Could we be happy?

Books to make you think - Cant get enough reading
Canada
April 22, 2010 5:31pm CST
In my family, we exchange books. I started reading a book that has many different stories. One of the story has to do with "nano machines" they're machines that can make anything you want: food, clothes, house, cars, etc. You name it, it can spit it out in no time. After a town gets those machines, nearly everybody stops working. The rate of crime goes up as people have nothing to do. I couldnt read more of the sotry because I got the book from my cousin and it seems the kids tore out the pages. It got me thinking, would we become criminals if we had everything we ever wanted? I always thought that most of criminality had to do with people wanting more. Since I'll never know how the story ends.....what do you think would happen if we had machines to make everything we need?
2 people like this
9 responses
@GardenGerty (157918)
• United States
23 Apr 10
I do not know that we would become criminals, but we could become fat and lazy. It also could give us enough free time to practice our creativity, and wouldn't that be nice. I would rather have the story end that way, with a community of creators and artists.
2 people like this
• Canada
23 Apr 10
What a lovely ending, that we could use it to create or invent new things to help each other. I wish I knew how it all ends .....in the book that is! Thank you GG
@savypat (20216)
• United States
24 Apr 10
This has been a subject that has been around for many years, I read it when I was a kid and into science fiction. I would hope that humans would become more productive not less is they has no worries about obtaining the basic needs in life.
• Canada
26 Apr 10
Yes I know it has been around for a while but I never thought about it much till now when I read that book. Im right with you, not doing anything would be very productive and I fear we wouldnt grow as a society or as human beings! Thanks!!
@urbandekay (18278)
23 Apr 10
You would want a better machine. Greed cannot be placated and fed it grows - this is wisdom all the best urban
1 person likes this
• Canada
23 Apr 10
Haha, yes Im sure we would. Sounds like we're never happy, does it? So sad!! Thank you for your views!
• Philippines
23 Apr 10
If there is such a machine that would produce anything that we want, then we would not be needing to trust God to provide for us, to take care of us when we are sick, to answer our prayers and so on. About the question if man would be more evil if this machine ever existed, well it will only get people to be more greedy and selfish and in short, more self centered ,arrogant and brutal because they won't show any mercy. Whatever the ending would be, it will never be good for me because it elevates man not God. This is my opinion and the word happiness for me would be based for eternity not of what I live here on earth which is only temporary. Happy Mylotting.
• Canada
23 Apr 10
Yes we do look up to God to answer our prayers and help us along the way. Remember its only a book, I dont think we'll ever be able to manufacture such a machine....Thank God!! Yes I do believe our life here on earth is but temporary...Thank God again!! Thank you!
• Bulgaria
23 Apr 10
This interview has, of course, been the single happiest experience of my entire adult life. But setting that aside, I'd have to say that I am especially happy when my husband and my children is happy.
1 person likes this
• Canada
23 Apr 10
Not too sure what you mean by this.....what interview?
• China
23 Apr 10
I think it's terrible to have this machine. The more we get the more we lost. Nowadays, we have so many things, that parents do as much as they can to help their children, which makes them lazy, don't care about others. I always worried about this kind of situation.
1 person likes this
• Canada
23 Apr 10
Dont worry, I dont think it'll ever happen that we have such a machine. Yes parents think they can buy things to make their kids happy. Maybe because they feel they were without when they were young. Who knows!! The future will tell us if we did right by our kids! Thanks for replying, enjoy life!
• United States
22 Apr 10
I wouldn't want a machine getting everything for me. And I do believe that if that were the case that crime would go up because people would be bored. That is why most kids get into trouble now a days because they are bored. Personally I don't make six figures a year so I don't mind working for what I want. Sometimes I wish I had more but then I would want even more if I did. Some people just get too greedy and don't know what to do.
1 person likes this
• Canada
22 Apr 10
Im the same, I dont mind working to buy me what I want. Im trying to think what it would be like to have everything, how Id feel about it. Maybe it has to do with how you were brought up? Im wondering if we could have everything from a machine, would some isolate themselves and refuse to have a machine? Thanks for sharing!
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
22 Apr 10
I think that would basically be the end of the human race. Humanity is defined by the struggle to exist and make life better, or that's what modern humanity is. You can tell what happens when that struggle is taken away by rich kids and such who oftentimes squander money and get into trouble because they don't have anything better that they have to do. I honestly think people would just deteriorate. They would figure that since they can get everything they want there's no need to work and the economies would all fall apart and go to crap. There would be no need for markets and currency and such. There would be no need to be socially active and interact with each other because those are both just means of getting what you need. It would be a complete de-evolution and reversal of everything up until this point and would most likely end up breaking down civilization.
1 person likes this
• United Kingdom
22 Jul
I thin it would vary according to the individual. Some would get bored and commit crimes. Some would become lazy and decadent. But some would find ways to use their new leisure time creatively.