What would you say is the leading problem in today's society?

Question

If you had to choose one problem above all others that's wrong with the way people of the world interact with one another, what would it be?

Why?

Optionally:
How would you address this problem?

Answer 1

Arabs are the main concern, best way to deal with them is nuke that piece of **** that is between Europe and Asia right after we steal all the oil.

Answer 2

A-Ken,

This is really the great question for all of us to ponder. Some might wrongly say that those in the U.S are selfish and pampered. But I see a lot of charity in America, and that most people in this country work very hard, a number of people I know have 2 or 3 jobs. Of course, I realize there are exceptions. If you look at events like 9/ll and Katrina, to my knowledge people were very brave. I may stand corrected on this but my understanding is that the people at the World Trade Center did not just turn into a pell mell stampede; the handicapped and weak were helped by others. We all know of the valor of the victims in the airliner that was kept from Washington, D.C. and went down in Pennsylvania.

I am a Christian, but have had Moslem friends. It would not be fair to judge all Arabs by a radical savage fringe. Arabs and Christian have warred, but have also lived in peace. Before more recent tragic events, Israel and Egypt reconciled at Camp David.

Capitalism is not evil. It has brought wonderful advances in the standard of living. Compare modern nations with the third world and below. Why do not third world countries better advance? I see the link not in the average person, but in the poor, selfish, uninformed, arrogant political leadership that has borne misery across the globe, both in third world nations, and yes even in the United States. I am not naive as Rousseau, but I think society's fallings come more from bad government than bad people.


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Answer 3

The real problem in the world is religion that is misleading the people rather than guiding them, the other problem in today's society is that people are getting more and more self centered or self serving, then we have a problem that involves nations that are so blind in their ambitions that they ignore the rights of other nations, then there is this called inequality among people like rich and poor people that it separates them as human beings. I can go on for ever but I must make some phone calls. I work for a collection agency.

Answer 4

I think that the leading problem with the way people of the world interact with one another is that they all ignore each other.

We choose to ignore that the world around us is deprived of security and lacks love. We ignore the small details in life. We ignore our sins even though we had the option to not commit them. We ignore the most important part of our lives, our families, because we are so caught up in our jobs and becoming successful. We ignore our true feelings to be accepted in society. We ignore the world's flaws because we think it's normal.

We ignore too much.

Answer 5

The 'primacy of instrumental reason'.

(ie - people only think about what works, not about what ought to be) There is a time for practicality but there is also a time to think about how to improve our sorry lot here on Earth. Or put another way we can't seem to get out of the rut of 'short term gain for long term pain'.

Instead of trying to improve the health of society and the natural world we wallow in our same old filth, too scared to believe that we CAN actually improve our lives by changing the status quo.

Answer 6

The way society doesn't make/or encourage parents bring up children.
They are bringing themselves up and creating the types of value systems that lack values such as respect for others both person and property. greed and sel promotion prevail; get 'stuff' to make you feel good, and occupy your time. I am a great person because I say so.
They don't tag around with Dad and learn to do ,look under the bonnet of the car, hammer in a nail, fix Mum's favourite chair, learn to negotiate with other adults, conduct themselves in public have a discussion that doesn't push your own interests..
Compassion must be learned by being put in a situation to see other's needs.
Helping Mum with the chores, walking Granny to the shop, dropping a meal in to the neighbor who has a new baby, mowing the lawn of the old lady who's son was killed in a car crash. And not expect payment, just feel good about helping
I think it can be summed up by young people thinking and feeling What about ME.
If they are not taught it in growing up it makes for an argumentative society rather than co-operative one.
I am not advocating any Church or religion based organisations here, often they create the wrong mindset all together, ie I am better than you because I go to Church, or I am a Muslim Or I know i can do whatever I like because I confess to God and he forgives me.
Its in the people who have lived long enough to see that freedom from everyday responsibility leads to irresponsible adults making poorly backed decisions.
Then not able to stand up and admit they were wrong.
The vicious circle continues and I am sad to say I think it is now spiralling away and the integrity and basic honesty of human beings as a race is being eliminated by fast living, possession accumulation , technology and War.
Bring back "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You."
One way to approach it may be to teach kids in school that old people are still people and they have seen what works and what fails. Hear their ideas and really challenge our way of life.
They may be the last ones able to help us out of our damaged psyches.

Answer 7

I believe the real problem is detachment. Media has made us remote from our own innermost selves, from our families, from the people we try to establish relationships with. People have more meaningful connections to their cell phones, cigarettes and ipods than they do with other people. There's something to be said for the second and third answers to this post. Yes, stupidity is a problem, and greed most distinctly will lead to our downfall as a civilization. But these conditions would not be so prevalent if people were not so disconnected and unaware of their place in the world.

The real need is to strip away all the surface garbage of products and celebrities and otherness, and find ourselves and the real people around us.

However, it is easier to give in, to become identity-less, and to think of ourselves as mannikins who wear logos, use products and worship the Beautiful Icons of the entertainment world. That way we do not have to submit to the dangers of thought, analysis and ethics.

This is a philosophical tragedy of enormous consequence.

Answer 8

Religion. More people have been killed because of religious beliefs than anything else in history. Look at the fear Americans are being indoctrinated with now over Muslims. They feel the same way about Christians and I won't even get into the Jewish atrocities committed against them. And I haven't gotten into Asia and India . Religion has been and will remain the leading problem far worse than war, famine and disease. Some loving God we have .. Thou shalt not kill....Riiiight..

Answer 9

poverty and all its ramifications- assaults against women due to misogyn, loss of self -esteem and conversion to radical extremist fundamentalism, no adequate education, no job preparation, no jobs, young kids being stolen to become children soldiers because parents are either dead or sick and can't afford the meds they need.

What do you you do about it , good question, I have no adequate answers.

A living wage for everyone , interantional banks lower or forgive poor countries their loans, adequate health care, shelter , employment for everyone ...would be nice , won't happen. Western industrialized countries and the dozen or so people who control the world won't allow it to happen. They make money off people being poor and at war with one another. When people realize we have more in common than we do differences and that there really is enough for everyone , maybe the world will work but that won't happen anytime soon.

Answer 10

Lack of thinking is the leading problem. Mental development IS available via schools and libraries. Families and caregivers need to constantly lead children to knowledge by fostering curiousity. . Morals and ethics are necessities--treat everyone as you would like to be treated; don't touch anyone in anger--talk out problems, do not act like animals. We are all in this world together; we need to work to make ourselves more educated, more helpful, more patient, & learn to set meaningful goals. Media and advertising are ONLY distractions. Children need to know those presentations are vacuous ,and do not project useful goals. Expose children to great role models--teachers, inventors, scientists, doctors, dancers, artists. Let them know they can be anything when they grow up---IF they value education.

Answer 11

the leading problem for humans, generally, is the absence of understanding what being human is all about. among other issues, they've been trained to believe that "they" are their physical bodies, only. thus fear of death is omnipresent. also, most believe that the "voice in their head"/ego is definitely a good guide and should be followed. big mistake! ultimately, not accessing the deeper levels of consciousness, a usual mistake by most, leads to ego ridden, unskilfull, toxic behavior. thus, our present situation. one day, the psychopaths who own the planet will be gone, and what they carefully disallow from being popularly taught will be permitted. namely, what existence is all about. thus the populace, generally, will be far more empowered, healthier and happier. one day, but probably not too soon, eh? ;-)