Chicken-Shit Syndrome
There’s a trend that I’m noticing in today’s society that you can see fairly clearly in our movies as well. If you watch older movies, you’ll notice a striking socialability about the people. Whether its a small town, or a big city, people on the street talk to each other. Random strangers say Hi, people don’t hesitate to stop on the side of the road to help, hitchhikers actually get the ride. If you look around today that simply doesn’t happen, not even in the movies! Welcome to the new world of Chicken-Shit Syndrome.
So what is this malady? Who or what is to blame for this? I may be way off here (not really, im just trying to sound humble), but I personally blame it on:
A: Advances in technology
B: The Media
Advances in technology you say? Yes, and I’ll tell you why. Go back 20 years, and how did people communicate with each other? Phone, in person, or mail. Mail was pretty much strictly for the long distance crowd, but for the most part we had a fairly good balance of personal contact with other people. There were senses of pride and community, and somewhat of a feeling that people were good. We essentially were forced to interact with people to either get what we want, or build any kind of relationship. So what has happened?
The Internet happened. People no longer have to interact at all. You can literally live your life, getting whatever you need, without ever leaving the safety of your home. Groceries, clothes, sex, electronics, banking, etc. All of it can be done online. Shit, if computers find a way to wash your ass, your in for some serious trouble. There are even sites like “Second Life” where you can literally just live your life online. Couple this with advanced cell phones and all the other incredible tech we have, and we have made it infinitely easier to reach each other. Thats the problem though. Since reaching people is so easy now, we take it for granted, and are becoming a society thats losing its sense of personal confrontation.
Now why is it that we would even want to lose this personal confrontation? Well, for that I blame the media. Michael Moore’s documentary about columbine showed an interesting point about our media. If you watch our news, you will see story after story about murder, rape, robbery, etc. Every possible angle has now been covered. Priests sexually abusing kids, teachers sexually abusing kids, neighbors being serial killers, CEO’s stealing the companies money, and so on. What is this pattern making?
I now believe that since as a society we cant even trust the members of our society that are supposed to be role models and instructors, friends and family, how are we supposed to even think that the random stranger walking along the street is friendly? We still in one way or another need other people though, but were too afraid that we will be murdered/raped/robbed, or our kids will be stolen/raped/killed. What do we do? We send emails to people, or text messages. Phone calls themselves seem to even be going down. But wait though, whats the next step???
There’s a growing trend now online, about security. Watch out, or you’ll get a virus. Watch out, or your identity will be stolen. All of the fear that we have regarding our society as a whole, is now just transferring to our new playground. It makes me wonder…….Will our fear get the best of us in the long run?
As much as i hate to say it..our fear already has..the great country of America has lost its BALLS..and No One in the international community respects us. and in that..i think we as Americans have lost our pride and sense of community which once made us Great!! YEP!!
I’ve gotten dirty looks from strangers just for saying hi. And I NEVER speak to children I don’t know.
I say america neva had balls! think about it, all these different races that make this land pump with life are wanting record of their part in the evolution that has & will happen. once we create an American race that qualifly’s all for one and one for all. there will b a battle for respect from all races born, raised & loved in the U.S.ofA. I’m a proud black man who works hard, pays his dues, loves his kids & keep in touch with his family & friends. nothing more to be proud of. just lower gas prices (lol)
Good point about the media, although to be fair, if these crimes were not taking place, they wouldn’t have much to scare us with. I think things have changed for the worse, and all of us are more suspicious and untrusting of strangers than we might have been, say..twenty years ago.
And, sure..gadgets do play a role. So many of us are on the go and glued to cell phones these days.
I cannot believe how dependant even children are to electronic things..it’s as though they can’t handle any silence or down time at all. In restaurants, the little buggers don’t even seem to put down the nintendo ds long enough to eat.
I’m sure they’re lack of practice with social skills and basic conversational skills is going to wreak some havoc on their developing brains, and that’s sad.
Then, too..with most parents working full time and kids being left with sitters..not allowed to play outside alone for fear of molestors and kidnappers..is it really so shocking that they’re addicted to these electronic babysitters like smack?
You are right about the internet and people becoming zombies, but a lot of those old movies are, just like today, unrealistic viewpoints of what life should be, not the way life was. A sort of “Pleasantville” for lack of a better term.
As for friendliness, move to a small town and you will find that again. I was amazed when I moved to San Antonio, Texas from my small town and everyone just seemed to ignore everyone else. I’m used to everybody knowing everybody else and saying hello to each other. If you want that kind of atmosphere, move to a small town.
You definitely have a point. My family and I moved to a new town just over a year ago and the only people that have talked to us is all the kids friends. Aside from that I think I met three parents briefly. Mostly it seems I get the evil looks. I had a few rude encounters as well. Had three teenage girls say they were going to kick my ass, so I said go for it come in my yard and kick my ass. Well they left and I called them a chicken shit (one of dads sayings) that is what caught my eye on your post. Ive had kids throw trash in my yard. Ive thrown it right in front of their parents face back in their yard. Then they turn away as if im psychotic. All I wanted is an apology for the rude behavior. Apparently that is not taught anymore either. I have four kids three of them are teens. They arent real social, but they do know what respect is, they have a few friends. Thank God they pick the ones that appear to have some respect in them. Ive had my car egged, things stolen when we first moved here, my garage smoked in when I didnt know anyone was even out there in the middle of winter. Not one apology. Apparently some kids around here like to hurt & tease puppies. I have been forced to go out and get a 4 camera property surveillence security camera system (in a small town, just a touch lame). The parents are all on their dead lazy ass instead of being parents. I shall turn their kids into the cops each time with solid proof of stupidity. Payback will be an expensive bitch small town chicken shits.
Good post.