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Lying appears to be more pronounced; people will tell falsehoods and never think twice about it.
There also appears to be less respect for authority; whether it be their parent/guardian, teacher, police officer, etc.
- Lack of conscience
- Not taking ownership of mistakes and blaming others
- No accountability
Seems to be a generation of "What difference does it make?!"
Very true, but it's not just young people.
Just an example, someone I know got a complaint about their attitude at work and how they treated two people visiting the company rudely, rather than just say they were sorry if they appeared curt. They made up a story about just getting an upsetting call due to a family emergency right before the two visitors came in.....LOL. So flat out lied.
This is the norm these days. Don't admit fault and say you're sorry, turn it around and make yourself the one who is the "victim".
Just an example, someone I know got a complaint about their attitude at work and how they treated two people visiting the company rudely, rather than just say they were sorry if they appeared curt. They made up a story about just getting an upsetting call due to a family emergency right before the two visitors came in.....LOL. So flat out lied.
This is the norm these days. Don't admit fault and say you're sorry, turn it around and make yourself the one who is the "victim".
Just an example, someone I know got a complaint about their attitude at work and how they treated two people visiting the company rudely, rather than just say they were sorry if they appeared curt. They made up a story about just getting an upsetting call due to a family emergency right before the two visitors came in.....LOL. So flat out lied.
This is the norm these days. Don't admit fault and say you're sorry, turn it around and make yourself the one who is the "victim".
Yes, too many people think kt's okay to lie at their convenience. I don't buy the rationalization of those who say everyone does it or it won't matter a hundred years from now. Everyone doesn't do it, and it matters right now!
I don't think people themselves are different from when I was, say 20 or so. I do think people now tend to be more open about their hostilities or hang ups. I think social pressure kept many of us from bragging or overtly being bratty. I don't think social pressure is the same as it used to be.
In terms of social behavior, remember that many of the victims of sexual abuse by priests--who should have been the most trustworthy of people--have just now been coming forward. Much of that bad stuff happened during the time your parents are remembering fondly.
I remember working in a office in the early 1970s. It was full of dysfunctional people. There were terrible gossips and drama queens, and at least one guy who felt oddly entitled. One old guy deliberately blew smoke in my face at a meeting. (Smoking was allowed then.)
I don't think people are any worse today than they were in years past. The main difference is that 50 years ago, institutional racism/sexism/etc. was acceptable so that sort of behavior served as more of an outlet for people who might engage in other behaviors nowadays.
Now we're at a point where respect isn't just a given, it has to be earned. Just because you are an authority figure doesn't mean that you'll automatically get respect nowadays if people think you don't deserve it. As mentioned in the above post about the priests, people have just become wary of giving people their trust just because they're a priest, carry a badge, etc. They know all the scandals and are cautious just like they'd be with anyone else in the public, as they should be.
Things were better years ago?! Not true at all. I laugh whenever I see threads praising the virtues of "the good old days". What a load of crap. Horrible things happened then, they just weren't broadcast to the extent the news is these days.
In fact, the way I see it things are lot better these days. I'm in my mid-40's, and have seen a lot of improvements in society in just my lifetime:
-Much more accountability in place for LE & other authority figures - which is excellent.
-Much easier access to & awareness of birth control/contraception. Going along with this, much more awareness/education about STD's - and prevention (which goes back to the birth control/protection).
-Going along with the above, the sexual revolution in the 1960's is one of the best things that happened to society. I myself like dating casually, and casual sex has gotten more & more acceptable throughout the years. And, it wasn't as acceptable/tolerated "back in the day".
-More tolerance of interracial relationships/dating/marriage. I'm a white guy, and have dated (and am attracted to) women of all races. At one time, something like this would not have been as acceptable.
- The Internet gives us a wealth of information at our fingertips. I myself have found it extremely useful over the years, and it has actually saved me a lot of time & money.
- From an entertainment stand-point (and going along with the Internet), we're living in a time when we have access to any music, TV show, or movie at the push of a button. Gone are the days of having to rent movies, tape TV shows, buy CD's, etc.
As far as the breakdown of the "family unit", things were never really that great in the past. Divorce wasn't an option (not nearly as much as it is now) so many women and men were stuck in marriages they didn't want to be in, making themselves miserable in the process. These days, society is also a lot more open to non-traditional lifestyles.
As far as the 'idyllic' 1950's, a lot of horrible things happened during that decade - it wasn't nearly as 'innocent' as many make it out to be:
My parents, who are in their 80s, are always complaining about the lack of people skills of folks today. They insist that "in their day" people were nicer. They insist that people do not know how to have a friendly relationship anymore. The quality of people in general (and their personal attributes) has gone done hill.
Mom and Dad know there were plenty of mean and terrible people alive in "their day" but believe there were more decent people back then as a percentage of the population.
I read many of the postings on this board and a common complaint is the "poor quality people" many of us are meeting. The quality of our personal relationships are going down hill. Maybe Mom and Dad are on to something. Maybe there is just more mean people in America today than before.
What do you think?
I don't equate a lack of people skills with being a bad person.
No. You just hear about things you never would have heard about before.
A murder/suicide on a college campus and it was the lead story nationwide. Before you wouldn't have heard about it unless you lived in the area. Casey Anthony. People have probably done the same thing every day of this countries existence. You had to kill 8 nurses at one time to make the news before. We have always had serial killers. We have always had gangs.
It is safer to leave you door unlocked or let your child walk down the street alone today than it was 50 years ago. Crime is way down from the past.
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