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How to See the Future Coming — and Prepare for It | Jane McGonigal | TED

As a futurist who helps people prepare for all different kinds of possibilities, Jane McGonigal thinks we overuse words like “unthinkable” and “unimaginable.” She introduces three hypothetical scenarios, showing how you can foster the ability to think creatively, anticipate new risks and feel ready for whatever the future may hold. (Created in collaboration with ‪@ignite…

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As a futurist who helps people prepare for all different kinds of possibilities, Jane McGonigal thinks we overuse words like “unthinkable” and “unimaginable.” She introduces three hypothetical scenarios, showing how you can foster the ability to think creatively, anticipate new risks and feel ready for whatever the future may hold. (Created in collaboration with ‪@ignite ; recorded at TEDNext 2024 on October 22, 2024)

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47 Comments

  1. @Emily-i1r4e

    April 3, 2025 at 7:01 am

    Thank you for your engaging videos! Your ideas always leave a pleasant impression.🌍💧🏋️

  2. @Dill555

    April 3, 2025 at 7:02 am

    Oh man! no pun intended. How to see the future coming and prepare for it……….Read the Bilble.

  3. @Olivia-z1x5t

    April 3, 2025 at 7:02 am

    Thank you for your hard work and talent.
    🥑 + 🐺

  4. @mowgli2071

    April 3, 2025 at 7:04 am

    You can talk about “unimaginable” and “unthinkable” but all of what you named is just goofy and should obviously be known isn’t going to happen.

    • @swarupabintejakir6625

      April 3, 2025 at 7:21 am

      Agreed

  5. @takielddine9901

    April 3, 2025 at 7:04 am

    Free Palestine

  6. @mowgli2071

    April 3, 2025 at 7:06 am

    LOL I want to see what the downvotes look like on this one 🤭

  7. @sooma-ai

    April 3, 2025 at 7:10 am

    Jane McGonigal discusses the importance of imagining future scenarios to prepare for potential challenges. She presents three hypothetical futures involving geoengineering, zero-waste policies, and climate migration, encouraging viewers to consider their reactions and readiness for such possibilities.

  8. @JesusSaves4Ever777

    April 3, 2025 at 7:17 am

    Wanna know the future, read the Bible❤

  9. @swarupabintejakir6625

    April 3, 2025 at 7:21 am

    wait, was this just an ad?

    • @B.I.-EIO_macdonald9786

      April 3, 2025 at 9:38 am

      I think its a self help scenario softly saying were all in trouble.

    • @swarupabintejakir6625

      April 3, 2025 at 10:01 am

      @@B.I.-EIO_macdonald9786 The scenarios were goofy not ”highly unlikely”, Which was the point of the video, We indeed are in trouble but no way you can ‘predict’ scenarios and be prepared for it, Well except the ‘inevitable ones’, So, I don’t get the point here.

    • @B.I.-EIO_macdonald9786

      April 3, 2025 at 3:18 pm

      @
      Theres no prediction
      The skies ARE BEING SPRAYED JUST FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND DIM OUT THE SUN

    • @ceciliarocca

      April 3, 2025 at 5:53 pm

      I think it has a bit of an ad flavour but it also talks about leadership for the future skills that are not usually discussed + it aims at provoking in us thoughts about what we could do now, in the near future or even later… of course, it’s pro climate actions…

    • @yashnigam6

      April 5, 2025 at 5:04 pm

      Welcome to modern TedTalks

  10. @firaoly1

    April 3, 2025 at 7:29 am

    Read Mathew 24

  11. @ChristopherSedwil

    April 3, 2025 at 7:42 am

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    • @Andrewcompany

      April 3, 2025 at 7:44 am

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      April 3, 2025 at 7:49 am

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  12. @mariiagurin3186

    April 3, 2025 at 7:53 am

    Read the BIBLE

  13. @pawelsoltysiak9091

    April 3, 2025 at 8:03 am

    I m sorry if this program exit sun is on well we ll just face consequences

  14. @viliamvacula8111

    April 3, 2025 at 8:08 am

    “Unimaginable” and “unthinkable” are in modern parlance in the second place right after “insane” and “crazy”. The English language is taking a beating since the advent of social medial. Poor language.

  15. @mrlogboy

    April 3, 2025 at 8:11 am

    I love all the comments here most of them have nothing to do with the video lolol. In this first scenario, you’re assuming a lot and you’re assuming we’re a member of the Star fleet where the planet works as one in your scenario if 9 billion people vote and everybody outside North America votes yes and everybody or the majority in America vote no it’s not gonna happen. America will not allow it to happen if the government is voting no Thinking of current president in 2025. And that could be using some military type stuff to prevent the technology you’re going to use. I’m not saying it’s not a good thought experiment that you’re doing. I’m just saying it’s unrealistic in people‘s mind who are viewing you.

    • @B.I.-EIO_macdonald9786

      April 3, 2025 at 9:41 am

      Believe it or not. Dimming the sun is biblical prophecy. It sounds nuts
      But i didnt prophesize it.
      Its in the bible kjv
      Basic
      Instructions
      Before
      Leaving
      Earth

  16. @seoulmansupra

    April 3, 2025 at 9:04 am

    I rather enjoyed the simplified compact issues and scenarios.

  17. @vesawuoristo4162

    April 3, 2025 at 9:32 am

    I saw bad things happening if Trump gets elected.

  18. @RickLambert963

    April 3, 2025 at 10:44 am

    The two most dangerous words are predictive programming. This is the predictive programmed end times. Go spell.

  19. @showme360

    April 3, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Here we go again putting ideas about blanking out the sun into peoples minds without imaging the consequences. Our climate has look after itself for billions of years, and this infection known as ‘humans’ will pass as a mere blip in earth history. One that i hope Earth will not repeat.

  20. @marcvolpe8252

    April 3, 2025 at 11:52 am

    JANE, THE SUN IS SHINING AND SO ARE YOU ❤

  21. @djekslajzkznslqlsb

    April 4, 2025 at 1:50 am

    Futurologists work for armies and governements. You should know it before to play thé SF author.

  22. @knifefightballet

    April 4, 2025 at 2:27 am

    Walks, talks and smells like propaganda

  23. @MarianaGavris-q8o

    April 4, 2025 at 7:42 am

    Conform legilor in vigoare in the best decision for AUER WOULD PERFORMANCE FOR THERRA MATTER HUMANS 🧬 chen learning to be a long day ❤️❤️❤️🙏 good 👍😊 for AUER WOULD PERFORMANCE FOR THERRA MATTER HUMANS 🧬.❤🎉😊🎉❤.

  24. @MarianaGavris-q8o

    April 4, 2025 at 7:46 am

    Avem respect față de semenii noștri și de pe telefon la mulți ani!❤🎉😊🎉❤.

  25. @MarianaGavris-q8o

    April 4, 2025 at 7:47 am

    Trebuie să avem respect față de semenii noștri și avem datoria să RESPECTĂM acest lucru atât de important pentru noi toți pământenii.❤🎉😊🎉❤.

    • @Limpus_TV-b5m

      April 4, 2025 at 7:57 am

      👌🦋

  26. @B.I.-EIO_macdonald9786

    April 4, 2025 at 5:33 pm

    Prepare

  27. @endsleighplace

    April 5, 2025 at 2:29 am

    She gets to the point around the 3:50 mark…

  28. @Hermionegranger-g6d

    April 5, 2025 at 4:15 pm

    In short , can anyone explain me, what she want to say us ? 🥲

    • @BonnieShadow33

      April 5, 2025 at 5:25 pm

      If you look at potential future scenarios, and you think that they are unthinkable or unimaginable, then it’s time to pause, really dig in and imagine what it would be like to live in those situations, and especially imagine ways in which you could thrive even in those situations.

  29. @eric212234

    April 6, 2025 at 12:37 pm

    Yeah that graph might have shown how often we use specific words, but misrepresented how often we used that concept. The specific words we use regularly change over the time scale she showed. I suspect we’ve always described concepts as some kind of paradigm shift. That said, it would benefit us to actually think about these shifts in advance so we ‘can’ see them coming, rather than being blindsided by them.

  30. @SuccessMindset2180

    April 7, 2025 at 12:31 am

    Futurism can help with predicting and preparing for new trends

  31. @SipzCdj-Google

    April 7, 2025 at 8:42 am

    She’s got it 👍🏼 Im totally on board with her thinking structure. Thankyou for expanding the world’s mindset off navigating drastic change shockwaves… Think this way. There ARE no unthinkable futures 📣

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