As I look back at my writings from 20 years ago, I can’t help but feel a sense of embarrassment and triviality. The ideas and thoughts I expressed at that time seem childish and naïve in hindsight. It’s almost as if I was a completely different person back then, with a completely different perspective on the world.

Part of the reason for this, I think, is that I have grown and changed as a person over the past 20 years. I have learned and experienced so much, and my understanding of the world has deepened and expanded as a result. I have also become more critical and analytical in my thinking, which has allowed me to see the flaws and limitations of my older ideas.

But I also think that my disdain for history as a subject has contributed to my feeling that my older writings are trivial. I have always viewed history as a kind of parrot fashion recall of what happened, with no room for creative thinking or interpretation. I have always been more interested in the present and the future, and in using technology and innovation to create solutions to problems that people don’t even know exist yet.

Understanding history can help us avoid repeating the same mistakes of the past. History provides a record of the actions and consequences of people and societies in the past, and by studying this record, we can gain better knowledge of what has worked and what has not worked in the past. This, of course, is valuable in helping us make informed decisions about the future.

But, how we approach history as a subject has changed over time. The history of centuries ago is not be as accurate as the digital records of current events. The further back in time we go, the more difficult it is to access reliable and accurate information. There are also be biases and perspectives present in historical accounts that can distort our understanding of the past.

Despite these limitations, I believe that history can still be a valuable tool for helping us make a better path forward in certain things. While it may not provide all the answers, it can still offer valuable insights and lessons that can help us make more informed decisions about the future. History provides a sense of context and perspective that helps us better understand the world and our place in it. We can see how events and decisions have shaped the world we live in today and we can gain a greater appreciation for the complex web of factors that have contributed to our present circumstances.

But actually, the biggest lessons from history can only ever be understanding just how wrong we were. How much we fucked up. How different our time would be now if we had turned left instead of right. E.g. This article from 1912 (no I didn’t write it, I am not that old)

Looking to the future, I can’t help but wonder how my current writings will seem to me 20 years from now. Will they seem as trivial and childish as my older writings do now? It’s hard to say. It’s possible that I will have grown and changed just as much in the next 20 years, and that my current perspectives will seem just as outdated and naïve to me then as my older ones do now.

But one thing I am certain of is that technology will continue to advance, and that new and innovative solutions to problems will continue to emerge. And as someone who is always at the forefront of technology, I will without doubt be using it creatively to solve problems and make a positive impact on the world.

Looking back at my writings from 20(ish) years ago has reminded me of how much I have grown and changed as a person. It has also given me a newfound appreciation for the value of history and the importance of being open to new perspectives and ideas. And as I look to the future, I am confident that at least some of my current writings will stand the test of time.