Are We More Moral or Less Moral in Modern Day Times?

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   SpanStarposted 11 years ago

   Compared to people in the past would you say modern-day people are more moral than those since the days of Pharaoh up until present day?
   
   The crimes of modern-day man are too numerous to list here.

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      prettydarkhorseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Every era has its own definition of what is moral or not, I think you can't compare. There are just various factors like culture (includes religion), technology, economic system and political structures prevailing during different times which makes it difficult to compare.
      
      Laws which are the basis of some morals or vice versa become permissive.

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         SpanStarposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Even though their are many perspectives in life I believe when it comes to morality there must be some universal right and wrong.
         
         Universally it is wrong to steal, murder, lie, cheat. We cannot say it is OK to torture and kill people perceive as witches simply because it happened during a time when ignorance prevailed.

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   Emile Rposted 11 years ago

   More moral. True, we commit crimes; but I don't see punishment  being meted out used as a fun outing for the family. I don't have slaves, or servants, dressing me. I don't walk past any poorhouses where people are incarcerated because they can't pay their bills. We frown on the slaughter of populations because of ethnicity.
   
   We are flawed. But learning.

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   innersmiffposted 11 years ago

   Maybe better, but we're still living in a world where violence is moral. We've got a lot of work to do.

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   MelissaBarrettposted 11 years ago

   I would say more moral because there are more people acting of their own accord rather than just following the rules of a doctrine.  It is not moral to obey a God... it is obedient.  You follow the rules or you get punished.  True morals come from what a person will do on their own... without fear of retribution.

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5. 60

   SpanStarposted 11 years ago

   Aren't millions if not billions of people forced to make sure there Windows, doors, home system alarms, car alarms and personal protection for themselves for those who can afford it does this not indication the kind of moral society we have today which signifies after at least more then 1000 years little progress has been made?
   
   Does a woman feel safe today alone at night standing at the bus stop while three young men approach out of the darkness?
   
   Is the biggest problem for children today is their assignments or whether they'll lived through school session?

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      MelissaBarrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Not to be argumentative... but I feel no fear at a bus stop nor do even bother to lock my door most of the time. 
      
      Large groupings of people have always held extra dangers.  Its not a decline of morals... it's the way it has always been.  Every living situation has pro's and cons.  Metropolitan areas have more crime... rural areas have less access to resources.  Pick your poison.

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         Disturbiaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         WOW, I also live in a very rural area but I ALWAYS make sure my doors and windows are locked at night before going to bed, or when I leave the house.  I lock my car doors too, even when it's in the garage.  I have a security system and video monitors so I can see who is at any of my doors or at the garage and even out to the barn.  Not too long ago 4 teens invaded a house not too far from where I live and beat a woman to death and critically injured her young daughter.  It's completely false to believe you are any safer in a rural area than in an urban one. 
         
         I don't think people are any more or less moral in moden times than in the past.  People still lie, cheat, kill, rape, cimit crimes, wage wars... it's the same old same old it has always been.  There will always be moral as well as immoral people in the world.

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            MelissaBarrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Your experiences must be different than mine... although that in no way makes either of our points invalid.
            
            Or it might just be an outlook kinda thing.  I admit to the occasional folly of thinking humanity is better than what it is.

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6. 75

   Cagsilposted 11 years ago

   There are plenty of people who have grown in awareness to become more moral than those of the past. Humankind's history is covered in blood, sweat, tears, loss, suffering and a number of other things.
   
   The collective of morality of society has become better at an individual level than as to measuring all of humankind. Yes, there are plenty of people committing crimes, however, a lot of people do so because they are not properly brought up and many other environmental factors are also to be included, to gain understanding on why things happen.

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      SpanStarposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You to have present some pertinent points.
      
      Your statement:
      "lot of people do so because they are not properly brought up"
      
      This seens to stab at the heart of morality, the question now becomes what constitutes right and wrong from the standpoint of morals- legality?

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         MelissaBarrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Legality is just another punishment system.  It has nothing to do with morals.

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         Cagsilposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         People commit crimes for two reasons (a) poor upbringing and (b) other environmental controls which are somewhat beyond their control.
         
         What environmental controls? Politics, religion, wealthiest people using manipulation tactics to cause distortion and misinformation, so the average person is confused about their path forward. One of the things severely lacking is education in many people, which is beyond the control of the individual.
         
         Sure they could go learn something from any school(public). However, schools don't prepare children properly, due to politics and religion.
         
         Another thing which holds people back is their own understanding of their own life, which has been distorted due to politics and religion, so as to ensure people have trouble learning and acknowledging what is right for the sake of it being right.
         
         No, I didn't take a stab at morality. I did take a stab at parents of those who commit crime. I did take a stab at the rest of society.

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7. 78

   jacharlessposted 11 years ago

   Less.
   
   True, society as a whole frowns upon crimes, yet global crime is at an all time high. Human violence escalates. Social advocates protest and vocalize distaste for extremes, yet popularize those extremes through various social spheres, almost justifying the violence for the recognition of the pro-con moral itself.
   
   Society is more conscious/aware of the moral ideology and because the stigma of hidden agenda/punishment is pretty much been reduced to a few years of social isolation or financial penalty, it is also diluted repercussion/consequence. Consequence can now be averted by pleading, legal parameters and multimedia.
   
   ...
   
   Edit: 90% of all crimes are committed out of the desire for recognition by society, as twisted as that may sound. The more society brings these conflicts to the forefront of global attention, the more crimes will escalate, as humans find new ways of expressing their moral dilemma. Simply remove the criminality from media, and see how fast crime rates drop. Without credence and instant gratification, modern criminals have nothing to gain.
   
   ...

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      Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Odd - you have crime statistics that have been adjusted to take into account laws that were unreasonable for the last 8,000 years?
      
      Can you share them with us please.
      
      Global crime is ant an all time high? You do not consider the holocaust or Russian purges and such like to be crimes I suppose?
      
      Why do you religionists need to pull statistics out of your behind to appear knowledgeable?

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         jacharlessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Laws induce crimes and whether or not "unreasonable" {which is paradoxical} do not change the moral issue.
         
         Those events are in modern times, so what's your point?
         
         Why do you post-religionists continue to ask irrational questions? lol. I myself fail to see religion as anything but self serving greed on wheels. Like you, Marcus, there are 6 billion other Eddie Barzoons jogging into the future.

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            Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I was just asking you to back up your statement.
            
            Nothing then?
            
            X million murdered in Germany and Russia just a few decades ago and you think that global crime is at an all time high?
            
            Of course the unreasonableness of the law makes it more or less moral. Sometimes the "moral," thing to do is break the law.
            
            Mine is more a stately amble rather than a jog.

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               jacharlessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Again, Germany and Russia -and many other places are considered "Modern Times".
               Why "break the law"? Why not just remove it.
               
               

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                  Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  OK - when did "Modern Times" start?
                  
                  Because removing the law would not solve the problem.

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                     jacharlessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     Modern times would have started after the 14th century .lol.
                     I suppose modern times began with the industrial revolution -more or less 100 years.
                     
                     
                     
                     ...and neither does enforcement of the law.

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                        Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        Ah well - I have no data for the pre-ceeding times. And neither do you.
                        
                        True.

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                           jacharlessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           Well @ some point, the United States will have to pay for its crimes against humanity -namely its "global assimilation" policy which is greatly responsible for the global issues faced for the last 100+ years- not to mention the ideology of democracy at any cost.
                           
                           Looking even today at the UE, how characteristic it is of states and the succeeding of some, as happened in the States before the civil war.
                           
                           With constant legal council, economic and social structure of America being placed throughout the world, am not surprised at the rapid rise in extremism and crime as a whole. Crime is entertainment in the industrialized world {i.e Hunger Games}. It is an offset to the issues faced and allows the media to redirect humanities attention span at will.
                           
                           Creepy.

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                              Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              I wish it worked like that, but it doesn't seem to. The same persons responsible were there for Adolph and all the way back to the Shekel.
                              
                              When Rome paid the p[rice - they did not. When Adolph paid it - they did not. When the "USA" pays it - they will not.

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               MelissaBarrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               I can only think of two criminal acts -rape and molestation- in which there is no scenario that would make breaking the law more morally acceptable then upholding it.  I'm sure someone could even think of acceptable reasons to break those laws... my mind just won't go there however.

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      Emile Rposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I see your point on the media. There does seem to be a tendency to want to 'one up' the last publicized atrocity.

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8. 60

   SpanStarposted 11 years ago

   Melissa I'm afraid morality does encompass right and wrong.
   
   Here is a hypothetical situation where I would like you to gauge whether the circumstances or moral or immoral please.
   
   "Down a lonely dark country road a man is on his way to the courthouse. This man has missed three appointment and the judge has made it clear if he misses one more appointment there will be a bench warrant issued.
   
   Along this stretch of the road he comes up upon a car accident. You are on the roadway with your leg severely bleeding and asked the two of you lock eyes he slows down to survey the situation and then speeds up driving away."
   
   Is this moral/immoral? Are we mandated to stop and offer assistance?
   
   What does it say about our society when it comes to morals?

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      MelissaBarrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I never said morality didn't encompass right and wrong... I'm saying that laws have nothing to do with morality.  You seem to be arguing my point... so there is no need to be oppositional with me in this case.

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         SpanStarposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         No I'm not arguing your point I thought that's what you said so I must have missed unstood, sorry.

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            MelissaBarrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            -smiles-  It happens all the time in internet conversations... and I tend to be more colloquial then others.  For example when I said that you were arguing my point I meant that you were saying the same thing as me... not that you were arguing against me. 
            
            So in this particular case we are in agreement.  Let us take a minute to observe this minor miracle

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   psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

   People are people, I suspect we are about the same in motivation.  Modern times have made a difference by providing a police and court system that is widely accessible.

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    janesixposted 11 years ago

    The same. People haven't changed. If the power went out for more than two weeks, society would start breaking down immediately. People show their true colors when they're desperate.

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