When did we become a nation of pansies?

Question

I might be naive but when I was growing up people seemed a lot more thick skinned than they are today. We dealt with a lot of the same issues we do today but I don't recall having to watch every little thing i do and say because I might potentially offend someone. It drives me absolutley mad! I am sure there is not one reason in particular, but I am curious. What the h**l changed?

PS. I know some people are overly sensitive and you have to watch what you say around them anyway, thats to be expected. I just mean the moral majority. Whether its in the workplace or raising the children "you might hurt his/her feelings" is like the new buzz word and I don't like it!!

Answer 1

Good question, and I agree with you.

I think it was probably in the 80's, thats where I started seeing alot of stuff go down the tubes.

There's nothing wrong with expecting someone to work hard for what they get, I don't see how someoen can sit back and expect everything to just be handed to them. If we were to have a war, a real war that is, not this c**p we have in Iraq, we would be in deep s&^t. Wait and see, that days coming too, and not that far off.

Answer 2

One word: Feminism

Before you start with the thumbs-down, allow me to explain. Personally, I believe men & women should have equal rights, equal pay, etc...in other words, the basic aspects of what feminists want.

But, it was the feminist movement that began political correctness, the belief that feelings are more important than action, and the feminization of males. The natural course of events in the feminist movement have produced the thin-skinned people we see today, the practice of not keeping score in games, and the general feeling that we have the right to not be offended.

Again, I know this isn't what all feminists are like, but the more radical ones strive for us to become a nation of weak-willed individuals.

Answer 3

I agree that it has to do with our raising of children. Our neighbor thinks that I should just let my one year old 'teach' their two year old not to take his toys. Uh... NO. YOU should teach your child not to take his toys. He is one for petes sake! Do your job! Just because they don't want to hurt his feelings they expect my one year old to do it.

I just don't understand why everyone feels the need to have cash for any kind of trauma that happened. Imagine the caveman wanting someone to reimburse him for the dinos eating his sister! He realized that next time HIDE! Or even better, realize that hot coffee is sometimes... HOT! Go figure!

Answer 4

I think it was when we became a nation of whiners and victims.  But it does seem that people are much more easily offended, much angrier, and more sensitive...

Answer 5

Barnacle Bill I started for the thumbs down until I finished reading your answer... and in the end gave a thumbs up.

As to the question posed here

It has to do with a combination of Everyone being PC and the way you were brought up.

I have 2 son's who are being brought up to know that you have to have a tough skin to survive in this world but you also have to have compassion.

Like it or not them's the facts and you can either live with it or go against the grain.

Answer 6

you are talking about USA right? It is soon to be owned and controlled by women who cry and men who whine. it used to be that school beatings were intentional on both sides because we were strong, and equally matched, now everyone is a wimp that sues. What is gonna happen next? the congress doesnt let the US even attack a rat. This all comes down to the parents who spoil their child because of the new, higher economy. The parents are wimps too, not teaching the kids, but they turn on the television and walk away. They go into the same room and give the child a meal and walk away. Also feminism is setting in, and once that happened, we saw a 60% increase in g**s, now everybody is fat, wimpy, g*y, and spoiled without proper guidance. c**p, The USA is screwed, now to move to Canada

Answer 7

You don't give any examples, so it's hard to know what degree of PC you consider to be "plain courtesy" if any. If you see a lot of people and they let you know they some preference about how you describe their ethnicity or some other personal quality, then you should respect their preference even you personally think it's silly. If it's people you see only once or very seldom, then you can hardly be expected to read their mind and know that they think being called "ma'am" or "sir" are insulting.

There is a fine line between tip toeing around to the point of near immobility and thoughtlessly crashing about like a bull in a china shop.

Answer 8

Well kill Kate



Just remember they sooner or later be root en up Daisies.

Answer 9

I think it has a lot to do with the way people are raising their kids.  When I was a kid, if some kid picked on me in the playground, my parents weren't rushing down to the school to demand an apology or file a "harrassment" charge against the other kid...I was taught to suck it up.  When we played sports, one team won and one team lost...there was none of this not keeping score nonsense.  By this experience we learned good sportsmanship and how to handle disappointments.  We also learned that we weren't the center of the universe and weren't the greatest at everything we did...some things we did well, and some things we didn't do well.  These days, pointing out the smallest flaw in a child is "ruining their self esteem"....when we were kids, we had to develop self esteem by getting a realistic view of ourselves...being proud of our accomplishments, and learning to accept our shortcomings.

Answer 10

Surely you realize that you are whining about whiners.  

Ironic.

Answer 11

It all boils down to the children of Baby Boomers.  We spoiled them rotton, they got everything they ever wanted.  We are now stuck with these winers and pansies.