There has been an increase in children who are unable to distinguish between tenses. In ancient times, when there were no recording media, the distinction between tenses was clear. The present time was the only time they lived in, what they had actually experienced was the past, and what they had not yet experienced was the future.
With the advent of writing, the concept of tense changed slightly. Writing allowed us to freely refer to records from a specific point in the past long after it had occurred. However, referring to past events through written records is different from actual experience.
The invention of movies allowed people to perceive experiences they hadn’t lived through with their own eyes and ears. However, this was possible only in the extraordinary setting of a movie theater. With the invention of television, people could relive experiences they hadn’t personally had in their everyday lives. But even this was limited to what was provided by the broadcasters.
The invention of the internet brought an even greater transformation. The internet allows us to relive experiences we haven’t had at any time we want, at our own discretion. Whether it’s the life in the Roman Empire, the Apollo missions, or the World Wars, we can directly experience these through videos at any time. Furthermore, current weather forecasts and future predictions are always accessible.
Thus, in the present day, the Roman Empire, the Apollo missions, the World Wars, current weather forecasts, and future predictions all coexist in the same time and place. As a result, "past," "present," and "future" transcend their physical locations and exist together, making the distinction between tenses increasingly ambiguous.
In the near future, all tenses might be unified into the present tense. Since all tenses coexist simultaneously in a single digital world, distinguishing between them may become meaningless. This could lead to a significant change in our perception of time.
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Created with ChatGPT / Picture created with Microsoft Copilot
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https://blog.kuma-farm-japan.jp/