In your opinion, what is the single most detrimental thing to a society or culture?

Question

I know there are several elements that can be destructive when combined together. But what do you believe is the single most harmful thing that can damage a society or culture?

Answer 1

In one word HATE

Answer 2

You are very right, social ills are very often complex and it's almost impossible to come to a consensus about solutions. I do have a small idea for a possible beginning though. I've noticed an almost complete absence of the most basic respect that we deserve from one another. What I'm talking about is that most basic standard of respect that all of us deserve and should give. Anything over and above this most basic form should be earned, but surely we could try to treat one another as we would ourselves be treated?

Answer 3

Greed

So many detrimental elements of society stem from greed. If people could learn to be happy living a little simpler it would do a world of good.

Answer 4

Loss of Identity

Civilizations rise because of unification. In the end it is all you have. Empires like Egypt, Greece, Rome, and England, lasted so long because they never lost sight of who they were. Once they did however (excluding England) they fell. This can be brought on by greed, bad leadership, unchecked settling/ illegal immigration, diversification over questionable wars.

Once the people divid there identity becomes lost. Once making a fortune becomes more important then social responsiblity your identity as a people is lost. Once Apathy sets in your identity is lost. Once the people forget why they exist you know the rest.

(I'm not even going to say who is guilty of all the above)

Answer 5

I asked Jared Diamond (Guns Germs and Steel) this question once in a Q&A period after a lecture. His response was "probably people asking that."

Admittedly, nobody thinks of themselves as the bad guy. I'd say miscommunication. That's what "contaminates" the decision-making in a society.

Answer 6

turning away from our moral values. 4 school shootings in the last 2 weeks. murder, rape everywhere everyday! abortion etc. society has moved away from the moral values we once had. now everyone has the idea of what is right and wrong for you is not what necessarily what is right and wrong for me. and every generation it has got worse in that way of thinking. that is why these evils were not so prevalent in the past decades. there is only one right and wrong. Children need to be taught morals and the parents need to live by them, not just preach them.

Answer 7

Oppression

Answer 8

Apathy --- It explains the decline and fall of empires. Once a people become too comfortable, and they don't have anything to thrive for anymore, they become self-indulgent, materialistic and decadent. Young, hungry civilizations with ideals still alive eventually undermine them and take their place.

Answer 9

What you're saying is partly genuine. confident there are human beings available who relish shooting of only approximately each and every element. yet on a similar time asserting that is going too a strategies. you're only forgetting the basics of a image. only that for the time of this age, this is there for each individual to ascertain...

Answer 10

in the U S of A at least, our greed, our excess... the way we behave in public is like the bully on the bus... the way we preach but don't practice... detrimental from the POV of public opinion about us... I am truly worried

Answer 11

Ignorance.