Do you feel that society is moving backwards?

Question

I feel there has been a huge negative change in our society. 10 years ago young women were considered strong, bright, opinionated, and respectable. Today it seems that a majority of young women only care about appearences, celebrities, they are way too ditzy, and dress provocatively. It also seemed as if people were finally starting to really really accept the "black" culture. Now, the term "******" is used way too easily, in a deragatory sense, and no one wants to correct people when they say it. Not to mention the new season of "Survivor" where the show is dividing up teams by race. Didn't our ancestors fight for something?

Answer 1

if society was going backwards there would be more integrity, ethics, honor...less of people wanting a free ride

Answer 2

Yeah, you're right it might feel that way. Progress sometimes sway away from the basic sense of values. People seem to be getting shallower and their priorities are not focused to what's really important or valuable in life. However we should not gauge racism, stereotyping or TV reality shows as the best indicators for the average accepted trends.

Today's morality sometimes do not reflect what was yesterday's. What it boils down is the choice between two categories: the traditional way- old,backward and archaic practices or the more forward modern, progressive movements, which includes the total acceptance of blacks. The entertainment media especially the TV which comes into every American living rooms exert the strongest influence. More often than not they irresponsibly portray these practices of prejudices and racisms, such as the divisions of teams according to race as you mentioned. They do it mainly for the ratings. You should be commended for bringing up a good food for thought.

Answer 3

You have a good point. I confess, at times I look at myself and wish to look hot like most female celebrates. Its whats in with the American culture. Everywhere you look, you see beautiful people with other beautiful people. If this is being accepted for celebrities, I wonder how much pressure is for us common folks? Our culture is too obessive with appearances and material items.

I hate that word... '******'. If people only knew the historic root of the term '******'. you will be suprised.

ps- its way before its present use on blacks.

Answer 4

Hmm...those are all good points. Well, no matter what we do, the fact is, there will always be racism in this country. But it IS better, a LOT better, then what our ancestors had to fight for. And just to perhaps make you feel better, I don't fit into your description of young women! But your right, girls these days totally just blow my mind...like not even I understand them at all. Why do they dress like that? Why do they swear and act like that all the time? What is it with this popularity for bad-boy boyfriends? Why so much ugly makeup? I guess that's just how our generation is right now. Lets just hope it evolves into something BETTER soon!

Answer 5

Yes - most of humanity is in prison and does not even know it. Hostages to the constant pressure to out do friends, in bondage to reactive whims and self absorbed desires, captive to job and financial pressure, prisoners of other people perception. There is a ball and chain that anchors people to the physical dimension which blocks joy and fulfilment. The me first mentality creates a rat race society. Even if you win the race you are still a rat.

Answer 6

I don't think its gone backwards. I think its more a matter of its having reached a point and then just kind of gone in all kinds of directions.

I don't watch Survivor, but on something like that issue; it may be actually a sign of progress that people aren't so sensitive about race they can't just be divided up for fun. Its as if someone at a party said, "Boys on this side. Girls on that side." or even "Everyone with blond hair is on this team." Its just kind of foolishness, that I wouldn't worry much about. I don't know what made them think to do that, but maybe it is a sign that its now ok to actually acknowledge race that blatantly.

I do think society has done a severe disservice to young girls and young women, and I sometimes wonder what will be next for young women. Still, though, I don't think its so much going backward as it is going off the track completely.

The word you brought up is something that, I suppose, people have begun to use in a way that is supposed to take away the power that word once had. I don't like. I've never said it, and I think I've only heard it used in my real life once by an elementary school kid.

I don't thing society is moving backwards. I'm not sure there can ever be any backwards when it comes to a culture. I think the society has become too scattered, too misinformed, and maybe too often too lacking in depth.

I'm a grown-up, and I found Yahoo Answers by accident a few months ago. I was bored and figured it was better than watching than television. I figured it was a little mental exercise for me to try to think up the best answer I could to (mostly) the serious questions from younger people.

I found myself writing these long, thought-out, serious, answers to some of the questions that other people just send a silly answer to. I know some people just come on here for the fun, but I noticed that some questions are very serious and some people seem to be looking for some kind of thoughtful answer.

Anyway, I started writing these long, drawn out, answers because the question inspired me to think the issue all through; but then I started to think about how ridiculous it is to bother sending these long, serious, answers to a site like this. Still, since I've had some free time recently, I've noticed I keep on getting on this site and answering.

It is, I guess, because I see the same things you do when it comes to society; and while I know what I say on here may never even be read or taken seriously by any number of people, I still have this thing that if everyone contributed some substance to society in whatever way they found possible maybe things would begin to get back on track.

I don't think I can save the world on Yahoo Answers, but I keep thinking if I do an answer here or there that just may make even one person a little more understanding of something or think a little more about something then maybe fifteen minutes of my time was well spent.

Our society suffers from following images and beliefs that are created by people who stand to make money by promoting them. These days it certainly seems like good sense and self-respect and intelligent interests have been attacked from all directions by people who stand to make money if the images they sell are bought.

Whether society has gone backwards or just scattered doesn't matter. There is definitely something going on that isn't in the best interest of human potential and society, itself. I think every individual and every family has to just keep trying to counter all the wrong ideas with ideas that encourage substance in people and some more sense in society. If all someone can do is send out some sensible, decent, ideas on the Internet - then why not. Its better than nothing.

While I get my laughs out of many of the answers that show up on here (and I admire the wit and sarcasm of some of the people who write the answers), I wish, too, that more people would write up a good, sensible, sound, and sometimes scolding answer to any questions that aren't really questions but that are, instead, someone's using this site as a way to spout ignorance.

Answer 7

History is re-written by culture over time to reflect an image that teaches them to pat themselves on the back (western culture) In my town, we have monuments on every street with images depicting "our four fathers" and they've got flags on them and HELLO! I see faces of rapists, murderers, oppertunists... One had a native american on it, like everything was all good and dandi.. the US persued genocide against human beings, native american's included! hundreds of tribes no longer exist..

=(

education is one way to change the world. learn it, practice it, teach it.

Answer 8

nobody appreciates anything. i see alot of handouts and that goes for no particular race. no one cares about the consequences of their actions, or like you said what their ancestors fought for, or respect. we are people killing our own people, we are people with the right to vote - especially women- who dont use that right, theres no priorities.and the survivor thing is just ignorant to me, but people will still watch right?

Answer 9

Yes, in some respects, I think it is. Not technologically, however.