South Africa, Jan. 21 -- What makes it interesting is what it reveals about the present.

We have more access to human knowledge and achievement than any generation before us. We can pull up history, science, art, faith, and philosophy in seconds.

It makes answers accessible, and life feels easier in theory, but the hard part is living inside it. Our daily feeds don't just inform us; they flood us, speeding up emotions, shortening patience, and making trust harder to hold on to.

That's why the tone of public conversation often feels thin-skinned, quick to react, slow to settle.

Rarely about the past

Nostalgia is rarely about the past. It's often a response to the emotional cost of the present. It can be seen in human behaviour, the ri...