The Next Big Movement

[Prufrock]

I've just had a conversation with a friend about something I find really interesting.

So, inspired by that picture doing the rounds when gay marriage was 'the issue', of people holding placards against inter-racial marriage in the 1950s, what is the thing that we all think is OK now, that will next be decided isn't.

So at one point, it was generally fine to sodomise young boys and pretend it was part of a teaching process. At one point it was fine to own people as property. At one point it was fine to treat gay people as somehow abnormal. At one point it was fine to say that women couldn't cut it in the business world as they weren't cut out for it.

I'm not suggesting that all, or any, of these have been 'solved' in the real world, but I do think 'popular opinion' has come down on one side of the argument. Also, I recognise there is a form of intellectual arrogance about assuming all popular opinion is always changing for the better, and progressing, but I also think there's an arrogance about thinking we've solved everything.

So, even if it's only a Western academic question in the style of Question Time: If Gay marriage was the last breakthrough 'intellectual shift', what will be the next one?

We came up with a few ideas, none of which I found totally compelling.

The Environment - The scientists do seem to be coming around to the idea that we're totally f*cked. Will our grandkids look at photos of us driving 4x4s wondering what was going on? Given not only the environmental cost, but also the infrastructure and physical availability of things like parking mean the idea of owning a car each will look nuts.

Eating meat - In the future of laboratory grown steaks, will people look back and wonder how barbaric we could be to kill living animals for meat?

Turning a blind eye - The world is getting smaller (vomit-inducing cliché alert) and as we become more and more connected, will we look back at a point where people think, 'there were a two million Syrian refugees and all you did was sandwich an advert in on TV after the sad cartoon John Lewis Christmas one?'

Gun Control - I can't believe individuals were given so much leeway to acquire lethal weapons through legal means/ I can't believe weapons were controlled so tightly that you couldn't defend yourself by just printing off a gun?!

What is the next biggie?

[mrkint]

The acceptance that mental illnesses aren't a sign of weakness but more of a reflection of the times (not sure what that last bit means but it sounds fancy), but yeah, basically the idea that people think it's ok to to poke fun at people being suicidal etc

[Dujon]

If I have any say in it, Prufrock, it'd be me and everyone else giving up the grog.

[Bijou Bob]

A recognition that multiculturalism has failed and is a doomed ideal.

[CrazyHorse]

Scottish independence

[Gary the Enfield]

My next big movement will be last night's pasta.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I think probably gender attitudes.

I read this article on the campaign to get of Page 3 this morning: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lisa-cl ... 34030.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We'll probably look back in 30 years and think 'WTF was Page 3 about?!' won't we?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Just one thing, by the way...

So at one point, it was generally fine to sodomise young boys and pretend it was part of a teaching process.

[LeverEnd]

Ancient Greece Pru? Hope it wasn't your schooldays!

[thebish]

My next big movement will be last night's pasta.

my money was on that popping up eventually - but not on Enfield!!

[a1]

dunno.. "remember that middle east place ?, they should've nuked it from orbit years ago.. that giant waterpark they built in its place is awesome !!"

[thebish]

I suspect one of (if not "the") next big movement will be around gender identification...

heard summat on t'radio about the huge increase in young children diagnosed with gender dysphoria...

[Gary the Enfield]

My next big movement will be last night's pasta.

my money was on that popping up eventually - but not on Enfield!!

In all seriousness I think we will look back in 20 years and wonder why we used fossil fuels.

I'd LIKE to think with the advances with breaking down the Human Genome and stem cell research we will have eradicated major diseases and be able to grow our own cures to genetic abnormalities.

Question is, what happens to the resources of an increasingly long-lived population?

[Raven]

The acceptance that mental illnesses aren't a sign of weakness but more of a reflection of the times (not sure what that last bit means but it sounds fancy), but yeah, basically the idea that people think it's ok to to poke fun at people being suicidal etc

We can only hope.

[Bijou Bob]

I'm not sure if it will happen in my lifetime, but an end to any belief in an omniscient/omnipotent being as science comes up with a compelling arguement for creation.

[Gooner Girl]

My next big movement will be last night's pasta.

Why are all men so juvenile?!


Not sure that will ever change...

[Gary the Enfield]

My next big movement will be last night's pasta.

Why are all men so juvenile?!


Not sure that will ever change...

You're always talking about Poo!

[thebish]

My next big movement will be last night's pasta.

Why are all men so juvenile?!


Not sure that will ever change...

You're always talking about Poo!

that's true - and wee...

[TANGODANCER]

I'm not sure if it will happen in my lifetime, but an end to any belief in an omniscient/omnipotent being as science comes up with a compelling arguement for creation.

Which effectively means that it's all been for nothing and there won't be a day of reckoning? Pardon me if I take the "choose to differ" option.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I'm not sure if it will happen in my lifetime, but an end to any belief in an omniscient/omnipotent being as science comes up with a compelling arguement for creation.

Which effectively means that it's all been for nothing and there won't be a day of reckoning?

Yep! Pretty sad, hey?