Originally Posted by Placid Casual
That doesn't sound like "now is special" so much as "now and the foreseeable future will be much different," which isn't the same thing.
They are pretty much the same. Saying that we are right now at the beginning of a new age and everything is changing is saying that now is special. Humans have been stagnant since the industrial revolution or agricultural revolution but now we are moving into a brave new pomo world of free sex or constant surveillance or everyone being an investor or... Rejoice and help craft the new age. The now is very unique under such a claims, which is precisely why they are so seductive. It's exhilarating and comforting to think that everything is changing and what we decide about these changes will affect generations to come. However the fanfare is normally for naught is replaced by some new revolution in a couple years time.