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Is it me or are we living in a very spiteful world at the moment?
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Maybe I'm living among the wrong people but it feels like everything these days is about one-upmanship. It's like people can't just be happy for each other any more. If person A has just got something nice like a stay in a four star hotel, person B will brag that they're going to a five star one.
People seem to buy expensive shiny stuff they don't even need or use just to show it off. I know someone who lives in a five bedroom house and drives a 4x4 and they are in a lot of debt but won't move to somewhere smaller or downgrade their car.
Everything is about keeping up with the Jones.
And in general, I feel like society is more shallow than ever. Everything has to be sexed-up including our children, ageism is rife within the media and the "real world", and I just sense an air of competitiveness, jealousy and bitchness around all the time.
Has anyone else felt this lately or am I being silly?
People seem to buy expensive shiny stuff they don't even need or use just to show it off. I know someone who lives in a five bedroom house and drives a 4x4 and they are in a lot of debt but won't move to somewhere smaller or downgrade their car.
Everything is about keeping up with the Jones.
And in general, I feel like society is more shallow than ever. Everything has to be sexed-up including our children, ageism is rife within the media and the "real world", and I just sense an air of competitiveness, jealousy and bitchness around all the time.
Has anyone else felt this lately or am I being silly?
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Allow me to rant...
It all started in the 16th Century with the break with Rome, when that fat guy with the daft hat married one girl too many and that woman off the tv, sex, sex, sex, that's all she talks about, oh and beat music, lousy beatniks, then those darn hippes and generation X with their incessant 'mans'...
-CENSORED-
...and that's why you mustn't fiddle with the end of it, you may get an electric shock.
I don't feel any of that here in Thailand (teaching and living in rural Thailand, not in the resorty type places). Yes, there's gossip but not jealousy or spitefulness. Everything is communual and people share and are very generous, even those who have very little.
When I asked some of my students what they would buy if they won the lottery... most had no idea what to do with the money, because they aren't materially driven. Most British kids would have a list they prepared earlier.
I just find how empty life is in the UK. Everything is so focused on what you have or what you want. It's a very selfish, self centred way of life.
There is an undercurrent of deep unhappiness and spitefulness that I have never seen before coupled with an absolute failure for people to take any responsibility for the causes or solutions. Everything seems to be someone else's fault - MPs, councils, teachers, nurses, social workers, bankers, parents, childless people...list goes on and on. I'm tired of hearing the phrase "they should do something about that".
I've got a cousin who has various supposed illnesses (I say supposed as she's a very manipulative little madame) and NOBODY is more ill than her, NOBODY suffers more than her, and NOBODY is as misunderstood and treated unfairly more than her. If you've got a cold, she's got the plague. It's crazy, but I've come across a lot of people who use health or the health of their offspring to compete and it's really odd.
I'm firmly in the 'as long as I've a roof over my head, friends who make me laugh and everyone I love has their health I don't care' camp, but unfortunately my OH has a tendancy to be a bit green. I couldn't give a stuff and can't bear conversations that revolve around how much someone spent on stuff, it's not just vain and snobby but incredibly boring.
It should be an option on the general election ballot. They seem to know the solution to everything
Oh no, it's something I've been feeling for years but after seeing my friend buying yet more expensive clothes when she's in debt and living off store credit, I snapped. She doesn't need all these designer outfits but she's obsessed with being dressed to the nines at all times.
I honestly don't get it. I'm with you - as long as I have a home, enough food to eat and can fund the basic needs in life without too much worry about the bills (heating, electricity, internet...) then I'm a very happy bunny.
I take great pleasure in making things and love more than anything things that are made for me, sticky glittery cards from my niece, supper from a friend, my dad coming to stay and setting about the garden for me. These are my treasures.
I'm rubbish at art, which annoys me because I would love to make people gifts.
I also hate how commercialism has sucked the heart out of holidays like Easter and Christmas. It's all about money and popularity and if you have neither you are totally vilified and made to feel like a worthless piece of crap. Awful.
You're just older, that's all.
The past is permanently rose tinted.
I think you're right. It's something I've noticed more and more as I approach my thirties (three years to go! :eek:) so it's probably just a case of growing up and losing the innocence and inexperience of youth? Still, 'tis depressing if I let myself think about it, which I usually don't.
This.
It's always been the same way throughout history, it's just more noticeable now because there is more wealth and more material goods to spend that money on.
Money = power. In the past it's meant direct power over the poorer, either by the rich owning land and having the poor work it, or by using that money for political influence. Now it's having a better house or a better car or nicer clothes than other people.
It's not because society has gone to the dogs or we're becoming more selfish and spiteful - it's just a different manifestation of human nature which has been evident throughout the ages.
I've sensed the same things you have. It's a very me, me, me society we live in at the moment. People are constantly trying to outdo each other and there seems to be decreasing compassion for others.
Reading this thread, I can really relate to what you are saying and feeling. I, too, am approaching 30 (only 2 years to go for me!!) I think the older you get, the more you notice things like this. I always think back to being about 19 and not having a care in the world and remember all the good things, but I think we do have a tendancy to remember the past with rose tinted glasses whilst forgetting the bad stuff that was going on at that time. I try to stay positive and happy, but some days you do feel a bit down about the state of the world we live in.
So your saying to cure this we should of remained with the kiddie fiddlers instead.
I am the same age and feel exactly the same. I think this kind of 'sense' only comes with age, and I think you only truly realise what the important things are once you have gone without. It really opens your eyes and makes you appreciate the small things. For the past 2 years we haven't done Xmas presents due to financial repercussions that have affected the whole family, and I can honestly say I haven't missed it. Same with birthdays. Small, token gifts if anything. Easter eggs? Forget it. An excuse for consumerism, plus we always have a steady supply of chocolate in our house anyway! Such occasions for me are all about spending time with the people I love and celebrating with food and drink!
The world is generally a depressing place when you look at it from a consumer angle. I agree that there is definitely an air of "everyone has to do/be better than everyone else". No one is content. And it's very sad.
This guy couldn't have put it better!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk
Well exactly.
It's not all about "showing off"
its all manic nobody is content every ones on edge it seems .
We had the same problem in Casa Fieldfare. About three years ago we put the word out to friends and family that all gifts would be home made or second hand and it really caught on. Its been lovely. For instance a friend made us a lasagne to put in the freezer, another potted up some hyacinth bulbs, my neice gingerbread men and my mum found me a nice chair in a charity shop.