>In every culture the native costume is the first thing to go, native architecture is next. Food is one of the last to go, even in modern places where people are wearing blue jeans. So these days I like to go to places where there is still native costume and native architecture. Unfortunately these areas are shrinking. I'm not nostalgic about it; I understand the reasons behind the changes, and it's a net improvement, but someday they will be gone and I want to capture them.

And with that comes the expansion/availability of flavored sugar water and cigarettes at their local corner shop, and the dissolution of community trust.

Im beginning to question if modernization is the right choice for everyone (or anyone).

Some hard evidence is diet changes negatively affecting certain groups of people (e.g. Aboriginals, possibly African Americans). Some groups' metabolisms have a really difficult time handling wheat and/or sugar, leading to obesity.

Softer evidence includes general happiness (which is an important metric when considering which life is "better"). It's a meme, and a truth, that simpler people in Africa are happier than us modernized folk. Its not often you meet a modern man that is present, undistracted, and unwanting.

The curse for unmodernized societies today is the communication available to the outside world. Humans are cursed to be discontent once they find out there are better options available.