Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Bertha Venation

(21,484 posts)
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 09:02 AM Jul 2012

What do you find is most lacking in this society?

Civility? Compassion? Common sense? Awareness (or whatever is the opposite of ignorance)? Of course there are many other possibilities, probably as many as there are DUers.

What's most lacking?

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What do you find is most lacking in this society? (Original Post) Bertha Venation Jul 2012 OP
Science, lovemydog Jul 2012 #1
Intelligence bigwillq Jul 2012 #2
Compassion and Empathy. TheMightyFavog Jul 2012 #3
Yup Macoy51 Jul 2012 #4
+1 cyberswede Jul 2012 #9
Yes, by design. woo me with science Jul 2012 #12
I agree. A bit of content to share in that regard... OneGrassRoot Jul 2012 #15
I agree lunatica Jul 2012 #23
A liberal education, in the classical sense. femmocrat Jul 2012 #5
ability to see the other viewpoint without being judgemental loli phabay Jul 2012 #6
That's a biggie. Everyone wants to show they're right... OneGrassRoot Jul 2012 #17
its the internet were everyone is right. annoys the crap out of me loli phabay Jul 2012 #18
True. :( n/t OneGrassRoot Jul 2012 #19
Civility Rambis Jul 2012 #7
The legal will to prosecute rich criminals... ancianita Jul 2012 #8
Common sense. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #10
Exactly. HappyMe Jul 2012 #14
Lack of Fiduciary Responsibilty among leaders. Baitball Blogger Jul 2012 #11
Concern RedStateLiberal Jul 2012 #13
Mashed potatoes in a cup from 7-Eleven Duer 157099 Jul 2012 #16
Sweet tea in most states. raccoon Jul 2012 #20
Critical thinkers graywarrior Jul 2012 #21
Poop. Wait Wut Jul 2012 #22
Attractive people TheCruces Jul 2012 #24
I see what you did there. Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2012 #27
Whiskey Major Nikon Jul 2012 #25
a respect for intellect, curiosity, ideas. and a desire to step away from and turn off the TV NRaleighLiberal Jul 2012 #26

cyberswede

(26,117 posts)
9. +1
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 09:55 AM
Jul 2012

I agree completely. I also feel that compassion and empathy can prevent some of the other problems we have, such as incivility, selfishness, Republicans, etc.

woo me with science

(32,139 posts)
12. Yes, by design.
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 12:07 PM
Jul 2012

We are so deep in the corporate matrix from birth that, as a society, we cannot see any other way of being.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
15. I agree. A bit of content to share in that regard...
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 02:05 PM
Jul 2012



Earlier in GD I posted a link to a blog post dealing with the lack of empathy and compassion, especially on the part of conservatives who bemoan any safety net:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002968054


It's really hard to make compassion and empathy sexy and encourage discussion.

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)
5. A liberal education, in the classical sense.
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 09:44 AM
Jul 2012

"Ideally, a liberal education produces persons who are open-minded and free from provincialism, dogma, preconception, and ideology; conscious of their opinions and judgments; reflective of their actions; and aware of their place in the social and natural worlds."[3] Liberally educated people are skeptical of their own traditions; they are trained to think for themselves rather than defer to authority.[4]"

From wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_education

IMO, the emphasis on education for a specific career path has produced a less educated population. This is particularly noticeable out here in redneck-land where Faux, blech, and rushbo are the main sources of information and people are too uninformed to vote for their own economic interests.

 

loli phabay

(5,580 posts)
18. its the internet were everyone is right. annoys the crap out of me
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 02:22 PM
Jul 2012

And the wiki and google were everyone becomes an expert.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
8. The legal will to prosecute rich criminals...
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 09:52 AM
Jul 2012

justice and law enforcement that are equally applied across socioeconomic classes is missing. I attribute this to the inertia that comes from a secret belief that the rich can play by a separate of rules that come with the rule of money.

RedStateLiberal

(1,374 posts)
13. Concern
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 12:17 PM
Jul 2012

Apathy sucks! Most people care more about what celebrity is banging who or how their sports team is doing or their own personal dramas. They need to pay attention to what REALLY affects their lives. Hardly anyone pays close attention to politics these days. Perhaps because it's so uncivil and divisive.

Duer 157099

(17,742 posts)
16. Mashed potatoes in a cup from 7-Eleven
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 02:09 PM
Jul 2012

And good working senses of humor (except at DU where we have at least one of those)

raccoon

(31,088 posts)
20. Sweet tea in most states.
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 05:16 PM
Jul 2012

Seriously, sense of community, feeling of "we're all in this together".

Also, all the things you said.



Wait Wut

(8,492 posts)
22. Poop.
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 05:36 PM
Jul 2012

No, that's not my answer. We have more than enough poop in society. I just wandered into the Lounge to find a thread to cheer me up and yours is the first one I saw.

----------

Now, my answer: Everything you mentioned along with humility. I'm going through some shit where someone I love has lost his ability to feel any of these things. Shit is tough for him, so I'm being as patient as possible. But, it has made me more keenly aware of how selfish society has become.

BUT...it's not fatal. I notice the kind acts more, appreciate the beauty of people when it shines, and cry when I see strangers reach out to help. Maybe that's our lesson. We need to work harder not only to see the good, but to point it out to those who see only the bad. One...person...at...a...time.

K. Now I'm off to find a thread with kitties or poop or sumthin'.

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
27. I see what you did there.
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 08:03 PM
Jul 2012

All the qualities that make people pleasing would coincidentally make them attractive, I think.

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»What do you find is most ...