Too much or not enough.

Doug H · #1 04-10-2003, 06:46 PM

Is it me or does American society have the image of too much or not enough? Doesn't seem to matter the subject: War or no war, too strong or too light law enforcement, prudish or sluttish dress codes, prudish or loose morals, etc., etc.... I'd blame the media for twisting my perceptions, but I look around at others attitudes and responses to situations and ponder. Criticism seems to be high and the middle ground seems more like the pinnacle of a steep mountain than a gray area with wiggle room to allow for circumstances. Has society gotten to the point that the only criticism one can get is either big cheers or 3 tons of raspberries?

Doug H.

Doug H · #2 04-10-2003, 06:46 PM

Is it me or does American society have the image of too much or not enough? Doesn't seem to matter the subject: War or no war, too strong or too light law enforcement, prudish or sluttish dress codes, prudish or loose morals, etc., etc.... I'd blame the media for twisting my perceptions, but I look around at others attitudes and responses to situations and ponder. Criticism seems to be high and the middle ground seems more like the pinnacle of a steep mountain than a gray area with wiggle room to allow for circumstances. Has society gotten to the point that the only criticism one can get is either big cheers or 3 tons of raspberries?

Doug H.

hw · #3 04-10-2003, 08:56 PM

Doug H I'm not sure if I understand this post or not. Are people expecting or wanting too much from life? Does the media influence our opinions? If that is what you are asking than I say yes to both. Give us a little more detail please. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

florida-david · #4 04-10-2003, 09:17 PM

i think he's referring to king w. bush' black or white mentality. i think we are getting more this way, but its only due to this president. i exist in the gray, sometimes straying into the black or the white.

#5 04-10-2003, 10:15 PM

It's apparent to me that Doug is saying that the mentality is that everything is either right or wrong in people's minds. I suppose it is to some people, but I for one believe that many things are gray--neither right nor wrong. As a Christian I believe there are things that ARE either right or wrong, but many things in life are simply a matter of choice, or individual belief.

gamblefish · #6 04-11-2003, 04:32 AM

That's me baby!! Either one extreme or the other. It's all or nothin' baby!! When I do something, I go at it 100mph. When I started this nudism thing, I had to be nude whenever and wherever, within the bounds of not getting caught of course. If I was rich, and got into,like waterskiing or something like that, I would have to buy the fastest boat and the best skis and, well, you get the picture...

quote:
Originally posted by florida-david:
[qb]i think he's referring to king w. bush' black or white mentality. i think we are getting more this way, but its only due to this president. i exist in the gray, sometimes straying into the black or the white.[/qb]

Hey, I thought everything that was wrong with me was either my parent's fault or society's fault , you mean I can blame the pres. too?!?! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

averagejoe · #7 04-11-2003, 05:14 AM

I am sure that the vast majority of Americans are fine with what they have and who they are.

It is, however, the extreme viewpoints that get the ratings and therefore the press. That's why we get to hear about the female streaker at the mall or the church group that bans topless bathing for men at their functions. We don't hear about the woman that was a little daring and wore a skirt two inches shorter than normal today, or the man that decided to work in his yard with a t-shirt on because he was shy. We hear about those too poor to buy milk or get a tour of Bill Gates' mansion. Anyone want to see my twenty-seven year old ranch home or hear about my neighbor's pinching pennies to buy a new car?

Be careful to never confuse what you hear and see in the media with what you know from your own personal experience. That, and age really does give you some amazing perspective. I always tell everyone it's amazing how smart my father suddenly became when I turned about twenty one. As I have gotten older I begin to understand that most people aren't that much different than me, that nothing I do or say will change their beliefs unless they're looking to change and that there really is nothing new under the sun. So look at those 260 million Americans that way and realize that, except for those you see on Jerry Springer and such, most are content with what they have.

hw · #8 04-11-2003, 05:57 AM

My Grandmother used to have a saying which is still true to this day. "Believe only half of what you see, and none of what you hear".
I agree there is a lot of gray areas in this crazy world of ours. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

shãybare · #9 04-11-2003, 10:56 AM

The President? Give me a break. I'm in my fifties and there have been people thinking this way all my life and I'm pretty dang sure it was that way before I was born.

gamblefish · #10 04-11-2003, 11:10 AM

Oh, Shaybare, you don't look a day over 49 ?.

I think a lot of areas in life are gray, and some are black and white. The hard part is figuring out which is which.

Of course, a lot of areas of my life are black and blue...but that's a whole 'nother thread...