Psychohistory thoughts summer 2024

 In Isaac Asimov’s Foundation, the Empire’s collapse is related to the decline of high-level education. Hari Seldon is one of the last experimental scientists. The generations after that had some basic training, but not sufficient to follow Hari Seldon’s math. They have nuclear power, but they only know how to operate the power-stations, and how to maintain them. They have no idea how to repair them. No chances of improving their technology. In fact, once entropy destroys their energy towers, they will fall in another round of Dark ages.

At least in the Foundation, they don’t have to worry much about other kingdoms overtaking them. They might lack scientific knowledge, compared to their predecessors. However, their low-level apprenticeships knowledge, and their basic maintenance skills are sufficient to compete their contemporary potential enemies.

I am watching the UK news about the coming elections, and my limited Psychohistory knowledge light up a red alert button when I hear that they are promoting apprenticeships and make universities less accessible, in a country where smart kids already must endure being bullied for understanding the curriculum! Put all that in today’s international reality. I think you can do your own math my dear reader, to realise what a bad idea that is. As for you my dear future historian, I wander what you’d have to    .

Stay safe and take care.

 

I had no words for what I am

There was no words that I knew for what I am when I was growing up. 

I grew up in the 80s in Greece. My mother was attending a Christian cult.

I knew gay people exist. But bisexual wasn't in any vocabulary I had heard.

I knew autistic people with learning disabilities exist. I didn't know I was autistic.

I was just confused.

Me, late 80s

Dissidents-Tube

 ‘Hello, Orlando. Please, confirm your DOB and your postcode, then sign here, before we can proceed.’ The 43Bot moved closer, stretched out its arm, and put a tablet right under their nose . Orlando had never seen such an old model before. Beep, pause, beep-beep.

‘Make it stop. Please, make it stop,’ Orlando said, hands pressed against their temples.

‘You are late for the interpersonal therapy meeting, and the one-to-one daily evaluation.’ Beep, pause, beep-beep.

‘Inter-what? I won’t sign anything before you stop that mental sound.’

The last thing they remembered was falling on the station’s pavement, while chasing the train. Beep, pause, beep-beep. A thought. T he marks on my leg! Orlando got flashbacks. One at a hospital, during an X-ray, and one in a dark room without any windows, and many beds around. They remembered trying to scratch their nose. They remembered their hands being tied up.

‘Female, 33 years old, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, fibromyalgia, ADHD, OCD, and PDA.’ Its voice was glitching a bit.