[AlphaSigma]

I have a homework assignmetn due tomorrow and was hoping you guys could help me out, it's philosophy, don't worry.

Answer these questions:

1.What three trends in contemporary Western society do you find most concerning?

2.What do you think are the three best trends in contemporary Western society? Why are they good?


First, each submit they're own ideas before discussing. Thanks.

[jfahler03]

I personally have to say that my answer would be consumer capitalism. In America, rather than bothering ourselves with lofty things...like thinking about philosophy... we're programmed to buy, buy, buy and consume, consume, consume.

I think a good example is what we seem to care about... only when it has to do with us.

Just look at our generation... especially the 18-25 year olds. Recently, my campus (Kent State) didn't close due to the cold weather... even though 600+ schools did close. A bunch of students got together and (in my opinion) made fools out of themselves by "protesting" the decision. Only shows that we're a bunch of self-serving jerks. Hooray.

Oh...and it looks like you got no help... this was just my personal soapbox... how'd it go?

[AlphaSigma]

Pretty good

The points I made in my paper were; individualism, Loss of desire for divine, and cynicism.

I think it went rather well.

[come on man!]

concerning:

1) celebrity worship, as a counrty weve always been enthralled with the lives of the rich and famous(which i guess is why alot of them are rich and famous) but it bothers me that weeks and weeks will be dedicated to the death of anna nicole smith, or the punishment of paris hilton, or recently hours spent discussing the provocative clothing of alex rodriguez's wife. this creates this mentality (especially among rich teenagers) to act like spoiled debutantes(sp?). this is apparent through things like my super sweet 16, made, real world etc etc. i blame mtv and 24 hour nes channels for this alot

2) people training pitbulls, rottweilers, shepards, ect etc, to be aggressive and to fight eachother, dogs trust human beings in general and especially the people who they have accepted as their "master" its a shame and downright pathetic that people abuse this wonderful part of nature just to make money or to look tough.its one thing to train a big dog like that to be aggressive to strangers in a rough neighborhood or to protect a bling person, its another to train it to kill and be mean. i also hate the media biase against certain breeds of dogs, example, in my city (naples,fl) about 6 six months ago some ladies chihaua(sp?) bit a 4 year olds ear off at a public part, nothing happened a small article in the local section of the newspaper, lady wasnt sued dog asnt put down or anything, but i have a golden retriver rottweiler mix and will soon be adopting an american bulldog, and i know someone coud walk up them and kick them in their teeth, they bite that person, theyre put down and im sued or in jail.


3) people recieving 3rd, 4th and 5th chances for d.u.i/d.w.i.. ive always considered drunk driving totally unacceptable, if you cant afford a cab, dont drink, its prety basic. if it were up to me a first offense should be so harsh that drunk driving wont even cross your mind. if it were up to me my state would have this as its standard

1st offense: if no one is hurt and your are just pulled over by the police 30 days in jail, $10,000 in fines and a 2 year suspicion of a license, if you get in an accident and no is hurt again, 30 days in jail, $10,000 fine, bye bye license forever. if someone is hurt or killed follow the state guidelines on murder( not manslaughter) and attempted murder.

2nd offense: goodbye license forever, 1 year in state prison.
if an accident were no one is hurt, no more license, manslaughter laws apply, some one is killed , life. mandatory.

drunk driving is selfish and dangerous their should be little to no tolerance for it.



now what do i think is postive

1) the internet/live shows starting to become the main source for discussing and distributing music, its opening up music to people who would otherwise of never heard it, and its an amazing tool for musicians to have their music be heard, to sell merchandise and inform people of tours and shows, its taking the control of music out the hands of companys like clear channel and viacom, who i believe own mtv, i could be wrong though

2) the court system slowly starting to be tougher on abusive and bully type cops, good honest cops are ruined by power hungry former highschool bullies, people are starting to say its not ok to abuse our trust, hopefully one day only honest and level minded cops will be on out streets, and maybe things like rodney king and the wto protest turned police institited riot in seattle will stay in history books.

3) companys like wal mart being forced to treat employees fairly by things like periodical raises, promotions and health insurance, which are just examples of how people raising their voices can still change things even when it seems like its impossible


also, 1st post , hi

[JerryLove]

Much as I hate to argue someone else's point: It's just inaccurate.

The points I made in my paper were; individualism, Loss of desire for divine, and cynicism.

We are less individual than our grand-fathers (who railed against being numbered by social security and stashed their money in tin cans because they didn't trust banks). We have had a revival in religion (if a loss in spirituality) over the past 50 years.

And I think cynicism is good.

celebrity worship, as a counrty weve always been enthralled with the lives of the rich and famous(which i guess is why alot of them are rich and famous) but it bothers me that weeks and weeks will be dedicated to the death of anna nicole smith

Can you, without looking it up, name a president of the United States around the time of Billy the Kid (a murdering outlaw)? We remember celebery, wether Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, Marylin Monroe, or Charles Lindberg.

Mark Twain (another celeberty) commented on this when he discussed great minds and small minds.

people training pitbulls, rottweilers, shepards, ect etc, to be aggressive and to fight eachother

For hundreds of years pit bulls have been bread to fight both other dogs and animals (it was at one point illegal to sell beef in England which had not been "baited" by a pit bull.

I agree with the sentement, but this is entirely non-modern, and non-western. The only real change has been the loss of skilled breeders for ameture breeders resulting in poorly bread and poorly raised animals that are neurotic rather than simply enjoying the fight.

people recieving 3rd, 4th and 5th chances for d.u.i/d.w.i..

I think DUI should be considered "negligent homicide" (realize that I don't see a distinction between whether you actually kill someone or not; it's the thought that counts).

1st offense: if no one is hurt and your are just pulled over by the police 30 days in jail,

Why if no one is hurt? Is "just punishment" determined by blind luck?

I agree with some of your positives, though I'm not sure that all are modern so much as they seem cyclical to me.

[guitarczar]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

And I think cynicism is good.

Cynicism to a point, right?

[AlphaSigma]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

Much as I hate to argue someone else's point: It's just inaccurate.

We are less individual than our grand-fathers (who railed against being numbered by social security and stashed their money in tin cans because they didn't trust banks). We have had a revival in religion (if a loss in spirituality) over the past 50 years.

Maybe so,
but the beauty of an opinion paper is another's measure of accuracy is irrelevant.