We live in a very violent society - what has happened ? Why are some embracing violence and turning their back on compassion for others Yesterday, hooligans from Britain, shamed us with their violent acts in France I don't consider them football supporters at all, that is just an excuse to go to another country to fight Should they be made to enlist in the army ? Would that help to solve this problem ? Its very disheartening but I doubt things will ever change for the better now ..................
I agree people are violent. Not all of coarse but many have the potential if put in a situation. Mob mentality is very real. I even find some who appear very politically correct can lack empathy in some situations and toward some people.
I can speak for my life and in the nearly sixty-five years that I have been on earth, I don't believe I have ever even struck another person in anger, using my fists, let alone using a weapon. I say, I don't believe, because at one point I may have gotten angry enough at one of my brothers to hit him, but I don't remember doing so. Most of my brothers were older than me, for one thing, and my only younger brother was five years younger. During my lifetime, I can also say that no one has ever hit me. My parents didn't spank us, and I've never been in a fight, yet I have lived in place where, from reading the newspapers, you'd think there was violence all around, like Long Beach and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. As a paramedic, I've come across many cases of violence but I've never been the victim of it.
We do live in a more violent society due to drugs, alcohol, violent movies, and reality shows where adults gain fame by poor behavior. My son is a millenial and I am astounded by the ideas he brings home from high school. It saddens and frightens me when I see the behavior of adults in their 20's and how they treat each other. I am glad that I am not of this generation.
@Texas Beth - I believe the reasons you have given to be true - sad but true I fear its too late to reverse the damage done, I too am glad I am not young, didn't think I'd ever say that
I think that violence in relation to society is the so called mob mentality. When there is a protest, it is the protesters that often make the first attack and the cops are just in the defensive. And when the issue is tackled in court, it is always the police who are at fault because media had already played up the role of the cops as anti-hero. But get one protester in an interview and you will notice that he becomes meek. In other words, when there are many of them, they feel so strong and their courage is overflowing as if they are invincible. My point in this comment is to punish those violent protesters. With the use of cctv and media camera, it is not so difficult to identify the culprits - those who started the violence. And when the perpetrators are punished - be jailed or whatever - the others will not follow their act.
@Corie Henson I've said the same about mob protesters here - whether its because prisons are full, that not much, if any action is taken - I don't know .........
Ok, let's look at things this way.......... For the early "Baby Boomers", born in the later 40's, we seen our share of violence during 60's and 70's. We had the Watt's Riots and Vietnam protests. And, how about drugs back then? MJ, cocaine, heroine. Just ask some of the rock bands from those era's, how much drugs were around. Perhaps not as much, but there was "gun violence" back then as well. The above is the reason many young folks today will point out the fact that our Generation ("Baby Boomers) weren't nearly as innocent of this stuff as we'd like todays Generation to think. Our "halo's" are more bent than we'd like to say they are.
@Cody Fousnaugh Well we were behind you Cody - in the 50s and 60s I felt safe to walk about and safe to go on a night out too In fact we had our door key on a piece of string that you pulled through the letterbox, most folks used that method - no problem In to the mid 70s I did notice a change and from there it has continued only 'far worse'
Where we live, we feel safe to walk around the apt. complex or down the street, but wouldn't walk down the street after dark. We go to the mall and to a movie and return when it's dark. Have never had any problems. Where I was raised, during my high school years (step-parents), never had any crime, but then again, it was all farm land around us. I use to ride my bicycle on a dirt road, for a mile or so, to get our newspaper that was delivered by a main highway. The small town near us, businesses knew all of the farmers, including us, in the area we lived in. One reason I can hardly wait to move to a much less populated area than here. Looking very forward to the move.
I feel fairly safe in this gang infested city. I live on the good side of town. I wouldn't leave my door unlocked and I have a security system but nothing has happened in the 13 years I've lived here. Nobody has even stolen my little angel cherub from my front walkway. I think it kind of depends where you live how much violence you see. Except for the crazies that go on shooting rampages. Those are really the only ones that worry me. It's so random.
We have incidents too locally about people disappearing, murders, house fires and everything else that goes on in the world even kid napping. For the most part it is safe where I live and I can come home from the library at night and not feel afraid. We have an all night Tesoro gas station with lots of lights near my home so there is always someone around. I feel safe but I don't take any chances too. We are lucky for our neighbors are all families. I guess the rule applies if you stay out of trouble trouble won't follow you.
I think there are a number of factors, but one of them is the relatively-new approach that people are not responsible for their actions- and given ready excuses for all kinds of behaviors and crimes. The first example I noticed was a teenage girl who committed cold-blooded, premeditated murder, and the only "penalty" she received was 5 years of weekly outpatient mental health treatment! It's been going the full range- people literally getting away with murder and virtually everything else, shrugged off by one excuse or another as to why they're not responsible for their behaviors. And it seems this approach has opened the doors to a Criminals' Paradise. I think it was a decade and a half ago, or thereabouts, a person who'd been with the FBI said violent crime has been increasing and will only get worse. His book is called "Dark Dreams," his name is Roy Hazelwood.