Moral Decline

[Iris]

Do you think looking at society that we are going through a moral decline? Looking at topics such as, but not limited to, music, clothing, and respect for authority.

This was a topic that was brought up in my sociology class last night.

 

[dt3]

Absolutely.

 

[Laure]

I don't believe there is any more bad stuff in the world now than there was at any point in history. I just think people are getting less and less willing to look for the good.

 

[Iris]

I agree, Laure. I mean look at the world. Sure, there is less respect for authority, more cursing in today's media, and even nudity, but women's rights has progressed greatly, more and more people are becoming accepting of homosexuality, and we have our first black president.

 

[Laure]

I agree, Laure. I mean look at the world. Sure, there is less respect for authority, more cursing in today's media, and even nudity, but women's rights has progressed greatly, more and more people are becoming accepting of homosexuality, and we have our first black president.

I guess it also depends strongly on what you feel constitutes a moral decline. Personally, I don't feel as if cursing and nudity do.

 

[Iris]

Yeah, that is true as well. I had never really thought of it like that.

 

[skyblue]

definately a moral decline.....in the past we've always had wars,by wars i mean real wars that go worldwide,young men were conscripted to fight,they had no choice......now whether they were in europe or asia in ww2,or vietnam and korea,they saw the same things,which were death,destruction,poverty and human tragedy on a massive scale.....now that would have had an impact,they'd seen enough to teach them respect for they're fellow men which meant they lived they're lives in a proper way.....now these days service is on a volunteer basis,most kids dont do it,they've been brought up having everything they want so they expect the same when they grow up and they dont care who they hurt to get it

i'm not saying start a world war but this is one of the many reasons

 

[satinbutterfly]

Absolutely.

:homo:

 

[darkcgi]

We as human beings are always learning. No one knows everything or even close to it.
We try to keep something secret so that there is the element of suprise and sxstaticness that feel good and makes people happy
Think about it
A moral
example
I have a moral to not be too kinky in the bedroom
If life gets boring theres always something new to discover
another one
a moral
do not lie
if we are absolutely without a doubt sure that if we tell this particular lie
it will make other people happy

its hard to describe morals when you have morals
everyone has morals they are just all different


my morals are dont lie unless it helps someone that deserves it
dont hide the truth about who I am (people dont like this one usually because they hide them selves
and dont like others to unhide they have it in their minds that its not socialy ok to tell all your secrets
But they still want to meat people and expect them to be open and honest

even relationships

im insecure
im sexually a nympho but I want to be with just one person
Im a one person guy

 

[Alien Allen]

Yeah we are in a moral decline. Which is kind of ironic after the right wing had control of things for so many years. So much for their friggin family values bullshit.

I suppose every generation makes the same claim. But lets face it the roaring 20's was supposedly decadent for its time and it looks damn tame compared to today.

I am not against loosening of morals to a degree. As I would like to see pot and prostitution legalized. But on the other hand the little shits out there have no respect and have not had respect for 30 years plus. I blame that on the I, ME, MINE generation of the 60's that raised their kids and then spawned the current crop

 

[Zorak]

definately a moral decline.....in the past we've always had wars,by wars i mean real wars that go worldwide,young men were conscripted to fight,they had no choice......now whether they were in europe or asia in ww2,or vietnam and korea,they saw the same things,which were death,destruction,poverty and human tragedy on a massive scale.....now that would have had an impact,they'd seen enough to teach them respect for they're fellow men which meant they lived they're lives in a proper way.....now these days service is on a volunteer basis,most kids dont do it,they've been brought up having everything they want so they expect the same when they grow up and they dont care who they hurt to get it

That's ridiculous logic.

Hitler was also a part of that generation you know, and every other individual in the world followed him.

 

[Iris]

Yeah and look at the crusades... :/

Also, Laure, I was wondering if you could explain why you don't think cursing is a moral decline? I can understand and agree with nudity.

 

[Tangerine]

I don't believe there is any more bad stuff in the world now than there was at any point in history. I just think people are getting less and less willing to look for the good.

I completely agree. But I think the biggest change is the complete saturation of media exposure than shapes and changes our perception of everything. More than ever in history, our common "mood" and "mindset" is controlled by outside influences.


For the record, I think the proliferation of media is responsible for a large array of problems in our world. This one is just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[Tangerine]

I also find it very disturbing how even in this very thread, people are using the media as the BAROMETER for determining if and/or how morals have changed over time. It's become as if only media confirmation makes something "true" or "real".

 

[Peter Parka]

I dont think so, of course there's shocking stuff which the knee jerkers point to but on the whole, its nowhere near as bad as what we've been through.

 

[KpAtch3s]

Absolutely.

:homo:

:withstupid:

I think the information age brings things more into the lime light since we tend to focus on the negative things. However, morals are certainly subjective to your beliefs as well and so they will vary from person to person, but there is a distinct decline that I'd argue began in the 60's.

 

[Dana]

I've morals. I'm morally obligated to worry about me, my family and my friends.

 

[Laure]

Yeah and look at the crusades... :/

Also, Laure, I was wondering if you could explain why you don't think cursing is a moral decline? I can understand and agree with nudity.

Sorry I didn't see this sooner.

The reason I do not believe cursing constitutes a moral decline is because those words cannot (in and of themselves) hurt anybody. In fact, there's not a single word in the English language that doesn't serve a very important purpose when used correctly and in the right situation.

Yes, people can be hurt by words. If I tell somebody, "Fuck you!", then my words have caused harm and it was morally wrong for me to say that. However, I can cause the same amount of harm by saying, "You've got a face like a pig!"

None of the words in that last insult are considered "bad", yet they are capable of doing just as much damage as the real "bad" one in the first example. So, it's not the words that are bad. It's the way in which they are used. We cannot pick out a handful of words and say, "These are the immoral ones." If we want to make any word that could cause harm or hurt feelings "bad" words, then we will have to become a society of mutes.

WARNING! Lots and lots of "bad" words here:

YouTube - The Seven Words

 

[Iris]

It's fine! And yes, I can understand what you are saying, completely. So you think the way the words are used by a person can be morally wrong, but not the words themselves?

 

[Laure]

It's fine! And yes, I can understand what you are saying, completely. So you think the way the words are used by a person can be morally wrong, but not the words themselves?

Exactly. In the same way driving a car could be morally wrong if you use it to run somebody over. Anything can be used to cause harm. I believe most things can be used for good as well.