Are you Serious?!

[Needaripeavocado]

AIBU to think society is alot more serious than we used to be?? I know there are serious events that are to be taken seriously of course like the racism and pandemic, deaths etc, this is not what im talking about. People just in general about everyday life seem alot more laid back about everything 20 odd years ago.. everything was abit more achievable, everyone abit more friendly, less judgement,being less competitive with others.. or maybe ive just noticed it more in recent times and its always been that way

In the UK nowadays so many people are easily offended, angry, entitled, and precious snowflakes who think they are hard done by and deserve something for nothing. You really don’t know how good it is there.

Just for the record it’s not the same everywhere in the world,...I don’t live in the UK (I live in a 3rd world country where life is extremely hard for millions of people) and used to miss it so much but it is utterly depressing and quite embarrassing reading so many threads on here these days..

YADNBU

Unless you were someone who was suffering more back then. Now everyone gets heard. Good and bad. 🤷‍♀️

You have to be so careful what you say these days as people are offended at virtually anything.
It almost seems like Freedom of Speech will become a thing of the past

I think that people are more easily offended these days. I also think that the proliferation of social media doesn't help.

Totally disagree, in fact, I'd say that the world is entirely the opposite, at least, it is how I experience it anyway.

30 years ago I was a teen. I remember rampant racism, homophobia, gang culture, football violence every weekend, a vicious and totally uncaring welfare state, abject poverty, and a definite sense that most people didn't give two hoots for the well being of others provided they and their immediate loved ones were doing ok.

In 2020 a lot of the institutional and structural problems are still there, but people as individuals are a lot more tolerant, there's a far greater awareness of sociological issues that affect others if not yourself, and lifestyles and choices which would have seen people ostracised and persecuted in the 1990's are accepted as equal now.

Society still has huge issues to overcome, but it's a far more pleasant place in a lot of respects than it was 25-30 years ago.

Totally agree op - the world is becoming bloody joyless. Yes serious things are happening, but there’s an absolutely lack of humour - it’s hugely reflected on social media and on here.

Yes it’s like a dictatorship now. They are censoring everything, even what we should feel and think. Everybody is sooooo sensitive and easily offended. People get offended on behalf of others too just to be sodding heroes.

I think society in general has lost their sense of humour, everyone is so busy and competing for busyness.
Hardly anyone is friendly, and so many go around with a permanent frown.
I said hello to someone yesterday, was walking in our park, and got a look like she's just stood in something.
Montsi
Completely agree, I have relatives across Eastern Europe, America, South Africa, Canada to name a few, they think the UK are bonkers, particularly England.

Is offence-taking the drug-taking of the 2020s? Something that used to give kids a high but then just became an everyday habit, and you need more every time to feel anything?

I agree with you.
So many people seem so dull and serious.
We need fun and daftness! Life is tough and a good laugh goes a long way. Everyone's different I know and what works for some would just be the worst for others, but the most awful times in my life have been made more bearable through laughter.

I think it's partly the internet making things seem that way.

But yes, people are challenging more norms that shouldn't necessarily be norms and that's a good thing. People aren't 'taking offense', they are noticing things and bringing them to light and that may be hard work for some people, but not half as much work is living with these things just being 'acceptable' has been for people the have affected.

People said (and still do) say the same thing about women and harrassment for example, and complained that women 'have no sense of humour' or 'can't take a compliment' but I think that sort of thinking is dying out and please God it can happen for other groups who've had to take a lot of shit as well.

I agree and I am early thirties. I have a tendency to be flippant and my knee jerk reaction is often to crack a joke (not an offensive one btw). I have to carefully assess who I am talking to sometimes. A lot of people seen incapable of a bit of banter (hate that word but apt here) now, especially people younger than me.

@PrettyTricky

YANBU, we're all woke and offended by everything now. It's tiresome.

Do you mean you don’t like that people won’t take bullshit anymore? Or is it something particular you had in mind?

I sort-of agree, but then I think it's because I and the people I'm with are older so we have more serious lives. Illness, divorce, death and general drudgery - it's as if life wants to kill our spirit as we age. I don't always win the fight against it.

So I'd say I don't know. Maybe objectively yes, maybe the "yes" is subjective because of serious circumstances...

I also don't think there's enough recognition of the importance of humour and silliness in making us resilient. I feel like some people wear their seriousness like a badge of grown-up honour.

"whats up with the thread?"

Were you offended that nobody replied...?

YANBU.

There’s so much....weight. I’m only in my 30s but I feel like we’re expected to solve everything, accept everything, mind our step, not offend....urrrrgh. It’s tiring.

Also on the “not offend”...when people make a mistake these days Many times it is so blown out of proportion. Baying for blood, the sack or both.

@Montsti I am actually quite glad you mention it i not the same everywhere. As I am from and still have family abroad, I have to agree with this. It is completely different to UK. In here it just seems more... Miserable? It didn't used to though.

I think you have rose-tinted glasses. I've lived through the Brixton riots, miners strikes and poll tax riots and the repeal of Section 28, the Mark Duggan London riots, The Troubles in Northern Ireland... At my school the racial tension between white kids and asian kids was unbearable.

So I don't think things are any more or less laidback today than back then.

I definitely don't think people are more or less friendly, or tolerant.

And I find that when people say, 'Oh, you can't have a laugh any more', or 'People are so quick to take offence these days!', they really mean, 'I'm upset that people don't find my casual outdated racism/sexism.homophobia/whatever funny any more'. I have a friend - an acquaintance - whose whole sense of humour relies on bringing other people down, with acid commentary on weight, fashion, appearance, race... I find her judgementalness way more exhausting and utterly depressing than anyone being sensitive about such things.

Also the levels of anxiety in here and where my family lives are so different! And no. It's not "they just don't diagnose it enough". I do think it has something to do with the race to the bottom while simultaneously trying to look like you are going up. It's hard to do "poor me" and "look at me" at the same time.

Hopefully this will raise a smile.

www.facebook.com/bbccomedy/videos/you-woke-tbtn/10155552204996778/

"Anniegetyourgun

TabbyMumz

I think a lot of people think they can run the country, rather than just being satisfied that others are paid to do it.

It's known as democracy. It's not a new thing."

Democracy is having the right to vote them in, in the first place....not voting them in then making out you can do it instead. That's called moaning.

YANBU
Like lots of people are saying, internet and social media. Both useful tools but yeesh. Stressful.

Ignorance is not an excuse,you need to know everything.
If you have an opinion, it better be the right one.
We're expected to have the ("right") feelings about every big issue of the day.
Not only that...expected to broadcast it. Show support.

Thanks but no thanks I'm getting increasingly tired with the whole thing.

Maybe it's partly lockdown.
We are stuck with only a few colleagues or, worse, our spouses to converse with all day.
No wonder we're miserable

I think I tend to agree. I work in a place with a huge age range of people and the differences between the generations are glaring. Some, are of course, age and the ability to relax about certain things as you get older.
But in general, the 19- 30ish age group are quite serious, very worried about a lot of issues and seem to have a lack of humour and levity. By that I mean they don't see the humour in a lot of situations - tongue in cheek is definitely a dying art!
I try very hard not to be set in my ways and opinions and have learnt some interesting views and opinions from those younger (and older!) than me but I do sometimes want to give the younger ones a hug and tell them it will be ok and it is ok to laugh!