Let me just start by sayin', I don't usually look for the worst from anyone. I am the kind who gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. But here lately, I'm seeing a trait that I just ain't cottening to. Selfishness. It seems like it is rapidly becoming an "everyone for themselves" atmosphere. Ok, granted, not everywhere, and not all the time. But more often than not. Over the simplist of things. Sharing seems to be out of the question. I got mine, you got yours. What the hell happened to sharing whatever, if it benefits both? Maybe I got up on the wrong side of the bed. I'd love to blame it on that, but today is not the only day that I've witnessed this particular phenomenon. On line in the grocery store/carry out/gas station. At the library, waiting for a computer. On the road, (my least favorite)! Waving someone ahead, seems like it's become a lost art.  And I'm talking about letting an elderly driver get in front of you. (Might save your life, in the long-run). I'd like to blame it all on the younger generations, but that simply is not the case. I've seen people of all ages, acting the same way. Like, how dare any of the rest of us, encroach on their God given space, time, anything...

Maybe this qualifies as a rant. But, I can't seem to reconcile what I'm seeing. Have we all started to lose our Humanity? Because if we don't find a way, to treat one another, like extended family, it won't be very long before there won't be much to hold on to. And selfishness will just be one of many atrocities which we'll perpetuate on one another. 

That being said, I have to say, that I MORE than appreiciate all the fine folks, here on cyclefish!!!  Ya'll truly are my "happy place" go to, after being out "in the world" with some of these folks. I just wanted you to know that. Thank You! And thanks for lettin' me blow off some steam. I do feel better!  Ride Free

Tweek

 

  I try to allow the elderly to go first but it seems that there arn't too many to be found   and I don't usually want to argue more than a few minutes before I just go ahead and go first.  
     I just love the discounts that I've been getting lately.

  Never mind 

It's true... and have you noticed that when you let someone go ahead of you, they just go... they don't bother to say thank you... No one waves a friendly gesture. The only gesture they know is the bird!

One day at the grocery store there was a gentleman who had two items in his hands. A woman in front of him had a CART... the register next to us opened and she ran over, cut him off to get there first... i couldn't believe it! he looked at me, i looked at him and we both laughed!

i think it roots from the instant world... everything is instant and no one is willing to wait a moment for anything. Everyone is 'entitled'.

I must admit i am guilty of it sometimes, not letting someone in front of me or being a bit pushy to take care of my needs... but when i do, i am glad that i still have the sensitivity to catch myself. hope i don't lose that!

Amen to that. I am Irish/catholic educated and was brought up with having to have manners,

Maybe just mayne if people made more of an effort in being nice to each other then there would no need to beat the hell out of idiots. This thing of walking around with a war face on all the time being a bad ass is bullshit. I was brought up simply to be nice until it is time not to be nice, as a friend of mine on FB from the US put it, never hit a women or a child but everyone else is fair game if and when they f**k up!

Just my humble opinion!

People are watching our "leaders" (Ha) in government and seeing that they can get away with a lot and saying "Why not me?" We as a people are learning from example of our government.

I posted this on my Facebook page a little while ago;

The two main problems of our government today (as I see it.)

1. There is a strong disconnect to the truth detection mechanisms of our society. This is caused, in part, by the actions of elected officials and the lack of consequences to their actions.

The difficulty of correcting the problem is that it isn’t so much a conspiracy as a schism tearing apart our country. The separation of the “common people” and our “enlightened leaders” (Sarcasm intended) grows wider by the day.

One symptom of the disorder is the elevation of the unworthy into positions of authority from which they, in an endless effort to preserve their own advantages, manipulate the levels of power. And where there is opportunity to corrupt, there is, it seems, no shortage of willing corrupter's. The condition is widespread and intolerable.

Until the leaders are held to the same level of accountability and to the same rules and laws as the “common people”, and until they have to live with the programs they create ( IE; retirement and medical care)there will be no resolution.

2. The second problem is, our government is continuing to reward failure. This government was never intended to support all the people of this country.

There are programs to help support people in times of need and they are well intended, but they were never designed for lifetime support. There has to be some kind of personal accountability. There should be limited support, for a limited amount of time, and then it stops. Beyond this should be the support of family, friends and church.

The same goes for business. The government’s total responsibility should to ensure that no one business should be large enough that its dissolution would have a major impact on our society. Beyond that let free trade control it. If a business is not contributing, it will fail, as it should. If a business is selling a good product at a fair price, it will be rewarded, as it should be.

These are my opinions.

GaryTJ.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now

We have evolved into a ME ME ME society !!!!

What is the big hurry, that's what I want to know. We're all headed to the same place.

I agree with Tweek and everyone who replied to her "rant". What is this world coming to?
You can blame it on the "me attitude". You can blame it on our political leaders. You can blame it on our parents who were too busy trying to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and clothes on our backs. You can blame it on the media. You can blame it on the person ahead of you at the checkout. You can blame it on just about anything you want. But the fact is that WE are in charge of our response to others and the humanity that lives within us .. or the lack of it. WE can start talking about how we treat our fellow humans. WE can talk about courtesy and humanity in every forum. WE can start setting the example .. all the time and to everyone we come into contact with.
I just hope WE're are not too late in making the change back to where things should be.

That's IT! SolarBill, you hit that sucker right on the head! And more, my pastor has been sayin' for the last two weeks, that he has a dream. A dream where we are more than fellowship. Where, we are apostles. And I agree. How can I call myself a "Christian", if I'm not "Christ-like". And to me, that means treating my fellow man, just like Christ would. And you don't HAVE to be a Christian, to treat your fellow man in a more humane way. What small effort does it take, to simply put others first? To stop obsessing with our own problems long enough, to consider what someone else may be going thru.  You cannot tell by looking at someone, just what lurks under the surface. For this world to be a better place, it all starts with the effort we, ourselves make. 

I'm not trying to preach, well maybe a little. And while I don't think it's necessary for ya'll, here on cyclefish, I do feel the need to remind all, myself included, that the legacy we leave behind will affect those following in our footsteps.

RIDE FREE.....Tweek

one of the things that pisses me off is when I open or hold the door for someone and get no response or acknowledgment from them. When this happens I will say "your welcome" just to let them know.

When walking into the post office, bank or across a parking lot when another person is coming towards me I will try to catch their eye. I may simply nod or maybe smile or at times say hi, I am always amazed at the number of people that turn their head to avoid eye contact. What is wrong with people?

GaryTJ; you got it... although we are responsible for ourselves, we are influenced by our environment and our authority is the government. A lot of people ARE with the attitude that 'they are owed' things because of the way the government handles things.

Manners, yes and common sense. Does anyone have a lick of common sense anymore?

It's a real kicker when you are walking behind someone and they enter a building and let the door slam IN YOUR FACE! or when i do something for someone and there is NO acknowlegement

I have had this 'invisible' theory... Sometimes i feel invisible... like people genuinely don't see me!

wo-oo wo-oo!

So, i keep, keeping on... and doing what i need to do. Makes me a better person, because i acknowledge the fact, i DON'T want to be like THAT!

I think it has alot to do with the fact that in the majority of homes in America now, both parents are working or there is only a single parent and at the end of the day thier just to tired to really teach the finer points of being a courteous well rounded person with good manners. Todays youth just are not being taught this. I'm amazed sometimes at the behavior of my son's friends when they come over for a visit. I never spared the rod and my kids never knew what a time out was, if they disrepected someone near me or their mother they payed for it with a pop on the ass later at home. I think all these idiots that I see on tv running at the mouth about how to raise kids have done a great diservice to our country.

I do this too if I encounter no manners - and if they say 'what?~ I say - oh I thought you said thank you so I said welcome!   Usually gets a sheepish look  to rival Shaun's (though sometimes still get the evils or no response at all)

 Mostly we're all friendly folk in Yorkshire.  Went to the pub on Sunday and was wondering whether to try a new real ale that had just come in  and the bloke next to me at the bar offered me a try of his (same brew) before I bought one.  Glad I did cos it wasn't that nice so I got one I knew I'd like instead - saved me some brass.  Later I bought some ham and mustard crisps and the gal next to me said she fancied some crisps but didn't know if she'd like that flavour, so I offered her some of mine to try - she liked em and bought a packet.  Never met either of them before but this sort of thing isn't unusual in the proper pubs or meeting places round here (though not so much noticeable in the wine bars in town).   

I agree with Solarbill that we need to keep setting the example.  I was brought up with manners, did the same with my own kids,  and now my grandkids are being brought up the same.  ,


Onwards and upwards

Hugs (o:

When im in the US of A I tend to freak alot of people out..When we walk down the street we nod and say gday to acknowledge each other..A lot of Yanks were kinda caught off guard by someone on the street actually being friendly and say gday to a complete stranger..I think its a country thing.See us mob who grew up in the bush are alot friendlier and still have old school values and manners..Yeah I guess its because we still give a shit about others...CHEERS BOOF

I think it is called....apathy?

i stay close with the ones dear to me, and i have my friends that i check up on from time to time since we don't all live in the same neighborhood. i'll nod, wave, speak, whatever to people i pass on the street/road. i care about my fellows, even if they don't care about anything but themselves. and maybe, in that tiny lil closed up mind of theirs, i have shown them a glimpse of real happiness and freedom, or just an idiot on a loud bike. whatever, happiness is contagious! spread some around!

I know what you mean. It's everywhere. I don't think it is a problem that can be fixed, but I'm not going to let it bother me. I've heard it said that it takes more muscles to frown then it does to smile. I think I'll keep smiling