A lot of people believe that whatever generation they grow up in is the peak of technology and that things won’t get any better…but then you get a little bit older and you realize that you’re just a blip on the radar…
But technology keeps moving forward. And those teachers who used to scold us about relying on our calculators had no idea what was in store, did they?
What will the equivalent to “you’re not always going to have a calculator in your pocket” be in 20 years?
Here’s what AskReddit users had to say about this.
1. Just look it up!
“How are you going to get around a foreign country if you don’t know the language?”
2. That’ll be the day.
“You’re not always gonna have access to the emergency cloning network.”
3. Oh, boy…
“You’re not always going to have enough of ammunition to defend your rainwater in the wasteland.”
4. Sure…
“You’re not going to have access to the Internet everywhere you go!”
5. Modern medicine.
“After the operation we’ll administer antibiotics to prevent infection.”
If antibiotic resistance grows and we don’t figure out a long term solution, surgery and many other staples of modern medicine will become incredibly dangerous.”
6. Going away fast.
“How do you expect to get a well paying job without a good degree?”
Sure, let’s just spend 10 years on a master’s degree to accrue a mountain of student loans which will take forever to pay off and end up getting paid minimum wage anyway.”
7. Let’s hope so!
“You’re not always going to have a mask in your pocket.”
8. This. Right. Here.
“You need to learn to use a computer.
It’s not like you’re going to have Google embedded in your brain in the future.
Seriously… you gotta get smart about technology before it passed you by.
9. Gotta get good grades!
“I’m not sure if there is a specific phrase for it but figuring out a career path out of high school.
Eventually, with the research in genetic engineering, people will be designed for their career path and their genetic biases will direct them as they do now.”
10. That’ll be weird.
“You’re not always going to have a strong wifi signal in your brain-chip!”
11. Dark times ahead?
“Unfortunately, “You’re not always going to be able to go out and see people.”
Covid, loss of ozone, increased pollution.”
12. Heard this one?
“We’re probably already there, but “Wikipedia is not a valid source” is a thing we were told a lot when I was in school.
As far as I’m concerned it’s at least as valid as any textbook, and a good deal more transparent in its sourcing.”
13. Math is good.
“I work in a lab and currently training a new young hire.
You have no clue of the empty stares I got from him while I mentally do simple dilution calculations. Even if you are going to have a calculator in your pocket for the rest of your life, learn how to do math with yourself head.
It’s just simpler and faster.”
14. That would be nice.
“Hopefully it’ll be, ‘ I can’t afford to go see a doctor.'”
15. Could happen…
““And what if your phone doesn’t have service?”
Dude I went to a mini mall today to pick up some supplies and lunch and I couldn’t get cell service for the first time in what felt like 10 years.
Literally felt like I stepped back in time.”
16. Let’s hope not…
“You won’t always be living with your parents!
52% of 18-29 year olds are apparently now. Which is nuts.
This generation is f*cked. As an older person, I have a lot of sympathy for the cupboard being left bare for younger people.
I’m sure (I hope) a pretty big chunk of the 52% are college students since with college costs being so high, living with your parents then is such a no-brainer.
And I hope most of the rest are by choice and not necessity, but that’s probably not the case.”
17. We’ll see about that.
“”I have a right to online privacy.”
I hate their reply: “if you have nothing to hide why are you worried.”
Wanting some privacy doesn’t mean you are hiding something.”
18. Living in strange times.
“”Well you can’t automate everything.”
Tell that to my car that drives itself, house that cleans itself, yard that mows itself, and coffee that makes itself.
But, sure, that one thing you’re thinking of totally can’t be automated.”
19. Oh, really?
“‘You’re not always going to have someone to clean up after you.’
‘Meet my robot butler!'”
20. Are we making progress?
“Fingers crossed: “Finish your food, there are people in Africa starving”.
I always hated that line. Like what would you like me to do?
Mail it to them? Or force myself to to keep them that way?”
21. Kind of depressing.
“”There’s plenty more fish in the sea” won’t make any sense.
I know people don’t like to hear this, but there’s still hope if we stop fishing and eating them.
We currently fish trillions per year (literally). Fishing is also responsible for more than half the plastic polluting the sea.”
22. Teachers…
“Teachers saying “you’re not allowed to use a Wikipedia article.”
I hope that doesn’t change, encyclopedias in general have always been frowned upon as sources because their entire purpose is to give an overview.
Wikipedia’s biggest advantage is that it makes it easy to find primary sources, such as books or articles, which are then acceptable to cite because they should go into more detail.”
23. No more pandemics, please!
“”This restaurant doesn’t deliver.”
Although hopefully not because we end up with another global pandemic so f*cking soon.”
24. Watch this!
“”You can’t just make stuff appear out of thin air you know!”
*3D printer go brrrrrr.”
25. Let me access my brain.
“You’re not always going to be able to access your brain’s memory files, sometimes you may need to remember things off the cuff.”
26. Electric cars.
“You won’t always have a gas station (electric cars are coming, folks!).
If we’re optimistic, electric car production will have surpass ICE by 2040.”
How about you?
What do you think are some good examples of this?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Thanks!
