What's wrong with the world?

[Gubby]

It's common to lament the state of the world. Human nature this, global warming that. So, I ask you: what do you think is the source of our problems? Why do we keep doing things that are generally agreed to be bad?


My opinion is, it's the mind viruses and general stupidity/apathy which lets those in.

Over to you.

 

[ChrizZ]

The cause of our problems is that everybody stopped thinking for themselves and just does what everybody else is doing without questioning anything.

 

[ProDJ26]

And the media has the masses brainwashed. Everybody has their head stuck up their butts and claim that they don't care what other people think. Yet they turn right around saying how they want this car, that car, those talents and for what? So they can impress one another. The end is truly near....

What ever happened to the days when people hung out. Now it's all about 3 things:

Money, Entertainment, and Sex

But theres nothing wrong with the latter.....lol

 

[Gubby]

The cause of our problems is that everybody stopped thinking for themselves and just does what everybody else is doing without questioning anything.

How much d'ya reckon that's a new thing?

I think people may well be growing more and more independent minded.

Think of how the Church made a killing in indulgences in the middle ages. People certainly didn't think so freely back then.

 

[ChrizZ]

How much d'ya reckon that's a new thing?

I think people may well be growing more and more independent minded.

Think of how the Church made a killing in indulgences in the middle ages. People certainly didn't think so freely back then.

In the past it was the church that killed people.

Nowadays it's the military. Most kids go there because of propaganda by the media, social pressure or to risk their lives to make money so that they can buy sh!t they don't need.

I don't see a difference here.

People actually become LESS independed minded.

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

...
I think people may well be growing more and more independent minded.....

This may be true but I don't think many of them are actually thinking about what they should really be doing with that independence. Think about all of the stupid things people are doing using technology.

 

[Gubby]

In the past it was the church that killed people.

Nowadays it's the military. Most kids go there because of propaganda by the media, social pressure or to risk their lives to make money so that they can buy sh!t they don't need.

I don't see a difference here.

People actually become LESS independed minded.

I could argue the opposite. The trouble with comparing to past generations is that we only know are own. I think it says more about our optimism or pessimism than anything else.

Nowadays we have much more media & leisure time -- much more INPUT. So people can use this to enrich themselves or they can fall victim to bad media and become worse. It's hard to say what the overall effect is.......

 

[SmoothTalker]

I have to agree with Gubby, people have always been sheep, and probably always will be, I'm pretty sure it's human nature.

Sure those influences can spread faster now, but I don't think they're any more powerful than ever.

 

[ChrizZ]

Nowadays we have much more media & leisure time -- much more INPUT. So people can use this to enrich themselves or they can fall victim to bad media and become worse. It's hard to say what the overall effect is.......

What do you mean by using it to enrich themselves?

 

[Gubby]

What do you mean by using it to enrich themselves?

Books, internet, programs are all media. So people have much more contact with different ideas. I spend huge amounts of time reading books about self improvement, spirituality, etc etc. I couldn't have done that 1000 years ago. I might have made do, but my search for self-knowledge is considerably facilitated.

There's some INCREDIBLE knowledge out there -- and it can all be got free or practically so!

 

[theunflushables]

In the past it was the church that killed people.

Nowadays it's the military. Most kids go there because of propaganda by the media, social pressure or to risk their lives to make money so that they can buy sh!t they don't need.

I don't see a difference here.

People actually become LESS independed minded.

No it was still the military killing then. Its who controls the army that matters. Back then, the church did control the army in the purpose of spreading whatever religion of choice. Now, the church has been replaced with corporatism.

Both have the same end goals which is power. Its just going about gaining power in a certain way.

In my opinion it is rampant consumerism that is going to lead to the fall. Look at the Roman Empire. Have we become the new Rome?

 

[Ricky]

Actually depending on the person there are several issues at play.

For those who have a roof over their head, and plenty of food, etc, they dont' have as many problems so we create angst for ourselves (credit Tyler D for mentioning this in the blueprint). Even though these people have lives that are pretty damn good, they still aren't perfect without the set of fake boobs, the two car garage, the 6 pack abs, the Lexus, lower gas prices, etc. People will find more and more to want and more to worry about.

For those who dont' have as much, they are envious of those who do have all that stuff. As long as they are above the poverty line, but below the Jones who have the consumer goods they want, they'll feel bad.

The great goal of this life should be a balance between striving to be ones best and contentment and enjoying what we have.

 

[Paper Man]

Actually depending on the person there are several issues at play.

For those who have a roof over their head, and plenty of food, etc, they dont' have as many problems so we create angst for ourselves (credit Tyler D for mentioning this in the blueprint). Even though these people have lives that are pretty damn good, they still aren't perfect without the set of fake boobs, the two car garage, the 6 pack abs, the Lexus, lower gas prices, etc. People will find more and more to want and more to worry about.

Actually I think this is just the realisation that happiness isn't a material thing that can be bought. You guys in the US are infected with materialism more than most, I think. Sure, there's a material component to it -- call it half and half, but nowadays we're WAY off the optimum balance.

Happiness isn't something that can be packaged or bought or sold, and that worries business people.

 

[synergy1]

Actually I think this is just the realization that happiness isn't a material thing that can be bought. You guys in the US are infected with materialism more than most, I think. Sure, there's a material component to it -- call it half and half, but nowadays we're WAY off the optimum balance.

Happiness isn't something that can be packaged or bought or sold, and that worries business people.

Thats how our advertising is angled; creating a connection between material things (Their products) with happiness, spontaneity, love, comradely, you name it. Car commercials especially have been attacking every angle lately, but branded products like coke, various insurance, and even brokerage firms are starting to go at it from all sides.

Most of us don't have a choice when we watch advertisements, so this **** is ingrained in peoples heads, especially the average/below average individuals. How do I know? The materialistic people I know personally are the ones who need to "keep up with the jones" are consistently spend beyond their means. Its amazing watching a typical consumer buy stuff they don't use in order to satisfy a basic emotional need they believe they need fulfilled.

The world is about as messed up as the animal kingdom. While from our point of view, it may be in ust when one species hunts and kills another, it is just merely the function nature undergoes. Whatever works flies, and for human society, exploitation of the weak , ignorant, and impatient is no different than a lion killing a baby zebra to feed its kids.