Everywhere I go these days, whether it be dining out or buying groceries at the local supermarket, people seem unhappy in general. These are not isolated incidents but a constant encounter with unhappy service workers. And its not just the employees but the customers are unhappy too.
2007-03-07 00:58:52 · 11 answers · asked by Lee 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I think it's a combination of overwork and consumerism.
A lot of people see things in the media (which is basically a glorified advertising platform), and think to themselves, "I should have that."
Then, they begin working like crazy to pay for it or to pay off their credit cards after buying that item.
This leads to less time to cook and clean, thus going out to eat and hiring a maid, which leads to more debt.
The next week, the person sees another shiny object and thinks, "Man, that last item wasn't as cool as I thought. Maybe it'll be different this time."
So, the person buys the new item and the viscious cycle continues.
We've developed a cult of consumerism in this country, and to live the lifestyles that the media says we should have, we have to work like crazy. Almost everyone knows someone who's had to declare bankruptcy or a person who graduates college with massive credit card debt.
It's a problem, but too many people choose to continue ignoring it by buying new, shiny toys all the time.
2007-03-07 01:31:59 · answer #1 · answered by Average Joe 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many people are unhappy for different reasons, but in general, people are disappointed with the world as a whole.
In our world, we have a small amount of time to make a difference. In that small amount of time, we are plagued with trying to make enough money to get through the week, avoid going to court and keeping our kids in line. Some people burn both ends of the candle and have kids first, then figure out how to pay for them and how to raise them. These kind of restrictions cause negative dispositions that prevent these people from ever seeing the light and recovering from their situations.
Unfortunately, this negative attitude is passed down to the next generation. So is the cycle to reproduce before preparing their life with an education, career and a safe, clean home for the child. And so, the unhappy service workers fall into the trap of being undereducated, underpaid and overwhelmed with children that they cannot afford to raise. That would do it for anyone, not just service workers.
2007-03-07 01:21:26 · answer #2 · answered by joe_on_drums 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beats me. Those who are unhappy in the US, in the midst of the most prosperous society on the face of the earth, ought to travel overseas. They ought to go to the places on earth where life really is a living hell and an unending struggle just to stave off starvation. Perhaps then they will return to the Western world with a sense that their lives really are not that hard, and they will not be so unhappy.
Or perhaps people in the US are unhappy these days just because their lives are so easy, and there are no hard challenges any more. Maybe if we were not so prosperous, we would be able to take pleasure in small things and the beauty that lies all around us.
2007-03-07 01:10:41 · answer #3 · answered by sandislandtim 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
One of the main reasons employees in the service industry lately are so upset is that people who used to not have the money to eat out, travel, etc...before can now, thanks to discounts and they don't know how to treat someone who is serving them. Rudeness abounds, and the service provider expects rudeness. People who only go out to eat 3 times a year or so forget how to act in public. People who have suddenly gotten some money and now want crab legs for dinner think they have "moved on up." I used to be a flight attendant, and one reason I quit was that with each passing year, people got more and more demanding and rude, and it in turn affected my attitude. Someone pays 79 bucks for a discount ticket somewhere and think they own the whole plane and everyone on it. Was just not worth it anymore.
2007-03-07 01:05:17 · answer #4 · answered by irie.girl_2006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The effects of materialism as one of the reasons? Now that you've said it, I can say that these incidents are not isolated to America. Here in Asia, there are a lot of unhappy people too.
2007-03-07 01:06:00 · answer #5 · answered by Dowland 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
because too many people wanted to be astronauts or cowboys or princesses as kids, were told that all they needed to do was hard work and they'd be a success throughout their lives and suddenly they wake up and find themselves buying groceries for their ungrateful family or working in a supermarket for minimum wage. It'd bum you out too.
2007-03-07 01:05:19 · answer #6 · answered by Mike 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Because America is becoming, no longer America. What America use to stand for is slowly being flushed down the porcelain throne.
P.S.
Because of people like Crystal T.
2007-03-07 01:04:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
its not just americans. its the same in south africa! everyone is just UNHAPPY! probably becuase if you look around its just war and BAD news. it starts to rub off on a person i guess! but your smile could lite up someones day so keep smiling!!
2007-03-07 01:11:04 · answer #8 · answered by halfpint 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The war. The President. Nasty racist people.
2007-03-07 01:10:35 · answer #9 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure, but I advocate countrywide aerial spraying of Prozac...
2007-03-07 01:10:50 · answer #10 · answered by Tess O 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋