"George can have his rat race, I can do without it."

It's a bit hard to describe, but for the past few days I've been experiencing something which can only be put as my 'touchy-feely sentimental mood'. It happens every now and again. Sometimes they're triggered by things, sometimes they're not. This one most definitely was.

Being one of those epically complex, introspecty-type people, I can never be sure what is really triggering this tender mood of mine. This past one though, well, I'm pretty sure it's come from this 'puter game I've been playing (well, played).


For those of you that can't understand pictures, the game I'm referring to is Fallout 3. Now, don't worry, this post isn't to do with computer games, it's to do with something that struck me heavily within the game.

You see, in Fallout 3, the game is set in post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. When your character is first exposed to this post-apocalyptic world (as you start out living underground but come to the surface chasing after your dad who mysteriously leaves), well, it's a sight that took me aback. I was... stunned, yet silently disheartened. It struck a tiny fear deep down which I was barely aware existed in me.

(This is concept art, not a screenshot. It applies just the same, though)

It was until today, however, that all of this came to fruitation. As I'm a bit of a YouTube trawler, I sometimes download videos which are a little special. You know, videos which don't get loads of hits and no one really finds but you and, yet, even though it's not popular, it's so precious. Well, having not watched my little stash for a while, I thought it would be nice

In this video, the two singers are singing to each other about how each would trade the their life for the other person's because of how much they dislike their own. Just before they break into their little song and dance, one of them says, "George can have his rat race, I can do without it."

It quickly appeared to me that I was deeply concerned about the state the world may be in within even the short span of 50 years. Now, I'm not trying to be doom & gloom, nor sensationalist (as I hate sensationalism), but it does make you think, doesn't it? There are so many advancements in the world every year -- and equally so many outrageous ethical abuses -- and it just makes me question, in which direction is this earth going?

With countries like China steaming towards first place in the economy race of the globe, and yet more and more consumers simultaneously becoming increasingly concerned about where their products are coming from and who was screwed over to make them, I really can't help but ask:

Where are we all headed? And, even more importantly, do we really want to go there?