It feels close (it's only 4 years away) and yet futuristic (the new decade!). The way it feels is important because all these statements are based on jack and only exist for hype.
No, there's a lot more to it. I never saw this kind of fuss about 2000 or 2020.
I keep seeing things about how some target has to be hit by 2030. Our local council keeps going on about it, in fact their WiFi network even contains 2030!
> No, there's a lot more to it. I never saw this kind of fuss about 2000
I roll to disbelieve!
We had hype about the year 2000 throughout the 20th century, and some earlier! When we were IN the year 2000, it was quite common in my circles to tack on some phrase or comment about it being the Future, now, so [whatever thing the person was on about].
A very different type of hype. I remember it. More about the Millennium Bug and the New Year celebration. It didn't have the same vibe at all. The authorities weren't trying to hit various targets since then.
The real Millennium turned out to be 11th September, 2001, which was use to bring in a lot of planned changes.