I'm just looking to open up a discussion on today's society.

What do you all think is wrong with today's society? And what could save us? What could the general population do to 'make the world a better place'?

Or maybe you think there's nothing wrong with the way things are going. Either way, explain how and why.

Um...I think abortion is wrong, for a start. Killing babies just because you don't want them is stupid. You see, we have this thing now, it's called adoption, I believe. It is an alternative to abortion where the child in question can actually live.

It depends on what you mean with "society".A lot of today's problems can be blamed on the human nature,and don't really have to be connected to society in any way.

The amount of stupidity people have! There is no bigger problem then stupidity!

You don't know what I mean by society?

And for the record, let's steer clear of the abortion issue since it's been done to death. Please.

I was just going to note that, thank you Dis.

In my opinion, society is going to hell because people no longer wish to help each other. In order to lend a helping hand these days it seems to be only for a reward or soemthing that's in it for the lender of the hand. Customer service is awful due to this, it's extrodinarily rare that i'll find i had good service from just about anyone anymore.

Not to mention this whole Political Correctness stupidity.

Society in fear would give up freedoms in order for FALSE safety! Society is afraid to act against disgusting criminals to put them to DEATH! Societies biggest problem is that it is WEAK to do what is necessary!

Sounds more like a problem with bleeding hearts, not society.

You don't know what I mean by society?

I do,but others propably don't.
I haven't seen a problem of society being mentioned here yet.
Stupidity,as much as I hate it,is a human problem.
Same goes for abortion,since it is basically murder and murder has been around way longer than society.

Yikes.

Society: The totality of social relationships among humans.

It's really not that complicated.

COMMON CURTESY IS DEAD, its all professionalism today! Nobody says good morning, how are you, please, or thank you anymore. We are trading away quality of life for growth and efficiency. Because of the growing alienation and isolation in the modern industrial society, curtesy is only reserved for the service industry as a commodity.

As ideology and science become increasingly specialized, people work less with each other, this causing people to communicate with like minded people and shun away those with opposing ideas. The middle ground no longer exist, example the spiritual vs. skepticism thread, its clear who is who on that section.

I think this is too broad a subject though for one thread. There is an infinite subjects that can be discussed.

^ I use my manners quite a lot thank you! Common manners get you to unbelieve places, if you use them!

So you will you admit its only for commodity and not sincerity.

I think that one of my biggest problem is that no one listens anymore.

You can't debate with anyone. No one wants to see the other side of the coin. You can't tell someone when they're wrong, all you'll get is a 'f*** you'. It's not that people refuse to admit they are wrong -- but they will never even believe for a second that they even COULD be wrong.

Everyone is so unbelievably close-minded and self-involved. I think that poses a lot of problems. What happens when you have a whole world of people thinking that they are all right?

Yup, Kratos just did exactly what i mentioned in my first post there.
People are only nice, if they can get something out of it.

Agreed.



Its all they could ever know they could never except anything that contradicts their ideology, religion, philosophy, even science.

[quote=Super Pancake,Jul 8 2005, 09:43 PM]
[quote=__Kratos__,Jul 8 2005, 09:39 PM]^ I use my manners quite a lot thank you! Common manners get you to unbelieve places, if you use them!
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So you will you admit its only for commodity and not sincerity.

[quote=BurnSide,Jul 8 2005, 09:46 PM]
Yup, Kratos just did exactly what i mentioned in my first post there.
People are only nice, if they can get something out of it.
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I'm very pleasent in public anyways... I hold doors open for EVERYBODY, just not the hot chicks with unscalable racks, I say thank you at the check out (most of the time depends how I am treated), I say "have a nice day or weekend" when I leave. I let ladies go first in everything unless instructed by them not to. Don't try and take out one part of my words and turn them around you rat *! (super pancake) I am saying using manners will show people higher up you show respect more often then not. I'm not saying kiss butt so you get brown stains up and down your nose to the point it is forever like that. Just use the golden rule!

Your manners aren't on trial here Kratos, we don't really need to know how you're kind, we're talking about society as a whole. What you said was just used as an example. We know that's not what you ment, but it comes out subconciously that way.

Yes, a lack of manners and general courtesy is a serious problem. As is the 'victim complex' some people carry around, general arrogance, and an incapablility to meet people halfway. Of course not EVERYONE is like this, but the general idea of today's society is that eveyone is out for themselves.

I'm not an example of poor mannered society! Sure, my manners are not on trial but my words were! I will defend them to the death if need be! I really really really hate when people twist my words and shove even more down my throat to get their way!

Hey I only quoted what you posted man!

My only assumption about this is you use your common curtesy a lot to get what you want or a favorable fortune in the future I did not twist anything, you did not elaborate your actions any further like in your next post.

Okay let's just drop the subject of Kratos wording here please.
This topic is about society, not one persons mannerisms.

Oh and double standards, especially in the name of 'PC'. If people want equality, be EQUAL, not above.

Political Correctness is definitely one of society's huge downfalls.

It certainly is. Like most things, the entire concept has been abused.

Societys rules of "Freedom of Speech" have been distorted by some to say that no restraint is needed in communicating with others. That everyone has the Right to be Rude, Abrasive, and Shocking.

The Pre "MTV" era had build in and learned Manners, taught by the Parents, to use the Spoken and Written word to transmit an Idea or a feeling. Not to use as a Verbal Weapon. Its now like a contest to see who can Shock and Disgust more than the next person. And "REALITY TV? Getting people to eat Animal guts and Bugs for Money? And this is now ENTERTAINMENT!

I read that the 70's was the start of the "ME" Generation. My Question? When will it end?

Personally, Society- and the act of Civilization that creates it, is a detriment to the natural development of the human species on a biological level.

Or are we discussing why Society is messed up?

If that's the topic, well, it's messed up becuase humanity has yet to truly overcome the predatory part of our nature- whether it's financial, emotional, physical predation.

The very fact that we have "constructed" an artificial point of veiw about ourselves is a problem. The type of society we have is not a natural one- it is one we have created to give us some false sense of security, stability, and reality... when in fact, Society is almost as artificial as the Matrix in the movie was.

It is only a matter of time before nature- and human nature especially does something to once again bring things into a natural balance. Much as our climate has been changing to balance out the pollution pumped into the environment.

Or am I on a totally differant tangent?

Are you thinking lower population and Greater distants between large populations Stewey?

It would help. Since population and resources are a constanst cause of strife among humans. We are the only species that has not naturally occuring population control (other than Death)- which puts a strain on our natural resources.

Close proximity only increases tensions over who has the right to use which resources (just look at Canada's constant struggles to protect it's fishing waters).

Eventually, it will get to a point where nature will take things out of our hands. It will either be through climate- and possibly mass extinctions with it, or virally- with plagues and mutations of old diseases.

By our numbers, and lack of naturally occuring controls, we are heading towards troubles.

I just want to make a quick note of some of the comments made here. Some causes quoted are:

Lack of manners;
Political Correctness;
The distortion of Rights and Freedoms;
and others.

Yes, they are problems- but problems of an artificial nature. We created the concepts- and try to enforce them through artificial means (punishment, reward methods). There is not natural reason for us to act in accordance with "socially accepted mores". Because of this artificiality, we're often inclined to disregard the "programming" that these things represent. They are like software installed into a computer- not essential to true survival of the species. If manners were biologically hardwired into us as instinct, we would be more inclined to obey.

It is the falsehood of Societal Cohesiveness that is at the root of the problem.

Animals may be trained to act against their natures (creating a "Civilized Animal"), but when given the chance, they will more often than not run off and become wild again.

Humans are the same way. We have been "training" oursolves to be "Civilized Animals"... but when given the chance, we're willing to let our wild instincts command us- though we often rationalize it with "Civilized Reasons".

Hehehe... Who would've thought I could be intellectual, eh?

well said, I with Stewey 1972.

society is wholesome. Moe likes all of the things in it, like cheese and milk and video games. There is nothing wrong with society at all. Just most of the people in it. Moe thinks that we need more short buses to get these people a better education.

I haven't read the whole thread yet, but IMHO, society has gone to bits because everyone is so damn selfish. Rushing from point A to point B to point C with no regard for whoever or whatever gets in their way. If people could look up from the daily grind of their lives and learn to look out for one another, to take care of one another, for lack of a better word - to love one another, many of societies problems will disappear.

The pure ignorance of people. I mean that in the true sense of the word, they really must not know what is going on. Do they not see what is happening with the world? If someone said we had fifty years of fossil fuels left, do you not think it would be a good idea to cut down or develope something else? It is so true, no on listens.

Teenagers of today. I am one, I know what we are like. It is genuinely terrifying to know that my generation is going to run the country in the future. As stereotypical as it is, most of the teenagers I know only care about drink, sex, themselves and their own stupid sub-cultures. They have no morals, no restraints.

Racism. What the hell is the point? So many people have lost their lives because of this. If we can't get on with our neighbors, how on earth are we going to make this G8 thing work, and also 'rescue' the people of Iraq?

Fighting over religion. Living in Northern Ireland, I hear a hell of a lot of stuff about this. And now it isn't even Protestants and Catholics fighting, it is the different Protestant groups fighting with other Protestant groups, same with the Catholics. It angers me so much. And that is nothing compared to what happens in other countries!

The Entitlement Factor. This ties in with political correctness ("I'm entitled not to be offended"), making oneself to be a victim. Way too much mollycoddling and handholding going on today. (Did I just say mollycoddling???)

Lack of SHAME. Shame is dead.

people have always only helped when it is in their own benefit to do so. nowdays, thanks to the elimination of many immediate threats to survival, people do not see a benefit to themselves in helping others. society has always been a battle between the individual and the collective. a natural tension exists.

now we can theorize on the extension of this change and how it has resulted in a more individualistic society. we can also theorize on the "decline in customer service" and whether it is the result of a more individualized society (it is a two way street: in a more individualized society people do not treat each other as well, so customer service may be poorer but so is the attitides of those expecting service. so is customer service poor because of "snotty customers" or are the customers snotty becuase of "poor service"?)

if you want a cohesive, supportive, collective society you need to create a common goal (most often found in a threat, historically).

Racism has gotten out of hand in the PC sense as well. You can't even say "I saw this african woman today...." without someone saying something along the lines of "Why did you say she was african? What does that have to do with anything?"

It's pretty sad that even when you DO use a PC term, you have to be sure you use it in the right way. We're not even allowed to describe people by their race anymore unless it's 'relevant'.

I beleive society has gone face up because evrey one has turned into a mercanery.

No longer will we do something for someone just to be nice - We'll do it to get something back.

This then leads to the entire world blowing up because Russia won't give the USA a break unless it starts exporting bubble gum again

Corrupted Law, Violence, and Poverty are the main things wrong with Society.

I think the root of todays' problems reside mainly in the "Gimme" complex..People want automatic rights they aren't willing to work to maintain. They want thier viewpoints and personal beliefs to garner them instant consideration under the law even if that means taking away somebody else's; and they want instant respect without earning it first or giving any in return..
Not to mention that the concept of personal honor and responsibility is dying a slow painful death..People want, in their inherant laziness brought on by too much free time; for their government to attend to their every need, and yet when it comes time to pay this favor back; that very same Government becomes the source of all the world's evil to them..
God help us if; when we've come so far learning to stand on our own, we decide to sit back and let the World pass us buy for the sake of an easier less offensive lifestyle..

I suppose this all goes under the entitlement Purplos was speaking on, but I had to get my 2 cents in..

In the first place, there isn't just 'one' society. There are many. And as such, problems in one 'society' may not be the same as problems in another.
So, when I speak of society, I do so as an American and therefore I am speaking mainly of American Society. The foremost problems in American Society are:

1. An extremely overweight and lazy populace.

Which is the end result of:

2. The dumbing down of individuals over the last 30 years by our "education" system.

Fluffy Bunny is fond of stating comparisons to George Orwell's book, 1984. He could not be more correct.

Ignorance on every level of society is the basic problem. Ignorance and Stupidity.

That about sums it up I think.

I think one of the problems with society is that it is largely paranoid. Authorities and media have too much influence over us, and we keep creating new limits and restrictions which actually have a counter-affect and encourage breachers.

Respect and equality have become too predominant.

Society is filled with ignorance..! People are staving around the world and nobody seems to give a damn. Well my conscience is clear cause I donate to a charity every month..
As for the leaders of the world...well they're all talk..! I mean, they all group together to debate what they're gonna do, but thats all they do..debate..!
I like to think of them as.."Mass debaters..!" hee hee

I know what you mean. Probably 2/3rd's of my friends are asian, but I've often found myself censoring my posts whenever I mention them because classifying them under the banner of "asian" may be considered to be politically incorrect.

All the best,

No, that is the real problem!!!!!!!!!


It isn't considered PC by the government, but some people think it is and then it spreads!

Then people get angry when they think they are being told something is not PC, when it is and start to treat racism as a joke.

It is a big problem, British tabloids are partly to blame.

Ahh. Another great point. Lowered expectations (esp thinking of the education system). If someone can't do something, its no longer their fault.

SO, SO TRUE.
I am not the sharpest knife in the draw by my own admitance, and am just an average student in my school yet have met many people accross the country who are proud to acheive Ds and Es at GCSE, have no idea what's going on in the world around them, or if they do have no views on it. Thats the reason i love UM so much, people of all creeds and cultures cnvey their differing opinions without resulting to 4 letter rants

The solution is even simpler than anyone seems to think.
Society is a human creation and as such, it will never be perfect because humans, both individually and as a whole, are imperfect. Society will go through its ups and downs, like it always has, but in the end it will just be a reflection on the thoughts and priorities of the various invididuals at the time.
There is nothing wrong with society. It is those who created it and maintain it that are broken.

No heart in Education, Survival of the fittest mentality, Greed When is enough enough??? Discrimination is awful, More people need to care, Not enough hugs. Not enough question asking???. I'll stop now. Namaste Sheri Berri