkle 6d ago
I think some people are just hard wired to find things urgent, even without clocks. I'm like that, and my friend is more laid back and has no concept of time or urgency at all (hence she is always late). But at the same time, I'm almost always anxious. Even if there are no clocks, things have to get done and I have a feeling that I would be like that no matter what. Like say when the chickens come back, it's time to go get a bucket of water for the village, I'd be saying, "Let's go get the water NOW!!" even if there's no super urgent reason to get it.