Why is the world so angry?

**Dancing Lotus** · 08-17-2007, 05:14 PM

I cant help but wonder why so many people seam to be so unhappy. Gone are the days that a neighbor was someone you could ask for help. I dont even know what my neighbors look like.
Last night a woman at the grocery store threw her lunch meat at the deli clerk becuase it wasnt cut right.
Today a man honked his horn like crazy at me becuase I wouldnt pull out into the traffic. And at goodwill a woman in one of those hoverround carts was dragging an entire rack of clothes behind her and when I tried to help her unhook it from her cart she never said a word and looked at me like I was trying to take her purse. Is thankyou too big of a word?
Does anybody else get disapointed in the public when they go out. I think Im just going to stay at home and order everything in from now on.

**frugalfarmwife** · 08-17-2007, 05:17 PM

Hugs Anne,

Sometimes I get so discouraged with people too, the world is in to much of a hurry and everyone is so ME oriented. At times like this I think of 4-5 good things in my life and try to shut the rest of the world out.

Hard to do though sometimes isn''t it? Just remember you can come here for kindness and polite people

kj

**baxjul** · 08-17-2007, 05:19 PM

I feel the same way! No politeness anymore!

**so68** · 08-17-2007, 05:22 PM

Don't shut yourself out from the world like you mentioned by staying in all the time. What the world NEEDS is people like yourself. The world needs more people to care, to realize that it is a totally different world from the old days, where like you said you knew your neighbours, people said thank you, that sort of thing. I agree, it really is a sad state of affairs. I don't know why things have become this way. But, like you'll agree, there are good people out there too - I just wish there were more of them!! :-) Have yourself a great day!!! It will get better!

**pip** · 08-17-2007, 05:22 PM

It's a different world. Manners used to be stressed, but now the focus seems to be on people getting their share of what they deserve. I know I'm sounding old, but I've lived enough to notice the change in times. It's really too bad. However, I still think I can make a difference just by being kind myself.

**DAAC3DEC** · 08-17-2007, 05:23 PM

YOU SAID IT SISTER, I SWEAR EVERYTIME I GO OUT I FEEL GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE WORLD!!!

**leezza** · 08-17-2007, 05:31 PM

Hey Anne,

I agree totally! I try so hard to be nice and polite to everyone the way my parents taught me to..........

Sometimes a big smile and a thank you work wonders though don't you think?

Hang in there,
leezza

**OzFreeBird** · 08-17-2007, 05:44 PM

A very interesting question.

The times our grandparents lived through, the two World Wars and the Great Depression, were times of hardship and frugality, of camaderie and focussing on the little things in life which give joy. Nobody had the internet, plasma TV screens, big cars (if any car at all) or fast food outlets. People spent a great deal of time working simply to survive - vegetable gardening, sewing, using things until they wore out, and so on. Camaderie and helping out your neighbour(s) was part of everyday life, and you knew that if you helped your neighbour with a dozen eggs, you in return would receive 2 boxes of home grown tomatoes for canning. Very much a quid pro quo society. There was a simple joy in sharing experiences and times with your neighbours and friends - it was a "first principles" way of living. Quite wonderful, in my opinion, despite the political and financial uncertainty.

I've found myself that focussing on these simple things are rewarding and also very centering, give peace and contentment, and make you realise daily how lucky you are.

The rise of oil since the 1950's has meant instant gratification, the development of the "keeping up with the Joneses" complex (which personally I find totally bewildering, I mean, are we all that shallow and unhappy with our lives?), we can have anything we want if we sign up for debt, and basically the personal inner struggle to achieve anything in life is now gone. Its ME ME ME and not WE WE WE.

THAT is what is wrong with society and I reckon that is why people are so angry. They have everything they want (with debt), yet no inner peace, no inner fulfilment, and so live their lives focussing entirely on themselves, get lonelier and lonelier, and angrier and angrier, and have no idea why they are so lonely and angry when they have everything. Well they don't have everything. They don't have the basic need of humans - community. We are gregarious and socially quite complex creatures and need structured community to gain fulfilment and to understand "where we fit in" and our roles in life.

This in my opinion is why the church movement (all denominations) is still alive today, with the advent of scientifically heavy evidence pointing to evolution rather than creationism since the 1800's. We need to have identity and acceptance and the rights and rituals of church give that to us, because its missing in our everyday work and personal lives.

Thanks for reading

**cab54** · 08-17-2007, 05:55 PM

True, and I fear that those of us who have lived 'a significant amount of time'

have BEEN where the world was nicer, slower, calmer, and more peace-filled. That is--in the good old days.

I can remember when people were SOOOO different than they are now (overall). When the world seemed open and kinder

and you didn't need to hide out somewhere (like your home). I'm afraid that is why I too am a homebody. Like someone said, I have to think of a few things in life that are good and then block out the rest. I am very nostalgia-oriented and like to think about hown things were when I was a child a lot. I worry about that (that I do that ) but I have to for sanity.

**boogiemum** · 08-17-2007, 06:05 PM

I have found just as many rude people online. In the last month I had an over the top bookmoocher give me a difficult time, along with an absolute crazy freecycle moderator. I won't even get into the unbelievable people I have come into contact with in the last 5 years through ebay.

**Dancing Lotus** · 08-17-2007, 08:05 PM

Thank you for your thoughts. Well said and somehow it left me feeling sorry for all those unhappy people.

Originally Posted by OzFreeBird

A very interesting question.

The times our grandparents lived through, the two World Wars and the Great Depression, were times of hardship and frugality, of camaderie and focussing on the little things in life which give joy. Nobody had the internet, plasma TV screens, big cars (if any car at all) or fast food outlets. People spent a great deal of time working simply to survive - vegetable gardening, sewing, using things until they wore out, and so on. Camaderie and helping out your neighbour(s) was part of everyday life, and you knew that if you helped your neighbour with a dozen eggs, you in return would receive 2 boxes of home grown tomatoes for canning. Very much a quid pro quo society. There was a simple joy in sharing experiences and times with your neighbours and friends - it was a "first principles" way of living. Quite wonderful, in my opinion, despite the political and financial uncertainty.

I've found myself that focussing on these simple things are rewarding and also very centering, give peace and contentment, and make you realise daily how lucky you are.

The rise of oil since the 1950's has meant instant gratification, the development of the "keeping up with the Joneses" complex (which personally I find totally bewildering, I mean, are we all that shallow and unhappy with our lives?), we can have anything we want if we sign up for debt, and basically the personal inner struggle to achieve anything in life is now gone. Its ME ME ME and not WE WE WE.

THAT is what is wrong with society and I reckon that is why people are so angry. They have everything they want (with debt), yet no inner peace, no inner fulfilment, and so live their lives focussing entirely on themselves, get lonelier and lonelier, and angrier and angrier, and have no idea why they are so lonely and angry when they have everything. Well they don't have everything. They don't have the basic need of humans - community. We are gregarious and socially quite complex creatures and need structured community to gain fulfilment and to understand "where we fit in" and our roles in life.

This in my opinion is why the church movement (all denominations) is still alive today, with the advent of scientifically heavy evidence pointing to evolution rather than creationism since the 1800's. We need to have identity and acceptance and the rights and rituals of church give that to us, because its missing in our everyday work and personal lives.

Thanks for reading

**i.m.cheap** · 08-17-2007, 08:13 PM

I agree. It is hard to get to know people, because everyone seems afraid to speak. I always say hello to my neighbors, we live in a townhouse and apartment community with 68 units. I live very close to the community mailbox. I often see people walk past my front door on the way to get their mail. If I am outside, I always smile and say hello. Most of the time they won't even look at me, smile or anything. They just keep their eyes straight ahead and keep walking.

**frugalfarmwife** · 08-17-2007, 08:31 PM

You know, mean people suck and it's sad there are so many of them.

One thing I've observed since I've gone back to work IS the expectation of everything NOW! I listen to the negativity about bills and no money as they sit there and text message all the time, drink expensive coffee drinks, eat tons of EXPENSIVE food and complain. I never say anything, I just listen. When I go home I ALWAYS drive really slow down the drive and look at all I have and take a moment to be thankful that I am in such a peaceful place in my life.

And believe it or not my favorite thing about shopping at Aldis is the paying a quarter for my shopping cart, I always go out of my way to get one from someone else and make eye contact and tell them to have a great day. One day I helped a lady unload her groceries and found out it was her 88th birthday that day and her daughters couldn't be there, so gave her a birthday hug. It made my day more than hers!

kj

**sunshine** · 08-17-2007, 08:46 PM

I live in a small farming community -- we all know our neighbors, even though the closest ones are several miles away. People still help people here, still hold doors open for you, etc.

Then I go to work -- 2 blocks from the state capital building and I see a lot of the things you stated. . . rudeness, entitlement, etc.

Glad I can come home to the peace, and 'old time' ways.

**Jskell911** · 08-17-2007, 08:54 PM

I work as a rental agent for a car rental company, and I will tell you the absolute worst thing about my job is the customers attitudes. Jerks yelling at ME because of their rate (Yeah, I make them up!), never off the cell phone, telling me I WILL do this or that for them, ughhhh the list goes on!

But, it really has been an eye opener. And I find myself that much more willing to make sure I treat people with respect and insisting my son is the same.

To me, this is definately not a situation of "if you can't beat them join them". Too bad for so many other it is though