A social revolution?

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

barrooo wrote: »

I think maybe 20-30 years ago the blitz spirit may have prevailed in harsh economic times, but the way society is at the moment, its more likely to create jealousy between the haves and the have nots.



I also have to agree with this quote and is one of the reasons for my above post, its difficult to put your finger on exactly why, maybe its a whole raft of reasons, but society does seem to be more self centered, and individuals seem to have a lack of personal responsibility, always looking for someone else to take the blame

I think your'e spot on greed and avarice are the way it goes these days,whether we like to admit to it or not.
I also think that we're all being spoilt by a nanny state and society is gradually being nurtured into not having a sense of personal responsibility.

chewmylegoff

Pobby wrote: »

I am thinking about the values I witnessed when growing up in the 50`s and 60`s. Then there was a sense of decency. Hard to describe but my guess is that anyone of a similar age to me will recall. Being responsible at a personal level was part of it. Not being a dodgy bonus hungry banker who couldn`t care less. Or a lying politician who gets away with it and cares even less.

Dunno. What do you think ?

i think that dodgy bonus hungry bankers existed in the 50s and 60s (back then they made their money through insider trading, which wasn't made illegal until the 80s), and that there were plenty of people then without a sense of decency.

it's a bit like saying that binge drinking has only taken off in the past few years, when in fact hundreds of years ago people were drinking themselves stupid in gin palaces.

i also don't think that a recession will change much. the last one didn't anyway.

kennyboy66_2

Pobby wrote: »

When we get through this do you think we as a society will change?

There is a quote by Lucretius from 2000 years ago.

"Sweet it is, when on the high seas the winds are lashing the waters, to gaze from the land on another's struggles."

This seems to be the majority view on boards like this (at least before people realised that the recession was going to affect them).

So nothing much changes.

It would be nicer if more people lived by another of his quotes;

"It is great wealth to a soul to live frugally with a contented mind".

I don't think that society will change that much unless this recession really does end up like the 1930's (say a 10-15% chance).
I thing major changes happen maybe once in a lifetime and for better and worse a huge change in attitudes happened during the 1980's.
U-turn if you want to, the countrys not for turning.

vivatifosi

kennyboy66 wrote: »

"It is great wealth to a soul to live frugally with a contented mind".

That's a fantastic quote and would make a brilliant banner for the MSE community as a whole. I wish I could thank you many times over for that one.

kennyboy66_2

barrooo wrote: »

I think maybe 20-30 years ago the blitz spirit may have prevailed in harsh economic times, but the way society is at the moment, its more likely to create jealousy between the haves and the have nots.

Did'nt really notice the blitz spirit in the early 80's when mass unemployment was created, or when there were major riots in many cities.

What really surprises me is the astonishing passivity of people these days apart from a tiny, tiny minority on the fringes (animal rights activists & islamic terrorists).

slipthru

But if our economy is based on us spending money we don't have, how can we really change?

StevieJ

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

I think the early eighties and the yuppies(don't know if that's the correct spelling) spoilt everything.Young peoples attitudes just seemed to change overnight after the troubled 70s.You had to have this that and the other to be anybody.I was 25 in 1980 and suddenly young people seemed to turn into stepford wives.
Everybody seemed to go house buying mad and all you heard was by the time I'm such and such this will be worth?.I realy hated the 80s,life was never the same after that.Materialism gone mad.
I don't think things will change when this is all over.People will still want the same as before.Advertising and celebrity programmes and magazines will make them strive for what they can't afford and this will all happen again.
It's human nature or greed whichever you care to call it.

Yes, all roads lead back to Maggie :eek:

hethmar

Davesnave wrote: »

You are not getting me to say I behaved responsibly in the 60s!

I know what you mean though. It's hard to pin this down, but I agree that society has become nastier. The thing about the 60s was that we were all like kids in a Harry Potter sweet shop, constantly amazed at the new goods on offer and the scientific progress that seemed to make wild future aspirations possible

How true Dave, we were in awe of the world unfolding round us - to be honest very few of us got into LSD though most will let youngsters believe we did. I think blowing bubbles at a Stones concert in Hyde Park was about as wild as it got for most. But there was, as you say, an innocence, a gentleness that no longer seems to exist.

Of course there were dodgey traders, corrupt politicians and general evil but on a much lower level than now, when instead of being exiled to the country, a politician who is caught out engages a PR man and makes even more on the back of notoriety. There was back then an honesty that no longer exists. I guess nowdays shame doesnt exist.

It also seems to me, that whilst communications, television etc have been a wonderful boon in many ways, bad, violent and sadistic behaviour has become acceptable to many. Perversions that most people had never heard of are now discussed as a humourous subject - taboos have become normal, lines have been crossed - I guess people have lost their self respect and soul.

hethmar

kennyboy66 wrote: »

Did'nt really notice the blitz spirit in the early 80's when mass unemployment was created, or when there were major riots in many cities.

What really surprises me is the astonishing passivity of people these days apart from a tiny, tiny minority on the fringes (animal rights activists & islamic terrorists).

Kenny its not passive, its apathy and selfishness - as long as No. 1 is ok, sod the rest of you.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

hethmar wrote: »

How true Dave, we were in awe of the world unfolding round us - to be honest very few of us got into LSD though most will let youngsters believe we did. I think blowing bubbles at a Stones concert in Hyde Park was about as wild as it got for most. But there was, as you say, an innocence, a gentleness that no longer seems to exist.

Of course there were dodgey traders, corrupt politicians and general evil but on a much lower level than now, when instead of being exiled to the country, a politician who is caught out engages a PR man and makes even more on the back of notoriety. There was back then an honesty that no longer exists. I guess nowdays shame doesnt exist.

The fact that this happens,doing something bad making you a hero(and rich with it)while hard working people get nowhere makes me so mad.
I agree with you about the honesty back then,it does'nt exist anymore.
Shame is something that does'nt exist either.
The whole world's turned upside down nowadays.