Every so often, I’ll read or hear something over the radio that almost immediately causes my eyes to get watery, and I might even get that lump in the throat feeling. It usually lasts just seconds — perhaps minutes — then it’s gone. It’s short-lived, but intense.
By the way, I find it ironic that, for example, the Scots have over 400 words for snow, and yet we don’t have even a single word in the English language for when your eyes get watery, but there are no tears (falling, at any point). I once emailed Will Shortz — a cruciverbalist, who works for The New York Times (his college degree was in “enigmatology”) — and asked if he knew if there was a word (in any language) for when there is no word for something. His assistant emailed back that while Mr. Shortz found the question interesting, he did not know of any such word.
Anyhow, once while I was listening to the song “If You’re Gone,” by Matchbox Twenty, on YouTube, that experience caused my eyes to well up in this way. What exactly caused such a profound feeling of sadness to suddenly rise up inside me upon hearing that song? I’ll tell you.
At one point, while the drummer was drumming, a thought shot through my mind. Basically, it went something like this: In the very near future, there’ll be robots that can do that. Plus, do all the vocals, and play every instrument. In an instant, like that (snapping my fingers), I also envisioned a future Earth where robots and AI are doing everything we are now doing. Imagine the implications. Why learn to play guitar? Or learn to play piano? Or write a great novel? Or become a doctor? If robots and AI can do all that — and make it look easy.
In fact, I know someone who owns a recording studio, and several months ago he told me he’s shutting it down. The reason? Because of AI.
I’m not surprised. Personally speaking, my interest in songwriting has diminished considerably because of the increased use of AI in songwriting.
Ready for a few more examples of things that gave me that lump in the throat feeling?
Earlier this year, I was listening to Bloomberg Radio, and heard a guest being interviewed who was matter-of-factly describing a not-too-far-off future where he envisioned space tourism, hotels on the moon, and thousands of people living in space, could become a reality. My eyes were glistening with unshed tears throughout that interview.
Another time, while turning the radio dial, and stopping to listen to Bloomberg Radio, I heard two hosts — one male, one female — briefly talking about something that was in the news. At one point, the female host excitedly chimed in — sounding almost giddy with delight — that she can’t wait to be able to buy a robot that can do the laundry. With that, I could feel that teary-eyed feeling returning. As if I were witnessing the dying off of mankind, unfolding right there before my eyes.
What could be wrong with everyone having a robot for things like doing the laundry? Well, for starters, the mere fact that so many people are so clueless as to what’s wrong with that, I think that alone justifies being terrified at the thought. The mere fact that not enough people see this for what it is, is indeed part of the problem.
Some time after that, my eyes locked in on yet another example of the seeming blind acceptance that endless expansion of frivolous consumerism in the face of planetary destruction couldn’t possibly be a bad thing. One of the articles appearing on the cover of the Business section of The New York Times, on April 6, 2025, had a headline that asks: “How Long Till Your Own C-3PO Does the Dishes?” I skimmed through the article, just to see if there might be even a hint of a suggestion that this might not necessarily be a good thing for mankind or the planet. Nothing. Not a whisper.
I’ve given a few examples of things that caused my eyes to well up. But maybe those sorts of news stories, interviews, headlines, and so forth, will become so commonplace that eventually I’ll build up a tolerance — like a callus forming over skin that is constantly irritated — so they no longer affect me in that way. Or maybe that’s already happening.
For example, in July, I saw the following headline appear on The Guardian’s website: “Zuckerberg says Meta will build data center the size of Manhattan in latest AI push.”
When I saw that particular headline, no tears welled up. Instead, I just softly whispered to myself: “Oh. My. God!