The new moral zeitgeist.

[Mikodite]

There is a degree of "dispense with the pleasantries what do you want?" mentality that goes on when certain common courtesies are dropped, though I usually say "excuse me" when getting past people and I try to thank people for holding up doors, and I haven't really though much of a lack of thank you, though the reason we get uppity about it is that its the only way we can communicate gratefulness, and to not do it implies that one was not grateful for the act and took it as granted.

Course, I can think of times where I've said "thank you" to someone and didn't really mean it: I just said it because you're suppose to, and I get the feeling a lot of people don't say because they are not thankful.

Course, than again I'm Canadian, maybe the culture is different.

 

[DanDeFool]

I may be just talking into empty space by now about this but does anyone else see a problem with people in their daily life's? This is just from me, people now hardly ever say thank you or when some do no one says you're welcome. I see people who look upset and i ask them what's wrong, half or more of them just get pissy to me. I see that could be something was wrong but at least they could say they don't want to talk about it. People don't care about each other anymore and it's starting to lure me to a conclusion why should I care, but it's in my nature to care. Is anyone else making these observations or am i alone? For god sakes people can't even take the time to eat with their mouth closed or go a day without a phone.

Personally, I always say "thank you" and hold doors for people and whatnot, but that's just me.

It might just be where you live; If you're living in the Bronx or in Bayone, New Jersey, there probably isn't a whole lot you can do about it.

Frankly, I've seen a larger issue with people just not being very open with each other. Even when people are nice, they still don't tend to share their feelings very well; probably for fear of being labeled a 'pussy' or a 'fag', or perhaps out of getting into a (potentially violent) argument with a stranger. Or maybe they just don't have time.

Anyway, my advice to you is not to stop caring, but to stop worrying about the things you can't change. You'll always run into people who are anti-social and don't want to talk to you. Forget about them and focus on the people who are more open with you. I'm sure you'll find interactions with them more fulfilling.

Also pay attention to time and place. You'll probably have more success getting people to open up if you try to talk to them in a private setting where there's less pressure. And where there's beer. Unless you're underage. Then you'll just have to rely on Diet Pepsi.

 

[Khada]

It's not your imagination, it will get worse as the worlds problems do the same. But don't give up. Lead by example. Be someone who makes people smile and you'll be in a position to teach your listener lessons on how to better themselves and work towards a future where all have a high standard of living.

http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/

 

[Khada]

Yes, it's important for you and others to be open and honest. Naturally there is a limit to whats appropriate but its good to get past the fear of being labeled a fag or pussy. Most the time you wont be if your straight up and honest and appear secure within yourself and unlikely to care for such petty insults but those who still do are simple people your better off avoiding. Better to be open and honest and find quality people who are the same then appease everyone but barely exposing yourself. It's not good for the soul.

 

[Gaderael]

I guess it's where you're from. Around here, while you do get your rude assholes, most people say please and thank you, and actually mean it. We'll hold open doors for one another, and all the other polite stuff.

This as well. I travel a lot (around America at least) and down in most southern states not only is it common with almost everyone using manners, but in most cases they seem to be genuine. The further north you get the less common this is, to the point where people actually gave me mean looks for using manners in New York. Whether that's telling of the people themselves or simply cultural progression is up in the air.

It's the Same in Toronto, and most of Ontario. When I first moved there I'd just be walking down the street and I'd smile and nod at people and say hello, and then stare at me like I had ten heads, or like I was about to rape them and dismember the corpse. It was very strange.

 

[XzarTheMad]

People have forgotten what it means to be human over the course of time.

Wait, what?
Disregarding the purpose of this thread, I feel that saying "people have forgotten what it means to be human" is about as stupid as you can get.

Modern society is the safest it has ever been. Being human has nothing to do with courtesy, if anything courtesy is the antithesis of it. Courtesy is a construct of a society, not something ingrained in the human race as a necessary tool for survival. Killing, eating, fucking, fighting, struggling and surviving, that's what it means to be human. As a species we generally accept that killing eachother is detrimental to our survival, since we are a pack animal, and we need the pack to survive. Saying "thank you" and opening doors for eachother is, while not a new idea, not something that is at all linked to being a human being.

If you had said that people have forgotten how to be a civilized human being.. then it'd still be wrong, but less so. In our day and age, we are far more courteous and considerate to eachother, especially minority groups, handicapped people and those with birth defects than we were just 100 years ago. That we haven't reached a utopia where everyone is courteous and opens doors and share their feelings with eachother is something one might lament, if one were so inclined, but in terms of civility, mankind has only evolved.

 

[infohippie]

It was taught by example from our political leaders. It started in the 80s, with the attitude that selfishness is now a virtue "trickling down" from Reagan and Thatcher. It got started a bit later in Australia, there was some movement in this direction when we had Paul Keating, but it didn't really get into full swing over here until the Lying Rodent got into power.

 

[ultrachicken]

The reason why people get pissy when you ask what's wrong is that they're both in a bad mood and you're intruding.

People are a lot more courteous now than in the past. Look at how people treat the disabled now versus a few decades ago, for example, or blacks.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I see people who look upset and i ask them what's wrong, half or more of them just get pissy to me. I see that could be something was wrong but at least they could say they don't want to talk about it. People don't care about each other anymore and it's starting to lure me to a conclusion why should I care, but it's in my nature to care. For god sakes people can't even take the time to eat with their mouth closed or go a day without a phone.

Caring about each other is actually pretty damn recent. Most of history has been spent clubbing, stabbing or shooting people who ask you "What's wrong?"

People have just become enamoured with being better than others, and to gain class, you have to, supposedly, defecate on the class below you.

 

[Wadders]

Who says people ever cared for each other, any more than they do today at least?

LOTS of psychologist and any critical analyses comparing western community bonds with eastern and tribal. Hell, one of the reasons why China's version of communism has worked so well is because they quite literally think of themselves as a PEOPLE, verses abunch of individuals.

But seriously though, there is so many sources answering you question that I won't list one. Nope, not even one. just google search it... or better yet, read a psych/sociology 101 book.

I'll take your word for it.

I see people who look upset and i ask them what's wrong, half or more of them just get pissy to me. I see that could be something was wrong but at least they could say they don't want to talk about it. People don't care about each other anymore and it's starting to lure me to a conclusion why should I care, but it's in my nature to care. For god sakes people can't even take the time to eat with their mouth closed or go a day without a phone.

Caring about each other is actually pretty damn recent. Most of history has been spent clubbing, stabbing or shooting people who ask you "What's wrong?"

People have just become enamoured with being better than others, and to gain class, you have to, supposedly, defecate on the class below you.

That was the point I was trying to make with my post. I may well be ill informed on the whole thing, but it just seems to me that throughout history we can see instances where human beings have been awful to one another. We havnt suddenly become assholes in the last few decades.

Who says people ever cared for each other, any more than they do today at least?

...GO ON THE TOWN (no real interest in this thread was just having a browse and love your avatar )

YES! Promotion on the horizon? Gotta be

 

[googleback]

I think people are more distant perhaps. less connected in person but online... yeah.
This coming from someone who decided against uni to start an acting career, ALL of my friends are at uni and I know literally nobody apart from those i meet when I work. Internet forums are sometimes the only conversation I get which is sad, but I knew that would happen going in.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

People have forgotten what it means to be human over the course of time.

Wait, what?
Disregarding the purpose of this thread, I feel that saying "people have forgotten what it means to be human" is about as stupid as you can get.

Modern society is the safest it has ever been. Being human has nothing to do with courtesy, if anything courtesy is the antithesis of it. Courtesy is a construct of a society, not something ingrained in the human race as a necessary tool for survival. Killing, eating, fucking, fighting, struggling and surviving, that's what it means to be human. As a species we generally accept that killing eachother is detrimental to our survival, since we are a pack animal, and we need the pack to survive. Saying "thank you" and opening doors for eachother is, while not a new idea, not something that is at all linked to being a human being.

If you had said that people have forgotten how to be a civilized human being.. then it'd still be wrong, but less so. In our day and age, we are far more courteous and considerate to eachother, especially minority groups, handicapped people and those with birth defects than we were just 100 years ago. That we haven't reached a utopia where everyone is courteous and opens doors and share their feelings with eachother is something one might lament, if one were so inclined, but in terms of civility, mankind has only evolved.

When I say we have forgotten what it means to be human, it implies what we have become by losing what we had inside. That you mention "minorities", "courtesy" and "modern society" implies that these things are relevant to the human collective. They are not. What the OP was getting at was the apparent "mechanization" of the human animal. The losing of what the human potential, both spiritual and physical, could be to the mechanations we have created - things like culture, society, the objectification of money, possessions and external government. The human animal certainly has the potential to become much more than the hunter/gatherer/survivor it started as, but limiting itself through primitive superstitions and governments that will always be destined to fail. Perhaps it's best if I share some insights from other people that have taught me these points of view that I have to reinforce my point rather than me trying to babble on a bit more, they said it better than I could...



(NOTE: His idea that we are all one. Remember that.)