Societal breakdown

[wtnhunt]

Had a kind of tense situation yesterday that got me to thinking.  Was at the dmv, sitting and waiting and had our 9 year old son with me.  It was pouring rain and we were sitting there wearing our masks, although my son mostly had his under his nose or on his chin, which is an entirely different topic of discussion.  Some guy comes in, probably in his late 30's, woman at the door told him he had to have a mask on.  He was extremely angry and arguing with her.  I got a really bad feeling about the situation and mass shootings and my son's safety immediately came to mind.

Not ten years ago that type of thought probably would never have crossed my mind, but I found myself watching as the man left the parking lot and watching the window behind me to see if he came back.  Contemplating what do I do if he comes back in, my fastest route to charge him if he comes back with a weapon.  I was sure he would look to the counter away from me and that would be my opportunity to hit him.  He did not come back while we were there, but still made me think about the current stress levels and some of these situations.

Has this mindset become a norm?  Anyone else find themselves in similar situations planning out there best plan in their mind to protect their child in a what if event?

[Ravin R10 man]

William you are NOT alone!  Since the mass shootings started, the number one thing I did was look for the seat that was closest to the door, have a plan to jump a person if need be. Even do that in Church! Also sit facing the door, and look over every person very well that walks in .I hope it never happens. 

Edited August 16, 2020 by Mathews XT Man

[NS whitetail]

Ya William it’s a crazy world out there. We have no carry conceal here in Canada , however every time I have ever been in the USA I’m always aware of my surroundings. A few years ago in Florida I had my family in a Wendy’s restaurant, a black man ( not being racist ) came in wearing a trench coat ,he went up to the counter and started screaming and punching the counter saying “ I want to see Luther and I want him NOW !!! “. I gathered up the family and we left immediately, all I could picture was a gun coming out. 

[elkoholic]

I do tend to play out in my mind just how I would respond to a violent situation.  Especially when I am at work in the pharmacy I have run various scenarios through my mind as almost every day there is a "drug seeker" that is irate because they can't get their narcotic prescription filled.  I am not sure when this use of deadly force to "solve" one's perceived injustices started to become the norm but it seems to be getting worse.  From fast food workers being attacked to people fighting over the mask issue, these violent attacks are much more prevalent and by many, thought to be the socially acceptable.

The fact that it has turned to knifes and guns is something that I believe is linked to violent video games, TV shows, and movies.  Those things, along with excessive news media coverage sway the thinking of those unable to separate "entertainment" from real life, and so, real life becomes what one sees on the screens they watch.  The real basis is the loss of respect and caring of other human beings.  I also think the entitlement mind set that is more prevalent is a contributing factor.  This living in fear of the possibility of violence, while somewhat irrational, becomes an emotional (and physical) ball and chain dragging us down.  Over population, like rats in a cage, leads to more confrontation and violence.  It is only going to get worse.

Billy Currington had it right: God is great, beer is good, people are crazy.  Depending on your perspective, at least the last part of that is undeniable.

[Ultradog]

Elkoholic,

Extra, oversized, double down dittos on your statement that TV and movies are a major cause of this. Television violence is so over the top.

How many killings does the "average" tv watcher see in a year? Hundreds? How can that Not desensitize us?

Television is the #1 destroyer of civil society. It is killing us - individually and collectively.

[wtnhunt]

21 hours ago, elkoholic said:

I am not sure when this use of deadly force to "solve" one's perceived injustices started to become the norm but it seems to be getting worse.  From fast food workers being attacked to people fighting over the mask issue, these violent attacks are much more prevalent and by many, thought to be the socially acceptable.

Think social media has exponentially expedited this downward spiral.

 

21 hours ago, elkoholic said:

The real basis is the loss of respect and caring of other human beings.  I also think the entitlement mind set that is more prevalent is a contributing factor.

Again think much of this is linked to social media.  Too many people in this day and age act like they care about fellow man, but when faced with doing right or doing what benefits themselves they will time and again screw over others with no conscience.  The self serving attitude by so many in today's world is hard to overlook.

21 hours ago, elkoholic said:

Billy Currington had it right: God is great, beer is good, people are crazy.  Depending on your perspective, at least the last part of that is undeniable.

Yep.  Good song that has it right.

[fly]

My views... The polarity of our country has escalated. Social media has enabled people to see other people as text on a screen as opposed to real people. Pointing a gun (a thermometer gun currently) at a persons head is the norm now. Place a Trump 2020 bumper sticker on your car and see how long you go before having a window smashed. I see this polarity getting worse over time and eventually leading to another civil war or the distraction another country needs to invade and take over. It probably will not happen in our life time.

[Ravin R10 man]

Pretty much have to  agree unfortunately?

[wtnhunt]

43 minutes ago, fly said:

It probably will not happen in our life time.

I had been saying this up to a few years ago, but it seems to be looking more and more likely that it could happen in my lifetime. 

The escalation in my opinion really took off with obama and his disdain for law enforcement.  It set a tone that has only caused more division and hatred in this country.  

43 minutes ago, fly said:

Place a Trump 2020 bumper sticker on your car and see how long you go before having a window smashed.

Exactly right, the extreme to which those who dislike Trump go to is very concerning.  It in many cases is hatred and those who engage in those acts think their violence is somehow excusable or justifiable because they have that right, their right to expression.   On the flipside, it does not seem to go the other way around, most supporters of conservative causes are peaceful. .  

 

Honestly not so sure it is a video game or tv problem as much as it is a society problem stemming from outside influences kids get from social media.  Really tough once they move away from home or go off to college.  There is no doubt there a disconnect between right and wrong and reality and what they see in their devices.  Unfortunately I have had some issues of my own on political topics with our older two daughters with their perceptions and some of the people they follow.  You can try and talk with kids and give them advice, but you cannot force them to not believe the crap they read on their devices that is posted on whatever platform by whichever popular person it is they follow.  Some of the garbage I have seen is very disturbing and misleading.  Makes it easy to see how some with not so much experience in life might be influenced.  All you can do is hope they someday come around on their own.  The mindset of entitlement as Dave points out and the liberal mindsets pushed in colleges, the attempts to shut down free speech that does not conform to the liberal mainstream are all compounding the problem of decay of morality.  

[Ravin R10 man]

1 hour ago, wtnhunt said:

the liberal mindsets pushed in colleges, the attempts to shut down free speech that does not conform to the liberal mainstream are all compounding the problem of decay of morality. 

 

1 hour ago, wtnhunt said:

  Makes it easy to see how some with not so much experience in life might be influenced.  All you can do is hope they someday come around on their own.  The mindset of entitlement as Dave points out and the liberal mindsets pushed in colleges, the attempts to shut down free speech that does not conform to the liberal mainstream are all compounding the problem of decay of morality.  

BINGO!  Went thru this EXACT thing with little blonde deer killer William...one can steer them in the right direction, but they have to live it and wake up and smell the coffee on their own!  Luckily she got 4 years in and when done and said on Graduation day, turned to me and said," Dad, you were right, the profs. all try to get you to think like them, and not on your own"!

[Dakota]

Four-year universities don't work anymore. They're institutes of indoctrination, instead of unbiased objective learning and education. Going to a trade school in the best thing a young person can do to get on the right career path.