The future is now!

Okay, a really old discussion. I mean, not that old, but a common one.

Basically I'm looking to hear some thoughts on how this time period was perceived fifty to a hundred years ago in science fiction. Not too broadly, but the idea crossed my mind:

Do you think science fiction writers throughout history (in general) have given mankind a benefit-of-the-doubt they haven't earned? In other words, are science fiction writers optimistically blinded by their own narrow interests? I am a sci-fi writer so no insult intended--if so I'm insulting myself.

I was reading a Ray Bradbury short called "The End of the Beginning" where a father's son is going on a mission to build the first space station. In the opening scene, everyone and their mother is excited about space travel and the space station, and has gathered to watch the launch.

The story was written in the '50's.

But when ISS went up, no one seemed to really bat an eye for more than a few seconds, except those in the scientific community. From my observations the common man didn't and doesn't give a rat's behind about ISS or their mission.

Which I think is very sad in this time period of technological evolution, and a lot of problems here on the Earth's surface that challenge our ability to evolve in these ways.

So. I know, old argument about misconceptions of this era from the 50's or earlier. But, more specifically I'm worried about if you think the general populous is more apathetic these days than sci-fi buffs let themselves believe?

Thoughts?

Good points. Also, though, I think I may have not been entirely clear on what I meant by "optimistic." Totally my fault. I do agree Bradbury is all about the puppies and rainbows at times (not nearly ALL the time, not even close to all the time, but sometimes). However, I more meant optimistic in that humans are interested in space travel and have thus developed as a majority toward colonizing other worlds etc. If you look at the world today, which many writers back then showed as vastly more advanced than we actually are, it's very apathetic towards anything other than what's on our planet's surface. The day-to-day stuff. The stars are just these dots that come out at night, not something most people think of visiting one day.

Granted I haven't read most of the referenced works, but let's talk about my favorite Vonnegut story: Harrison Bergeron. Yeah, it ain't optimistic in most senses of the word. But the technology is there. It's being used for a stupid purpose, but it's there. In F451 prescription medicine and technology takes on a very bleak persona. But a main cog of these societies is a majority's will to advance technologically. And much of sci-fi focuses on space travel. Well, walk up to a common person in JC Penny's and ask if they ever sit around thinking about flying in space ships and seeking out new worlds.

Unless they're James T. Kirk or their wristwatch is also a calculator, I'd wager chances are they don't think about it.

So what if mankind never reaches out to the stars? Never colonizes other worlds in mass numbers? Never escapes the work-sleep-work-worry about the economy-sleep routine, and never strives beyond the ordinary? Science-savvy folks will always be there to say, "Isn't that neat?" The nerds will howl like Chewbacca in approval. Everyone else will say, "Eh, it's pretty neat. But what about swine flu?" and that will be that.

Maybe I'm overly cynical.