Has society become more selfish?

[TheKanga]

I had social situation at work recently, it was a back a forth conversation between a few of us.
Then someone else arrived and managed to turn the conversation into being exclusively about him.
Other times in another social situation, we were having a philosophical conversation and someone had to be the know-it-all and basically would not even acknowledge anyone else's opinion or input.

Lately if I'm around these sort of people I don't even bother talking because they just try to talk over the top of you and drown out your voice.

Anyone else experienced people like this?

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Has society become more selfish?

Probably not.

 

[JuddsABlue]

I dont think theyre very good examples but I think society in general is selfish, whether its more selfish I cant say because I'm not old enough

 

[TheKanga]

I dont think theyre very good examples but I think society in general is selfish, whether its more selfish I cant say because I'm not old enough

My apologies, those experiences aren't reflective of society.
Maybe i should of called the thread ''selfish-ness in social situations''

 

[edgie]

Yes. There's a gym junkie at work, nice enough guy, but don't think about starting a chat with him during lunch unless you want to hear about his diet, and whether he is on bulking or shredding cycle.

 

[BALKAN]

Different personality types clashing. /thread

 

[crownie]

History shows society will always be selfish.

 

[Cmarsh]

Late night talkback would love the thread title. I'm looking at you Christian Argenti.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Yep. We're just more disconnected from other humans than ever and thus more focussed on ourselves.

The only form of "entertainment" used to be conversing somehow with others. These days we're bombarded with so much stimuli that we don't even know or notice other people sometimes.

 

[Seeds]

The only people who are not selfish are irrational.

 

[little graham]

The only people who are not selfish are irrational.

Cuba says hi!

 

[Scotland]

Cuba says hi!

Yep, because no one from Cuba has ever left their communist paradise to better their own personal circumstances.

 

[little graham]

Yep, because no one from Cuba has ever left their communist paradise to better their own personal circumstances.

cuba leads the world in health care, is leading the fight against Ebola in Africa, leading the fight against radiation poisoning to Russian kids as result of Chernobyl, while under the same sanctions as Nth Korea.

Murdoch certainly has raised alot of bigoted ignorant aussies hey?

 

[Scotland]

Yawn.

 

[Cmarsh]

cuba leads the world in health care, is leading the fight against Ebola in Africa, leading the fight against radiation poisoning to Russian kids as result of Chernobyl, while under the same sanctions as Nth Korea.

Murdoch certainly has raised alot of bigoted ignorant aussies hey?

What else does Cuba lead the world in?

 

[Gough]

Cigars and preserving 1950s American cars.

 

[WCErevival]

Cigars

 

[Gasometer]

Count how many times you hear 'I' on football coverage this season.

 

[DrKrieger]

It probably partly comes from the whole Facebook/Twitter thing, where everyone is used to having their say, and then judging their worth by how many likes they get for that comment.

Your colleague probably doesn't even realise they're doing it, it's just the way they've become used to communicating. If it was me I'd want someone to have a quiet word to me and pull me into line, but that's an individual thing I guess.

 

[The Speaker]

The sense of individual and the sense of community have clashed throughout human history. Generally, the better off a society is, the more individualistic. Which suggests that humans have always been and will always be selfish.

So you could say that society has become more selfish. But I'm sure there have been times and places that were actually more selfish than Australia today,

 

[Silent Alarm]

Yep. We're just more disconnected from other humans than ever and thus more focussed on ourselves.

The only form of "entertainment" used to be conversing somehow with others. These days we're bombarded with so much stimuli that we don't even know or notice other people sometimes.

What about in times of depression? Surely the stimuli of, like, hunger and unemployment and trying to get over those hurdles left you a little less inclined to care about other people? I fail to believe the human condition has changed that much in such a short amount of time.

The essence is, people go both ways and you'll see acts of kindness and ignorance every day. I certainly don't think hashtags and Channel 9 has really changed those basic reactions and instincts.

For what it's worth, in my experience (...), the people who claim they're not selfish and believe in absolute altruism tend to be the most selfish and ignorant and unaware pricks I know. If you're aware of your faults and can analyse your bad acts and understand you're prone to doing things only for yourself, then you'll probably be the kind of person who has some tact and will also understand other people as well as yourself.

 

[Catfish Alley]

Nah. I've seen some great genorisity from people in recent times. Humans overall don't change much over centuries let alone year-over-year.

 

[PaddyO]

Younger generations are more self absorbed, but far less selfish, than baby boomers.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Yep. We're just more disconnected from other humans than ever and thus more focussed on ourselves.

The only form of "entertainment" used to be conversing somehow with others. These days we're bombarded with so much stimuli that we don't even know or notice other people sometimes.

I'm not so sure. Certainly more openly selfish, but how much of the oft malented "manners" was for show, proving to the world what a nice person you were.
Perhaps there's just less lying about it now.

 

[Big Bryza]

Yes. There's a gym junkie at work, nice enough guy, but don't think about starting a chat with him during lunch unless you want to hear about his diet, and whether he is on bulking or shredding cycle.

U just jelly brah.