Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - What Happened to Personal Responsibility?

Baraka_Guru · 10-14-2008, 07:32 PM

I think much of it is social. Sorry, but I think simply calling people "dumb" is glossing the issue over.

There is a certain level of expectation depending on the circles in which you reside. For example, we are expected to have things such as television, Internet, phone, clothes less than a season old, a car (or two), and a number of other things, many of them being electronics. Also, we are expected to be able to participate in a certain number of things. For example, we go to the movies, go out for dinner, go on vacation, go on a weekend road trip.

We are expected to eat certain foods.

We are expected to buy certain DVDs, CDs (or mp3s), books, household accessories, etc.

We are expected a certain level of this depending on with whom we interact.

To not do this is to be left out.

Imagine not having television, phone, movies, Internet, newer clothes, certain foods (e.g. meat and dairy). Imagine not ever going out to dinner, to the movies, to a concert, or away on a vacation.

I can.

Most can't.

Sure it would be the responsible thing to do to only participate in things you can afford without using credit. But the lure is so strong. The desire for societal inclusion is hardwired into our brains.

We are irresponsible because we are afraid. The social risk is greater than the financial risk. Simply put.

Spending most of your time just staying at home and reading the classics from the library most of the time because you can't afford anything else isn't desirable to many people. We live in a consumer society, with an ever-shortening product lifecycle. This isn't just products; it's also services. Think about it. What was life like just 10 years ago? Think about the things you shopped for. Has anything changed?

10-14-2008, 07:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	I think much of it is social. Sorry, but I think simply calling people "dumb" is glossing the issue over. There is a certain level of expectation depending on the circles in which you reside. For example, we are expected to have things such as television, Internet, phone, clothes less than a season old, a car (or two), and a number of other things, many of them being electronics. Also, we are expected to be able to participate in a certain number of things. For example, we go to the movies, go out for dinner, go on vacation, go on a weekend road trip. We are expected to eat certain foods. We are expected to buy certain DVDs, CDs (or mp3s), books, household accessories, etc. We are expected a certain level of this depending on with whom we interact. To not do this is to be left out. Imagine not having television, phone, movies, Internet, newer clothes, certain foods (e.g. meat and dairy). Imagine not ever going out to dinner, to the movies, to a concert, or away on a vacation. I can. Most can't. Sure it would be the responsible thing to do to only participate in things you can afford without using credit. But the lure is so strong. The desire for societal inclusion is hardwired into our brains. We are irresponsible because we are afraid. The social risk is greater than the financial risk. Simply put. Spending most of your time just staying at home and reading the classics from the library most of the time because you can't afford anything else isn't desirable to many people. We live in a consumer society, with an ever-shortening product lifecycle. This isn't just products; it's also services. Think about it. What was life like just 10 years ago? Think about the things you shopped for. Has anything changed? __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 10-14-2008 at 07:41 PM..