What are we doing?



 

“Fascination with the intoxication of power might indicate a mental crisis.” Dr. BLR

 

One of the wonderful things about life is the freedom to do what you want, regardless of the consequences. Having free will allows people to take chances, venture onto uncharted paths, and, literally, not give a damn. Oh, my younger days were filled with delusions until reality set in, and the fear of paying for my transgressions looked me in the eye. I couldn’t fathom life away from my family or being sent to a facility where my freedoms would be stripped.

Looking back, life was a bit simpler than what is being foisted on this new generation. No social media, no internet, no cell phones, no computers, and definitely no access to hundreds of cable channels. The good old days are nostalgic for some and forgotten by others. I’ve often wondered how I would’ve fared in these trying times. I’m so glad I didn’t have to experience them when I was younger.

Now, what are we doing? There is no doubt that the world is being puppeteered by the ultra-wealthy. They want everyone to believe that the future is theirs for the taking, but fail to acknowledge that most aren’t disciplined enough to make wise choices. Looking at the vices set forth would lead any reasonable person to acknowledge that we are being screwed. 

The three things I want to talk about all have the potential to destroy people’s lives and worsen mental health, all in the blink of an eye. They are the legalization of gambling, the legal purchase of marijuana, and the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. On the surface, they don’t seem very dangerous because we have free will. However, given the impact each has on individuals and society writ large, we can only expect bad outcomes. 

Let’s look at the legalization of gambling. This has always been an issue because of its addictive nature. Back in the day, having a little fun and taking a bus ride to a casino was the norm, and the distance between a prospective gambler’s home and the casino limited how often the trip could be made. Now, since it has been legalized to play on your phone, and with the addition of sports betting, also on your phone, what do you expect degenerate gamblers and, more importantly, young people to do? I predict the following will increase: homelessness, divorce rates, suicides, bankruptcies, domestic violence, alcoholism, drug addiction, and crime across the board. I can hear the naysayers. Just shut up and mind your business; it’s their life. Really? Let that marinate for a moment. When those afflicted turn to crime to make ends meet, whose problem will it become? Hmmm! I thought so. Moving on.

Weed anyone? Several years ago, this inquiry could have had law enforcement breathing down your neck because it was illegal, and jails and prisons were screaming for more bodies. Now that our learned lawmakers have found a way to earn income through taxation, I guess it wasn’t all that bad. Lest we forget the people targeted and the ancillary issues that destroyed Black and Brown families. Never mind, they are and will always be expendable. However, to the all-knowing, thinking that because it’s legal, they can cruise in their drop-tops and muscle cars under the influence. Well, my friend, it doesn’t work that way. Law enforcement has devised a way to still lock your arrogant behinds up. It’s called the horizontal gaze nystagmus, a legally tested method for determining whether you’re driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. I won’t go into detail, but if you are going to partake, please don’t drive. I will leave it there. Moving on.

Of the three, AI will likely have the most harmful impact on society. If so, can it really be considered intelligent? What is this technology capable of? Asking for a friend. I would like to think that any invention created by mankind would be progress, but I’m not so confident. This creation is a money grab by a few people consumed with attaining unfettered power, and the beginning of the end if we don’t pay attention and stop it. The job you presently hold will probably be obsolete in the next decade, and where will that leave the millions of people who’ve been replaced? I’m truly concerned about what it will do to education as well. Students will become proficient in its use and cut corners, which will inevitably make them less motivated to produce original work and frustrate teachers and professors.  

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The rise of the First Amendment

Image
“Social media has provided an opportunity for the misinformed to become the voice of the miseducated.” Dr. BLR   As a strong supporter of the First Amendment, I am disappointed that, in this era of political correctness, voices are being silenced on both sides of the political spectrum. A lively debate fosters intellectual growth, regardless of how unpopular someone's opinion may be. In this context, I will discuss the recent death of Charlie Kirk (Kirk) at a speaking event on the campus of Utah Valley University. For the record, I knew nothing about him before his untimely passing, until I visited his website and the algorithmic whirlpool directed his information my way. Unapologetically, I have a selective indifference to his death because I didn’t know him. Nonetheless, I genuinely appreciate young people, even if their views are controversial, stepping up and speaking out on issues that will impact their future. Some examples include Nick Fuentes, Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens, La...
Read more

Losing my brother

Image
“As you lay on your deathbed, I looked into your eyes and knew you were ready for the next chapter, and my sorrow for your departure was eased.” Dr. BLR   In a chaotic world, you can never predict what will happen next. Life has a way of surprising us. Yet at some point, you have to expect the unexpected. Earlier this year, I lost my twin brother, Aaron Keith Royster. It hurts to write these words because I am still grieving, and I hope that writing this will help with the process. I don’t think there’s a stronger bond than being a twin, whether identical or fraternal. My brother and I were born about four minutes apart. I wanted to stay in my mother’s womb a little longer, so I kicked him out for my special entrance. Our bond lasted for the next sixty years. My earliest memory of being a twin is from when I was around three or four years old, when my father was trying to teach us how to box. He rewarded us afterward with colorful licorice candy. Unfortunately, not long after,...
Read more

Not my enemy

Image
Not my enemy “I can’t believe what you say because I see what you do.”  James Baldwin   No one will ever fully agree on controversial issues or people. Recently, someone reappeared in my life after a period of silence. Assata Olugbala Shakur (also known as JoAnne Deborah Byron and JoAnne Chesimard), an African-American woman, was convicted of murdering a New Jersey State Trooper, Werner Foerster, on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973. As a retired New Jersey State Trooper (NJSP), I feel conflicted about why I have allowed her to occupy space in my mind. She allegedly killed a state trooper, and law states she should have spent the rest of her life in prison. However, I wasn’t entirely convinced she was guilty.  Growing up as a young Black man in Newark, New Jersey's inner city, I often heard about our struggles to survive within an oppressive, predominantly white, male-dominated system. I vaguely remember the 1967 riots in Newark, but later I researched the NJSP’s role ...
Read more