Insensitivity is the Greatest Threat to Our Society. Here's Why.

[awesometjgreen]

Without getting into my business, for the past few days I have been treated so badly by people that should be my family. I'm not gonna ramble about that today because I feel like it shed light on one of the issues we face today... Insensitivity. Here's why.

1. Everybody is selfish

Don't get me wrong, you have to look out for yourself but you don't have to always disregard another persons feelings. Every time I turn around someone is telling me how I should live my life and what I should do but it's always something that benefits them and doesn't take into consideration how the other person feels, which leads to my next point.

2. Everyone lacks imagination.

When was the last time you put yourself in someone else's shoes? When was the last time you tried to relate to someone else without judging them or jumping to conclusions? Which leads to my final point.

3. Everyone is judgemental.

Society tells us that's it's okay to judge people by the way they look, not by how they act. Society tells us that beggars can't be choosers but how about GIVERS CAN'T BE DICTATORS?! Our biggest issue is that everyone is trying to push their beliefs on someone else, from religion, to politics, on down to fucking hamburgers!

In conclusion, the past few days have taught me that regardless if the person is family; I will assume the person is shitty until proven otherwise. I encourage all to think about others even if that's, "some gay shit" Or you think, "this guy is a wimp he needs to grow up". Well fuck you too, because I'm trying to create a better society for everyone.

[HikerDude]

No one can reasonable expect strangers to care about him, but I completely agree with you about family. I was raised in a large extended family, with tons of cousins, aunts, and uncles around all the time. And I was taught of the sanctity of family, that you never betray your family members or do anything to harm the group.

But as I've grown up, I've seen that the concept of family is one of convenience for much of my family. Whenever they need you, whenever they are after something, the will invoke "family" and demand that you show out for them, hell or high water. And I've seen these same people who cried "family" piss on relatives when they were down, like dumping on a couple in the family going through divorce. It's bullshit, and it's a lesson that even people who you've trusted for years may not be who you think they are--family or not.

[CrowleyofGilead]

Too bad we live in the real world and human nature is to take advantage of as many people as possible. I understand you want to spread goodwill, but you should only treat people with the respect they earn and deserve, and not everyone is deserving of respect.
Life is like a Boxing match. You Must protect yourself at all times.

[BigJake]

Nice take. Point 2 I think is especially salient, because empathy is critical not just for social cohesion, but for understanding the world around us. Robert McNamara had a great thought about this very topic in the wonderful documentary, "The Fog of War."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozq0zOzsMBg

[NerdInDenial]

I’m disappointed; I thought this was going to be related to national security.

[HikerDude]

The title includes the word "society," not the word "nation."

[NerdInDenial]

@HikerDude Threats Can a nation not be a society? I think it can. When I say national security it can applies in a broader sense to multiple nations like an organization such as NATO.

[HikerDude]

"Society" refers to the people and the relationships between them. "Nation" implies the state itself and its security structure.

[NerdInDenial]

@HikerDude https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/society
Number 4...

[HikerDude]

4. a : a part of a community that is a unit distinguishable by particular aims or standards of living or conduct : a social circle or a group of social circles having a clearly marked identity - literary society

b : a part of the community that sets itself apart as a leisure class and that regards itself as the arbiter of fashion and manners

That proves my assertion, not yours.

[HikerDude]

Pretty big stretch to read "national security" from "threat to society," given the connotations of the words and phrases.

[NerdInDenial]

@HikerDudeit how does it prove your assertion? If we live in a community ie America Under the Constitution , then is that not a society? Threat to society is a threat to national security. Sorry, that’s fairly common usuage.

[HikerDude]

The connotation of "society" is not "nation-state." That's why we call it "national security," not "societal security." In fact, we do use the phrase "social security," but we use it to refer to the system of social welfare that is meant to protect individuals. In short, we use "nation" to refer to the political structure of the federal state, and "society" to refer to the populace within that structure.

[NerdInDenial]

So national security does not refer to the safety of the populace?

[HikerDude]

No, it refers to the security of the nation-state. That's why the nation-state often punishes and spies on members its own populace under the guise of "national security."

[NerdInDenial]

Even though part of national security is to protect its citizens?

[HikerDude]

No, national security is about protecting the state, not the people. The people are often sacrificed for the benefit of the state.

[NerdInDenial]

@HikerDude I’m going to disagree with you on that note. Part of national security is to protect the citizens.

[HikerDude]

In theory, yes, but in reality, the populace is expendable in service of the state.

[NerdInDenial]

@HikerDude or an ideal