The animated sitcom The Simpsons is often claimed to have made numerous predictions about the future, with examples ranging from political outcomes to sports events. Al Jean, the show’s longest-serving showrunner, discusses how he has been amused by the idea of the show being prophetic and acknowledges that many of these predictions come from educated guesses rather than actual foresight. He recognizes that the massive amount of material over 35 years allows for selective remembering of events that appear to match real-life occurrences.
Jean describes specific instances that seem uncanny, such as predicting Donald Trump’s presidency in 2016 and referencing earlier moments like the ‘Osaka flu,’ which some link to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he clarifies that these are often coincidental or logical extrapolations rather than genuine predictions. He expresses concern that the internet has perpetuated myths about the show, leading to misinformation and a blend of fact and fiction. Despite this, Jean hopes the phenomenon remains harmless and draws attention to the broader issue of distinguishing between reality and conspiracy theories.
👉 Pročitaj original: MIT Technology Review
