What is WRONG with the world right now?

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 5/20/2010 12:02:29 PM
Author: HVVS



I think it must be all that extra time they have to spend at the airports nowadays. 'Okay, let's get all liquored-up now. It'll make all this boring all-day trip more interesting!'

Also, a lot of people have anxiety about flying so they mix Xanax, etc., with alcohol. . .or maybe they're NOT mixing the two and it would be better if they did. Seems like the combo would make them pass out.

 

[hlmr]

Date: 5/19/2010 11:41:08 AM
Author:dragonfly411
Anyone else notice that things are all kinds of crazy these days?????????????????? The News, what''s happening around the world, the natural disasters, the economy, the lack of action towards natural disasters, the not so natural disasters...... the lack of human decency????

I agree dragonfly.....especially with the last comment. We are definitely the least decent animal, in many respects.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 5/20/2010 10:41:22 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 5/19/2010 11:41:08 AM

Author:dragonfly411

Anyone else notice that things are all kinds of crazy these days?????????????????? The News, what''s happening around the world, the natural disasters, the economy, the lack of action towards natural disasters, the not so natural disasters...... the lack of human decency????

I agree dragonfly.....especially with the last comment. We are definitely the least decent animal, in many respects.

I don''t know about that. I mean praying mantises eat their partners after they mate. As far as I know, most humans don''t do that.

But seriously though, that''s a ridiculous thing to say. Are there plenty of a-holes? Yes! Are there even more truly good people? I think so. And I''m no Pollyanna-I''m pretty damn misanthropic.

I guess I dislike people bitching about how horrible everyone else is even more than I dislike people in general.

 

[hlmr]

Date: 5/20/2010 11:07:53 PM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 5/20/2010 10:41:22 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 5/19/2010 11:41:08 AM

Author:dragonfly411

Anyone else notice that things are all kinds of crazy these days?????????????????? The News, what''s happening around the world, the natural disasters, the economy, the lack of action towards natural disasters, the not so natural disasters...... the lack of human decency????

I agree dragonfly.....especially with the last comment. We are definitely the least decent animal, in many respects.

I don''t know about that. I mean praying mantises eat their partners after they mate. As far as I know, most humans don''t do that.

But seriously though, that''s a ridiculous thing to say. Are there plenty of a-holes? Yes! Are there even more truly good people? I think so. And I''m no Pollyanna-I''m pretty damn misanthropic.

I guess I dislike people bitching about how horrible everyone else is even more than I dislike people in general.

What is a ridiculous thing to say? That we are the least decent animal? To you it might be ridiculous, and to others it might ring true.

I guess I dislike people who are bitching about other people''s opinions, more than I dislike people in general.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 5/20/2010 11:13:58 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 5/20/2010 11:07:53 PM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 5/20/2010 10:41:22 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 5/19/2010 11:41:08 AM
Author:dragonfly411
Anyone else notice that things are all kinds of crazy these days?????????????????? The News, what''s happening around the world, the natural disasters, the economy, the lack of action towards natural disasters, the not so natural disasters...... the lack of human decency????

I agree dragonfly.....especially with the last comment. We are definitely the least decent animal, in many respects.

I don''t know about that. I mean praying mantises eat their partners after they mate. As far as I know, most humans don''t do that.

But seriously though, that''s a ridiculous thing to say. Are there plenty of a-holes? Yes! Are there even more truly good people? I think so. And I''m no Pollyanna-I''m pretty damn misanthropic.

I guess I dislike people bitching about how horrible everyone else is even more than I dislike people in general.

What is a ridiculous thing to say? That we are the least decent animal? To you it might be ridiculous, and to others it might ring true.

I guess I dislike people who are bitching about other people''s opinions, more than I dislike people in general.

Yes, that''s exactly the ridiculous statement I''m referring to. I would love to hear about all the more decent animals, though!

Are there less niceties today, less formal etiquette than in years past? Yep. But there''s also less discrimination, so I''ll take that trade off.

I fail to see how disagreeing with you is bitching about your opinion. The neat thing about America (and most other industrialized nations) is that you''re totally free to have and express any opinion you want. And I''ll refrain from posting that great saying about opinions, even if it is apt. Look at me! I''m being decent!

 

[megumic]

if you''re going to ask what is WRONG...how about asking:

- what is RIGHT
- what ISN''T wrong
- what isn''t RIGHT

all loaded questions if you ask me...

 

[hlmr]

Date: 5/20/2010 11:34:25 PM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 5/20/2010 11:13:58 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 5/20/2010 11:07:53 PM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 5/20/2010 10:41:22 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 5/19/2010 11:41:08 AM
Author:dragonfly411
Anyone else notice that things are all kinds of crazy these days?????????????????? The News, what's happening around the world, the natural disasters, the economy, the lack of action towards natural disasters, the not so natural disasters...... the lack of human decency????

I agree dragonfly.....especially with the last comment. We are definitely the least decent animal, in many respects.

I don't know about that. I mean praying mantises eat their partners after they mate. As far as I know, most humans don't do that.

But seriously though, that's a ridiculous thing to say. Are there plenty of a-holes? Yes! Are there even more truly good people? I think so. And I'm no Pollyanna-I'm pretty damn misanthropic.

I guess I dislike people bitching about how horrible everyone else is even more than I dislike people in general.

What is a ridiculous thing to say? That we are the least decent animal? To you it might be ridiculous, and to others it might ring true.

I guess I dislike people who are bitching about other people's opinions, more than I dislike people in general.

Yes, that's exactly the ridiculous statement I'm referring to. I would love to hear about all the more decent animals, though!

Are there less niceties today, less formal etiquette than in years past? Yep. But there's also less discrimination, so I'll take that trade off.

I fail to see how disagreeing with you is bitching about your opinion. The neat thing about America (and most other industrialized nations) is that you're totally free to have and express any opinion you want. And I'll refrain from posting that great saying about opinions, even if it is apt. Look at me! I'm being decent!

Actually thing2, it is very apparent that you disliked my opinion, since you called it ridiculous. But that says more about you than me, doesn't it? Sufficed to say, we are all still very much entitled to our own opinions, and therefore entitled to respond to the OP with our individual thoughts.

Since you are being so decent, I will leave it at that.

Edited to add: I am not sure why you feel a need to argue with the opinions of others, or to call them ridiculous. They are opinions. Period. You have plenty, as do I, as does everyone else on this board. Perhaps if we all kept an open mind, we might learn something.

 

[bebe]

Greed - I''m with Danny on this one.
And the entitlement attitude to get away with it.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 5/19/2010 2:41:52 PM
Author: kenny
I have a theory that since the beginning of time every generation has felt that things were better in the past.

or will be better in the future... hardly anyone likes ''now'' these days... hehe

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 5/20/2010 11:07:53 PM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 5/20/2010 10:41:22 PM

Author: hlmr

Date: 5/19/2010 11:41:08 AM


Author:dragonfly411


Anyone else notice that things are all kinds of crazy these days?????????????????? The News, what''s happening around the world, the natural disasters, the economy, the lack of action towards natural disasters, the not so natural disasters...... the lack of human decency????

I agree dragonfly.....especially with the last comment. We are definitely the least decent animal, in many respects.

I don''t know about that. I mean praying mantises eat their partners after they mate. As far as I know, most humans don''t do that.


But seriously though, that''s a ridiculous thing to say. Are there plenty of a-holes? Yes! Are there even more truly good people? I think so. And I''m no Pollyanna-I''m pretty damn misanthropic.


I guess I dislike people bitching about how horrible everyone else is even more than I dislike people in general.

No humans just kill their mates and hide the bodies, kill their own children and leave them to rot, rape, murder, steal. They kill deer just for their heads and leave their meat to rot on the side of the road. They burn kittens, hang dogs, starve livestock, all while they eat full meals in front of a tv. They kill each other over a twenty dollar bill. They enslave one another, sell one another, buy one another. They sit by as oil spews into our oceans, destroying water sources, food sources, and who knows how many species of animals. They tear off each other''s body parts, just to watch one another suffer. They leave their own babies in dumpsters. They hit each other with 3000 lb vehicles, set each other''s homes on fire, fly planes into buildings killing thousands of people. They set bombs for each other, killing each other without any kind of forewarning.
At least animals let their prey see them first.

 

[monarch64]

Dragonfly, humans have always treated each other and everything else in the world poorly. That''s why someone had to come up with a top ten list of things we shouldn''t do to each other.

Personally, I blame bad parenting.

 

[dragonfly411]

Monarch - totally agree they have. I just wanted to point out that we can''t really hold ourselves over animals that are born with a trigger to eat their mate. Especially when humans do it for fun.


My thing has actually been the many disasters more than anything. Volcanic ash, tornadoes like crazy, the oil spill which isn''t natural... but is a disaster.. and will soon be a larger one, earth quakes seem to be happening everywhere. I hear about them almost every day. I''m expecting a crazy hurricane season.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 5/21/2010 10:02:14 AM
Author: dragonfly411

Date: 5/20/2010 11:07:53 PM

Author: thing2of2

Date: 5/20/2010 10:41:22 PM


Author: hlmr

Date: 5/19/2010 11:41:08 AM



Author:dragonfly411



Anyone else notice that things are all kinds of crazy these days?????????????????? The News, what''s happening around the world, the natural disasters, the economy, the lack of action towards natural disasters, the not so natural disasters...... the lack of human decency????

I agree dragonfly.....especially with the last comment. We are definitely the least decent animal, in many respects.

I don''t know about that. I mean praying mantises eat their partners after they mate. As far as I know, most humans don''t do that.



But seriously though, that''s a ridiculous thing to say. Are there plenty of a-holes? Yes! Are there even more truly good people? I think so. And I''m no Pollyanna-I''m pretty damn misanthropic.



I guess I dislike people bitching about how horrible everyone else is even more than I dislike people in general.

No humans just kill their mates and hide the bodies, kill their own children and leave them to rot, rape, murder, steal. They kill deer just for their heads and leave their meat to rot on the side of the road. They burn kittens, hang dogs, starve livestock, all while they eat full meals in front of a tv. They kill each other over a twenty dollar bill. They enslave one another, sell one another, buy one another. They sit by as oil spews into our oceans, destroying water sources, food sources, and who knows how many species of animals. They tear off each other''s body parts, just to watch one another suffer. They leave their own babies in dumpsters. They hit each other with 3000 lb vehicles, set each other''s homes on fire, fly planes into buildings killing thousands of people. They set bombs for each other, killing each other without any kind of forewarning.

At least animals let their prey see them first.

A guy in my state just tried to trade his baby girl for crack cocaine on Monday night....I think I''d just rather eat my young.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 5/21/2010 10:21:44 AM
Author: dragonfly411
Monarch - totally agree they have. I just wanted to point out that we can''t really hold ourselves over animals that are born with a trigger to eat their mate. Especially when humans do it for fun.


My thing has actually been the many disasters more than anything. Volcanic ash, tornadoes like crazy, the oil spill which isn''t natural... but is a disaster.. and will soon be a larger one, earth quakes seem to be happening everywhere. I hear about them almost every day. I''m expecting a crazy hurricane season.

Well...my opinion is that we only call them disasters when they happen in populated areas. The earth has been changing and weather events have been happening forever. It just so happens now that humans have multiplied and the "disasters" are offensive when we lose our homes or lives due to them. I mean, do they happen more often now? I doubt it, it''s more likely that we''re more informed now since technology allows us to know everything that is going on in the world seconds after it happens, or that we''re able to predict when things will happen as well.

As far as people killing each other, all I can do is live my life in a way that is peaceful and do what I can to support others who are likeminded. I have to remember all the time that every other person I come across is probably going through some sort of struggle and to have patience.

I just received a card in the mail from a client who called in on Monday and spoke to me for over half an hour. She was frustrated, distraught, and basically beside herself about a matter beyond her control or mine. I listened. She talked. I thought she was crazy but I listened anyway. She sent me a card thanking me for my patience and understanding even though I could not resolve her problem. It was a nice reminder that if we just take a little extra time for each other maybe we can avoid some of the senseless violence that goes on in the world.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 5/21/2010 10:02:14 AM
Author: dragonfly411

Date: 5/20/2010 11:07:53 PM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 5/20/2010 10:41:22 PM
Author: hlmr

Date: 5/19/2010 11:41:08 AM
Author:dragonfly411

Anyone else notice that things are all kinds of crazy these days?????????????????? The News, what's happening around the world, the natural disasters, the economy, the lack of action towards natural disasters, the not so natural disasters...... the lack of human decency????

I agree dragonfly.....especially with the last comment. We are definitely the least decent animal, in many respects.

I don't know about that. I mean praying mantises eat their partners after they mate. As far as I know, most humans don't do that.

But seriously though, that's a ridiculous thing to say. Are there plenty of a-holes? Yes! Are there even more truly good people? I think so. And I'm no Pollyanna-I'm pretty damn misanthropic.

I guess I dislike people bitching about how horrible everyone else is even more than I dislike people in general.

No humans just kill their mates and hide the bodies, kill their own children and leave them to rot, rape, murder, steal. They kill deer just for their heads and leave their meat to rot on the side of the road. They burn kittens, hang dogs, starve livestock, all while they eat full meals in front of a tv. They kill each other over a twenty dollar bill. They enslave one another, sell one another, buy one another. They sit by as oil spews into our oceans, destroying water sources, food sources, and who knows how many species of animals. They tear off each other's body parts, just to watch one another suffer. They leave their own babies in dumpsters. They hit each other with 3000 lb vehicles, set each other's homes on fire, fly planes into buildings killing thousands of people. They set bombs for each other, killing each other without any kind of forewarning.

At least animals let their prey see them first.

Wouldn't letting their prey see them first mean that the prey could get away? That makes no sense, but it does sound super dramatic and stuff!

All of this has been going on (and worse) for the whole of humankind. But feel free to keep gnashing your teeth.

 

[princesss]

Date: 5/21/2010 11:02:33 AM
Author: monarch64

Date: 5/21/2010 10:21:44 AM
Author: dragonfly411
Monarch - totally agree they have. I just wanted to point out that we can''t really hold ourselves over animals that are born with a trigger to eat their mate. Especially when humans do it for fun.


My thing has actually been the many disasters more than anything. Volcanic ash, tornadoes like crazy, the oil spill which isn''t natural... but is a disaster.. and will soon be a larger one, earth quakes seem to be happening everywhere. I hear about them almost every day. I''m expecting a crazy hurricane season.

Well...my opinion is that we only call them disasters when they happen in populated areas. The earth has been changing and weather events have been happening forever. It just so happens now that humans have multiplied and the ''disasters'' are offensive when we lose our homes or lives due to them. I mean, do they happen more often now? I doubt it, it''s more likely that we''re more informed now since technology allows us to know everything that is going on in the world seconds after it happens, or that we''re able to predict when things will happen as well.

As far as people killing each other, all I can do is live my life in a way that is peaceful and do what I can to support others who are likeminded. I have to remember all the time that every other person I come across is probably going through some sort of struggle and to have patience.

I just received a card in the mail from a client who called in on Monday and spoke to me for over half an hour. She was frustrated, distraught, and basically beside herself about a matter beyond her control or mine. I listened. She talked. I thought she was crazy but I listened anyway. She sent me a card thanking me for my patience and understanding even though I could not resolve her problem. It was a nice reminder that if we just take a little extra time for each other maybe we can avoid some of the senseless violence that goes on in the world.

Ding ding ding ding ding!

Stuff like this has ALWAYS happened and, sadly, probably WILL always happen. We just know more now - we can track storms, we have more efficient ways of killing people, we''re more interested in the misfortunes of others (and the "news" brings it into our homes and makes this kind of voyuerism acceptable because we''re "staying informed"). There are more of us now in more places than there have ever been - of course there''s going to be more misfortune and more tragedies - there''s more opportunity!

Animals stalk their prey - they remain hidden because that''s the least risk to them and maximizes their chances of killing their prey. We''ve just been able to take it up a few notches.

At the end of the day, I can''t control nature and I can''t control other people. All I can do is live my life as peacefully as I can, and try to be as kind to people as I''m able to be.

 

[kenny]

Sure, bad stuff happens.
That's just how it is and always has been.

I'd imagine when half of Europe died in the Black Plague of the 14th century the folks asked, "What is WRONG with the world right now?"
Then there is always 1943's Europe.
How bout the native Americans in the 16th century?

Nothing is unique about our time or any time.
I think we tend to have a me-centric and now-centric point of view and lose historical perspective.

I'm going to accept reality, live my life well, do my part to make the world better, and be happy.

You could also look at the glass as half full and ask, "What is RIGHT with the world right now?".
There is a very long list of things that are better today.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 5/21/2010 12:41:14 PM
Author: kenny
Sure bad stuff happens.
So what?
That''s just how it is.
Did your mommy tell you everything is perfect here on earth, and now you are grumpy because you''ve finally learned it''s not?

I''m going to live my life well and be happy.
But don''t let me stop you - go ahead, worry about everything and be miserable.

Kenny, I have to say, sometimes you really knock ''em out of the park. I 100% ditto the above statement.

 

[kenny]

Thanks HH but I edited since I felt that was too harsh for the more some here on PS.
But thanks for quoting my original post; it does capture my gut reaction to some of the posts in this thread.

I'll add that everyone has an opinion, and they are all equal regardless of how strongly they are expressed.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Apologies, I stepped away from my desk for a few minutes with my post half written but not submitted. I didn''t see that you had edited it. Well regardless, I think you were spot on with your reaction, just like Monarch and Thing2.

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 5/21/2010 1:25:06 PM
Author: kenny
Thanks HH but I edited since I felt that was too harsh for the more delicate ones here on PS.

But thanks for quoting my original post; it does capture my gut reaction to some of the posts in this thread.


I''ll add that everyone has an opinion, and they are all equal regardless of how strongly they are expressed.

too bad your original was hilarious!

I generally try to look at the half full yes... I think it''s just the overflow of the news that is getting me. It seems like it''s just bam bam bam bam all one on top of the other this year. I''m still reeling at the lack of action to help those in Nashville who have lost a lot, and now they still haven''t capped this oil spill... and living close to the gulf it has become really relevant for me... GAH

::goes to make a happy things list:::

 

[kenny]

I think what the News feeds us is not a neutral cross section of what's going on in the world.

Sex, crime, violence and scandal is what grabs viewers and increases their ad rates.
People who judge the world based on the News have an incomplete picture.

 

[ksinger]

Well as someone who lives in a literal bullseye for violent tornadoes, (see diagram 3) I can tell you that even with the recent storms, this year hasn''t even come close to a really bad tornado year, here or anywhere else.....

 

[HollyS]

Date: 5/21/2010 3:30:42 PM
Author: ksinger
Well as someone who lives in a literal bullseye for violent tornadoes, (see diagram 3) I can tell you that even with the recent storms, this year hasn''t even come close to a really bad tornado year, here or anywhere else.....

Indeed.

Remember the Super Outbreak of April 1974? Mostly they were east of the Mississippi, but in a 24-hr period there were 148 confirmed tornadoes, many of which were F4 and F5 storms. It began in my home state, Illinois. Scary stuff.

You are kind of in the crosshairs, aren''t you? Got to keep an eye on the sky there for sure.

 

[Haven]

I think this is all about perspective.

It might be a good idea for anyone who feels overwhelmed with all the evils of the world to tune out of your sources of news for a while. If it isn't reported on NPR (or if Bill Maher doesn't discuss it,) I don't know about it. And that is okay with me.

I like this question, posed by many posters, much better than the first: What is RIGHT with the world right now? There would be so, so much to discuss, then.

 

[loriken214]

Date: 5/19/2010 6:44:14 PM
Author: HollyS
If you were to look at the front pages of, say, the New York Times, from 40 - 100 years ago, you would find that the world has always been in turmoil.

But - - and I think we can all agree - - there are either MORE a-holes in the world, or we just have a higher potential for noticing their behavior via internet, 24-hour news, cell phone video, etc. It''s much harder to hide a-holiness from a world that''s always connected.

And, common courtesy among ordinary people who interact daily has taken a serious nosedive. I could, and have, ranted on the deplorable state of our human kindness, but I find I''m just too tired of jerks anymore to discuss them. It''s a very exhausting topic.

Well said Holly!!!

Lori

 

[Steel]

I never fail to be disappointed by people and have a very dim view of people in general.

May I pick up on the comment in relation to free speech? I believe this is the most over stated and untrue ideology. I do not have free speech, well I do as long as it does not happen to comment upon the prevailing minority. I believe that we have become ridiculously PC, to the point that the majority has less freedom than the minority ever claim to have been oppressed by.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 5/23/2010 4:55:05 PM
Author: Steal
I never fail to be disappointed by people and have a very dim view of people in general.

May I pick up on the comment in relation to free speech? I believe this is the most over stated and untrue ideology. I do not have free speech, well I do as long as it does not happen to comment upon the prevailing minority. I believe that we have become ridiculously PC, to the point that the majority has less freedom than the minority ever claim to have been oppressed by.

Great point, Steal. Political correctness is definitely more painful for you than slavery or segregation was for "the prevailing minority"!

 

[Steel]

Way to miss the point there, thing!

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 5/23/2010 6:01:58 PM
Author: Steal
Way to miss the point there, thing!

Oh I''m sorry-did you have a point?