Do you think American society is getting better overall?

[NewbieJr 541]

Fixed

Exhibit A of the prototypical bitter, crazy old man who thinks things were so much better 70 years ago when he was a kid. :cuckoo:

[MDC 7,889]

American people are more flawed and morally defective and generally stupid than at any other point in our nation's history.

Even worse than when most Americans had no formal education at all and settled conflicts through lynch mobs?

 

People have no sense of perspective or conception of how good they really have it.

[timschochet 3]

since the 1950's American society has been all downhill

Correct.

[Frank M 181]

Even worse than when most Americans had no formal education at all and settled conflicts through lynch mobs?

 

People have no sense of perspective or conception of how good they really have it.

People have been crying about the decline of society ever since humans decided to live together in groups.

 

It's all a variation of "Kids these days!!! In my day, blah, blah, blah....."

[Frank M 181]

since the 1950's American society has been all downhill

 

Sure it has. I'd love to go back to those days of sexual represion, rampant pollution, blacks and women marginalized.

 

Essentially, back when the Mighty White Male was in large and in charge. That's where I want to be.

 

[NewbieJr 541]

 

Sure it has. I'd love to go back to those days of sexual represion, rampant pollution, blacks and women marginalized.

 

Essentially, back when the Mighty White Male was in large and in charge. That's where I want to be.

 

This could be the tagline of the Republican Party.

[Phurfur 70]

Socially, the country is making great strides. WAY more advanced then they were 50, 40, even 10 years ago.

 

I agree that the internet and video games are a huge social problem. Young kids know way more than we knew as children.

 

And video games have turned a lot of kids into lazy nerds.

There is a greater percentage of people on welfare than ever before.

More Black Americans are on welfare than White Americans

There is a greater percentage of people on food stamps than ever before.

We have the lowest percentage of people in the workforce since the great depression.

23 million children are on free or reduced meals at school.

+40% of babies are born to unwed mothers.

Legalized discrimination against White Americans.

We are borrowing 40 cents of every dollar we spend. We borrow $50,000 a second.

We are approaching a National debt of $17 trillion.

We are printing $3 billion a day.

We perform over 3,500 abortions each day

Newbie, Winning!

[Phurfur 70]

You know what I see when I read this thread?

 

A bunch of crazies standing on the corner wearing sandwich boards yelling at passerbys "Repent, the end is near!"

 

Jesus Christ, get over yourselves.

Another poster suffering from normalcy bias.

[The Moz 71]

Let's see:

 

-- We have gone from Good Christian Values - to let's Ban Christmas

-- From being Ghey is taboo to being just "straight" is now ewwwwwww

-- From great music to pretty damn shitty music

-- From being surprised to find out a person smoked weed to being shocked when you hear someone doesn't

-- From 1 tattoo meaning your a rebel to every kid around 18 having at least 5.

-- From wimmens staying home and raising kids to both parents working just so you can have more stuff.

 

can go on and on here. This is just a small sampling.

 

IMO society has crumbled since the early 60's

[MDC 7,889]

People have been crying about the decline of society ever since humans decided to live together in groups.

 

It's all a variation of "Kids these days!!! In my day, blah, blah, blah....."

I have concerns about American culture and maybe think we are in decline, but 2013 is far from the darkest days in US history.

[NewbieJr 541]

Let's see:

 

-- We have gone from Good Christian Values - to let's Ban Christmas- AGREED. RIDICULOUS

-- From being Ghey is taboo to being just "straight" is now ewwwwwww- NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY HERE. A POORLY WORDED ANTI-GAY THING< I'D GUESS

-- From great music to pretty damn shitty music- AGREED

-- From being surprised to find out a person smoked weed to being shocked when you hear someone doesn't- SADLY, THIS IS TRUE

-- From 1 tattoo meaning your a rebel to every kid around 18 having at least 5.- VERY VERY LOW ON LIST OF CONCERNS> HARMLESS

-- From wimmens staying home and raising kids to both parents working just so you can have more stuff.- MOST NEED TWO INCOMES TO JUST PAY THEIR BILLS

 

can go on and on here. This is just a small sampling.

 

IMO society has crumbled since the early 60's

[timschochet 3]

 

Sure it has. I'd love to go back to those days of sexual represion, rampant pollution, blacks and women marginalized.

 

Essentially, back when the Mighty White Male was in large and in charge. That's where I want to be.

 

1950s: America's economy and middle class growth was booming

Today: America's economy and the middle class is shrinking

 

 

1950s: Crime rates were the lowest in American history

Today: Crime rates are far, far higher than the 50s

 

 

1950s: Families could afford to live a middle class lifestyle on dad's salary

Today: Both mom and dad have to work and families still struggle.

 

 

1950s: America had the world's best public education system

Today: America's public schools are a laughing stock.

 

 

1950s: America's cities were safe, clean places where families could live and frequent

Today: Many cities are overrun with crime and businesses and people are moving out

 

 

1950s: Media was not filled with depictions of hoes, gangstas, teenage baby mommas, murders, and drugs. Society reflected the simpler media.

Today: Media is filled with depictions of hoes, gangstas, teenage baby mommas, murders, and drugs. Society reflects the more crass media.

 

 

1950s: No obesity epidemic

Today: Obesity epidemic

 

 

Overall advantage: 1950s

[timschochet 3]

1950s: No Frank M

Today: Frank M

 

 

Advantage: 50s

[The Moz 71]

1950s: America's economy and middle class growth was booming

Today: America's economy and the middle class is shrinking

 

 

1950s: Crime rates were the lowest in American history

Today: Crime rates are far, far higher than the 50s

 

 

1950s: Families could afford to live a middle class lifestyle on dad's salary

Today: Both mom and dad have to work and families still struggle.

 

 

1950s: America had the world's best public education system

Today: America's public schools are a laughing stock.

 

 

1950s: America's cities were safe, clean places where families could live and frequent

Today: Many cities are overrun with crime and businesses and people are moving out

 

 

1950s: Media was not filled with depictions of hoes, gangstas, teenage baby mommas, murders, and drugs. Society reflected the simpler media.

Today: Media is filled with depictions of hoes, gangstas, teenage baby mommas, murders, and drugs. Society reflects the more crass media.

 

 

1950s: No obesity epidemic

Today: Obesity epidemic

 

 

Overall advantage: 1950s

50's - Damn was a cuss word

Today - It's only a cuss word if you use fock 2 or more times in 1 sentence.

[Frank M 181]

Another poster suffering from normalcy bias.

 

Unlike you, I refuse to jump on "The sky is falling" bandwagon, Chicken Little.

[Phurfur 70]

 

Unlike you, I refuse to jump on "The sky is falling" bandwagon, Chicken Little.

 

 

The normalcy bias, or normality bias, refers to a mental state people enter when facing a disaster. It causes people to underestimate both the possibility of a disaster occurring and its possible effects. This often results in situations where people fail to adequately prepare for a disaster, and on a larger scale, the failure of governments to include the populace in its disaster preparations. The assumption that is made in the case of the normalcy bias is that since a disaster never has occurred then it never will occur. It also results in the inability of people to cope with a disaster once it occurs. People with a normalcy bias have difficulties reacting to something they have not experienced before. People also tend to interpret warnings in the most optimistic way possible, seizing on any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normalcy_bias

 

 

[phillybear 366]

Even worse than when most Americans had no formal education at all and settled conflicts through lynch mobs?

 

People have no sense of perspective or conception of how good they really have it.

In inner cities less than half of all kids achieve anything higher than a 2nd grade reading level and do even worse in math. Less than half of all kids graduate. Americans with no formal education back then were at least home schooled by parents that gave a sh!t. Today, we got a bunch of dumb asses that just don't give a fock. Today, we still have conflicts resolved by mobs, or have you not noticed the gangs roaming the streets of our fair city. Why don't you stop sugarcoating and open your mascara lined eyes.

[NewbieJr 541]

 

 

LOL at the word "Disaster". The paranoid pussie has finally gone off the deep end.

[Frank M 181]

 

 

 

I know what normalcy bias is. I also know that the decline of American society warnings have been shouted since America became a country. I'm supposed to worry about it now that a bunch of retards on a message board started a thread about it?

 

[RLLD 4,275]

Worse.

[Phurfur 70]

LOL at the word "Disaster". The paranoid pussie has finally gone off the deep end.

 

 

normalcy bias

 

 

seizing on any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation

 

[Phurfur 70]

 

I know what normalcy bias is. I also know that the decline of American society warnings have been shouted since America became a country. I'm supposed to worry about it now that a bunch of retards on a message board started a thread about it?

 

Classic normalcy bias, seizing on any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation.

[TD Ryan2 316]

Today, we are given more freedom, more choice, and more voice than ever.

We are smarter and healthier than ever.

Opportunity is more abundant that ever.

 

But KSB is right, we are not "happier" than ever. Why?

 

Maybe because all this freedom and opportunity creates higher stakes for every individual.

Sink or Swim... there is no middle ground (i.e. middle class) anymore. There is no "simple life".

There is constant change and instability, which created all the freedom and opportunity in the first place, but also creates lots of instability.

If you are swimming, you better keep swimming and do it faster, more, better than ever.

The pace of life is at the same break-neck speed as the pace of all this change/freedom/technology.

One slip. One bad move. One failure to keep swimming and you too could sink.

And once you sink, it's tough to get back up.

Are we better? Sure, if by better you mean smarter and healthier.

But we are not happier. The simple life is gone - and really, that simple life is everything you're working for. The place you'll find it is in retriement - but you can't retire until you're 90 (if you're lucky). Keep on swimming. Keep on swimming.

[NorthernVike 2,096]

Its going to hell in a handbasket, rapidly.

This

[Frank M 181]

Classic normalcy bias, seizing on any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation.

 

If by seizing on ambiguities, you mean not listening to disgruntled conservatives wishing for a return to the good ol' days and conspiracy theorists who think mind control plans are being executed through the TV, Then yes, I'm seizing on ambiguities.

[NewbieJr 541]

Classic normalcy bias, seizing on any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation.

Classic Pussie Paranoia: seizing on any ambiguities to infer a more serious situation or disaster.

[Bishop82 61]

Trending in a healthier direction, wiser, nobler, etc.

 

I realize there's a ton of grey area in assessing this...it's a big, vague question. There are many different trends to consider. I'm curious how people feel general sentiment wise though. Is the perceivable good in developments outweighing the bad? (Or maybe it's too close and complex to call).

 

What's more likely in a very general sense...you'll be more or less comfortable with society 10 years down the road?

About the same. But to answer your last question, more comfortable with society 10 years down the road.

[Phurfur 70]

Today, we are given more freedom, more choice, and more voice than ever.

We are smarter and healthier than ever.

Opportunity is more abundant that ever.

 

But KSB is right, we are not "happier" than ever. Why?

 

Maybe because all this freedom and opportunity creates higher stakes for every individual.

Sink or Swim... there is no middle ground (i.e. middle class) anymore. There is no "simple life".

There is constant change and instability, which created all the freedom and opportunity in the first place, but also creates lots of instability.

If you are swimming, you better keep swimming and do it faster, more, better than ever.

The pace of life is at the same break-neck speed as the pace of all this change/freedom/technology.

One slip. One bad move. One failure to keep swimming and you too could sink.

And once you sink, it's tough to get back up.

Are we better? Sure, if by better you mean smarter and healthier.

But we are not happier. The simple life is gone - and really, that simple life is everything you're working for. The place you'll find it is in retriement - but you can't retire until you're 90 (if you're lucky). Keep on swimming. Keep on swimming.

What are all these new freedoms?

 

 

I remember went I could carry a knife to school and no one was ever stabbed

I remember when I could open a lemonade stand on our front lawn,

I remember when I could open a Bar or Restaurant and decide if I wanted to allow smoking

I remember when kids could eat what they wanted at school.

I remember when I was not required to buy health insurance.

I remember when we could play dodge ball and tag in school.

I remember when I could buy and drink raw milk if I wanted to.

I remember when I could fly anywhere in the USA and walk right on the plane without showing an ID and the stewardesses were hired for personality, body type and looks.

[NewbieJr 541]

Damn, this topic is right up Phurfur's alley. It should be titled, "Please come in here and be a crotchety old timer who talks about the good ole days"

[Phurfur 70]

Damn, this topic is right up Phurfur's alley. It should be titled, "Please come in here and be a crotchety old timer who talks about the good ole days"

 

But you cannot prove me wrong, go figure.

 

normalcy bias

[NewbieJr 541]

 

But you cannot prove me wrong, go figure.

 

normalcy bias

Paranoid pussie

[Phurfur 70]

Paranoid pussie

So ya got nothin' as usual and cannot prove me wrong as usual. Socialism is a great thing for lazy stupid people like you.

[NewbieJr 541]

So ya got nothin' as usual and cannot prove me wrong as usual. Socialism is a great thing for lazy stupid people like you.

Prove you wrong about what? Read the thread title. This wasn't a quiz, Jasckass. You gave your opinion (which every single person here could have done for you) and I gave mine.

[Phurfur 70]

Prove you wrong about what? Read the thread title. This wasn't a quiz, Jasckass. You gave your opinion (which every single person here could have done for you) and I gave mine.

I presented facts, something you are unfamiliar with. I never stated when things were better or gave an opinion. You drew that conclusion from the facts I presented so you are the one that believes it was better in the good old days.

 

Life is hard, it is even harder when you are stupid.

[NewbieJr 541]

I presented facts, something you are unfamiliar with. I never stated when things were better or gave an opinion. You drew that conclusion from the facts I presented so you are the one that believes it was better in the good old days.

 

Life is hard, it is even harder when you are stupid.

 

Here are some facts for you, Grandpa:

 

Technology has made communicating with loved ones easier at all times

Advances in medicine have extended life expectancy and cured many diseases.

The country has evolved a great deal on human rights and equality.

Technology advances have made it much easier to solve crimes and get criminals behind bars.

 

 

And that's not to say some of the facts that you provided aren't correct, too. Yours are well known, as are mine. The thread topic was asking our OPINION on which America is/was better. Sorry to inform you, you can't be wrong in this one. No one can.

[parrot 789]

So ya got nothin' as usual and cannot prove me wrong as usual. Socialism is a great thing for lazy stupid people like you.

 

Says the guy living off the government teat. It never, EVER gets old.

[The Pope 10]

 

Here are some facts for you, Grandpa:

 

Technology has made communicating with loved ones easier at all times

Advances in medicine have extended life expectancy and cured many diseases.

The country has evolved a great deal on human rights and equality.

Technology advances have made it much easier to solve crimes and get criminals behind bars.

 

 

And that's not to say some of the facts that you provided aren't correct, too. Yours are well known, as are mine. The thread topic was asking our OPINION on which America is/was better. Sorry to inform you, you can't be wrong in this one. No one can.

What do these things have to to with society? They are more about quality of life. As a society we are not smarter. I talk to small business owners all day. They can't understand simple things like I can't give you the same price as I give Walmart because they are ordeing a million units where you are ordering 10 units.

 

They are rude and stupid. I've had some that could not even spell thier own name. True.

 

Just like the fall of Rome we have gotten lazy and have an unrealistic sense of entitlement.

[parrot 789]

What do these things have to to with society? They are more about quality of life. As a society we are not smarter. I talk to small business owners all day. They can't understand simple things like I can't give you the same price as I give Walmart because they are ordeing a million units where you are ordering 10 units.

 

They are rude and stupid. I've had some that could not even spell thier own name. True.

 

Just like the fall of Rome we have gotten lazy and have an unrealistic sense of entitlement.

I don't think businesses trying to protect their own interests is a new phenomenon, or much of a reflection on society either for that matter.

[The Pope 10]

I don't think businesses trying to protect their own interests is a new phenomenon, or much of a reflection on society either for that matter.

Not understanding simple economics is not protecting thier own interests. They are focking morons that will be out of business in within 2 years.

[The Pope 10]

Reality TV. Nuff said.