Are we victims of society?
351149
no we are victims of our noninformed ,nonvoting, not civicallyu or politically active selves remember what we learned in school American government is a republic if you can keep it I dont remember the exact quote or who said it but too many of us sit around and wait to for our interests to be protected by someone else-they- a government that historically looks after the interests of the highest payer,freedom is not free and that includes social justice and social institutions and corporate policies on a macrolevel that negatively impact the working and lower classes of society,we are victims because we refuse to help ourselves and privately hoping mommy will take care of it
469893
I believe society largely observes the observer. We are constantly monitored by a myriad of cameras, surveillance devices, surveys, our peers, strangers and other forms of big brother like tax departments, government agencies etc. We are probably observed 24 hours a day whether it be our personal self under the spotlight or our personal details. It is quite scary how much access people have to our lives and how they can all know so much about us.\n\nI suppose we just have to try and leave a good impression wherever possible.
1134426
well, yes.  but's its not like i can do something to outdo it.  as they say, we are victims of our choices.  so, if we fall, just stand up and face the world.  the mistakes and the embarassments that we have had do not make us less of a person but makes us better human beings.  we just have to learn from it and go on with life.
1268
How about the lack of personal responsibility for one's own actions these days?
432017
If you mean "we" as a society, then no.  If "we", as a country than yes.  Sure there are better ways, but we don't have the politicians in place to find/encourage them.
559956
It absolutely hurts society.  All the obvious arguments have been made.\n\nSlavery and "owing them one" is all over with...everyone needs to work hard and get it done on their own merits...not because someone of color or sex gets a free pass.
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.
958742
The Fault always rests on our shoulders. Most of the time, people can come into your lives and ruin it a bit, but we have the power to live how we want...we shouldnt blame others so much.
899140
Yes, our society has degraded tremendously since 1970! I was twelve years old back then, and I have been watching. I wish we could get our old values back before it is too late.
94706
We have freedom of speech. We can say what we think but we also understand that others also have that right. If we reacted with violence every time we were offended, society would turn to chaos. With freedom comes the responsibility of respecting other peoples freedom.
782452
Yes, \nregarding all human activity in this nation we are too much of loners. We need to learn to have communities again. We are way too isolated.
858676
Uh...  I doubt it.  This is like saying the Germans were as evil as Hitler. \n\nNo.  Evil people are responsible for their acts.  People who are unwittingly duped are victims like, well... the victims.
938244
No.  We are a social species.  Try therapy instead of technology.  And dont forget to go to your H.S. Reunion....you need the socialization.
623352
Gentically we are 99 percent the same. I have met some people born without limbs, born blind or born with CP, they had no choice in the matter. \n\nSo socially we are not equal true, high class people by your account means money... \n\n1) rich people want money poor poeple want money \n2) rich people want love, poor poeple want love\n3) rich people make families, poor people make families.\nect ect \n\nso you've been socially conditioned to need to feel better than someone else. other groups..that do this...and no you are not one of these.....\n\n\nRacist.\nSexist.\n\n\nyou by your stament are a Classist...your point is we are not equal...maybe under the law, society, community ect....\n\nthat it is ignorant...maybe...but it is a better option than having the conditioning of either a classist, racist, or sexist. not that you are those last too, its just under the same catagory of thinking.
679559
Yes, [a case] of victim-hood.
779577
Yes very much so. Apparently people are not reasonable enough to handle have this privilege. Sometimes one bad irresponsible person ruins it for all.
7762
Can we?  Of course.  Humans have an amazing ability to rationalize almost any behavior, and there are limits on how much control we allow society to exercise on individual freedoms.\n\nTake alcohol for example.  Alcohol is a primary and secondary cause of death for thousands?  millions?  Well, a whole bunch of people die from alcoholism, drunk driving, and "I can too jump off this roof!" every year, but we allow it.  And, as with smoking, the deaths and injuries suffered are not always suffered by the imbiber.\n\nWe have taken an entirely different tack with the "war on drugs."  Even though there is little real difference between smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use on principle, (though the effects of some drugs are far worse of course) we have decided to ban those substances.\n\nThe plain truth is that as long as humans are recognizably like us, they will seek altered states of consciousness through chemical and other means, whether it's a heroin high, alcoholic buzz, the calm of nicotine, tweaking on caffeine, or getting a euphoric rush from "the choking game."  \n\nI am no fan of smoking, but consider well the drug war and prohibition in the last century before attempting to legislate away tobacco.  A whole criminal industry grows up around banned substances that may well cause worse damage as a whole than the habit.