society, other people, negative sentiment
Discussion
i am not sure this is political as such but if this is the wrong section then apologies...
I don't see this being discussed a whole lot, but maybe parts of it...
As of maybe the last 5 years or so, i feel like most individuals in society now have significant mental health issues. Possibly this is down to a combination of cost of living, post-COVID, job insecurity, all of the tsunami of negativity on the news, politics, home working... any number of other parts of western life.
The number of people willing to embrace aggression and violence in public seems to have skyrocketed - road rage, altercations in the street, disputes with neighbours or anyone really.
The workplace has become grey, sanitised and dull, no one is enjoying any part of it.
People are eager to blame anyone and everyone for this negativity.
social media arguments are rife.
behaviour has become notable more unpredictable, irrational, people seem distracted and absent, then angered when brought back down 'to earth'.
the level of intelligence and rationality in debates either online or anywhere else seems to have dramatically dropped.
friendships and relationships seem to dissolve, no one seems to care about each other at all.
companies and their customer service is at an all-time low, needing formal complaints before even basic things get resolved.
has anyone else seen this? I see evidence of it multiple times daily... have i just become more aware of it, and it's always been this way, or has society seemingly cracked apart?
I don't see this being discussed a whole lot, but maybe parts of it...
As of maybe the last 5 years or so, i feel like most individuals in society now have significant mental health issues. Possibly this is down to a combination of cost of living, post-COVID, job insecurity, all of the tsunami of negativity on the news, politics, home working... any number of other parts of western life.
The number of people willing to embrace aggression and violence in public seems to have skyrocketed - road rage, altercations in the street, disputes with neighbours or anyone really.
The workplace has become grey, sanitised and dull, no one is enjoying any part of it.
People are eager to blame anyone and everyone for this negativity.
social media arguments are rife.
behaviour has become notable more unpredictable, irrational, people seem distracted and absent, then angered when brought back down 'to earth'.
the level of intelligence and rationality in debates either online or anywhere else seems to have dramatically dropped.
friendships and relationships seem to dissolve, no one seems to care about each other at all.
companies and their customer service is at an all-time low, needing formal complaints before even basic things get resolved.
has anyone else seen this? I see evidence of it multiple times daily... have i just become more aware of it, and it's always been this way, or has society seemingly cracked apart?
I think you are seeing the world through your own distorted lens, I work in an office full of people that enjoy what they do and have fun doing it.
positive people see the world in a positive light but you do have to work at it a little to do that. Every single day there are good news stories everywhere, if you only ever look at the bad news that is all you will see.
from AI
Here are five positive stories making headlines in the UK this week:
University of York Volunteering Record: Students at the University of York completed their most successful volunteering year on record, dedicating thousands of hours to local environmental, educational, and charitable community initiatives.
Liverpool FC's Unusual Win: Liverpool FC beat League One side Northampton Town to claim the national Hedgehog Cup, an award recognizing Premier League and EFL football clubs for their efforts to protect and boost Britain's declining hedgehog populations.
Historical Discovery in the Archives: A volunteer sifting through UK historical archives made a "vanishingly rare" discovery when they unearthed a lost copy of the US Declaration of Independence.
Return of English Water Voles: Community volunteers across Southampton have successfully reintroduced water voles to local rivers, significantly boosting native biodiversity and wetland ecosystem restoration.
Historical Expert Honored: The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) unveiled a massive 53ft snake mosaic at London Zoo honoring pioneering British reptile expert Joan Beauchamp Procter, as part of ZSL's 200th-anniversary celebrations.
There is plenty of rubbish going on in th eworld but there is also plenty of good.
positive people see the world in a positive light but you do have to work at it a little to do that. Every single day there are good news stories everywhere, if you only ever look at the bad news that is all you will see.
from AI
Here are five positive stories making headlines in the UK this week:
University of York Volunteering Record: Students at the University of York completed their most successful volunteering year on record, dedicating thousands of hours to local environmental, educational, and charitable community initiatives.
Liverpool FC's Unusual Win: Liverpool FC beat League One side Northampton Town to claim the national Hedgehog Cup, an award recognizing Premier League and EFL football clubs for their efforts to protect and boost Britain's declining hedgehog populations.
Historical Discovery in the Archives: A volunteer sifting through UK historical archives made a "vanishingly rare" discovery when they unearthed a lost copy of the US Declaration of Independence.
Return of English Water Voles: Community volunteers across Southampton have successfully reintroduced water voles to local rivers, significantly boosting native biodiversity and wetland ecosystem restoration.
Historical Expert Honored: The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) unveiled a massive 53ft snake mosaic at London Zoo honoring pioneering British reptile expert Joan Beauchamp Procter, as part of ZSL's 200th-anniversary celebrations.
There is plenty of rubbish going on in th eworld but there is also plenty of good.
Brexit led to what was previously just differences of opinion becoming hard-line divisions across society.
Covid amplified this with the help of social media.
We have a mainstream press that no longer informs but tells us what they want to tell us. Nobody is curious as to the stories they read, see or hear, taking the headline as the statement of fact.
Stupidity and lying are accepted and acceptable in public life.
Of all of the above, I'd say Covid has the most to answer for. Whilst many of us were either working from home, cleaning out garages or doing DIY, many others found themselves sliding deep in to rabbit holes in which they remain to this day, infecting others with skewed opinions and behaviours.
Covid amplified this with the help of social media.
We have a mainstream press that no longer informs but tells us what they want to tell us. Nobody is curious as to the stories they read, see or hear, taking the headline as the statement of fact.
Stupidity and lying are accepted and acceptable in public life.
Of all of the above, I'd say Covid has the most to answer for. Whilst many of us were either working from home, cleaning out garages or doing DIY, many others found themselves sliding deep in to rabbit holes in which they remain to this day, infecting others with skewed opinions and behaviours.
simon_harris said:
I think you are seeing the world through your own distorted lens, I work in an office full of people that enjoy what they do and have fun doing it.
positive people see the world in a positive light but you do have to work at it a little to do that. Every single day there are good news stories everywhere, if you only ever look at the bad news that is all you will see.
from AI
Here are five positive stories making headlines in the UK this week:
University of York Volunteering Record: Students at the University of York completed their most successful volunteering year on record, dedicating thousands of hours to local environmental, educational, and charitable community initiatives.
Liverpool FC's Unusual Win: Liverpool FC beat League One side Northampton Town to claim the national Hedgehog Cup, an award recognizing Premier League and EFL football clubs for their efforts to protect and boost Britain's declining hedgehog populations.
Historical Discovery in the Archives: A volunteer sifting through UK historical archives made a "vanishingly rare" discovery when they unearthed a lost copy of the US Declaration of Independence.
Return of English Water Voles: Community volunteers across Southampton have successfully reintroduced water voles to local rivers, significantly boosting native biodiversity and wetland ecosystem restoration.
Historical Expert Honored: The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) unveiled a massive 53ft snake mosaic at London Zoo honoring pioneering British reptile expert Joan Beauchamp Procter, as part of ZSL's 200th-anniversary celebrations.
There is plenty of rubbish going on in th eworld but there is also plenty of good.
i haven't said there is nothing positive happening, but i am saying i am seeing a change in other people. The change cannot simply be attributed to me and the way i may be looking at things, although tbh seeing the world be a notably worse place every year overall is enough to make anyone feel spositive people see the world in a positive light but you do have to work at it a little to do that. Every single day there are good news stories everywhere, if you only ever look at the bad news that is all you will see.
from AI
Here are five positive stories making headlines in the UK this week:
University of York Volunteering Record: Students at the University of York completed their most successful volunteering year on record, dedicating thousands of hours to local environmental, educational, and charitable community initiatives.
Liverpool FC's Unusual Win: Liverpool FC beat League One side Northampton Town to claim the national Hedgehog Cup, an award recognizing Premier League and EFL football clubs for their efforts to protect and boost Britain's declining hedgehog populations.
Historical Discovery in the Archives: A volunteer sifting through UK historical archives made a "vanishingly rare" discovery when they unearthed a lost copy of the US Declaration of Independence.
Return of English Water Voles: Community volunteers across Southampton have successfully reintroduced water voles to local rivers, significantly boosting native biodiversity and wetland ecosystem restoration.
Historical Expert Honored: The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) unveiled a massive 53ft snake mosaic at London Zoo honoring pioneering British reptile expert Joan Beauchamp Procter, as part of ZSL's 200th-anniversary celebrations.
There is plenty of rubbish going on in th eworld but there is also plenty of good.
t? StevieBee said:
Brexit led to what was previously just differences of opinion becoming hard-line divisions across society.
Covid amplified this with the help of social media.
We have a mainstream press that no longer informs but tells us what they want to tell us. Nobody is curious as to the stories they read, see or hear, taking the headline as the statement of fact.
Stupidity and lying are accepted and acceptable in public life.
Of all of the above, I'd say Covid has the most to answer for. Whilst many of us were either working from home, cleaning out garages or doing DIY, many others found themselves sliding deep in to rabbit holes in which they remain to this day, infecting others with skewed opinions and behaviours.
the mass layoffs in some industries, decline in public services, increased taxes, the looming threat of an america-dominant technology based future etc etcCovid amplified this with the help of social media.
We have a mainstream press that no longer informs but tells us what they want to tell us. Nobody is curious as to the stories they read, see or hear, taking the headline as the statement of fact.
Stupidity and lying are accepted and acceptable in public life.
Of all of the above, I'd say Covid has the most to answer for. Whilst many of us were either working from home, cleaning out garages or doing DIY, many others found themselves sliding deep in to rabbit holes in which they remain to this day, infecting others with skewed opinions and behaviours.
i mean the factors involved are too numerous to count i guess, i was more sort of asking if anyone else had noticed this having a profoundly negative effect on the people around them, and their behaviour.
Blown2CV said:
i am not sure this is political as such but if this is the wrong section then apologies...
I don't see this being discussed a whole lot, but maybe parts of it...
As of maybe the last 5 years or so, i feel like most individuals in society now have significant mental health issues. Possibly this is down to a combination of cost of living, post-COVID, job insecurity, all of the tsunami of negativity on the news, politics, home working... any number of other parts of western life.
The number of people willing to embrace aggression and violence in public seems to have skyrocketed - road rage, altercations in the street, disputes with neighbours or anyone really.
The workplace has become grey, sanitised and dull, no one is enjoying any part of it.
People are eager to blame anyone and everyone for this negativity.
social media arguments are rife.
behaviour has become notable more unpredictable, irrational, people seem distracted and absent, then angered when brought back down 'to earth'.
the level of intelligence and rationality in debates either online or anywhere else seems to have dramatically dropped.
friendships and relationships seem to dissolve, no one seems to care about each other at all.
companies and their customer service is at an all-time low, needing formal complaints before even basic things get resolved.
has anyone else seen this? I see evidence of it multiple times daily... have i just become more aware of it, and it's always been this way, or has society seemingly cracked apart?
Personally, I think it's gone on a little longer than 5 years, but otherwise I agree. I don't see this being discussed a whole lot, but maybe parts of it...
As of maybe the last 5 years or so, i feel like most individuals in society now have significant mental health issues. Possibly this is down to a combination of cost of living, post-COVID, job insecurity, all of the tsunami of negativity on the news, politics, home working... any number of other parts of western life.
The number of people willing to embrace aggression and violence in public seems to have skyrocketed - road rage, altercations in the street, disputes with neighbours or anyone really.
The workplace has become grey, sanitised and dull, no one is enjoying any part of it.
People are eager to blame anyone and everyone for this negativity.
social media arguments are rife.
behaviour has become notable more unpredictable, irrational, people seem distracted and absent, then angered when brought back down 'to earth'.
the level of intelligence and rationality in debates either online or anywhere else seems to have dramatically dropped.
friendships and relationships seem to dissolve, no one seems to care about each other at all.
companies and their customer service is at an all-time low, needing formal complaints before even basic things get resolved.
has anyone else seen this? I see evidence of it multiple times daily... have i just become more aware of it, and it's always been this way, or has society seemingly cracked apart?
People seem twitchy, life is stressful and very partisan. I think you can ask anyone a single question on Brexit, Immigration or the like and pretty much guess their opinion on almost any other subject based upon it. I think worse still, few people have any tolerance for the 'other side' once you've named your Team, that's it, a lot of people are go angry and intrenched on their side they don't want to be anyone from the other side.
There are many symptoms, but I think the Internet is the root cause, we don't seem to have evolved to handle 24/7 unlimited information tailored to our exact prejudices and beliefs. Back when you had to use a computer it was just the weirdos locked in their bedrooms reading conspiracy theories in their tinfoil hats, we'd laugh at them, now people, me included, are utterly addicted to our phones. My 70yo Mum, the Women who told me my Nintendo would take over my life, spends far too long on TikTok, she didn't own a mobile phone until her mid-50s. As our society is ever so slightly dented by poor funding for Police, NHS etc it's easy to withdraw into the safe bubble of the online world and it'll do it's best to scare you into staying.
From my end, I'm slowly weaning myself off Social Media, I rarely read the news online unless it's actually important to me and if people insist on sending me the latest "OMG British Man attacks his family in Spanish Bar" link I'll probably not watch it, I'll learn nothing and nothing positive will come of it. People are much nicer and open minded in the real world.
is there a lot of st things going on in the world - yes.
has there always been a lot of st things going on in the world - also yes.
we are in an era where we have much more access and visibility of all the st going on and in a much wider scale, people can appear much more isolated from each other in general life as they peer into smartphones but on the whole most people generally feel okay about things, as a brit we all like a moan about the price of milk etc but we would do that if it as 1p a pint.
There are plenty of organisations that want us to feel like life is awful and to spend some of our hard earned on their product to feel a little better and make life a little brighter but that does not make it reality.
Keep your head up chap, things could always be worse.
https://data.worldhappiness.report/country/GBR
t things going on in the world - yes.has there always been a lot of s
t things going on in the world - also yes.we are in an era where we have much more access and visibility of all the s
t going on and in a much wider scale, people can appear much more isolated from each other in general life as they peer into smartphones but on the whole most people generally feel okay about things, as a brit we all like a moan about the price of milk etc but we would do that if it as 1p a pint. There are plenty of organisations that want us to feel like life is awful and to spend some of our hard earned on their product to feel a little better and make life a little brighter but that does not make it reality.
Keep your head up chap, things could always be worse.
https://data.worldhappiness.report/country/GBR
Blown2CV said:
social media arguments are rife.
I think social media has had a bit impact on this. Lots of people now get thier news and world view from social media, which is an echo chamber as your contacts on social media will generally be people you have stuff in common with, this leads to people thinking thier views are the majority view even if they may only be a relatively small minority. It also enables people to have arguments they'd never have face to face with someone.I agree on the the health aspect - mental health complaints/need to label seem to be becoming the norm. not sure I agree on friends, a lot of that would be down to quality of your friends and effort you put in to maintain. Not sure I agree on violence, isn't it just more prevalent due to social media? We had those terrible riots a few years ago, but it happens for different reasons every few years.
Where I do start to dismay is the growing popularity of parties like Reform, Plaid (rooted in WNP), leaders like Farage and on the other side a total lack of capable leaders, feels like we are in a real low point in politics and general malaise in society. I hope the recent gains by those parties shock people into thinking more about how/if they vote.
So in some respects I see where you are coming from, though not so much the work or service aspect, I'm lucky to work with amazing UK and international teams.
Rather than moan though, what positive things are you doing to help? Me...I promote mental health in work, protect my teams, I maintain contact and value friends, I deal with service people politely even if its going wrong. And the politics, well, I can't see any good options right now!
Where I do start to dismay is the growing popularity of parties like Reform, Plaid (rooted in WNP), leaders like Farage and on the other side a total lack of capable leaders, feels like we are in a real low point in politics and general malaise in society. I hope the recent gains by those parties shock people into thinking more about how/if they vote.
So in some respects I see where you are coming from, though not so much the work or service aspect, I'm lucky to work with amazing UK and international teams.
Rather than moan though, what positive things are you doing to help? Me...I promote mental health in work, protect my teams, I maintain contact and value friends, I deal with service people politely even if its going wrong. And the politics, well, I can't see any good options right now!
Most people are sick of the constant attempts at getting money out of them. Parking charges, pay to view, renting Netflix etc, then the tricky little fees and fines for infringement of a regulation that was recently altered to get more money from people.
Its a horrible remotely enforced world we are building.
Its possible for a single person to go out, shop and go home without a single interaction with another living soul.
Work from home, pubs closed. Online dating a st show.
Yeah, we're becoming a a very isolated society.
Its a horrible remotely enforced world we are building.
Its possible for a single person to go out, shop and go home without a single interaction with another living soul.
Work from home, pubs closed. Online dating a s
t show.Yeah, we're becoming a a very isolated society.
I do agree with the OP's sentiment. I think there are many people who are living with extremely frayed tempers and are only one scenario away from a melt down. I know a lovely friendly woman who is a dental nurse. A few weeks ago she had a patient throwing things at her because she was running ten minutes behind on her appointments... To most of us it would be annoying, to this person it was the thing that tipped them over the edge.
Root cause - frantic lives, social media, cost of living, 24 hour "news".
Root cause - frantic lives, social media, cost of living, 24 hour "news".
It's the Ruskies / Chinese / N. Korea / Iran / illegal immigrants / far Left.
They're bombarding us with ultra low frequency sound waves that increase brain irritation making us fractious.
I tells ya.
Forgot to include da aliens from outa space.
Rather absurdly, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was actually true that some malevolent organisation was doing this.
Mad world ain't it.
Try capitalisation - it may help your particular situation.
lol.
They're bombarding us with ultra low frequency sound waves that increase brain irritation making us fractious.
I tells ya.
Forgot to include da aliens from outa space.
Rather absurdly, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was actually true that some malevolent organisation was doing this.
Mad world ain't it.
Try capitalisation - it may help your particular situation.
lol.
Getragdogleg said:
Most people are sick of the constant attempts at getting money out of them. Parking charges, pay to view, renting Netflix etc, then the tricky little fees and fines for infringement of a regulation that was recently altered to get more money from people.
Its a horrible remotely enforced world we are building.
Its possible for a single person to go out, shop and go home without a single interaction with another living soul.
Work from home, pubs closed. Online dating a st show.
Yeah, we're becoming a a very isolated society.
I think The Machine Stops by EM Forster was very prophetic. I remember reading this at school and recently thinking we are heading this way.Its a horrible remotely enforced world we are building.
Its possible for a single person to go out, shop and go home without a single interaction with another living soul.
Work from home, pubs closed. Online dating a s
t show.Yeah, we're becoming a a very isolated society.
Blown2CV said:
As of maybe the last 5 years or so, i feel like most individuals in society now have significant mental health issues.
Don't know about "most" but the figures are startling - 25% of adults per year suffer a mental health episode and 20% are living with a mental health problem on a weekly basis.I think, in everyday interactions, you assume people are going to be like oneself so it throws you off if they react unexpectedly.
Most of my friends appear to be struggling with being overwhelmed but just about coping
The older I get the more I try to stand in others shoes
Just be nice to everyone regardless
Me and my daughter stop and spoke to an elderly lady every morning, once day she pulled me aside and said my daughter was the highlight of her day and was the reason she continued to get out and then head out on her bus for a ride
She was a lovely old lady who we miss on the school run, I was shocked when I found she had no one
Then she just disappeared!
The older I get the more I try to stand in others shoes
Just be nice to everyone regardless
Me and my daughter stop and spoke to an elderly lady every morning, once day she pulled me aside and said my daughter was the highlight of her day and was the reason she continued to get out and then head out on her bus for a ride
She was a lovely old lady who we miss on the school run, I was shocked when I found she had no one
Then she just disappeared!
Edited by Spare tyre on Wednesday 8th July 17:30
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