For those who think society's going to hell in a handbasket

[lazarus]

"The Earth is degenerating today. Bribery and corruption abound.
Children no longer obey their parents, every man wants to write a
book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast
approaching."
- Assyrian Tablet, c.2800 BC

Just a little perspective.

[WillParkinson]

1. A lady at work...

Whom I love dearly, told me the other day that the end of the world is coming. She's seen it in her dreams.

I just smile and shake my head.

[meegbear]

2. Don't forget ...

the Assyrians are gone.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. That's what happens to people

who refuse to evolve...

[Don_G]

3. I Wonder

Who the Assyrian equivalents of the Gipper and Dimbo were?

[Dogmudgeon]

4. Just a little more

In 2350 BCE, a few hundred years after the tablet found in Assyria, a fairly large Earth-crossing object entered the atmosphere at 40 miles per second, shattered into a bunch of smaller objects, which struck the Earth at various points from the North Sea to India.

This event is thought to have inspired several end-of-the-world accounts, including Ragnarokr from the Elder Eddas.

Bribery, corruption, brattiness and weekend novel-writing probably did go into a decline for a while.

--bkl
This year: The impending end of peak oil, a dramatic increase in seismic activity at Yellowstone, and rapid desalinization of the Northern Atlantic. Time to get cracking on that novel.

[ret5hd]

5. Satan's chronic complaint...

MORE HANDBASKETS...
must...have...more...handbaskets!

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. 'Everyone wants to write a book'

It's scant comfort to know that the Assyrians were saddled with their Ann Coulters, too.

[Swede]

7. I remember Babylon

wasn't the wheel invented by the Assyrians?

To speed us on our way to oblivion.

[Nevernose]

8. What did Plato say about children?

Something about how the younger generation today is just runing amok, they have no respect fot their elders, the world is going to hell in a handbasket...

Can any of you scholars in ancient Near-East literature provide some help with that exact quote?

[greyl]

11. "What is happening to our young people?...

They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?" -Plato Laws I

Yeah, Plato was a square and, along with Aristotle, made some of the most asshole statements ever. :)

For some actually pertinent and wise insight into the youth experience of today, you can't beat the odd last pages of The Story of B "My God, It Isn't Me" by Daniel Quinn, which is also part of My Ishmael.

[Deja Q]

9. Yeah, but they didn't have * nor did they have nukes and high technology..

Nor did they have * trying to make 'tactical, useable nukes'... :scared:

That's my perspective. Sadly. :-(