Are some of our societal problems self inflicted?

[cabmandone]

Technical advances like social media that tends to erode the mind and get younger folks to "follow" an influencer?

[RWebb]

that claim was made about TV in the 1950s


pwds - stop parfing this up

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by RWebb

that claim was made about TV in the 1950s


pwds - stop parfing this up

Not sure how social media today compares to tv in the 50's. I just know from experience that it's influence is WAY too strong.

And I didn't know they had "influencers" on a 50's tv show??

[RWebb]

I might pick violent video games as the biggest problem - no real data on it tho

in the '50s they were called "advertisers" see vance Packard's book The Hidden Persuaders

[cabmandone]

IDK, it just seems like with Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and so many others that kids are bombarded with so many things. Not to mention with the access the internet provides to information in general and not necessarily good information.

[cabmandone]

I guess what I mean is, social media today seems to be something that makes kids think less and "follow" more.

[varmint]

Originally Posted by hbueno

In my experience, number of parents has nothing to do with the manners, disposition, or nehavior of offspring. I know of many children of single parent homes who have grown up to be productive, kind, and respectable members of society. I also know of children of two parent households who have not grown up to be paragons of society.

Children model the bahavior of their parents and immediate family. Toxic parents and families often result in toxic children, although occasioonally, children from toxic situations somehow break the mold.

Everyone, regardless of age, deserves respect until they prove otherwise by their behavior. Just because you're older or in a position of authortity doesn't mean you deserve respect regardless of what type of person you are.

The question you're asking has been asked by people since time immemorial. Socrates said:

“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”

My friend Doug Anecdote was raised by an abusive single parent muskrat and he’s turned out fine.

If we’re talking percentages a child raised in the most mediocre of two parent households still has an advantage.

[Tobra]

Doug Anecdote, good one

Yes, 100% self inflicted.

[hbueno]

Originally Posted by varmint

My friend Doug Anecdote was raised by an abusive single parent muskrat and he’s turned out fine.

If we’re talking percentages a child raised in the most mediocre of two parent households still has an advantage.

I stated my opinion which is based on my life experience. That is all. I don't have the time or patience to research and write a dissertation on the subject. Obviously, a lot of members have their own opinions and feelings that won't change one way or another.

[cabmandone]

I guess what I mean by self inflicted is, have we gotten a bit lax in enforcing things that were once commonly enforced like teaching kids respect for others? You see a lot of lip service about "respect" but are we really, truly teaching it to kids?

I was told that I had a problem with authority figures when I was a teen. While I'd argue with some, I never disrespected them. And the point that Matt makes about telling his kids friends to "call me Matt", doesn't that break down what should be a societal sign of respect?

[Otter74]

[look 171]

Just look at what the media is spilling onto society. A bit one-sides? You think? Oh yeah, the schools, they have an axe to grind against, (insert what you like in here) it doesn't matter if its wrong. When was it ok for a kid to go up to a teacher and say, F you, and get away with it? Oh, poor Johnny has home issues therefore he's acting up. Stop making excuses for them. All those social media BS has no bull elephants regulating what's said, right or wrong. They pick up on that. No accountability for wrong doing. Its easy to blame others then to looking at self and ask, what did I do wrong to cause this? I worry like hell for my kids. So yeah, its self inflicted. Don't even get me started with respect to elders. I think many of us have lost our ways and influenced heavily by the media, society or ...

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by hbueno

I stated my opinion which is based on my life experience. That is all. I don't have the time or patience to research and write a dissertation on the subject. Obviously, a lot of members have their own opinions and feelings that won't change one way or another.

That experience would be considered anecdotal. It is very well established that children from single parent homes are at a significant disadvantage.

[cabmandone]

Let's not bash him for writing what he has seen. A lot of my OP is from my own observations.

I was going to reply to hbueno that I'd guess for each normal, well adjusted, polite person he can name from single parent home, I could name one that was the opposite. All anecdotal but still appreciate the input.

[Otter74]

Hint: it's not them, it's you.

[Gretch]

Originally Posted by cabmando

You see a lot of lip service about "respect" but are we really, truly teaching it to kids?

I was told that I had a problem with authority figures when I was a teen.

I have a suspicion that kids who where abused by "authority" figures developed a "problem" with authority figures............

I had a LOT of respect for adults who behaved like adults.............. and I hated, with a passion, those who ruled by intimidation.

I am old now............ and I still have a visceral reaction to loudmouthed jackasses.

As for the rest of it?

this thread is heading to PARF anyway, so it might as well be said....... liberals made the economics of being a lazy parasite, attractive. And as a result society has a LOT more lazy parasites.

[cabmandone]

Otter,
Not sure if that was directed towards me but No, not in this case. I have some really good friends who are in their mid to late 20's. All really good people and very respectful of others. "no sir, yes sir" type people.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Not sure how social media today compares to tv in the 50's. I just know from experience that it's influence is WAY too strong.

And I didn't know they had "influencers" on a 50's tv show??

Maynard G Krebs was a funny beatnik that appeared in millions of homes. He was a slug that was idolized. Late 50's into 60's.

Social media is THE big one that slams down hard a distinct and favorable appearing casual disrespect for others.

Stuffing a kid into their room with a Nintendo, PlayStation, X-Box, etc for six-ten hours a day is the cheapest, most pathetic babysitter ever. To a single parent, this is the greatest thing ever. They now have some space to determine where to spread their legs next or bury their sausage or get high/drunk. Priorities.

Applies to couples as well, and I am guilty of this "luxury".

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Our societal problems are all self inflicted - we are all, after all, the society..

This was my first reaction to the question. Paul saved me some typing. YES, what he said.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

This was my first reaction to the question. Paul saved me some typing. YES, what he said.

But to say that I am part of the problem or someone else who teaches their kids to be respectful adults and authority figures is the problem isn't really true. I haven't contributed to the deterioration.