Do you think that society has become to much about "ME" and not enough about "WE?"?

Question

I think that no matter what your faith or beliefs are society has as a whole gone astray. We have started to be all about what we want or what we must have and no longer care about each other. Do you agree? And also any ideas on how we can change it? Why do we perpetuate such selfishness that we even buy our children shirts bragging,"It's all about ME!"?

Answer 1

yep. and we should not think ME but YOU. If everyone cared for each other, this planet would be much better.

Answer 2

I think that is mostly correct. One of the reasons for a more 'Me' outlook is socio-economic. When people struggle to provide for themselves and their family they will not worry about others when the ones they love are having a hard go of it. When the choice becomes working overtime to provide food, shelter and medicine and volunteering somewhere most in that situation will look after themselves.

The second part of the problem is that those who have the means generally will not help those that don't have the means. Most people are more concerned with their own materialistic needs than the basic needs of others.

How do we change it? It is hard to change the attitudes of adults because adults for the most part are more inflexible than younger human beings. Start with the children. I was a Girl Scout from the ages of 7-18 which is where I learned about public service. Perhaps change will come only when the younger generation is exposed to it.

Answer 3

At least you're coming out and saying it! In all fairness, society's become too much about "me" because its been engendered into us by the mass media produced and distributed by our parents' generation. We're just learning what they were taught, and unlike them, we often teach it consciously to our own children.

How do we put the brakes on a me-oriented culture? Contrary to Hillary "It Takes A Village" Clinton's belief, it's got to start with one person. That seems counterproductive, but we cannot afford to live in a society that places NO worth on the dignity of the individual. What we need is a cause that diverse segments of society can support yet encourages diverse points of view. We don't want to become Borg, but we want to have a shared (note I don't say "common") goal. Pick your field, and take the time to find what you have in common with those of different religions, colors, or creeds -- usually a lot more than anyone thinks!

Become the change you want to see in the world.

Answer 4

Exactly! But I don't think it's anything new. Read the Old Testament and find exactly the same problems -- dysfunctional families. Caring starts within the family, friends, neighborhood, city, country, etc. We have too much preaching about "those people" and not enough leading by example!

God is there to support us in our endeavors, not just to provide for all one's needs and desires. Life's not fair, but that shouldn't stop us from doing our best to make it the best it can be.

Instead of telling strangers that God loves them, why not do an anonymous act of kindness for them? Wouldn't God approve? But then, of course, one doesn't get that "holier-than-thou" sense.

Shalom

Answer 5

You may not recall, but the 1970's were the "me" decade. This has been a debate that society has been having for a very long time. Instead of focusing on it (and blaming ourselves) let's look at the many positives about current society that are being ignored because we're looking at the negatives.

Answer 6

If you are talking about the society in America, I totally agree. Reading many of the posts and responses on this site is so disheartening. Whining, complaining, negativity, hatred, and blame....it's really sad. No one has a solution, but all have complaints. And every thing is all about the ME. Very unfortunate.

Answer 7

You are right. We should be living to serve, (piece of the FFA motto there!) when we help others our lives are full and beautiful. I think we need to start with ourselves and our children. We should help one another and avoid being selfish. We should teach our children that there is no greater lov than to give up one's life for another. If they give their lives over to serve their fellow man they will be greatly rewarded. I was walking through the store with my roomate last month and there was a t- shirt that said, "it's all about me" and I read it aloud without telling her what I was reading and she said, "No it's not, it's all about GOD." I think that is the attitude that we need.

Answer 8

I think that people in general are good by nature. But I fear one of the major problems in this world is the example that churches and fundamentalists set for the children they are raising.

Preach love but practice hate. Condone war and killing. Condone the stealing of the congregations money by the church and call it tithing.

We really need to start seeing ourselves as citizens of Earth and not Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Russian, American ect. Otherwise we will kill ourselves.

Answer 9

Yes. I agree. There is no "WE" at the moment — only "ME" ...
I think people have changed totally — as I was young it
was mostly "WE" ... the family, the friends. At school, at work,
even in the army there was "WE" ... but nowadays ...???
... It is 2006 — world has changed !!!

Answer 10

oh good one - they should make you the featured question...but actually I think it differs in various societies - here in the US we are supposed to be more individualistic; however in Japan for example they are more family/group oriented...I don't think we need to change it that's just the way our cultures have changed being seperate for so long...=D