What happened to our society? Why do people seem to operate wickedly with no de

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   realtalk247posted 8 years ago

   What happened to our society?  Why do people seem to operate wickedly with no desire to be good?
   
   When I think of our society 40-50 years ago it seems worlds away from what exists today.  Technology perhaps is allowing for wicked behavior to be public knowledge but that's not the problem. 
   What's wrong with people practicing the golden rule: do unto others as you would have others do unto you? Today we have friendships formed just to use people, constant liars, cheaters, and shows telling the tale of jealousy among friends resulting in murder. 
   What do you think is the cause of all this wickedness that seems to be part of modern culture? Are good people the minority now?
   
   

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   dashingscorpioposted 8 years ago

   The other day I was in Home Depot and the cashier told me her best friend had flew out to New York and while on the plane she befriended another woman. At some point she decided to exchange information with her and talked about possibly getting together the next time she was out that way.
   The other woman told her she couldn't guarantee it because she's been on list of getting a new kidney and so far it wasn't looking good.
   The cashier's friend went to a hospital to be tested and it was determined she was a match. The day I was in Home Depot was the day the cashier's friend was donating one of her kidneys to a complete stranger!
   The other day I saw on the news where a guy pulled another guy out of a burning car. Things like this happen more than you know.
   You're not going see stories like this leading the news but they're happening! We live in a time where people doing good things don't get the same amount of news exposure as those who are doing bad.
   After awhile we close our eyes to seeing or hearing about anything good. A few weeks ago we took my mother-in-law to the doctor and there were lots of younger people escorting parents and grand-parents around.
   I've had strangers help me push my car out of a snow drift.
   A friend of mine ended up in a ditch and a stranger driving a tow truck came along and helped him get out and then refused to take any money.
   I bet if you decided to be on the "look out" for kindness  you'd see more of it.
   In no way am I'm suggesting evil things aren't taking place I'm only saying the thousands of charities and millions of kind hearted people are doing acts for which there is no spot light being shined upon.
   From time to time the "nightly news" will end with a "feel good" story. The reality is all day across the globe strangers are helping one another in small and big ways.
   Whenever you feel like giving up on mankind you may want to check out http://www.reddit.com/r/UpliftingNews/ or Sunny Skyz.com. I believe out the 7 Billion people on this planet the vast majority of them simply want to work, take care of their families, and find some enjoyment in life. It's always been that way.
   We choose to focus on what we want to focus on.

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      ChristinSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely! So much this answer... I have nothing I can even add, other than go out into the real world more and turn off the TV. Interact with your neighbors and look for the good in people consciously.

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      realtalk247posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Great points Dashing Scorpio. I must say that there are good people out there but I can't live in a bubble of Chicken Soup For The Soul and pretend I don't see what I see. Yes, there are good people out there but reality is reality.I give light/love.

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   M. T. Dremerposted 8 years ago

   You kind of hit the nail on the head in your question: "Technology... is allowing for wicked behavior to be public knowledge". Let's say, for example, that someone's house gets broken into in California. Then, the next day, someone's house gets broken into in Florida, then Maine, then Colorado. 40-50 years ago, if you didn't live in one of those states, you didn't hear about it. Today, not only are those stories all at your fingertips, there are also pundits shouting at you that it represents some kind of pattern.
   
   The internet, and cell phones, has lifted a veil, exposing what had previously remained in the shadows. 40-50 years ago, people were violently racist, sexist, and homophobic. Today, with that veil lifted, there is more information and tolerance. And, the people who are still behaving poorly are being exposed.
   
   The current society is certainly not perfect, and it has its own challenges, but it is by no means worse. The 'good old days' are nothing but nostalgia for our childhood, remembered with rose tinted glasses.

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      dashingscorpioposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent point!
      24 hour news access,cell phones & the Internet make it possible to learn about all sorts of things that if happened in the past you wouldn't know about unless you personally lived in the region. These issues may not be near you!

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   Titen-Sxullposted 8 years ago

   You can actually look up statistics on how the world has become MORE MORAL. Not less.
   
   This idea that the world is fallen, wicked, and getting worse, and somehow the good ol' days were better is simply false.
   
   50 years ago you think we were more moral? The civil rights movement was still going on, schools were not yet desegregated, homosexuals were still labeled as mentally ill and could even be arrested in some places in the first world. The world was NOT more moral then than it is now.
   
   In fact now we have the internet the moment some racist spouts off on some message board or twitter or what have you they are almost immediately set upon and condemned for their ignorance and stupidity. The internet has made us better at policing ourselves and our beliefs, although discussions are not always civil or constructive.
   
   People are becoming more moral, slowly but surely, education is the key to defeating ignorance and statistics actually show people are smarter as well (another common myth is everyone today is dumber than they were years and years ago).

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      Stargrrlposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I couldn't disagree more.  People are much more rude on the internet.  Some of the things they write they would probably never say in real life.  In fact, sometimes it gets out of control--look at the forums.

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   laksiposted 8 years ago

   Hi Realtalk247,
   It's an interesting question you ask here. I too sometimes feel disillusioned with society, and the way that others are disrespectful or rude for no reason, when all you've been is friendly and kind to them. I think that as you say not many individuals go by the saying 'Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.' I'm not sure if they are not teaching this in school anymore. I'm not sure if it is something to do with religious schools being different - I went to a Catholic school when I was little, and we were taught this at school. It's basic morals and respect really, which seems to have gone array in today's society. One of your repliers did say something about someone donating a kidney and someone pulling someone out of a burning vehicle, and I think that it is important to remember these things. Also, I rarely watch the news because of all the horrible stories that make you feel disillusioned with the world. They rarely put good news stories, so it really is disproportionate to real life. I would avoid watching too much news, and instead watch programmes like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, where they actively help the needy or disabled, and the whole community gets involved. It really restores your faith in human beings, and you don't feel so alone as a good individual in a mean and careless society.
   Good luck and remember us good ones - we are out there XXX

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