Peter, with all the affection and respect in the world, I need to say:

It may be that many live the way you describe; the techno-dream at large is not one of cocooning, among those I talk to. It is the kind of engineering that seeks to make renewable energy an economic choice, provide water and education to those who suffer for their lack, and expose the kind of insanities that hide behind curtains of isolation and make political denial easy. All these are barriers to a more rational mode of being on the planet.

As for the barbarians at the gate apocalyptic take on our current time slice, I can only say that people have been proposing doom for us and the planet since 100 years AD, and using everything from aliens to comets to virii to Mongols to the wrath of fictitious entities (Bugs will get even with you) (oh--wrong cartoon, sorry! :>)) and the ruinous escape of nuclear energy into the water supply to provide substance to their horrible visions; we have managed somehow to move forward, raise children, and try to promote some concept of good, of rational solutions, or coherent and harmonious systems. If I were to choose an enemy to be truly afraid of it would be apathy among the aware few, not the irresponsibility of the hypnotically-dulled many.

I have been told that more humans died in the American Civil war than died in World War II; I haven't counted them, and unfortunately don't have time to track down the numbers right now. I also believe that in the noosphere at large there is far more articulate voice committed to ending war completely than there has ever been before.

I take these as thin threads of hopeful future among a large cloud of noise and dubious signal; forgive me if it seems to you I am being naive.

I am more than willing to just agree to disagree, if you would rather!! :>)

Warmest regards,

A