A negative frame of mind might be innate, cosmological or even just though habit. Awareness of this, and remembering the good things in life, can change this. It can be a choice.
Reading the news can be so demoralizing: climate change, war, fires, epidemics, rogue AI, mental health challenges, authoritarianism, extreme partisanship. But humans need hope. In order for us to create a positive future, we need to be able to have hope that there can be a positive future. What is the “Case for Optimism” over the next decades? What can we look forward to and hope for to help us strive for a more positive future?
In this series, we aim to explore and highlight the positive aspects, potential breakthroughs, and reasons for optimism that lie ahead in the coming decade and beyond. We are talking to authors, researchers, entrepreneurs, scientists, futurists, and other experts who can shed light on the exciting advancements, innovations, and opportunities that await us. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sean Bw Parker.
Sean Bw Parker is a masters-qualified, award-winning writer, artist and musician based in the UK. He has published 8 books, contributed to 6 more, and released a number of albums since 2005. He gave a TED talk titled ‘Stammering and Creativity’ in Istanbul in 2013, and has just released his 8th album Caucasian Nights.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I was born to a drama lecturer father and speech therapist mother in Exeter, Devon in 1975, but moved to Carmarthenshire in South Wales after they divorced in 1984. I had a semi-rural childhood, with farm smallholding animals for company as much as friends.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
Prince, Public Enemy and The Cure entered my life about age 14, and I discovered that pop music was more than just pop, it was an expressive artform in itself. My father bought my brother a guitar and me a drumkit, and I was on my way
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?
I contacted Dr Michael Naughton at the University of Bristol in relation to his publications on sociology and the law. Beyond sharing interests in justice reform, we are also huge music and art fans. While I was editor of False Allegations Watch as a part of his Empowering the Innocent organisation he encouraged me greatly in the painting and music I’ve produced since.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
I’ve just released my first new album since 2015, Caucasian Nights, which is a sonic version of a collection of poetry titled Panopticon, due for release later in 2014. These are both comments on the state of culture, with elements of surrealism, imagery, hip hop beats and samples.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Determination. I still regularly receive rejection letters and need to chase up projects. It’s important to be objective about what you’re doing.
Positivity. I have had many ups and downs throughout my life, but I don’t let either affect my outlook too much. If you live with integrity, you’re on the right track, whatever else happens to you.
Humanism. This encapsulates how I see other people and being alive. Everyone has their own reasons for behaving as they do, it’s important to empathise with that for a full experience of life.
Ok, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview about the case for optimism. Let’s begin with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. When we refer to being optimistic about the future, what exactly do we mean?
The intrinsic sense that things are generally for the good even if they don’t look that way all the time.
Why is it important to have an optimistic outlook about the future?
It’s not important or necessary, it’s simply how I prefer to live. Most things eventually find their natural mean, and that tends to be towards gentle, sustainable growth. It feels right to be on the right side of that attitude.
What are some reasons people might feel pessimistic about the future, and how do you suggest we address these concerns?
The main one is the media, which operates on a business model akin to incentivised gossip. Any piece of news needs to be made more dramatic or negative — ‘if it bleeds, it leads’ — in its amoral machinery. Thusnews becomes exaggerated, and we think these terrible things happen all the time. They absolutely don’t.
A negative frame of mind might be innate, cosmological or even just though habit. Awareness of this, and remembering the good things in life, can change this. It can be a choice.
Fantastic. Here is the main question of our discussion. Can you please share with our readers your “5 Reasons To Be Optimistic About The Next Ten and Twenty Years?” (Please share a story or an example for each.)
1 . Nobody has ever lived in the exact moment in which you are living, and experiencing everything around you.
2 . The nature of politics, identity and religion are in flux, as the tech juggernaut rolls on. We don’t know what this will mean, and that’s a good thing. The result could be more peace, love and understanding.
3 . There is a great deal of research coming through to indicate the media has exaggerated climate change. If the case is that CC has always happened and that international improvements will help, things may become less daunting.
4 . The ice caps are not actually melting (any more), numerous species have been taken off the extinction list, nuclear and fusion power are showing cleaner and more efficient ways forward, and oscillating population figures might lead to economic-model change.
5 . Music is more plentiful and freely available than ever before. We can now hear whatever we like, whenever we like. This is deeply nourishing.
In what specific areas do you see technology having the most positive impact over the next 10 to 20 years?
Improvements in medicine, including organ and limb replacement; cancer and dementia progress.
Robot ‘companions’ may also assist in ensuring population migration is more sustainably balanced.
While technology holds immense potential, it can also present challenges. How can we ensure that the progress we make in technology contributes to a more optimistic future and doesn’t exacerbate societal problems?
Regarding social media, realising free speech is more of a human right and a relief valve than the existential threat it is sometimes made out to be.
Regarding AI, realising that we’ve had Dolly the Sheep and Hiroshima, progress which we collectively decided we didn’t want to pursue. AI needs to be mandated to be fully in control of the responsible — and the human.
How do you maintain your optimism during challenging times?
‘All the world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players’ — William Shakespeare
Ok, we are nearly done. You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Enrouraging an end to divisive identity politics and grievance culture through the power of natural optimism.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them 😊
Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips! A hero of mine of many years.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
https://twitter.com/seanbwparker
https://open.spotify.com/artist/54AfbvLmprsXNalXs2xUJi
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUJPU5UtyFDLP8R5kR9jJkA
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!
Sean Bw Parker On The Case For Optimism About The Next Ten & Twenty Years was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.