What has happened to common decency in our society?

[damngrumpy]

The society has been going along as crooked as hell for a long time its just that some are
getting caught and others are noticing the lack of it. There is business courses for the
administrators and board members stressing the virtues of morals and ethics, what does
that tell you?
We have a core of decency its just that people want to reward it instead of just respecting it.
Funny we used to acknowledge and respect those who came forward now they are revered
and worshipped as hero's because it is uncommon.
Morals and decency run parallel to respect and they are I admit in short supply. We need to
sit down with young people and instill those virtues, after talking with them about it we must
take the next step and actually become an honest role model. We must teach them its not
alright to cheat of taxes, and down to the little things like not parking in a handicapped spot.
When I was a kid, we assembled out in front of the school each morning, we learned how to
send the flag up the pole properly without letting the flag touch the ground and we sang the
national anthem. We also said the Lords Prayer, not that it was important to me however I
respected those who were dedicated to it even at a young age.
Its the little things that we have lost and those are the threads of national fabric we must get
back. Losing ethics, morals and decency is like slowly losing the language, as these are the
rules of educate that influence the role of our customs and the way we non verbally communicate
with each other.

 

[JLM]

The society has been going along as crooked as hell for a long time its just that some are
getting caught and others are noticing the lack of it. There is business courses for the
administrators and board members stressing the virtues of morals and ethics, what does
that tell you?

Well written post DG. I guess I'm old fashioned too, but things like respecting your elders and speaking when spoken to were things instilled in us as kids and they were good values. Of course it can be argued today that not all elders act in a way to be respected. There was a time when how you played the game was important, now winning regardless of how you play the game is important.........all too often now "the game" being amassing monetary wealth. It's sad when not being a "ratfink" trumps the danger to someones life. What's even more sad is "peer pressure" is trumping good parental guidance and example setting. :smile:

 

[Cliffy]

Well, JLM, our parents generation was saying similar stuff about us. It is a generational thing. There is a reason Buckminster Fuller said he was never a radical in his youth for fear he would become a conservative in his old age. It seems to be what happens to us as we get older. The whole world is in an upheaval. The youth see no real future for themselves. Industrial greed, environmental degradation, dwindling wildlife, fewer and lower paying jobs, housing so high, they don't see themselves ever owning one. The future looks hopeless and they are left with "Party til ya puke" and "we're here for a good time, not a long time" mentality.

They have no respect for those who have left the world in this mess. They have no respect for the institutions that were once the pillars of our society: religion, politics, law and law enforcement. Can't blame them when all these institutions and the people who run them are completely corrupt. I talk to the kids, but most of all, I listen to them. Many are at a loss, directionless, hopeless. When it comes down to it, they just don't want to shovel our sh!t pile.

 

[JLM]

Well, JLM, our parents generation was saying similar stuff about us. It is a generational thing. There is a reason Buckminster Fuller said he was never a radical in his youth for fear he would become a conservative in his old age. It seems to be what happens to us as we get older. The whole world is in an upheaval. The youth see no real future for themselves. Industrial greed, environmental degradation, dwindling wildlife, fewer and lower paying jobs, housing so high, they don't see themselves ever owning one. The future looks hopeless and they are left with "Party til ya puke" and "we're here for a good time, not a long time" mentality.

They have no respect for those who have left the world in this mess. They have no respect for the institutions that were once the pillars of our society: religion, politics, law and law enforcement. Can't blame them when all these institutions and the people who run them are completely corrupt. I talk to the kids, but most of all, I listen to them. Many are at a loss, directionless, hopeless. When it comes down to it, they just don't want to shovel our sh!t pile.

In some ways Cliff, the world is in a mess in other ways there are more opportunities for the young today than ever before. There are many more career choices open to youth, more educational facilities, more scholarships and other sources of financing an education. Every generation has its problems it's just that they are diffrent problems. Our parents had wars and a depression to contend with, by those standards the world is fairly prosperous and peaceful today.

 

[Cliffy]

In some ways Cliff, the world is in a mess in other ways there are more opportunities for the young today than ever before. There are many more career choices open to youth, more educational facilities, more scholarships and other sources of financing an education. Every generation has its problems it's just that they are diffrent problems. Our parents had wars and a depression to contend with, by those standards the world is fairly prosperous and peaceful today.

True, and there are those who can fit in and prosper. But there are many who think our value systems are completely screwy and don't want to have anything to do with them. The whole mindless consumerism and materialistic "one up on the Jones" just doesn't make sense. What we are seeing is a generation in search of meaning in their lives and what we have to offer leaves them cold.

 

[talloola]

Well, JLM, our parents generation was saying similar stuff about us. It is a generational thing. There is a reason Buckminster Fuller said he was never a radical in his youth for fear he would become a conservative in his old age. It seems to be what happens to us as we get older. The whole world is in an upheaval. The youth see no real future for themselves. Industrial greed, environmental degradation, dwindling wildlife, fewer and lower paying jobs, housing so high, they don't see themselves ever owning one. The future looks hopeless and they are left with "Party til ya puke" and "we're here for a good time, not a long time" mentality.

They have no respect for those who have left the world in this mess. They have no respect for the institutions that were once the pillars of our society: religion, politics, law and law enforcement. Can't blame them when all these institutions and the people who run them are completely corrupt. I talk to the kids, but most of all, I listen to them. Many are at a loss, directionless, hopeless. When it comes down to it, they just don't want to shovel our sh!t pile.

as a little girl during world war two, I remember many sh* t piles that had to be shovelled because of
war, I remember being poor, I remember my grandad having his job pulled out from under him, without he
being able to go to anyone for assistance, I remember when their were no unions to bring balance into
the work place, I remember wages being so low that both parents had to work, I remember no day care,
and relatives always looked after children when parents worked, I remember only having bare necessities
because there was no money for more, the depression-I remember being on rations during the war and having to go with
my mother to get those ration tickets, and I also remember when I became an adult the situation had
improved ten fold, and people finally had a few bucks to get a decent place to live, and the country
got better and better for many years, so my generation who could get a job easy, save money easy, and
push themselves for a better life, and it felt good, but memories were not good.

Todays young people arent't the first to have to struggle, and won't be the first to have bad memories, but they do seem to whine more than any of us did at the time,
I don't ever remember whining and complaining, nor did my mother, we just dug
down and figured out how to do better.

 

[gerryh]

True, and there are those who can fit in and prosper. But there are many who think our value systems are completely screwy and don't want to have anything to do with them. The whole mindless consumerism and materialistic "one up on the Jones" just doesn't make sense. What we are seeing is a generation in search of meaning in their lives and what we have to offer leaves them cold.

Get outa the bush cliffy, because what you are describing is far from the truth.

 

[L Gilbert]

I don't know about kids over there in Nakusp or in cities, but around here there are many that see opportunities in changing the "old boys club" standards of the world and don't see that "old boys club" lasting forever. IOW, empires rise and fall regardless of their motives and methods.

 

[Cliffy]

I don't know about kids over there in Nakusp or in cities, but around here there are many that see opportunities in changing the "old boys club" standards of the world and don't see that "old boys club" lasting forever. IOW, empires rise and fall regardless of their motives and methods.

Funny, when I was young we thought the same thing. I wonder where all these new "old boys club" bozos came from. I was hoping the old hippies would be in charge. I always thought that the old hippies were bought out by Trudeau's LIP grants and became Yuppies.

 

[L Gilbert]

Funny, when I was young we thought the same thing. I wonder where all these new "old boys club" bozos came from. I was hoping the old hippies would be in charge. I always thought that the old hippies were bought out by Trudeau's LIP grants and became Yuppies.

Old hippies are in charge. They simply abandoned their hippish attitudes and adopted the same old crap from their predecessors. I see kids today that do not want to accept the usual crap about profit over people and planet.

 

[karrie]

yay, yet another thread devolved into just talking about what **** my generation is, and my kids' generation is. And let me guess, if once again I jump in and try to point out that we are as worthwhile as the old folks sitting around bitching and calling us down, I'll get freaked out on for picking on 'my elders' and not showing respect to people ****ting on everyone 'below' them. I hope you guys are actually absorbing what you're doing here.

 

[JLM]

yay, yet another thread devolved into just talking about what **** my generation is, and my kids' generation is. And let me guess, if once again I jump in and try to point out that we are as worthwhile as the old folks sitting around bitching and calling us down, I'll get freaked out on for picking on 'my elders' and not showing respect to people ****ting on everyone 'below' them. I hope you guys are actually absorbing what you're doing here.

It's not so much a matter of "picking" on anyone so much as a matter that on this forum there are people who have lived through one generation, people who have lived through two generations, people who have lived through three generations and the odd one who has possibly lived through four generations. The more generations you have experienced should give you the more ability to judge subjectively.

 

[karrie]

Well, stuff it. I'm sick of hearing it. It's a sickening thing to be told nonstop. It's the most unwelcoming, disheartening environment to bother subjecting oneself too.

If you guys really think every generation to come after you is so foul, stop and look at the source. And enjoy one another's company in griping about what **** people are. It's well deserved company. So civil of you all. Glad you're better than all those who followed.

 

[L Gilbert]

yay, yet another thread devolved into just talking about what **** my generation is, and my kids' generation is. And let me guess, if once again I jump in and try to point out that we are as worthwhile as the old folks sitting around bitching and calling us down, I'll get freaked out on for picking on 'my elders' and not showing respect to people ****ting on everyone 'below' them. I hope you guys are actually absorbing what you're doing here.

I hope so, too. I can't see humanity or the world getting any better until we can the crap about "more is better" and "bigger is better". There's nothing wrong with profit and growth as long as it doesn't screw up people and planet. And I see a lot of kids and other young people that recognize the positive aspects of things and I wholly support them in their effort to change things for the better.

It's not so much a matter of "picking" on anyone so much as a matter that on this forum there are people who have lived through one generation, people who have lived through two generations, people who have lived through three generations and the odd one who has possibly lived through four generations. The more generations you have experienced should give you the more ability to judge subjectively.

It usually does allow them to judge subjectively, and that is part of the problem. As they get older they lose ideals and gain concern over personal issues, such as padding their pockets for their retirement. Sort of like withdrawing from actively seeking a better situation for themselves and the planet they live on. Just make as much dough as they can and clam up.
It's no freakin wonder kids lose respect for older generations.

Complacency about the status quo (consumerism, crony capitalism, etc.) sucks bigtime.

 

[JLM]

Well, stuff it. I'm sick of hearing it. It's a sickening thing to be told nonstop. It's the most unwelcoming, disheartening environment to bother subjecting oneself too.

If you guys really think every generation to come after you is so foul, stop and look at the source. And enjoy one another's company in griping about what **** people are. It's well deserved company. So civil of you all. Glad you're better than all those who followed.

Who said that?

 

[talloola]

yay, yet another thread devolved into just talking about what **** my generation is, and my kids' generation is. And let me guess, if once again I jump in and try to point out that we are as worthwhile as the old folks sitting around bitching and calling us down, I'll get freaked out on for picking on 'my elders' and not showing respect to people ****ting on everyone 'below' them. I hope you guys are actually absorbing what you're doing here.

my post was partly because i'm sick of being told that people in and around my generation have ruined
everything for those who came after, just reminding them that there were young people in the world long before them,
and I was one of them, and just letting them know that things weren't very good when I was a kid,
so i'm also sick and tired of being picked on as having been selfish and created what the young
people have today.

the world seems to continuously change and some generations grow up into good times, some don't,
thats just the way it is, don't blame previous generations, as I have never blamed the previous
generation for how my child hood was, it wasn't their fault, they had to live with how the
world was then, and on it goes.

 

[JLM]

my post was partly because i'm sick of being told that people in and around my generation have ruined
everything for those who came after, just reminding them that there were young people in the world long before them,
and I was one of them, and just letting them know that things weren't very good when I was a kid,
so i'm also sick and tired of being picked on as having been selfish and created what the young
people have today.

the world seems to continuously change and some generations grow up into good times, some don't,
thats just the way it is, don't blame previous generations, as I have never blamed the previous
generation for how my child hood was, it wasn't their fault, they had to live with how the
world was then, and on it goes.

Right on, Talloola. This thread was inspired by a single event in Maple Ridge that is NOT unique today. Last year a 16 year old girl was stabbed to death at a party in West Kelowna by another 16 year old girl, a similar event occurred in Vernon recently although not deadly- these things were not typical when you and I were growing up. You are quite right in that the world is constantly changing but this particular aspect of it is not for the better. Of course there are people who will say that this sort of thing has always gone on- NOT SO in the numbers we hear of today!

 

[karrie]

Who said that?

Really? I have to read the thread for you?
Start with elder's post.

Now, let me reiterate...you guys are all working off the assumption that there were coherent witnesses who saw something of use in court.....why is that?

 

[JLM]

Really? I have to read the thread for you?
Start with elder's post.

Now, let me reiterate...you guys are all working off the assumption that there were coherent witnesses who saw something of use in court.....why is that?

So of all those witnesses you are sure NOT ONE was coherent? Yet some were coherent enough to get it into Facebook! Personally I thing there were TWO acts lacking in common decency here, the event itself and everyone clamming up. I can be drunk as a skunk and still know what I saw, so all I'm saying is submit the evidence and let the cops and courts decide if it's valid.

 

[taxslave]

So of all those witnesses you are sure NOT ONE was coherent? Yet some were coherent enough to get it into Facebook! Personally I thing there were TWO acts lacking in common decency here, the event itself and everyone clamming up. I can be drunk as a skunk and still know what I saw, so all I'm saying is submit the evidence and let the cops and courts decide if it's valid.

I think that is what happened, The prosecutor decided that non of the witnesses they had were in good enough shape to be reliable on the stand so the likelyhood of conviction is not great enough to take the time and money for a trial unless one of the boys confesses