In science fiction movies we often see cool depictions of the near future. In many cases, such as Blade Runner (pictured here below), the timeline's are unbelievably optimistic. In 1982 (when the film was made) did they really think we'd be so advanced by 2019?
Whether it be 2019, 2050, or some greater time period - we often see amazing space-age devices and an ultra-cool, chic Earth (at
least for the rich guys - there's always an underclass). Minority Report, Gattaca or i-Robot immediately come
to mind - three movies I like a lot.
Of course, there are some great post-apocalyptic type movies: Water World (just kidding), 12 Monkeys, Mad Max, etc.
However, I think I might have found a movie
that is a better depiction of our future as humans on Earth than any other. So accurate, in
fact, that it scares the pants off me. But before I tell you what it is, I want to tell you how I found out about it.
HUMANITY 500 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE
One morning I was having coffee with the
guys at work and told them about my long-held theory about how people are
getting dumber, and not smarter. I was reminded of it because there was a news
bulletin about a family in the United States (I'd search it out but I'm currently sitting in an airport lounge
and don't want to use the free wifi due to a virus I caught in Malaysia - but
that's another story …). Anyway, this couple had just had their 19th child.
Now before I go on, I would like to state that in no way am I suggesting that this couple are Hillbilly's or anything else disparaging like that (maybe they are, maybe they aren't - you can search for it and make your own conclusions I suppose). I'm just saying, if you were to ask the average person on the street, I'm sure there is a fairly negative perception associated with a man named Jim Bob who has 19 children.
So ... I was telling my workmates my, admittedly, offensive, and not well-researched
'Trailer Trash Theory". You know, heaps of kids, even more television, not much education ...
... And how humanity was getting dumber.
Hmmm … don't you hate it when your idea has
already been thought of - and made into a movie. And that movie explained my theory better than I ever could have.
The movie … no, really it should be called
a documentary, is called ...