Future Shock.

Future Shock is a book written by the futurist Alvin Toffler in 1970. In the book, Toffler defines the term “future shock” as a certain psychological state of individuals and entire societies. His shortest definition for the term is a personal perception of “too much change in too short a period of time”.

I have not had any experience of ‘future shock’.  Nor am I now experiencing one despite all kinds of weird things happening all around us globally, nationally and locally.  There simply is no ‘too much change in too short a period of time’.  Change is certainly taking place, but to me at least it seems as though it is in slow motion like this:

I have had my share of shocks in my life and have survived them quite successfully. With age, I have learnt not to be shocked by many things that would have shocked me in my youth. I doubt very much that anything can shock me any more.

Shackman has suggested this week’s topic. You can see what the other writers of the LBC have to say in their respective blogs.  Maria, Pravin, Ashok and Shackman.

15 thoughts on “Future Shock.”

  1. You and I are both examples of the key mistake the Toflers made – we – as well as many many others were (are) better able to handle the stresses brought on by future shock. What is most impressive about the book, though, are the myriad things they got right about what the future would look like. I do, however, know many folks who have been overwhelmed by the stresses of rapid change. Unfortunately for them, the pace is ever quickening.
    shackman recently posted..Future Shock

    1. That the predictions of the Tofflers have come true to a large extent is undeniable. It is the shock part of it that I addressed in my post. I have always had more confidence in mankind’s ability to adapt.

  2. I think the term future shock goes hand in hand with the term “cultural lag” (coined by William Ogburn) which refers to the time it takes for culture to catch up with technological and other innovations. Which is generally true – we all have a tendency to hang on to old habits and attitudes and resist the unpredictability of the new.
    nick recently posted..Hopeless dates

  3. I can’t think deeply about the book for laughing at the video!
    when the cameraman fell in the ditch it caught me by surprise and i’m still laughing really. and it was interesting watching that poor guy fall to the concrete in slow mo.
    oh. yes.
    the subject… future shock.
    I don’t know what to say. I rather like change. I find it invigorating. so I guess I don’t think of it as shocking really. bring it on! we can only take it one day at a time anyway.
    tammy j recently posted..moving on old bean

  4. I’ll just keep on keeping on with my flow…if I need to, I’ll update to take the advantage, but if it’s not a necessity including slow running (which I do the slow, but not the running)…happy to watch others! From beyond the barriers…

  5. I can’t say I’ve felt shocked with all the change. For a short time in the beginning, I did feel a bit overwhelmed and frustrated when there began to be so many choices that would require much more time and challenges to understand the differences in order to select the best for my purposes — cost, features, sources, etc. — of various items — life itself. My life experiences from childhood forward prepared me, however unintentionally, to adjust, adapt, compensate, whatever, to the unexpected and/or circumstance not of my doing …. which has served me well.
    Joared recently posted..GERMS — QUESTIONS — DIGITAL COMA

    1. I remember well the trepidation with which I used the ATM first, as I do the first time I used the computer! These however were nothing compared to when I used the simple calculator that we take so for granted. We now use the internet from our computers and also from hand held devices with aplomb. The human race is very adaptable.

  8. I try to stay abreast of changes in our culture—cultural and technological. But it’s a challenge, and from time to time, I get stuck. These days, I’m learning to use Twitter and Face Time on my phone. I no sooner get used to one program, but another turns up to challenge me! I’m patient with my own progress though, recognizing that I’m older, and everything takes longer!

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