The Future of Futurism is Bright
My word, a mass-media story on futurists and the World Future Society that gets it right. I nearly fell out of my chair.
Michael Rogers, who goes by “The Practical Futurist,” writes at MSNBC.com about future trends and technologies, and his piece “What Do Futurists Really Know?” is a rare bird indeed. He attended the annual World Future Society convention and comes out with an optimistic and balanced view of the actual field of futurism.
Hallelujah!
He gets it right. He depicts the actual balance in the field between professional consulting firms and more visionary types. He quotes Ray Kurzweil’s views of the Singularity (with a grain of salt, as you should) as well as Joe Coates‘ veteran view about how futurists should aim ultimately to be helpful. He mixes those who help corporate executives make decisions, and those who explore the future of everything from spirtuality to sex to “transhumanism.”
This is really refreshing. So often, pieces on futurists either focus on outlandish predictions, or alternately skewer futurists for spouting predictions. Or somebody writes how ludicrous it is that anybody would “claim to know what the future is.” In reality, the field is thriving because it has two equally passionate groups:
There are the futurist-hobbyists, those who are fascinated by what may be next and love discussing all the possibilities – for good and bad.
Then there are the professional futurists (such as yours truly), who are mostly knowledge managers, bringing a wealth of future trend data and analysis to busy leaders who just don’t have time. It’s a profession like any other.
Even though these two futurist constituencies are very different, we interact with each other. This diversity makes us stronger. It’s just so great – and so rare – to see somebody understand the richness of our community, understand that we are not all the same, and reflect that accurately in a public forum.
I sense a real upswing for futurists of all sorts. We have come through the dark period of the dot com crash, Enron, and 9/11, when everyone psychically retreated to their most defensive thoughts. The future, they said — what a crock. It’s all about today. Well, people are coming to realize that the world will be fast-paced and occasionally scary — and we have to manage it anyway. Futurism is a great way to get some much needed long-term perspective. I am very excited to see more and more signs that it is coming back into vogue.
-Garland
Labels: Futurists