We moderns are often accused of being self-absorbed and selfish, yet...?
350719
Hi there.. I'm not sure what your actual question is.  Are you claiming that your generation is not as self-absorbed and selfish as some people accuse?  Or are you saying that today's TV shows portray a generation that is not self-absorbed or selfish?  Who are "we moderns"?  I'm interested in discussing these issues with you, but I need to understand who you speak for.  Certainly not everyone in the world who is your age cheers for the winners on American Idol.  Some of them can't stand the show, much less the winners (i know some young people like this.)\n\nI think a large part of the joy in watching people find success and happiness on TV is that it allows the viewer (i.e. you or me) to experience that pleasure, to live sort of vicariously through the characters we're seeing, and in whom we've invested quite a lot of emotion and interest.   I would say to you that I think it's indicative of a good person to enjoy seeing people find success and happiness, or seeing people solve their problems and work things out.  I believe that's a good thing. \n\nBut there are some inherent problems with buying too much into the stories on TV.  For one, TV shows, reality or not, are nevertheless edited to smithereens; they rarely if ever show the true ebb and flow of a situation, the nature of how real time passes.  It's VERY easy to get used to that and lose your perspective on how long some things take and how much patience and tenacity is required.  Another problem:  there are some people who are so rapt in attention with TV shows, and already experiencing vicariously the pleasures of successes that they're seeing, that they have simply stopped investing enough time in their own happiness.   When you relate to much of life through a perspective of TV shows, you lose sense of how things really are.  Everything is very grand and overly dramatic and heavily edited on TV.  When one then has to deal with regular life, and it appears to them (relative to TV) mundane, slow, and undramatic, they may become discouraged and lose a lot of drive or ambition to pursue their interests.  \n\nThere are other problems.  I refer you to a great essay by David Foster Wallace entitled "E Unibus Pluram:  Television and U.S. Fiction".  \n\nBut to better answer your question, I need to know more specifics.  Who are you "moderns"?  Who is accusing you of being self-absorbed and selfish, and if someone is, why should you care?  Do you feel like a self-absorbed or selfish person?  If not, then who cares what other people say?  If they're judging you without knowing you, that's pretty presumptuous.  Screw 'em.  Live your life, be happy, be yourself.  Write me back if you'd like.
389967
Well, I feel that people will always think that the grass is greener on the other side.\n\nSometimes other people give the impression that they are doing much better than us, be it cause of their achievements and what not.\n\nBut we tend to see only what we dont have and not appreciate what we do possess, and that inclination to pursue what we do not have makes us want to be like people who have what we don't.\n\nJust my point of view.
304094
I think people with low self esteem blame entertainment on their actions. They may have or get ideas to edge them on with their actions. Those are really lonely people and they are either mentally unstable, or they crave attention. And what's getting more attention now days than any other form of moral principals? Negativity. Maybe their personalities can't distinguish the difference between a false sense of reality and reality. Keep in mind, the whole world is suffering, so all we can do is pray for them.\nThe Graphologist
1148725
exactly. many of these people are selfish, and they are afraid of change.
89785
nah...\n\nPeople have been complaining that the current generation is worse than the past ones literally since Aristotle. Times changes, as do attitudes and fads. Sometimes the old folks (and that would probaby include me at 44) sometimes don't keep up with it and have a lot of nostalgia for what they *think* was there youth.
708111
People are too self absorbed now a days...so much for the global village.
582000
Because they think they're better than others, or either they're insecure about themselves and try to find fault in others just for the heck of it. It happens a lot nowadays, you just have to learn to be more open-minded. If people dont like you for who you are, that's their problem.
576583
some people are selfish and do not worry about others. they are only worried about advancing themselves in life.
603082
I don't think it sums up all Americans, but many have noticed that we in America (and the west) tend to be extremely materialistic and that the value of one's life is determined in our societies by how much we own, how big the things we own, or how new the things we own are, etc. This has led some (Americans and Westerners as well as others outside of the west and Amerca) to point out that sometimes we miss the things of other value: family, friends, an active culture, an honoring of ancestry and family history, the chance to positively effect other people's lives and have them effect your life in a true and meaningful way that's value is beyond all material things.
188852
Some people think they have to exaggerate to make themselves seem of more importance.  Honesty is not what it used to be, once considered a virtue it is now rarely spoken.  The sad thing is, when someone lies it is to themself they tell the worst of lies!\n\nThen there are those who lie so consistently that they can't remember their own tales...
597763
Yes, very much so.  Are we really paying attention to what is important?  NO, not most of the time.  What is important is how good we feel about ourselves from within and not what society tells us is good.  We have to learn to reject someone else's idea that influences and in turn makes us feel bad about ourselves.
32928
We let our egos get in the way and worry more about material things and satisfying ourselves than about being spiritual and sharing with others. It sucks but thats free will.
874697
I tend to think that as we get older we care a lot less about what other people think. There comes a time when you realize that you have to live your life to please yourself and those that you love. What does it matter what other people think? They don't have to live your life, you do. I call it maturity.
1000770
Americans, like our President, are notorious for our lack of knowledge and lack of interest in the views of people of other countries and other cultures. Remember Freedom Fries?  In clinical jargon, we describe those who feel that they should be treated special because of the type of person they are, and who lack empathy for others,  as "narcissistic." Thus, America exhibits a kind of social narcissism. In recent years psychoanalysts have learned that narcissism is accompanied by pervasive, yet disowned, fear, shame, and hostility.\n\nWe need a revolution to restore the people's pride and break free from the corporate takeover that is everyday life in the USA.
933865
Well in some ways that is sort of true. Mainly because people always want what is best for themselves. But not everysingle person is selfish. Everyone has their own way of showing that they care about someone else. But I can admit, sometimes i'm a little selfish myself. : )
670868
I wish I knew the answer to this myself. I grew up in the 70's and it was soooo different. It seems as if everybody today is in such a hurry, they disregard the feeling of other people. So many people treat others as if they are an object, simply in the way. It seems as if material things are what is important. Like if you accidentally pull out in front of somebody, their first inclination is to start cursing and flipping you off. they dont stop and think of the times, THEY pulled out in front of somebody. I think the whole friggin world needs to slow down and take a deep breath.
401747
I think it's because people are basically egocentric.  Also self-preservation is rather high on the list of the instincts.