Looking at our entire culture, collectively

[Hi There, Am Pam]

Stepping back at the routine we're all in, society seems to be a ravaging aardvark. Things have never been better! Things have never been worse! Technology marches on, as designs get more sleek and efficient, our consumption of limited resources is both drying up and extended by our use of them. In other words, it seems as if society keeps evolving and DEVOling. I feel like I'm watching a science project unfold (nod to "We're God's science project"). We can't really be stupid enough to kill ourselves when we have all this beauty in front of us, can we?


I feel like times have gotten strange. Rather, things were always strange, it's just that we're finally smart enough to realize just how strange it all is. We can finally look back cultures and understand them from all these perspectives, and the cultural context seems silly to us now. Now us too silly seems contextual, but we don't quite realize it. Perhaps if we asked ourselves why, at every moment, we would have the collective answer.


But there is a Hummer H2! Look at how much it must cost! That means that person has $50,000 to waste, so he must be important! Let our reptilian brains stand back in awe at the alpha-male, for its gas mileage is wasteful enough that this person must be important to demand such resources! 9.6 gallons to the mile! He’ll drive it just so he can say that he has the money to waste on it, that’s how important it is.

So important. :)

[Kinbote]

"Western" culture, as I suppose it's known, is in its decadent phase. We're in our return to the mud. The culture's foundation of freedom, no longer possible, is replaced by hedonism, a gratifying illusory version thereof. So what!

[sleepy sinner]

I agree. I see a civilisation in the final throes of raw, desperate, grasping, sickening indulgence before we enter our dying stages, our rapid and nasty demise. That we deserve.

[Jackal]

I blame TV for everything. Political correctness, everyone caring about their feelings too much, frenzied info about what we should or shouldn't eat, thinking the more you get the better deal it is. The stress of yelling salesmen. Commercials daring us to try new things when what we have is fine.

It has changed so much over the years. They pile worry on worry on worry and tell you you must care.

These 5 second soundbites drive me nuts! I don't need them to tell me what's coming up in 2 minutes and I don't need a recap after each commercial break! The news use to start and they would talk, they would go to commercial, they would come back and talk. And reporters didn't EVER voice their own opinions.

I think I just watch too much tv. I just erased how much time I spend watching because It made me look like a loser.

:( :( No wonder I'm depressed, I'm not really living!

[Louise]

Originally posted by Jackal
I blame TV for everything. Political correctness, everyone caring about their feelings too much, frenzied info about what we should or shouldn't eat, thinking the more you get the better deal it is. The stress of yelling salesmen. Commercials daring us to try new things when what we have is fine.

It has changed so much over the years. They pile worry on worry on worry and tell you you must care.

These 5 second soundbites drive me nuts! I don't need them to tell me what's coming up in 2 minutes and I don't need a recap after each commercial break! The news use to start and they would talk, they would go to commercial, they would come back and talk. And reporters didn't EVER voice their own opinions.

I think I just watch too much tv. I just erased how much time I spend watching because It made me look like a loser.

:( :( No wonder I'm depressed, I'm not really living!

wow. yet another person blaming the media for their own fallibility. whatever happened to consumer responsibility?

[Jackal]

Oh fuck off. I wasn't blaming them for anything in my life. I was blaming myself.

I don't trust what I see on tv, I question everything I see and hear. I'm talking about all the fucking no brain idiots out there who tell me all their problems. I'm a realist. There's never been a situation in my life that I blame anyone but myself for.

But most people are stupid. And they are swayed by what they see and hear. I know the media is a big mindfucker.

I was basically saying the person with the Hummer H2 is the fucking loser because he's the idiot being swayed by the media.

All I said was I should stop watching too much tv, not that I blamed them.

[Herr Lipp]

you go, girl!

but, seriously, quit your moaning you bitches, enjoy life as much as you can. don't get bogged down with where our society is headed, let your kids worry about it. If you spend all your time dwelling on the future youll never enjoy the present and subsequently be a grumpy old man/woman who hates young people.

A Hummer would fucking rule though man.

[Celluloid Love]

Originally posted by Walter Sopchak
you go, girl!

but, seriously, quit your moaning you bitches, enjoy life as much as you can. don't get bogged down with where our society is headed, let your kids worry about it. If you spend all your time dwelling on the future youll never enjoy the present and subsequently be a grumpy old man/woman who hates young people.

A Hummer would fucking rule though man.
I'm 90% sure that was all sarcasm and I just didn't catch it.

"let your kids worry about it"?

D:

[Herr Lipp]

quarter-joking.

Why would I want to live out the last 40ish years of my life whining and pooing my pants about "our culture"? pfft fuck that, we are the lucky ones. people 400 years ago were getting murked by the plague, great fires, warring countries, cowboys, potato famine etc etc, and I imagine in 400 years time the world could be just as gay but for different reasons which have been discussed in this thread.

Like I said...we are lucky to be 21st Century cats. Should just enjoy it.

[Hi There, Am Pam]

Part of the criticism of our culture is entertainment in itself. I am in constant awe of how stupid people can be. I'm laughing my way to senility.

[Herr Lipp]

examples?

[Hi There, Am Pam]

I just woke up, I'll give examples later.

But here's a start (http://www.funfreepages.com/flash/ms_paint.php)

[Jackal]

You are right! I love indoor plumbing! And air conditioning!

We could easily have another plague any second now though.

Your are too young to have 20+ years behind you to remember and think about. Knowing first hand what's different about society gives you more perspective to judge it. That's why old people think their time was the best and everything's gone to hell. Going to the movies use to cost $2.50 now it's $7.00! I see why my grandma's always talking about 10 cent bread now.

[Jackal]

Here's an example, The Pet Rock.

[Hi There, Am Pam]

A more modern example - those "trophy fish" which flop around and talk.

[Herr Lipp]

Oh, Big Mouth Billy Bass. thats totally gay

[Narcissistic Nihilist]

Originally posted by Hi There, Am Pam
I am in constant awe of how stupid people can be.
Im not really in awe of this. Ive long ago accepted that most people are idiots.

[Hi There, Am Pam]

I think the optimist in me refuses to accept that. I often feel that so much positive could come out of life.... then I look at what's actually here and shake my head.

[Herr Lipp]

uhh...smoke some weed? bury your head in the sand? works for me :D

[Herr Lipp]

Of course not, duh he used his super-secret transporter for getting around, where do you think star trek bought theres from?

That's actually quite an interesting quote. But who wants to devote themselves to society? It doesnt devote much to me :)

[Narcissistic Nihilist]

Originally posted by Hi There, Am Pam
I think the optimist in me refuses to accept that. I often feel that so much positive could come out of life.... then I look at what's actually here and shake my head.
No wonder you get constantly depressed about it then. The positive COULD happen but it requires humans to get rid of their selfishness, greed and arrogance - and that just isnt gonna happen

[Narcissistic Nihilist]

Originally posted by Walter Sopchak
smoke some weed? bury your head in the sand? works for me :D
we've noticed. your admitted lack of knowledge doesnt stop your ignorant commentary though.

[firecrasher]

Originally posted by Hi There, Am Pam Perhaps if we asked ourselves why, at every moment, we would have the collective answer.

[Hi There, Am Pam]

Originally posted by Narcissistic Nihilist
No wonder you get constantly depressed about it then. The positive COULD happen but it requires humans to get rid of their selfishness, greed and arrogance - and that just isnt gonna happen


Like I said, it's funny to me. Sure, it's a downer in many ways, but it's out of my control other than whatever I do in my life. Besides, I think no matter what happens, everything's alright. Given the vastness of existance, things will keep moving even if we blow ourselves up.