primitive asks if primitives are losing their minds

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1906838

Oh my.

salinen  (1000+ posts)        Fri Sep-09-11 11:21 AM
Original message
 
Are we losing our minds?

When I take a break from work(Architecture), I like to sit at a local espresso house and chat with whoever shows. Mostly, these are folks doing as I do, grabbing a jolt and engaging in banter. But I notice a disturbing habit about most people - they shout each other down. Sometimes the conversations are passionate, so, shouting the other person down is in the heat of trying to finish their point. But mostly, it's just a run on automatic robot voice recalling past experience and raising the volume to make sure no one interrupts.

I'm known as the quiet one. Probably because if someone begins talking while I'm talking, I stop talking. I don't care, I already know what I was about to say anyway. I don't need people to affirm my ideas, it's just not that important to me.

Another disturbing trend I've noticed is the rise of violent fantasies against an unknown assailant. The conversations start out mild, maybe about movies, and then shifts awkwardly to some past demon and it ends with a threat against that spectre. Maybe the powerlessness people are feeling is manifesting in this need to mentally attack. I guess I find it somewhat fascinating and unnerving.

note from franksolich: this is the way bouncies are invented by the primitives

No, I don't live near a mental hospital. These are everyday common folk of all ages and backgrounds.

One more trend. Many people are so focused on their personal histories that they almost cannot talk about a generic subject. They seem to make heroic their own lives and relive those moments constantly. I'm not sure what this is. Perhaps again, it's the ego attempting to regain power by reaffirming that they are necessary and useful in society.

note from franksolich: this is one of the principal behaviors of the primitives

I also know people who do not exhibit these behaviors, but I think that's now the minority.

Broderick  (1000+ posts)       Fri Sep-09-11 11:25 AM
Response to Original message
 
1. 40 percent of Britons have mental illness

Maybe it's in the food.

Bandit (1000+ posts)      Fri Sep-09-11 11:41 AM
Response to Reply #1
 
6. I wish America could get down to at least that level..

I would venture a guess that Americans are about 60% insane.....Just watch TV for an hour or so and it become evident..

note from franksolich: watching the primitives shows that 100% of those on Skins's island are insane

Broderick  (1000+ posts)       Fri Sep-09-11 11:50 AM
Response to Reply #6
 
10. LOL

Mindless entertainment is burning the cones and rods and passing right into the frontal lobes, messin shit up.

OneGrassRoot  (1000+ posts)      Fri Sep-09-11 11:26 AM
Response to Original message

2. My two cents?

In general....

People rarely listen to others. They're always thinking about what they want to say rather than truly listen to the other person.

note from franksolich: another one of the principal behaviors of the primitives

Empathy is disappearing rapidly. People don't like to be introspective about what they're truly feeling, so they certainly don't want to understand what others are feeling or thinking.

note from franksolich: yep, another one of those ubiquitous primitive behaviors

Most interaction is very shallow.

note from franksolich: it describes Skins's island to a tee

This all results in the Cult of Me, but in a very shallow way. I think people are afraid to find out who they really are.

That makes me very sad.

salinen  (1000+ posts)        Fri Sep-09-11 11:38 AM
Response to Reply #2
 
3. Obviously you think about this also. And I share that feeling of sadness. What is so important that someone feels it's necessary to shout it out? What that person is shouting out has been rolling about in their brain awhile. In some way, I think the shouting is an attempt to hear themselves. Like you say, they are not interested in the listeners, only to listen again to their own voice.

The superego on steroids.

OneGrassRoot  (1000+ posts)      Fri Sep-09-11 11:43 AM
Response to Reply #3

7. You're right, I do think about this a lot...especially given my internal struggle to understand why so many people listen to Limbaugh, Palin, etc.

Another part of the equation, as I see it, is that authentic discussion is rare. People simply want to be RIGHT and prove they're RIGHT.

Hence, the shouting. I agree, so many people just want to listen to their own voice.

While there are positives to new media, I think Twitter and FB, etc., contribute to this desire to hear (or see) one's own words. And there's so much "white noise" out there, it's hard to think sometimes. Maybe they're shouting to rise above the white noise that is our society now.

Still, I agree: superego on steroids.

salinen  (1000+ posts)        Fri Sep-09-11 11:52 AM
Response to Reply #7
 
12. Right, the new media

drawing attention to the self has never been easier. We're all superstars and superheros.

Boojatta (1000+ posts)        Fri Sep-09-11 11:56 AM
Response to Reply #2
 
14. Surprisingly, GWB said neither that "know thyself" was the best piece of advice he ever received ...

nor that Socrates was his favorite philosopher.

FSogol  (1000+ posts)        Fri Sep-09-11 12:04 PM
Response to Reply #2
 
17. Add to that, that it is now possible to tailor all of your music and info to be nothing that contradicts your world view or opinions.

Oh my.  Good God.  That bears repeating.

FSogol  (1000+ posts)        Fri Sep-09-11 12:04 PM
Response to Reply #2
 
17. Add to that, that it is now possible to tailor all of your music and info to be nothing that contradicts your world view or opinions.

Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the best descriptions of the primitives I've ever seen.

OneGrassRoot  (1000+ posts)      Fri Sep-09-11 11:46 AM
Response to Reply #5
 
8. I've seen it mentioned in several places recently that...the only valued, marketable item in our world now is ATTENTION.

note from franksolich: paging the subway cat, the Polaroid Kid, and all other drama queens.....

Someone's ability to bring attention to themselves, in any way possible, is what is marketable and thus successful.

Think Snookie and other reality show people, and, the Queen of Attention Mongering (for now), Palin.

HappyMe  (824 posts)      Fri Sep-09-11 11:51 AM
Response to Original message
 
11. A lot of people are so self-centered.

They don't want to hear what others have to say. Sometimes I wonder if people are forgetting how to communicate face to face.

[JohnnyReb]

DUmmie says, "I would venture a guess that Americans are about 60% insane.....Just watch TV for an hour or so and it become evident.. "

And which group writes, produces, stars in and profits from most TV shows? Uh huh.

[GOBUCKS]

salinen  (1000+ posts)        Fri Sep-09-11 11:21 AM
Original message
 
Are we losing our minds?

When I take a break from work(Architecture)

George Costanza!
Tomorrow, he'll be a marine biologist.

[SherryBaby]

Are we losing our minds?

can't lose what you never had.

[Maxiest]

It looks like to me this DUmmie doesn't like debate, he wants every one to shake their head and agree with him and the are other Dummies.

[Ballygrl]

But I notice a disturbing habit about most people - they shout each other down.

Isn't that what Obama, Democrats and the Unions ask people to do?

[Erasmus]

No, I don't live near a mental hospital. These are everyday common folk of all ages and backgrounds.

False, these are 90% liberals.