Member-only story
Why Unrealistic Optimism Will Kill Us All — Literally
Positive thinking feels nice, but it won’t fix the climate
“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
— Albert Einstein
Not too long ago, I warned a coworker that our jobs would end due to technological unemployment. I showed them a press release announcing that our employer planned on replacing us with artificial intelligent computer programs.
My background includes researching and writing about Universal Basic Income, so my interest had exposed me to the the realities of disappearing jobs.
“I suggest you update your resume,” I said. “The company announced they intend to transition to artificial intelligence by the end of the year. These positions are never coming back.”
At the time, it didn’t occur to me that this information would not be welcomed. Had I been on the receiving end of this news, I would have been grateful for the opportunity to prepare.
“I don’t think that will happen,” they replied. “You really should stop all this doom and gloom crap. It’s not healthy.”
The message was clear. Discussing bad news, even if it is potentially beneficial by preventing trouble down the road, should be avoided. It’s not polite conversation.
A few weeks later, a curt email from my boss arrived in my inbox. The job no longer existed.
Lessons from COVID
When the COVID pandemic started, I prepared for a long quarantine after the first US case was confirmed in late January, 2020. I purchased masks, disinfectant spray, a gallon of hand sanitizer, and two-months of supplies — long before the panic buying…
