To wonder whether there's more "good" or "evil" in the world?

[ButWhyIsTheGinGone]

My nan is a bit of a religious nut - 80 year old ex Head Mistress type. She sends me all kinds of -shit- things in the post. Christian self-help books (grrrr), Weightwatchers leaflets (GRRRR), Letters outlining how I will go to Hell if I don't repent my sins immediately (GAAAAAAH!)

Anyway, firstly, the letters have been going on for nearly ten years and I am GUTTED I have not kept them - they would have been fantastic evidence for the book I'm going to write this year! But aside from that, she has mde me think. A recent letter banged on about the state of the world today, and how the end of the world must be nigh!

Whilst I read her letters with a more than pissed off eye, it did make me think. I do not think the world will suddenly end because humanity has failed, but really, is the world an "evil" place these days? I live in a small market town, in a school, and we are dealing with 5 families who have chosen to let paedophiles into their families - nothing is happening to prevent this is any way. I got mugged as a teenager for doing fuck all and it's fucked up my face :-(

Nationally and Internationally every day appalling tragedies happen - people murder, rape and torture. People walk by while other people have fallen/been injured in the street. Corruption seems to prosper. Morons and the morally bankrupt seem to be glorified on tv.....

OTOH, there is goodness in the world! People who spend their whole existence helping others, my friend who earns a pittance caring for the elderly, my mum who would do absolutely anything for anyone in the world.....

I just dunno. Not sure where I'm going with this - certainly not trying to prove a point, just in a philosophical mood, I suppose. Sometimes it seems hard to see the good in things sometimes.

Sorry for the rambling - would genuinely be interested in any replies
x

Evil gets more publicity because people like to be horrified, shocked and rubberneck and dare I say judge ....

If 1 in 10 are paedophiles does anyone publicise the 9 in 10 who aren't?

If 1 steps over a drunk in the street - does anyone mention the other 9 good samaritans who pick up a fall victim?

If there was more evil than good humanity would have died out a long time ago.

I happen to think (despite what I see on a day to day basis) that humanity as a whole is slowly improving. Imperceptibly perhaps, from our finite and short-term point of view, but look over history and how people have always acted and it's clear that it's certainly no worse now than at any point in the past, and at least we're trying.

I don't think that people are any worse than they have ever been - murder, rape, torture, muggings etc - they have always happened. If your nan points out things like "People walk by while other people have fallen/been injured in the street" tell her to go read the parable of the Good Samaritan - that's exactly what that one is all about. Bloke gets mugged, all sorts of supposedly "good" people cross the street to avoid him. Immigrant bloke of different religion picks him up and helps him out.

I believe there is more good than bad in the world, it's just harder to see.

And even if there isn't, it's got to be better for your mental health to believe that there is.

trois, you are right - and sadly the stories about awful doings do attract me a lot more than stories of triumph and selflessness. I will have a real think about why that really is.

I do think it's right to report such awful deeds though, and if people judge - good! "Judging" is not always wrong - sometimes things/people/situations/decisions DO need judging as WRONG.

But you've made me think about why I don't read stories of altruism and generosity so avidly. In fact (crap to admit) when I read the local paper I read the crime stories beginning to end but dismiss the community work type stories as "cuh - is this NEWS?"

:-(

There is a lot of unsung / unheard of goodness. The bad stuff gets more 'press'. Good will overcome evil in the end.

Not much help probably - but it's what I hope / believe.

But surely that's a good thing. We read the evil horror stories in a way to reassure ourselves that this is so far outside the norm its worth talking about, whereas we allow ourselves to take the community work stories almost for granted because deep down we want, we allow ourselves to believe that is the norm and therefore not news by definition.

Aah God, more replies! :-)
Winkly - I really like your perspective of a long term view of humanity. After all, we no longer tell women to burn in a fire - and if they die they were innocent but if they survive they were a dirty witch who needs hanging!!!
We no longer behead and disembowel people and we don't believe dark-skinned people were invented to serve us for no pay! That has made me happier.
A mum Thank you for the Good Samaritan reminder. VERY interesting actually as my bloody Christian nan is the biggest racist going. On previous occasions when I've picked her up on stuff like this, my mum's rung me the next day telling me to wind her up.

I think you've answered it yourself there crime is "news", community work isn't.

Bollocks - I meant it's not wrong to report awful deeds!

Evil is glorified in our society, but it does not outnumber the good in the world. It's just that it's more 'interesting' I suppose.

People will buy a book about murder/torture and someone being very evil, but they won't buy books about someone being good and nice as it's seen as 'boring'
There is still balance in the universe.

There's much, much more good than bad in the world.

The vast majority of people are inherently good.

But AMum I'm not just going on what I read in the new, I go on what I see every day.
You take a walk down your local street. If you dropped a twenty in front of 90% of them I bet they wouldn't stop you to return it. That kind of thing may not be "evil" but it doesn't contribute to a "good" society.
(Of course you may live somewhere nice as opposed to the craphole I inhabit!!)

If you study your history, you will be aware that there is hardly more "evil" in the world.
Even laws are more protective of people.

On two occasions I've been stupid enough to leave my money in the cashpoint and walk away after I retrieved my card. Both times people chased me and gave me my cash. In the summer we left the pub and a few minutes later, wondered why a man was running down the street shouting. Turns out my friend had left her wallet on the bench. People returning money - 3 out of 3. I would do the same and I'm a hateful bitch

People just take more notice of the bad stuff don't they? For e.g. if your home was burgled one night you'd (understandably) be more focused on that than the other 364 days in the year that you weren't burgled.

As an aside- I hate the (non) word burglarized. Gives me The Rage.

Ok, I change my point a little. I like Shelly and others' points that people are more inherently good than bad...but what about the subtle badness that pervades. And I'm aware this is where "good" and "bad" become more subjectve and have no wish to enter into that particular debate at the mo! :)
What about people like my numerous coke-loving acquaintances - not doing any harm? Maybe not immediately but what about indirectly? The world is not so small that you can't connect this with some consequence...
Sure there are many other similar situations.

Oh yes - winkle - that reminds me, I think the Daily Telegraph did an experiment a while back where they dropped some letters in the street at various locations, and a large percentage of them arrived - i.e. had been picked up by someone and posted. I will try to find a link...

Sorry winkly not winkle!

Winkly, your stories make me feel very happy! :-D
PeoplesPrincess - I absolutely agree - BURGLARIZED?? Even fucking Judge Judy uses it and that makes me WEEP!

Telegraph article: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5264210/After-the-honesty-test-the-test-of-public-spiritedness.html