Mumsnet is a force for good, so I’m not meaning to point at it specifically, though I suppose in some ways the views found here are a reflection of society as a whole. I’m just struck sometimes by how entitled and self-centred society has become. It seems people are so ready to look at how something is affecting them, and don’t seem to see beyond that viewpoint. Some examples might be ‘ I can’t have the bank holiday I want, because of the Royal Family’ ( I’m not talking about people missing medical and other appointments here, but people saying they’re going to ‘trapped indoors’ etc). Other things such as ‘this shop/restaurant did something wrong so I want somebody sacked’. ‘ This friend offended me, so I’m ending the relationship’. I’ve been reflecting recently on the Queen ( though I am not a Royalist), and feeling that somehow our society has lost sight of values like consideration for others, flexibility, compromise, acceptance that things don’t always go well, forgiveness, awareness that we may feel hard done by, but there’s probably someone else worse off, and so on. Of course, it is a generalisation to say society is like this, and hopefully the majority of people still hold these values, but I feel sad to see so much self-centredness and eager to blame creeping in just about everywhere you look it seems sometimes. Wondered if anyone felt like this?
AIBU?
Am I being unreasonable?
AIBUYou have one vote. All votes are anonymous.
Rosewaterblossom · 13/09/2022 22:37
I guess we can blame the internet to some extent and the increase in electronic technology.
Before, people would walk out their front door and probably say hello or have a quick chat with their neighbours who they knew, go to the bus stop and probably see someone in the community they knew. Get on the bus, have to speak to the bus driver and probably exchange a few lines of pleasantries. In town they'd do some shopping, exchange chat with the shop keepers etc. Go to the bank and chat with people there. Pubs/churches/social clubs were filled with locals in communities. People knew people and communities helped eachother.
Now, people walk out their front door, many don't know their neighbours, head phones in at the bus stop, pay contactless on the bus. In town alot of shops have self service checkouts so no need to talk to anyone. Banks aren't how they once were as most is online now. Pubs are on a fast decline because people can't afford to drink out so they buy booze at the supermarket and drink at home. Church/faith on the decline. Communities don't exist or at least aren't the norm. People live in their phones and mainly chat online via social media and order stuff online.
You can literally go about your day without speaking to a single soul which as lovely as that seems some days, I'm sure there must be a link somewhere to this and the decline of people s mental health. It makes social interactions anxiety inducing and makes people only think of themselves so become selfish.
I was thinking recently you don't really so "characters " anymore.. ie: someone with maybe a nickname, a distinct look and an interesting personality. People are on the whole quite generic now and bland.
Rosewaterblossom · 13/09/2022 22:37
I guess we can blame the internet to some extent and the increase in electronic technology.
Before, people would walk out their front door and probably say hello or have a quick chat with their neighbours who they knew, go to the bus stop and probably see someone in the community they knew. Get on the bus, have to speak to the bus driver and probably exchange a few lines of pleasantries. In town they'd do some shopping, exchange chat with the shop keepers etc. Go to the bank and chat with people there. Pubs/churches/social clubs were filled with locals in communities. People knew people and communities helped eachother.
Now, people walk out their front door, many don't know their neighbours, head phones in at the bus stop, pay contactless on the bus. In town alot of shops have self service checkouts so no need to talk to anyone. Banks aren't how they once were as most is online now. Pubs are on a fast decline because people can't afford to drink out so they buy booze at the supermarket and drink at home. Church/faith on the decline. Communities don't exist or at least aren't the norm. People live in their phones and mainly chat online via social media and order stuff online.
You can literally go about your day without speaking to a single soul which as lovely as that seems some days, I'm sure there must be a link somewhere to this and the decline of people s mental health. It makes social interactions anxiety inducing and makes people only think of themselves so become selfish.
I was thinking recently you don't really so "characters " anymore.. ie: someone with maybe a nickname, a distinct look and an interesting personality. People are on the whole quite generic now and bland.
Rosewaterblossom · 13/09/2022 22:37
I guess we can blame the internet to some extent and the increase in electronic technology.
Before, people would walk out their front door and probably say hello or have a quick chat with their neighbours who they knew, go to the bus stop and probably see someone in the community they knew. Get on the bus, have to speak to the bus driver and probably exchange a few lines of pleasantries. In town they'd do some shopping, exchange chat with the shop keepers etc. Go to the bank and chat with people there. Pubs/churches/social clubs were filled with locals in communities. People knew people and communities helped eachother.
Now, people walk out their front door, many don't know their neighbours, head phones in at the bus stop, pay contactless on the bus. In town alot of shops have self service checkouts so no need to talk to anyone. Banks aren't how they once were as most is online now. Pubs are on a fast decline because people can't afford to drink out so they buy booze at the supermarket and drink at home. Church/faith on the decline. Communities don't exist or at least aren't the norm. People live in their phones and mainly chat online via social media and order stuff online.
You can literally go about your day without speaking to a single soul which as lovely as that seems some days, I'm sure there must be a link somewhere to this and the decline of people s mental health. It makes social interactions anxiety inducing and makes people only think of themselves so become selfish.
I was thinking recently you don't really so "characters " anymore.. ie: someone with maybe a nickname, a distinct look and an interesting personality. People are on the whole quite generic now and bland.
Manekinek0 · 14/09/2022 07:59
Yes. The west has been focused on consumerism and individualism since the end of WW2. The way we now live has eroded the communities our ancestors would have been a part of. Add in legal issues (definitely a bigger problem in the US) and people are put off helping one another.
In the last 10-20 years there has been a massive increase in excusing bad behaviour. If someone behaves terribly then they must have mental health problems. Maybe some do but some people are just arseholes MH problems or not. And I do think that if someone's MH is that bad that they go around threatening and being abusive towards people they shouldn't be in the community.
I was surprised at the food bank thread, quite a few posters thought it was acceptable for service users to be rude to volunteers and that they should not have to feel grateful for donations they receive. Sorry but it's BS. You should be grateful if someone helps you whether they are paid or not.
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