Are we as a society basically broken?

treliac

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

We focus on the bad, and things always seem to be getting worse. But they aren't, not really. Think of the slums of Dickens' time, in Oliver Twist, for example, or the murders that took place then. Society has always seemed to be going to the dogs (-:

In my youthful naivety I thought society was becoming more civilised as time went by. We had access to 'progress' through the benefits of technology, physical comfort, medical science etc, plus access to records from history from which we could learn lessons. Lifestyle and learning beyond any previous generation.

This is a lost dream though. What is our society festering into? Survival of the fittest, greed and power at the expense of whoever gets in the way. Uncontained drink and drug fuelled violence. Humanity is becoming overwhelmed by insidious influences.

Sadly, to protect the weak and vulnerable and for society to move forward, we need order and regulation. Teaching of values, tolerance and care for ourselves and each other.

Just where is the necessary leadership going to come from? And this is where the risk arises from extremism, as we become desperate for a solution.

But don't knock the Daily Mail et al. They only say what most of already feel and can see for ourselves.

Maybe the financial crisis is only the start and maybe that's how it should be. It will take something really stupendous to start the shock waves of change. Perhaps what's coming is what we all really need.

neverdespairgirl

dad-of-4 wrote: »

but i think decent people are just as guilty of allowing society to decay

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing

treliac

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing

Good men want to do something and probably each does in their own way. But how do we challenge what is going on and how do we start to change things. I wish I was strong enough and brave enough to try.

Instead I just get sad and angry but I do carry on making my own little personal contribution to the world.

fc123

treliac wrote: »

Instead I just get sad and angry but I do carry on making my own little personal contribution to the world.

And that's fine.....if everyone does 'the right things' within their own community / lives...then all of society benefits.
Power of One and all that.

Perhaps something like that 80/20 rule applies. The bad smaller percentage create a disproportionate ammount of chaos, havoc and trouble. I would put it at 95% good /5% bad but the 5% bad affects a larger percentage of society overall.

chewmylegoff

mr_magoo wrote: »

So coming from my little bubble, the thing that disturbed me most, was the huge number of police standing and staring, ready to pounce as if we were dangerous animals, whatever had they been told to expect?, god knows. Made me think.
I read George Orwell’s 1984, whilst at school many years ago, didn’t mean much to me then, but this prompted me to read it again.
Oh my goodness, it is an uncanny reflection of today’s world, I recommend anyone with the time, to read it, especially as he wrote it in 1949.
Sobering stuff indeed.
Also my peppers are ripening.

well, it's not surprising that the police turn out in force for any mass protest in london now, given that a bunch of morons decided to make an annual tradition out of smashing up the capital in the name of a protest against capitalism, the police have to suspect the worst. any mass gathering can turn nasty, and it wouldn't be the first time a bunch of prats hijacked a protest as an excuse to kick off.

it's not like the police stopped you protesting, or charged the crowd. if that had happened maybe there would be something to complain about.

Gangstabird

amcluesent wrote: »

Of course society is broken. Just look at the FACTS!

1) Gym-slip single mums everywhere, dropping their chav at 14 to get a council house and claim every benefit under the sun
2) Chavs running amok, sneering at decent people knowing that bleeding-heart, woolly-liberal, cry-baby social workers will plead for them before the magistrate and they'll get 10 minutes 'community service' as 'restorative justice'. What a farce!
3) The tax-paying white man told to go to the back of every queue until the quota of yer ethnics and women have been filled.
4) Free speech abolished in England as it's 'racist' and 'may cause offence'
5) 200,000 Islamist fifth-columnists amongst us, northern towns abandoned so they can implement Shariah Law
6) Useless target chasing coppers who only want an easy life and a quick £60 fine/tax from a white middle class person who has 'broken' some nonsense law about dropping an apple core.

England is finished. If you can, get out now.

Please do not say that. I do not want to live elsewhere. But will vote in the first person who 'fits your rules'. Why do you not put yourself up for your local councillor.

If we all voted for a party who said, no more immigration, lets sort out what people are here.

It would be good.

Today marked the end of Ramadan. Most 'fundamentalist Muslims' want to see the back of the Western World as we know it.

I would like to see a return for all Islamic fundamentalists to a country like Saudi Arabia.

dopester

Gangstabird wrote: »

Before you say it. Remember the boy who did graffitti in Singapore or some such place. They DO NOT have a problem with it there.

Crime will increase in the downturn, but providing we don't fall in to total meltdown, society will harden in attitude and punishment for serious law breaking and serious anti-social behaviour.

A lot of this bailout money would be better directed in to all the departments of law and order and policing.

We will need it.

Gangstabird

dopester wrote: »

Crime will increase in the downturn, but providing we don't fall in to total meltdown, society will harden in attitude and punishment for serious law breaking and serious anti-social behaviour.

A lot of this bailout money would be better directed in to all the departments of law and order and policing.

We will need it.

Don't bet on it.

More money will be spent working out the differences between black/white/muslim/hindu/jewish/rasta/sikh.....There will be certain appointments for each religion at Dr's Surgerys. The swimming pool will tell you that yes, they do have a day where there are no clubs for schools that day, but really sorry.....its an Islamic hour both for women & men on two different days. I'm sorry but this is East Essex, there are not a lot of Muslims living here, they would not be welcome here as everyone moved out of East London to get away from the Muslims. Not being nasty but fact.

And the beat goes on.....

dopester

chewmylegoff wrote: »

it's not like the police stopped you protesting, or charged the crowd. if that had happened maybe there would be something to complain about.

They didn't like protests when the Chinese Premier came to visit a few years back.

Chief of Police apologised for their strong-arm actions afterwards if I remember correctly.

And watching YouTube recently, some clips about the power of the state, police seemed very over-powering in stopping anti-war coaches before they reached their drop-off point, turning them back, and patrolling with them in convoy to ensure they went back.

Yes to police, no to abuse of police powers / or government oppression of our freedoms.

treliac

dopester wrote: »

Crime will increase in the downturn, but providing we don't fall in to total meltdown, society will harden in attitude and punishment for serious law breaking and serious anti-social behaviour.

A lot of this bailout money would be better directed in to all the departments of law and order and policing.

We will need it.

Hear hear. Better get rid of bureaucracy and endless paperwork first.

(People's lives are already being threatened by the theft of drain covers for a few quid).

What about all the overcrowded prisons though?