Thread by @swardley

X : Thoughts about the future?
Me : A bit of context would be nice.
X : UK?
Me : Not much to go on. OK, the future is a major industrial shift as we tackle climate change and inequality to create a fairer society built on collaboration rather than conflict.
X : Really?
Me : No.

X : What do you really think?
Me : Elysium. Incredible wealth for a very few protected by automation from incredible poverty, deprivation, ghettoisation, control and in effect slavery for the rest of the population.
X : Oh
Me : Well, you voted for it. You had your chance.

X : Can't you be more positive?
Me : Sure. The future is a major industrial shift as we tackle climate change and inequality to create a fairer society built on collaboration rather than conflict.
X : Oh
Me : I'm just giving you the fantasy you want despite the odds.

X : How do we make the better future happen?
Me : Which better future? If you're not extremely wealthy then the fairer society is the better future. If you are extremely wealthy then Elysium is the better future. You need to decide which future and who has control.

X : Can't we just vote in people who give us the future we want?
Me : You've already made that choice and there is no guarantee that there will be another choice in the future.
X : Of course there will.
Me : That's an assumption that the future is like the past.

X : So, just give up the fight, accept our fate?
Me : You weren't fighting anyway. You were hoping others would fix this for you. At best you went on a few protests, delivered a few leaflets, wrote a few angry tweets ... this is how democracy is lost through inaction.

X : What's your advice?
Me : First step is you need to stop kidding yourself that you were doing something. What I suggest is pick a day and take that day to apologise to your kids for your failure as their guardian of the future. If enough people can do this, we can change.

X : Do you do this?
Me : Every year. 15th Sept. My #renewal day -

https://twitter.com/swardley/status/1305495792678047744

... I'm just waiting for enough people to join me. If we can't accept our own failure, if we keep hoping others will fix this for us ... we never will.

X : I'm not apologising to my kids.
Me : If you're not going to even acknowledge your own part in this then stop worrying about the future and asking me daft questions. Just enjoy the day and let the chips fall where they fall. You never know, someone may invent some technology.