| 4/7/2008 6:04:47 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
pamela0324
Pasadena, MD
age: 54
| Reading some of the posts here, I wonder:
> What has happened to our national intelligence?
> Are we learning how to think critically in school?
> Do adults realize how important critical thinking is?
> Can intelligent adults disagree intelligently AND respectfully, without insulting each other?
> Does paranoid and nasty ranting really appeal to the opposite sex and help these people find partners?
I wonder.......
Does anyone want to discuss anything important, interesting or informative?
Insults - I will not respond.
Peace, Pam
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| 4/7/2008 6:41:55 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
ladynwaiting_47
Philadelphia, PA
age: 48
| Pam - TY for bringing this up. I find that the longer I am on this site and reading the forums/groups, the more discouraged I am becoming.
The fact that when I read something that is thoughtful, non-attacking, and well written by a man almost makes me swoon because of how seldom it appears (when it is a woman I just smile and applaud - LOL)shows how infrequently it happens.
There seems to be a total lack of critical thinking going on with the majority of regular posters. Everyone wants their agenda and beliefs to be crammed down others throats and are more interested in attacking those that aren't 100% in agreement with them. It seems that when 'reading' another's post they do so while formulating their rebuttal rather than to take a few minutes to digest and ponder what their viewpoint was.
I have also noticed the lack of compassion and caring that people used to give to others. Now it seems like everyone has bought into the fear theory as reported in the news daily and all screaming to get theirs! So afraid that an extra dollar might go to "an undeserving" person. The myth that everyone of color or minority status is getting theirs, where is mine? Why have people lost the ability to see - "There, but for the grace of God, go I." Or, "Don't judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes."
The preconcieved notions of what other people do or how they act is clung to so tightly, without them ever stepping back and wondering were did those ideas come from. Are they things that they have actually seen constantly to come that conclusion or did they see it once, heard it from their parents/neighbors/relatives/TV, or read it somewhere? Can they really say, with all sincerity that the sweeping generalization they are making can be borne out in the majority of those types of people?
I doubt that this will get much in the way of real discussions going, or make someone take the time to stop and think which is a shame. In fact, I know that since my response is longer than a few sentences it won't be read in it's entireity by 98% of the people who do come here. I've seen many people say they can't be bothered with reading "so much." (I guess that means that an entire article or book is out of the question for them)
Thank you again for even thinking of this and bringing it up. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
 
[Edited 4/7/2008 7:24:08 PM]
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| 4/7/2008 6:57:01 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
ping_ping
Kingwood, TX
age: 25
| Most thinking these days is reactionary and not critical. People read an article here or there and react to it immediately like it is gospel.
Some subjects are just impossible to discuss without people insulting each other like children.
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| 4/7/2008 7:11:48 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
pamela0324
Pasadena, MD
age: 54
| Well, thank you ladies! Thanks for offering your thoughts.
I, for one, intend to keep this going. I want civil discourse and refuse to accept the possibility that only narrow-minded and insulting men and women post here.
Gentlemen, here are 2 quality women who can think for, and express, themselves - and they are eager to meet quality men.
We live in a world where multiple languages are spoken, multiple religions are practiced, multiple forms of government are managed every day by many different types of people, everyone doesn't agree with me or you, and somehow the world keeps turning.
Wars are fought, people die, children are born, men and women fall in love, one party wins, another party loses. World keeps turning.
Life. Ain't it great?!
We are all looking for someone, are we not? Why else are we here? I want someone to know me, and posting real thoughts here is one way for someone to come to know me.
Please, post away. Let others come to know you!
Peace, Pam
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| 4/7/2008 7:12:06 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
krupa1
Abilene, TX
age: 40
| Americans are as good as any souls on the planet....it is just that individuals within our society are idiots.
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| 4/7/2008 7:14:03 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
pamela0324
Pasadena, MD
age: 54
| LOL, krupa.
You are so right! Some souls are worth knowing, and some are too angry for me!
You are a good soul!
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| 4/7/2008 7:41:08 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
allyours4now
Glendale, AZ
age: 36
| i think the question is a good one, but i think what we all have our own idea of what being a mental light weight is. while i agree with the 1st 4 points you list i would take issue with the last 2...
people come to these forums for different reasons. we have temperments. we are all individuals who have some kind of identity that i am sure we feel is uniquely us. so when i log on here, i fell comfortable enough to be myself. i know i am not the type of guy everyone is gonna like to be around or hear from. i know when i come around these forums, i am gonna read stuff that i think is either stupid, arrogant, ignorant, deceitful etc. but thats also why i come, to see what people are thinking and saying. the way i respond to these things is the way i would normally talk with someone i know with. after some period of time here, i feel as if i know some of these people. like jay for example. we trade barbs from time to time and i say things that come to my head, as if in conversation. i think he pretty much does the same. i wouldn't want it any other way. and since you mention paranoid rantings i assume you had a particular member in mind. i have always kinda enjoyed some of those rantings, and when i am not in the mood to read it, i don't. do i get offended by it all? no, not really. i can handle it. if i couldn't i wouldn't be here.
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| 4/8/2008 7:30:54 AM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
pamela0324
Pasadena, MD
age: 54
| allyours...there are too many paranoid and nasty ranters here to identify just one.
This is a place where some of us are looking for partners. I suppose your point is I can see people here whose posts tell me I don't want to meet or even hear from them. That is true.
But all too often I come to this forum and see only nasty comments, insults, unrestrained paranoia, conspiracy theories and tirades.
I believe there are many people like me who check in, read and leave because we don't like the tone, the topics, and/or the level of incivility. Many have left the site entirely because of the lack of intelligent, civil discussion that allows for multiple points of view. I know this because I have communicated with them.
I have told myself to just leave the idiots alone and stay away from the Current Events forum, but then I ask myself, why should I let them run off good people and have all the fun?
I love to discuss current events and politics and religion and anything else that is in our/my world. I love debating ideas and the meaning and consequences of events. I do not enjoy sniping and insulting and general nastiness. That is clearly "sport" for some here, but it is not fun for more of us than you know.
I hear and understand your positions. I don't agree with you on all of them. But I will honor your right to take whatever positions you choose and will respect you as a human being who has the right to think for himself and express those thoughts.
Thanks for weighing in. I really do appreciate your thoughts.
Peace, Pam
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| 4/8/2008 9:40:19 AM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
jduffy
Granville, NY
age: 63
| I think too there is something in the nature of message boards (except practical ones) which bring out the worse in people. Having said that, i think this board is worse--kinda like TV land--at least in the areas of profiles and relationships. (side note: why is it free sites have these incredibly short, uninformative profiles as compared with many of the paying sites?? it's kinda like saying "free" means second-rate, so i ain't going to put out any effort and/or i don't trust the site so have to be secretive about myself wh. is my reason)
As to critical thinking... i have been fired more than a couple times for trying to teach real critical thinking, as opposed to the kind narrowly framed by the the american ed. system, which does not include discussions say of the war, or of the true extent of sexism and racism. The same could be said for 99% of the media---critical thot there is almost non-existent (including NPR). No wonder people are ignorant of most of the critical stuff that is shaping their very lives.
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| 4/8/2008 10:49:29 AM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
krupa1
Abilene, TX
age: 40
| Right on! I think I got the woman snowed! hehehehehe
But, it is a good topic indeed!
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| 4/8/2008 10:54:23 AM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
jazminx
Mount Airy, GA
age: 41 online now!
| Only Americans? either you haven't left the country before or you are just seeing what u want to see. every time i chat with someone from another country i am shocked or rather vindicated by how un-differing they are. if you think YOU are somehow better because you try to stand apart from your fellow Americans think again.
heres a question, why are so many american women fat? isnt that also worthy of discussion?
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| 4/8/2008 12:31:27 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
jeannieoncemore
Warrensburg, MO
age: 55
| As always Pam, you are saying it so well. I can't find a place to go where there is a conversation about an interesting topic. If I find a good topic the people posting just sound like raving maniacs!! I'm beginning to think I am one of the few who would just like to have a rational discussion. Is there something wrong with that?
Go figure!
Have no answers to that burning question of why American women are fat! I'm sure you will have the answer and I'm dying to know. Having been fat all my life I'm sure you can change my world with your answer!
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| 4/8/2008 4:41:44 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
edawg2
Knoxville, TN
age: 59
| Pam You know what I think on this one! Maybe not lightweights; bubbleheads filled with helium would describe it better. Look around. Is it any wonder that Hispanics (esp late arrivals from Mexico) and Orientals stress education to their kids almost fanatically? Is it any wonder that where ever you find Germans and German descendeds, you find respect for learning? We've lost any inkling of what we ever had in the US about thinking and getting educated. Good subject to post. The bluer the state, the more that blood circulation is being cut off to the brain.
[Edited 4/8/2008 4:43:23 PM]
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| 4/8/2008 6:20:20 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
pamela0324
Pasadena, MD
age: 54
| As for my journeys outside the US, I can assure the "gentle woman from Georgia" that I have been to several countries outside this, my country. I love meeting people from other countries and always learn something from my conversations with them. I no more feel superior to non-USA citizens than I do to my fellow citizens. However, I freely state I do not like bullies and do not like lazy thinking, insulting behavior and disrespect. That said, I welcome anyone's thoughts here who has something of worth to say.
My focus is here, in these forums, where the majority of posts are from US citizens.
And what I see is scary....and I wondered. Have we become a country of uneducated, unworldly, narrow-minded and disrespectful people. I sincerely hope not.
And my hope is to lure the intelligent and mature adults out there who read and leave in disgust to possibly post and let us hear what they have to say.
So far, its working!
Peace, Pam
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| 4/8/2008 6:30:06 PM | Have Americans become mental lightweights? | |
nodresiak
Versailles, OH
age: 32
| It has been my theory that only one third of americans do any deep reflective thinking the other two thirds wander around aimlessly thinking about what retarded TV show they are going to watch or how much money they need to make to buy the next useless gadget that Stink-mart is trying to sell them.I guess we are kinda shallow how else would you explain the fascination with celebrities like Paris Hilton.She makes the average girl look like a rocket scientist
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