Have we as a society become more shallow?

[Jay F]

Originally Posted by Ro2113

One would argue that with the relatively high obesity rates in this country it's impossible for us to become more shallow.

That's a good point. I noticed a huge increase in shallowness from the 1970s-1990s. But as I mentioned earlier I haven't noticed any change in the past 15-20 years. Perhaps we are even becoming less shallow due to the obesity epidemic. Less people can afford to be shallow.

[VX5650]

Originally Posted by blazejen

I think the standard for normal/healthy/attractive have gotten very narrow a la _Brave New World_. I was raised on stories about people who were real characters and didn't fit into the neat little concepts of normal that we have now. I've never preferred "perfect" people in friends, family, or intimate partners. They always have a mix of 'good' and 'bad'. I would really like to see a more open culture in which people are more accepting of difference and appreciate uniqueness.

YES! I think you hit the nail on the head here. It's the definition of "normal" that keeps getting smaller with people trying harder and harder to fit in. It really disturbs me when people have laundry lists of "qualities" that their potential mate must have. I have my own standards but they are not set in stone. I do not require ANYBODY in my life to be perfect or even close to perfect. In fact it's sometimes those imperfections that make people who they are.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by Inebriated Duck

This. There was no such thing as a golden age of integrity or morality. Times when people were supposed to be more moral were in fact times of incredible violence and barbarity. Also, I wouldn't use the word shallow, but rather simply...human.

I think that we are a pretty ****ty species overall. I say this because in no time in human history people were really nice to each other and did not fight or exploit each other in one way or another.

[Jay F]

Originally Posted by VX5650

YES! I think you hit the nail on the head here. It's the definition of "normal" that keeps getting smaller with people trying harder and harder to fit in. It really disturbs me when people have laundry lists of "qualities" that their potential mate must have. I have my own standards but they are not set in stone. I do not require ANYBODY in my life to be perfect or even close to perfect. In fact it's sometimes those imperfections that make people who they are.

If someone has a laundry list of qualities they demand or are expecting perfection they will most likely stay single. If they are shallow to the extreme they might not even be capable of being in a loving relationship even if they find somebody they think is perfect. Also they will have much competition for the shrinking pool of who's considered dateable.

In other words there are ramifications for a society becoming more shallow, even among the shallow themselves.