They Promised Us Flying Cars - We Got Subscription Ink (Issue 185)

Why smart people are choosing less to return to simpler times

Have you heard about the Pizza Hut franchise owner who is bringing back the old-school experience (check out the video below)?

“Tim Sparks, the president of Daland Corporation, is converting some of the over 80 Pizza Huts the company operates back to their old-school versions, down to the red plastic cups and Tiffany-style lamps.”

For the first time in my long life, I’m witnessing more and more people rejecting the so-called march of progress. They are aching to return to a simpler, sweeter world.

I grew up in a time—the 70s and 80s—when we fantasized about the wonderful future that technology would enable. As a child, I sat in the library for hours, devouring books and magazines that painted a rosy picture of this ideal future. Popular Science and Popular Mechanics loved to do this.

The old sci-fi books I enjoyed reading also described a tech-powered utopia.

• We were all going to own home robots.

• Flying cars would take us to work on autopilot.

• Diseases would be a thing of the past.

• Aging would be “cured” so we could live forever.

• We would explore the stars and colonize new planets.

This love affair with progress and technology continued for decades. But lately, it feels like the relationship has soured. We realized that corporations (and even our government) had no interest in actually improving our lives. Instead, they made false promises, enshittifed everything, and found devious ways to extract even more value from us in an increasingly destructive relationship with consumers.

• We no longer own our books, movies, music, or software.

• We can no longer modify or repair our own vehicles.

• Our printers lock and shut down if we don’t subscribe to their ink service.

• Websites and apps monitor our every click, choice, and move.

• Corporations harvest our data and sell us to the highest bidders.

• Cameras everywhere track us and feed us into AI surveillance.

It isn’t like the experience gets much better when we leave our homes, step away from our computers, and put our phones in our pockets. We are overwhelmed with too many choices, too much chaos, and too little value.

Is it any wonder that even more people are anxious, overstimulated, and depressed today? Why are we surprised that young people are spiraling down when they can’t find good employment or afford to buy homes, get married, or have children?

The rising backlash against AI, the billionaire class, and mega-corporations shouldn’t be a shock, either. We have all had enough. We are reaching a boiling point.

There is a longing for simpler times, less complexity, and reduced stress. Even people who don’t usually complain about technology and the overwhelming paradox of choice seem to be drawn to options that evoke nostalgia and childhood joy.

• People are driving for hours to eat at these fun Pizza Hut locations.

• Mercedes announced the return of physical buttons.

• Gen Z is making shopping malls cool again.

What is it that makes this so attractive? Why are we drawn to experiences from the past?

I don’t think it’s because these things are inherently “better,” although more quality for lower prices and actually owning our products again would indeed be better. I think it’s because they represent “less.”

• No hidden agendas

• Less complexity

• Fewer choices

• Less stress

It feels like we got on a runaway train and have no control over where it is taking us. Humans were never meant to be faced with this much information overload, corporate manipulation, nonstop news and media, gadgets demanding our attention, and infinite choices.

So, what can we do?

We don’t control the corporations. Apparently, we don’t have much influence over our local, state, and federal governments, either (e.g., you’re going to get new electricity-draining, water-sucking AI data centers whether or not you like it!).

However, we can decide where we invest our time and money.

We can choose simplicity over complexity. We can refuse to give them more and more of our time and attention. We can retreat from this insane parade of false progress and create simpler lives for ourselves.

1. Unplug

2. Step away

3. Stop buying

4. Embrace real relationships

5. Recenter yourself in the real world

This is why my wife and I keep downsizing and simplifying our lives. We know what is most important to us: our children, our relationships, and our health and happiness. None of the corporate-fueled nonsense matters, and we refuse to let ourselves be manipulated by it.

We make time every week to leave the grid, disappear into the forest, and go for long hikes to reconnect with nature. It’s good for our health, our marriage, and our souls.

Stop feeding the corporate monsters that profit from complexity, control, and abuse. Don’t let them force you into playing their manipulative games. Vote with your time and money to explore simpler solutions and experiences. It’s better for your wallet and your well-being.

The more you step away from the chaos, noise, and consumerism, the more you will see your stress and anxiety decrease.

By the way, you can always schedule a free call with me to discuss how to get more of the life you deserve. There is a better path forward.

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Larry Cornett, Ph.D. | Empowerment coach, psychologist, nature lover, and fitness freak. I help you escape the “hustle trap” to create an empowered life that fits who you are and what you want most. From Silicon Valley exec to self-employed entrepreneur, I’ve also followed this path to freedom, so now I can help others find their way.

➡️ Want to design your path? Book a free call with me!

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