What is progress?

Is progress always a good thing?

I believe by it's definition it is a good thing. Change by itself isn't always a good thing, but I've always taken progress to mean positive change.

If it weren't for progress, we'd still be living like the Amish, driving horse and buggies instead of cars. No blenders, no mixers, no toasters, no microwaves, no radios, laundry would mean a wash tub and wash board...

Tater, those are good things, but can also be bad. We are not set to take care of ourselves... if we need to. We rely too much on technology and are lost without the simplest things.
To be honest... I wouldn't mind living like the Amish. They put in an honest days work and rely on themselves to meet their needs. Not so bad really. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Well I can see your point about some things...but geez, you complain about doing laundry now, can you even imagine having to use a washboard?

Haha!! How much you wanna bet they don't own nearly as many clothes as one child here does?! They don't need as many because they aren't in a society that feels the brand and look of clothes are so very important. They are clean, neat, but not vain about their clothes. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] We really could learn a few lessons there.

I personally could care less about brand names, as long as they are comfortable to wear.

Brand names is just part of it. Kids need to fit in with styles and not the same clothes too often... otherwise... they are teased.
Adults seem to think they need a lot of clothes to change often? Shoes... why does anyone need ten or more pairs of shoes? I only have one pair I wear every day and the rest just hide under my bed.

I only have two pairs of shoes. Walking shoes and dress shoes for work.

Thats funny about shoes as I don't even own any. Here its slippers, which are a type of thong, then a pair of sneakers, thats it. I 'm barefoot right now.

What, no sandals, Ron?

No sandals, just thongs, we call slippers.Only tourists from the mainland wear sandals. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Same as flip flops?

Exactly just better made. You definitely don't want to hike in them, but for around town, shopping etc. they are great.

They always bothered the skin between my toes.

Seems we managed to turn the topic into the off-topic thread, and I apologize about that. Sandals don't have much to do with progress.



Definitions of progress on the Web:

* develop in a positive way; "He progressed well in school"; "My plants are coming along"; "Plans are shaping up"
* advancement: gradual improvement or growth or development; "advancement of knowledge"; "great progress in the arts"
* advance: move forward, also in the metaphorical sense; "Time marches on"
* the act of moving forward (as toward a goal)
* build up: form or accumulate steadily; "Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly"; "Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border"
* a movement forward; "he listened for the progress of the troops"
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Progress is to move forward and accomplish your goals. Wether progress is good or bad well we end up getting both. Progress was when Einstein came up with E=MC2. The Atomic bomb , progress was also the TB vaccine, polio vaccine, etc. so progress is definitely a yin and yang type of thing.

Progress! My reply is first.. when I choose to reply to a question, instead of scrolling through all the ones who already replied. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Hey, the reply box is up top again, like it was before. I guess that's progress!

Hmmm Tater, I THINK that's what I said! lol

Yes, that is what you said, I just hadn't noticed or realized it until I went to reply!

i like breezeys idea of the amish way of life, if we all had done that the world would be a better place. all to often what we call progress is just extreme vandalism and future generations will pay dearly,forests disappearing, wild life becoming extinct at an alarming rate and polution choking the world.all because some people want to be super rich, and the rest of us want an easy life style.
excuse me now, i need to put another load in the wash machine and check the tumble drier,the frozen diner in the microwave must be almost ready , drive to the shop to get a few things, why walk for a whole 5 minutes when you can drive there in one ?
plus i'm getting an amazing amount of remotes !!to far to walk to switch on tv, dvd, video, ceilingfans, light,air conditioner....

Roxy, do you know why they are called remotes? Because the chances of finding the one you need is remote!

LOL tater,..and ..how many times you tried to make a phone call on a remote ??

Roxy you sound way too busy. I think its time you take a vacation,lol.

I don't think I ever tried to make a call on a remote, but I know the one I need is usually nowhere to be found!

ron, vacation sounds good , what is hawaii like this time of year ??

Roxy, its about the same all year long except now the Humpback whales are here, the ocean tempt is cooler than summer, in summer its 80 degrees. Its always busy, this is what we call high season when all the snowbirds come here to vacation, it has been very windy lately, we are in a drought, but you get plenty of beach room, lots of excellent restaurants, lots to see and do.

roxanna wrote:i like breezeys idea of the amish way of life, if we all had done that the world would be a better place. all to often what we call progress is just extreme vandalism and future generations will pay dearly,forests disappearing, wild life becoming extinct at an alarming rate and polution choking the world.all because some people want to be super rich, and the rest of us want an easy life style.
excuse me now, i need to put another load in the wash machine and check the tumble drier,the frozen diner in the microwave must be almost ready , drive to the shop to get a few things, why walk for a whole 5 minutes when you can drive there in one ?
plus i'm getting an amazing amount of remotes !!to far to walk to switch on tv, dvd, video, ceilingfans, light,air conditioner....

Roxanna, seems like you really understood what I was talking about. Sometimes.. we just need to figure out what is really good, what is good in moderation and what isn't really a need or good. Remotes, to me... fit the not needed and not good since they tend to make us lazy.