Have humans become less respectful/humble/kind over the generations?

Question

I realize that what I'm about to say is a vast generalization, and that I do meet very kind and friendly people, but the vast majority seem rotten... To put it bluntly, people just seem really mean, for no particular reason. Girls my age (23) and younger all hate each other at first glance... whether it's jealousy, insecurity or just plain nastiness, I'm not sure... but I'm sick of being glared at, stared down and treated like scum just for being out in public.

It seems that many people, especially younger people, have no concept of respect or humility, and are driven solely by self-serving purposes. If a homeless man collapses on the sidewalk, how many people will walk by without trying to help? A LOT!

My question is especially aimed at people a generation ahead of me or older... have you witnessed a decline in respect and general moral values in society over the years? Were girls always so hateful toward each other? Were people always so self-serving and angry at the world?

Answer 1

Okay real talk...I'm only 27 but I know exactly what you are talking about and it all boils down to this. You and I happen to notice it, some others don't...especially those that we are referring to. So, it boils down to Parents living in the same house as their children but not raising them. Parent's are not spending time teaching their children life anymore. They just teach them how not to make them mad in THEIR house. Parents are not teaching their children anything. They just give them food, clothes, and rides. They don't teach them about the rest of the world, kindness, humility....All in all, I have a biased opinion but, No Bible, No Jesus....and THIS is what you're left with.

Answer 2

For generations it has been going on. It just intensified in the late 1900's.It not a girl thing or a guy thing.It's an  inner turmoil retaliation,that gnaws on the self made image of one's perception of how they should be.Then they cast it upon those who may or may not engage in that type of attitude.That's why and how i believe that cycle continues to grow with each day.That's if you allow yourself to be caught up in the image of others

Answer 3

I am a generation older than you and yes there has been a break-down of behaviour and simple respect.  The reason for this is the liberalization of disciplinary habits and the lack of respect society now shows for motherhood and the role of the family - the standard mother, father, children arrangement.  Younger generations lack effective domestic role models (as well as good cultural role models outside the home) and so do not equate their bad behaviour with bad/weak social skills.

Answer 4

I think there is a clear lack of respect and they swear every other word. I sometimes think the younger generation are suicidal.

There is also no such thing as honor anymore...

Answer 5

Yes to all three. It seems to me that there is more hate, more conceitedness, more insecurity, more disrespect.

This may be due to the fact that there are many more people now than when I was born. There were only about 4 billions humans over 50 years ago, now there are close to 7 billion.

Overpopulation anyone.

When you get too many rats together in minimal space they will start killing each other.

Answer 6

*In my best grandpa-like voice*

When i was younger it seemed that kids and younger people in general (younger being teens) were more respectful and less likely to use foul language.  But, I'm sure someone older than I (42) is likely to say the same thing.  Generational differences always appear to be more pronounced than they likely and objectively are.  In part, I think the media is to blame for being so sensational.  Are you familiar with the Kitty Genovese murder from the 1960's?  It was widely studied among social psychologists, the area of bystander apathy.  Check out this link:

http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsy...

I wouldn't worry about the fate of society as we are pretty much the same, aside from changes in style, music, and other issues in popular culture.  There are always going to be bad apples.

Answer 7

Not always, but yeah, I've noticed.

I mean, a few years ago, everything was cool to me.

Then, I saw an article on the news about g*y marraige, then everybody started accusing everybody else of being g*y.

I mean, depends on your area. Where I'm from, people are kind, but they take a cautious approach. It's not easy to trust a stranger you just met on the street.

Others, on the other hand, just watched a few too many rap videos and think they're gangsta when they're not.

Answer 8

Humans are still humans.....with all the traits they ever had....capable of great love and great cruelty.  What is done to one is visited on another so it all just keeps going round the good and the bad.