Interesting observation on the lack of social media addiction. Going back to the inherent nature where the group tends to operate more as a group than an individual I suppose?
“ Why do we always feel like nothing is ever enough, especially in the US?”
Good entry—the answer is pretty simple why, relating to my current post on the thread we’ve been on :) — because the entirety of the culture is focused on ultra individualism, and amassing power and goods, with basically no social contract that was ever established in the society (to the extent it exists, it is pretty much by accident and/or relating to direct opposition by groups that were usually labelled as “radicals” at the time—e.g. socialists being largely responsible for the existence of the weekend and labor laws), unlike every other developed country that exists, and ALSO without a sense of cultural heritage, roots, or forces that bind people together, as in the case with most traditional societies, due to homogenization and assimilation towards this end, combined with the twin dark stains that the country was founded on 1) slavery leading directly to much of the wealth at America’s initial stages and into the end of the 1800s (semi addressed, but still deeply unequal), and 2) outright genocide as an official policy of native peoples at both the federal and state level (has barely been addressed, and is barely in the consciousness of most Americans—I see new legislation is JUST now coming into effect that only allows the display of native artifacts in museums etc. If permission is obtained from said tribes)
Loving that you’re continuing the thread here, Nick. I wonder what’s the missing link that people need to resolidify that sense of heritage? I mentioned loving my modern comforts. Is it all or nothing? What might be the solution?
Sorry, I was typing hastily, I edited and added some other “fun” thoughts at the end there, don’t know if you saw..
Realistically, I don’t think they will, if it isn’t nourished. I’ve travelled and lived abroad fairly extensively, and I’ve found that’s the only way for me, I need to seek out other ideas and societies in action to be nourished by them, and learn from them, because it’s not going to happen otherwise.
It isn’t all or nothing, and I’m certainly not living in a cave myself, nor is that really the solution or underlying point.
People, societies, and governments, need to be able to say no to things that harm them. I think it is as simple and as difficult as that. It’s not really about stuff, as it is about how people relate to things and one another. In the Latin world, certain tech companies operate as monopolies to a FAR greater degree than in countries like America—and again, seems a bit similar in SE Asia from what I know—like, in Mexico, it’s comical the extent to which everything, literally everything, including airlines, government offices, runs off of WhatsApp. You can’t function in the society if you don’t use WhatsApp. But all that means is that people there have decided to use this one thing to communicate at a distance with one another. That’s it. I saw virtually no evidence of the plagues of phone addiction, and social media obsessions, people who don’t know how to talk to other people in person anymore, and all these topics that affect millions of people in places like the US. Not to say they don’t exist, I just don’t think they’re that big of an issues. People are not confused about how to be human beings-it’s all just a tool to them..then you meet up with your friends and family, talk face to face, kiss people in public, have a fiesta..etc.
Interesting observation on the lack of social media addiction. Going back to the inherent nature where the group tends to operate more as a group than an individual I suppose?
“ Why do we always feel like nothing is ever enough, especially in the US?”
Good entry—the answer is pretty simple why, relating to my current post on the thread we’ve been on :) — because the entirety of the culture is focused on ultra individualism, and amassing power and goods, with basically no social contract that was ever established in the society (to the extent it exists, it is pretty much by accident and/or relating to direct opposition by groups that were usually labelled as “radicals” at the time—e.g. socialists being largely responsible for the existence of the weekend and labor laws), unlike every other developed country that exists, and ALSO without a sense of cultural heritage, roots, or forces that bind people together, as in the case with most traditional societies, due to homogenization and assimilation towards this end, combined with the twin dark stains that the country was founded on 1) slavery leading directly to much of the wealth at America’s initial stages and into the end of the 1800s (semi addressed, but still deeply unequal), and 2) outright genocide as an official policy of native peoples at both the federal and state level (has barely been addressed, and is barely in the consciousness of most Americans—I see new legislation is JUST now coming into effect that only allows the display of native artifacts in museums etc. If permission is obtained from said tribes)
Loving that you’re continuing the thread here, Nick. I wonder what’s the missing link that people need to resolidify that sense of heritage? I mentioned loving my modern comforts. Is it all or nothing? What might be the solution?
Sorry, I was typing hastily, I edited and added some other “fun” thoughts at the end there, don’t know if you saw..
Realistically, I don’t think they will, if it isn’t nourished. I’ve travelled and lived abroad fairly extensively, and I’ve found that’s the only way for me, I need to seek out other ideas and societies in action to be nourished by them, and learn from them, because it’s not going to happen otherwise.
It isn’t all or nothing, and I’m certainly not living in a cave myself, nor is that really the solution or underlying point.
People, societies, and governments, need to be able to say no to things that harm them. I think it is as simple and as difficult as that. It’s not really about stuff, as it is about how people relate to things and one another. In the Latin world, certain tech companies operate as monopolies to a FAR greater degree than in countries like America—and again, seems a bit similar in SE Asia from what I know—like, in Mexico, it’s comical the extent to which everything, literally everything, including airlines, government offices, runs off of WhatsApp. You can’t function in the society if you don’t use WhatsApp. But all that means is that people there have decided to use this one thing to communicate at a distance with one another. That’s it. I saw virtually no evidence of the plagues of phone addiction, and social media obsessions, people who don’t know how to talk to other people in person anymore, and all these topics that affect millions of people in places like the US. Not to say they don’t exist, I just don’t think they’re that big of an issues. People are not confused about how to be human beings-it’s all just a tool to them..then you meet up with your friends and family, talk face to face, kiss people in public, have a fiesta..etc.