Life in the Past Wasn't That Bad

Have you heard of Kyle Gordon, the YouTube comedian? He briefly got famous for his parody of 90s European Techno. But mostly, his most watched videos with millions of views are all about making fun of life in the past. He's pretty funny, but man, he keeps pushing those old stereotypes.

Here’s one about life in the 1800s

Here’s one about life in the 1700s

here’s one on life in the 1920s

He's not alone. Kyle Gordon is part of a larger trend happening today that is trying to convince us that the past was absolutely horrible and modern life is amazing. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

The problem is there is no advocate for the past. Every powerful force today pushes the idea that the present is the best.

Commerce wants to sell you new products, economic growth. Capitalists spark innovation, roll out new products, and light up market demand. New stuff means more spending, more profits. Always something new to buy.

Futurists love the promise of new tech to solve problems, boost efficiency, and upgrade life. Neomania fuels investment and interest in tech advancements, driving rapid progress. This tech focus tackles today’s challenges and makes life better for everyone.

But this is dangerous thinking. It suggests the past shouldn't be studied or considered for lessons on how to live. Ignoring what's worked for thousands of years leads to trouble and forces us to reinvent the wheel, causing unnecessary harm.

The Present is Good

Of course there are lots of good things about the present day. For one thing, we live in a post-scarcity age. You don’t have to worry about starvation. Even if you have no job or work you’ll get your basic needs met. This has been the case since the late 19th century. Political conflicts? They're mostly about managing our surplus. The modern "services-oriented" economy? It's our solution: give everyone fake jobs to pretend scarcity still exists.

Louis XIV sees your life. Everything blows his mind. Driving your old car? Pure joy for him. Versailles used more water than Paris, but your clean water supply and flushable toilet would leave him speechless. He’d be amazed by almost everything on Amazon, except the dull clothes.

In This Newsletter

1) Four Things About the Past That Are Better Than Today: Let’s take a step back and focus on what was good in the past. Social Trust, Medicine, Craftsmanship and Happiness.

2) What Time Period Are We Talking About? The past is very diverse. Would you rather be a child worker in the Industrial Revolution working 18 hours days or a trader with an extended family in Constantinople?

Five Things About the Past That Are Better Than Today

1) Social Trust.

Social trust used to mean something. Now, it’s just a memory. Take a look around.

• When I’m at a cafe, I can’t leave my laptop unattended, even to use the bathroom. Two minutes, and I worry it’ll be gone. This is the norm in Western society.

• Mothers drag their strollers into shops, even if they’re just running in for a minute. They can’t trust anyone to leave the baby outside.

• We’ve even reached the point where people bring their dogs inside because they’re afraid of them being stolen.

• Products at CVS and Walgreens are locked behind glass. Everyone’s installing Amazon Ring cameras on their front doors.

We think this is normal, but it’s not. For centuries, people lived in high-trust societies. Kids played outside until late at night. Urban parks in New York and London were filled with unsupervised children for hours. Parents trusted the community and the low crime rates.

Social trust wasn’t just a small town thing. In "A Tale of Two Cities," Charles Dickens paints a picture of a time when Londoners often left their doors unlocked, a testament to the high level of trust among city dwellers. "The door stood open. There was no need for fastening the door with a latch; it was enough to turn the handle." — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859. This quote captures the trust people had in their neighbors and the overall safety of their city.

2) Going to the Doctor Should Be a Last Resort.

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