What are we becoming?

[azhlynne]

What is our society coming to when people are so cold and hateful to others?  Where did the spirit of community go?  I've been hearing in the news lately about the many, many people who have left death threats against the Octomom and her babies, against the families and children of the corporate CEO's who have taken so much money from their companies- DEATH Threats for God's sake!!  What is that about?

I understand the frustration and anger, but to threaten to kill innocent children with piano wire?  What did the children do?  What would killing the Octomom accompolish?  What are people thinking?  Who are these bullies out there who apparently believe that this behaviour is appropriate?  How could anyone with even half a conscience say that he or she wishes those 14 babies would die?  What did they do? 

Somewhere along the way there seems to have been a shift away from compassion, decency and kindness toward violence and hate.  Back when Brittany Spears reappeared on the scene there were people making fun of her and calling her "fat".  Brittany Spears may be a lot of things, but she has NEVER been fat!  Why was that ok?  Who are the hateful people out there getting their rocks off by bullying other people and kicking them when they are down?  Actually, if you think about it, it took an enormous amount of courage for Brittany to get back on that stage after everything that had gone on in her life, couldn't people simply cut her a break?  What about the Octomom?  Yes, what she did was very, very irresponsible and wrong, but seriously folks, does she really deserve to DIE for it?  Do those innocent babies? 

Bullying happens all the time, all over the place.  In schools children torture other children just because they can.  There are mean spirited bullies in the workplace, in colleges, even strangers out in public places harrass other people.  I once had a girl jump in front of me in a checkout line and when I said "excuse me, the line is here" she exploded in my face as though I were the one in the wrong!

Even here on CM I've seen some pretty horrible and nasty attacks against other moms.  What is that all about?  Why do so many out there think it is funny and right to abuse someone else?  Especially when the other person is already down? 

Are we such an angry society that there is just no room left for compassion?  Doesn't anyone take even an minute to think about what the consequences of those hateful comments could be?  Look  what happened to that teenage girl who hanged herself after being verbally attacked on MySpace.  What do people think would go through the mind of any of the children of those CEO's if they heard that someone actually wanted to kill them because of what their mother or father had done?  Has it not occurred to anyone that those kids could really be scared?  They are already probably stressed out, they can't understand why their fathers or mothers are in such trouble, then to hear on the news or read in the papers or hear from other kids at school that people want them to be killed... way to go people, that is really high class behaviour. 

Maybe what we all really need is just a little kindness.  Couldn't people just take a few extra minutes and really think about what they are getting ready to say to someone or about someone else?  Just because we are angry doesn't give any of us the right to hurt someone else.  I am thinking that maybe if there were less anger and mean-ness in the world there might be a lot less of the behaviour that made us angry in the first place.....Just a thought.

[ElusiveSigh]

Mar. 25, 2009 at 12:25 PM

You're absolutely right!  I think of these things all of the time.  What is our world/country coming to?  It sickens me honestly.

[crazymom2374]

May. 7, 2009 at 10:09 AM

 i know this is a old post but i just watched oprah yesterday and it was about 13 year old kidskilling themselves because of being bullied in school and on the internet. it made me so sad because my youngest son is only 8 but the boy's that killed themselves reminded me very much of my andrew. and the thought of somebody being cruel to him just because he is a little different makes me want to puke. these kids are learning this from somewhere and most likely its in their own home.

  i totaly agree with you. i have noticed this as well. what ever happened to love thy neighbor. and do onto other's as you would have done on to you?