Follow On from Aviation Thread

[Guest fountainhall]

On the aviation thread, the view was put forward that aviation is one of the three most significant inventions of the 20th century. For what it's worth, I think a poll might be interesting to find posters' views on the single greatest 'event' of the century - i.e. the event which affected the lives of most people on the planet. There are of course zillions to choose from -

 

- the first satellite, the first man to circle the earth, the moon landing, the Space Shuttle

- man's inhumanity to man and its whole ghastly panoply of wars from World Wars 1 and 2, the rise of Hitler, the Holocaust, Korea and Vietnam, Cambodia, Iraq, Somalia

- the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima

- the assassinations of Archduke Ferdinand (starting Word War 1) and JFK

- those incredible first pictures from th Hubble space telescope of the birth of galaxies

- and so on

 

I guess we are likely to choose one of the events that had the most impact on our own lives. Who will ever forget - those old enough - where we were when President Kennedy, the hope of the new young generation, was assassinated? Or when live television pictures were first beamed across the Atlantic? (The Twin Towers attack does to count as it is in the 21st century).

 

My own pick? I guess it was not the first space flight nor the landing on the moon. It was some months earlier - 40 years ago - when Apollo 8 circled the moon and we were able for the first time to view the world as a place of incredible beauty and fragility. I believe that changed the thinking of vast numbers of people, and continues to do so today.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

The late 60's and early 70's are the most significant for me. With the assassination of RFK and MLK Jr and the Riots that followed. Also the Chicago riots during the Democratic national Convention. These were horrific events that made a huge impact on our society.

[Guest MonkeySee]

The greatest inventions of the 20th century are many: computers, automobiles, electricity, television, telephone/ comunications, aviation and medical vacinations. It is hard to name the top three but in my book Viagra might be number one. Up to you?

[Guest fountainhall]

Yes, but try naming just one.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Without electricy we wouldn't have computers, television, CD's, DVD's, movies, high rise buildings, air conditioning, telephones and aviation would be very different, so electricity moves up on the list.

[Guest laurence]

Without electricy we wouldn't have computers, television, CD's, DVD's, movies, high rise buildings, air conditioning, telephones and aviation would be very different, so electricity moves up on the list.

 

Sorry lvdkeyes, but electricity came into practical use in the 19th century and this poll has to do with the 20th century. You know, Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse,etc

who put electricity to practical uses even though it was known hundreds of years before.

 

Although I do agree that without electricity our lives would be a great different than they are now.

[Guest laurence]

My suggestions is the mass production and use of the automobile which came in being at the beginning of the 20th century although, like electricity, had it's infancy in the 19th century. And like electricity, the auto was actually invented in the 19th century but did not really become practical until the early 20 th century.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Sorry lvdkeyes, but electricity came into practical use in the 19th century and this poll has to do with the 20th century. You know, Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse,etc

who put electricity to practical uses even though it was known hundreds of years before.

 

Although I do agree that without electricity our lives would be a great different than they are now.

I think you should refer this to Monkeysee.

[Guest laurence]

I think you should refer this to Monkeysee.

 

You are quite correct lvdkeyes! MonkeySee was off about computers, autos,telephone, communications, medical vaccinations and aviation. All of these existed, in some form, prior to the 20th century. But he was right about Viagra.

 

[KhorTose]

While I think many things were important in the 20th century, the one I would pick would be the creation of the internet. This single invention has opened the whole world to everyone who can use a computer. This is the nerve network of mankind itself, and I believe it will create more changes in the human condition then any other single invention.

[Guest fountainhall]

the one I would pick would be the creation of the internet

 

I totally agree on the overwhelming effect of the internet (after, all, without it this site would not exist ) but I feel that the internet is a result of the entire revolution in mass communications rather than an invention in itself. So maybe "communications" should be a generic invention.

[Guest laurence]

I totally agree on the overwhelming effect of the internet (after, all, without it this site would not exist ) but I feel that the internet is a result of the entire revolution in mass communications rather than an invention in itself. So maybe "communications" should be a generic invention.

 

I think the internet is, in itself, a unique event differing in concept than previous means of communication and could stand on it's own as the event of the century.

 

Another world wide event affecting many on earth was the development of anti-biotics.

 

[Guest Steve1903]

Not sure about the 20th century but I can already tell you the greatest "event" of the 21st will be the death of Margaret Thatcher, leastways it will be in this house..................bring on the champers!!!!!

[Guest fountainhall]

Not sure about the 20th century but I can already tell you the greatest "event" of the 21st will be the death of Margaret Thatcher

 

I think that certainly qualifies for the 20th century. After all, she was stripped of power in the early 1990's and has been losing her marbles ever since - not that she ever seemed to have many.

[Gaybutton]

I can already tell you the greatest "event" of the 21st will be the death of Margaret Thatcher

One question: If she goes any time soon, will the movie about her life star Maggie Smith or Judi Dench?

[Guest Steve1903]

Well I suppose I could have put my greatest 20th century event as her tearful removal from Number 10. I still remember that day with great fondness. Also remember the day Blair got in. It was my first taste of a Labour government as a voter. Thatcher got in the year I left school so I'd known nothing else. The writing was on the wall regarding his administration within days when he decided to bring the evil witch back into Downing St for a discussion. My nose started to twitch about Blair there and then. The nose is never wrong. Mr Bliar was certainly the letdown of the 20th Century.

[Guest fountainhall]

One question: If she goes any time soon, will the movie about her life star Maggie Smith or Judi Dench?

 

Both fabulous actresses, but I think Maggie Smith has the edge - she has the height and can affect the more abrasive voice needed for a Thatcher character. More interesting, though, might be: who will play the younger Margaret Thatcher? Tilda Swinton? Or maybe Dame Edna should just be given the role