"Modern man is a prisoner who thinks he is free because he refrains from touching the walls of his dungeon." — Nicolas Gomez Davila, Colombian writer and philosopher (1913-1994)
Feb 16, 2023·edited Feb 16, 2023Liked by Carson J. McAuley
I was wondering where this idiotic 15min city idea came from!!
Btw, I was in Paris in 1995 and 2011. You can imagine my shock at the difference I saw!
All the huge cities worldwide will be the first fall to digitalization and restriction of movement. The scary part is they are already dividing regions into smaller pieces and setting up invisible QR borders.
Yes, I understand that the change is particularly jarring in Paris but sadly, it's something seen throughout the western world.
As for digitalization, that's something that truly terrifies me. Worst of all, people seem to be walking blindly toward such a future, entirely oblivious of what they are submitting to. To give you an example, a couple years ago I was in a large chain restaurant with a few friends. When it came time to pay, my friends realized that, somehow, their Google Pay apps had already synced with the restaurant's payment processor and all they had to do was tap a button. They were momentarily perplexed but quickly decided this was really convenient. I, on the other hand, insisted on paying with cash, informed my friends of their stupidity, and will never return to that restaurant.
Anyway, I'm glad you appreciated my article. Apologies also about the delay in reply. After writing a piece of this length, I sometimes need a while away from my laptop.
Yes, every western country is experiencing the same problem. Regardless of populist politicians, it is all just a show and no one in "power" will be bale to help us plebs.
Digitalization creeps slowly and people who are not developing their cognitive skills and learning through insight are doomed. Some estimates say 80% of populations. They're beyond saving and will accept anything to continue living a life based on lies.
Ill be blunt, better to move forward with trust in only oneself. Family if it is tight and smart.
I am a loner, so I am prepared already. Maybe that is why I think like this, idk.
And I am optimist and pesimist at the same time hah. But Im thinking there is good reason I am born into this crazyness. We will see, eh!?
How will farmers' markets survive? Farmers typically (where I live) travel to a number of communities where they sell their produce. Some of them travel great distances to sell to their customers.
A small, confined "city" will require a lot of inputs delivered by truck. And what about the trash? Where is the efficiency? In Moreno's limited imagination?
What a horror! Let Moreno live like this, and leave me alone!
If my town does not have a shop that sells an item I want, in his world, my only solution is Amazon. That sucks.
The fantasy breaks down when a person needs to go to hospital. Maybe there is a local hospital, but that institution may need, as has happened to me, to send the person to another hospital that has available space. And some hospitals specialize in certain conditions, what is one to do when their condition requires a hospital at some distance? The local medical community is rarely self-sufficient.
Yes, precisely. I would add to that the fact that even if these 15-minute zones could contain everything "necessary: for human life, it's simply not possible that they contain everything required to inspire.
Do these zones have an aquarium? A planetarium? Do they have museums, art galleries, ancient cave paintings, cathedrals, or areas of immense natural beauty? These are just some of the sights that can awe people into pursuing higher goals and as a consequence, these 15-minute cities will narrow horizons not just physically but also conceptually.
I am now 78 years old with congestive heart failure. Going to the hospital is not an option, there are times when it is a requirement. I realize that hospitals can be dangerous, which is why I take a friend to protect me.
I was wondering where this idiotic 15min city idea came from!!
Btw, I was in Paris in 1995 and 2011. You can imagine my shock at the difference I saw!
All the huge cities worldwide will be the first fall to digitalization and restriction of movement. The scary part is they are already dividing regions into smaller pieces and setting up invisible QR borders.
Thank you Carson.
Yes, I understand that the change is particularly jarring in Paris but sadly, it's something seen throughout the western world.
As for digitalization, that's something that truly terrifies me. Worst of all, people seem to be walking blindly toward such a future, entirely oblivious of what they are submitting to. To give you an example, a couple years ago I was in a large chain restaurant with a few friends. When it came time to pay, my friends realized that, somehow, their Google Pay apps had already synced with the restaurant's payment processor and all they had to do was tap a button. They were momentarily perplexed but quickly decided this was really convenient. I, on the other hand, insisted on paying with cash, informed my friends of their stupidity, and will never return to that restaurant.
Anyway, I'm glad you appreciated my article. Apologies also about the delay in reply. After writing a piece of this length, I sometimes need a while away from my laptop.
Yes, every western country is experiencing the same problem. Regardless of populist politicians, it is all just a show and no one in "power" will be bale to help us plebs.
Digitalization creeps slowly and people who are not developing their cognitive skills and learning through insight are doomed. Some estimates say 80% of populations. They're beyond saving and will accept anything to continue living a life based on lies.
Ill be blunt, better to move forward with trust in only oneself. Family if it is tight and smart.
I am a loner, so I am prepared already. Maybe that is why I think like this, idk.
And I am optimist and pesimist at the same time hah. But Im thinking there is good reason I am born into this crazyness. We will see, eh!?
Cheers Carson
Agreed totally. I would go as far to say that 80% is almost a conservative estimate.
How will farmers' markets survive? Farmers typically (where I live) travel to a number of communities where they sell their produce. Some of them travel great distances to sell to their customers.
A small, confined "city" will require a lot of inputs delivered by truck. And what about the trash? Where is the efficiency? In Moreno's limited imagination?
What a horror! Let Moreno live like this, and leave me alone!
If my town does not have a shop that sells an item I want, in his world, my only solution is Amazon. That sucks.
The fantasy breaks down when a person needs to go to hospital. Maybe there is a local hospital, but that institution may need, as has happened to me, to send the person to another hospital that has available space. And some hospitals specialize in certain conditions, what is one to do when their condition requires a hospital at some distance? The local medical community is rarely self-sufficient.
Yes, precisely. I would add to that the fact that even if these 15-minute zones could contain everything "necessary: for human life, it's simply not possible that they contain everything required to inspire.
Do these zones have an aquarium? A planetarium? Do they have museums, art galleries, ancient cave paintings, cathedrals, or areas of immense natural beauty? These are just some of the sights that can awe people into pursuing higher goals and as a consequence, these 15-minute cities will narrow horizons not just physically but also conceptually.
Hmm, in these times, in which medical establishment is assisting depopulation, going to hospital should be avoided!
I am now 78 years old with congestive heart failure. Going to the hospital is not an option, there are times when it is a requirement. I realize that hospitals can be dangerous, which is why I take a friend to protect me.