Stupid in America

[Bindare_Dundat]

[gordiano]

Thanks for sharing. No doubt some big changes need to be made. Our kids just seem to be getting dumber.....

[MuscleMcMannus]

Thanks for sharing. No doubt some big changes need to be made. Our kids just seem to be getting dumber.....

Haha not according to the genius BezerkerFury.  Haha what a moron if he thinks cause we have MIT we are smarter than other countries.  HAHA LOSER! 

[gordiano]

I don't have the answers. But I'll say this, there's a certain mentality that seems to have taken over this once great nation. It's the "all about me" mentality. Most everyone thinks they are "special". I see it everyday. No one wants to be held accountable for their actions, no one wants to do the right thing (from the simplest thing to the biggest). Most don't seem to want to work for things. They want them handed to them.

I believe part of the problem is that for so long, we were fed the "USA is the greatest" line, and while that may have been true at one point, it doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Our kids are getting dumber, fatter, stupider, more ignorant, et cetera.

Parents do not "parent" anymore. Workers do just enough to keep their jobs. Mediocrity is the new goal, it seems and that's okay. We reward the stupid & untalented (give them TV shows, movies, records). We make entertainers filthy rich (sports stars, musicians, movie stars, et cetera) while people who make a difference in this world make a fraction.

I have seen a huge decline in standards in my short 34 years of life. As consumer I am no longer greeted at shops/stores. People no longer display manners. Hell, they can't even make a proper stop, not even while driving with their kids in their cars.

Consideration for others is just about dead. The selfish have taken over. The selfish & ignorant were once the minority....now they are the majority. It's all about "me". People look at me funny when I do something nice for them. When I offer a stranger assistance, they think I want something in return.

When I tell them that the act itself is the reward, they think I'm nuts. Hell, they think I'm nuts when I tell them that I try to do the right thing cause it's the right thing to do.....not because I think there's an invisible boogeyman  in the sky, who will reward me for my actions. When I bust my ass at the gym, they ask me "why?" to which I respond, why not?

I'm not sure what has happened. Again, everything seems to have changed....and not for the better.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for posting this, and I'll probably be called anti-American for "speaking out" and not going along with the other drones who want to believe everything here is great and on the up & up.

[MB_722]

I don't have the answers. But I'll say this, there's a certain mentality that seems to have taken over this once great nation. It's the "all about me" mentality. Most everyone thinks they are "special". I see it everyday. No one wants to be held accountable for their actions, no one wants to do the right thing (from the simplest thing to the biggest). Most don't seem to want to work for things. They want them handed to them.

I believe part of the problem is that for so long, we were fed the "USA is the greatest" line, and while that may have been true at one point, it doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Our kids are getting dumber, fatter, stupider, more ignorant, et cetera.

Parents do not "parent" anymore. Workers do just enough to keep their jobs. Mediocrity is the new goal, it seems and that's okay. We reward the stupid & untalented (give them TV shows, movies, records). We make entertainers filthy rich (sports stars, musicians, movie stars, et cetera) while people who make a difference in this world make a fraction.

I have seen a huge decline in standards in my short 34 years of life. As consumer I am no longer greeted at shops/stores. People no longer display manners. Hell, they can't even make a proper stop, not even while driving with their kids in their cars.

Consideration for others is just about dead. The selfish have taken over. The selfish & ignorant were once the minority....now they are the majority. It's all about "me". People look at me funny when I do something nice for them. When I offer a stranger assistance, they think I want something in return.

When I tell them that the act itself is the reward, they think I'm nuts. Hell, they think I'm nuts when I tell them that I try to do the right thing cause it's the right thing to do.....not because I think there's an invisible boogeyman  in the sky, who will reward me for my actions. When I bust my ass at the gym, they ask me "why?" to which I respond, why not?

I'm not sure what has happened. Again, everything seems to have changed....and not for the better.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for posting this, and I'll probably be called anti-American for "speaking out" and not going along with the other drones who want to believe everything here is great and on the up & up.

you shouldn't get flamed.

You're spot on!

[marcus]

John Stossel should run for office.

[Fury]

Haha not according to the genius BezerkerFury.  Haha what a moron if he thinks cause we have MIT we are smarter than other countries.  HAHA LOSER! 

Looks like I'm in your head. I wonder if you realize that you come off as one of the stupidest on here. I mean, you got your ass kicked all over the G&O last week and that board is a breeding ground for retardation. 

Nice meltdown, though. "Haha" "Haha" HAHA"!!!!

[240 is Back]

good post, gordiano. 

americans have moved from nationalism to consumerism.  it's ugly

[Grape Ape]

I don't have the answers. But I'll say this, there's a certain mentality that seems to have taken over this once great nation. It's the "all about me" mentality. Most everyone thinks they are "special". I see it everyday. No one wants to be held accountable for their actions, no one wants to do the right thing (from the simplest thing to the biggest). Most don't seem to want to work for things. They want them handed to them.

Parents do not "parent" anymore. Workers do just enough to keep their jobs. Mediocrity is the new goal, it seems and that's okay. We reward the stupid & untalented (give them TV shows, movies, records). We make entertainers filthy rich (sports stars, musicians, movie stars, et cetera) while people who make a difference in this world make a fraction.

While I don't mind athletes getting paid big money if the sports are generating big revenues, these two paragraphs are spot on.

[MuscleMcMannus]

Looks like I'm in your head. I wonder if you realize that you come off as one of the stupidest on here. I mean, you got your ass kicked all over the G&O last week and that board is a breeding ground for retardation. 

Nice meltdown, though. "Haha" "Haha" HAHA"!!!!

Nice try........   Maybe a little more next time chubs. 

[Soul Crusher]

Great post.  I like John Stossel.

These are all future voters who will vote themselves pay raises, welfare, etc.

We need discipline and uniforms in the schools to start.  The next thing is to get rid of school summer vacation.

Additionally, we need to hold teachers accountable for their failures.  

By and large teachers are the lowest scoring averages of all college students.

MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE!

[shootfighter1]

Gordiano, very nice post.  I noticed the same thing.  On that note, increasing government dependence and quasi-socialist programs will likely increase that sense of entitlement some people have and increase the persuit of mediocrity.

The old Europeans that came here had a certain work and family ethic that seems to be diminishing.

[Soul Crusher]

Gordiano, very nice post.  I noticed the same thing.  On that note, increasing government dependence and quasi-socialist programs will likely increase that sense of entitlement some people have and increase the persuit of mediocrity.

The old Europeans that came here had a certain work and family ethic that seems to be diminishing.

And guess who runs the schools, teachers' unions, etc???

[Bindare_Dundat]

I don't have the answers. But I'll say this, there's a certain mentality that seems to have taken over this once great nation. It's the "all about me" mentality. Most everyone thinks they are "special". I see it everyday. No one wants to be held accountable for their actions, no one wants to do the right thing (from the simplest thing to the biggest). Most don't seem to want to work for things. They want them handed to them.

I believe part of the problem is that for so long, we were fed the "USA is the greatest" line, and while that may have been true at one point, it doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Our kids are getting dumber, fatter, stupider, more ignorant, et cetera.

Parents do not "parent" anymore. Workers do just enough to keep their jobs. Mediocrity is the new goal, it seems and that's okay. We reward the stupid & untalented (give them TV shows, movies, records). We make entertainers filthy rich (sports stars, musicians, movie stars, et cetera) while people who make a difference in this world make a fraction.

I have seen a huge decline in standards in my short 34 years of life. As consumer I am no longer greeted at shops/stores. People no longer display manners. Hell, they can't even make a proper stop, not even while driving with their kids in their cars.

Consideration for others is just about dead. The selfish have taken over. The selfish & ignorant were once the minority....now they are the majority. It's all about "me". People look at me funny when I do something nice for them. When I offer a stranger assistance, they think I want something in return.

When I tell them that the act itself is the reward, they think I'm nuts. Hell, they think I'm nuts when I tell them that I try to do the right thing cause it's the right thing to do.....not because I think there's an invisible boogeyman  in the sky, who will reward me for my actions. When I bust my ass at the gym, they ask me "why?" to which I respond, why not?

I'm not sure what has happened. Again, everything seems to have changed....and not for the better.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for posting this, and I'll probably be called anti-American for "speaking out" and not going along with the other drones who want to believe everything here is great and on the up & up.

Bang on. It's frustrating. I noticed those little things too. People hitting the close door button in an almost empty elevator when they can hear people coming around the corner, seen it first hand. You try and talk to people and they look at you like you have a third eye growing outta your forehead. People just walk over others human beings that might be having a heart attack because they could be a street person. Pushing in your lane without a signal or even so much as turning the head around.

No one has the patience to stop and think for a second. I think it has alot to do with TV, video games and the internet, entertainment that excites the brain at the touch of a button and is usully done alone,  these things cause people to be anti social, lazy bastards.

[MuscleMcMannus]

Great post.  I like John Stossel.

These are all future voters who will vote themselves pay raises, welfare, etc.

We need discipline and uniforms in the schools to start.  The next thing is to get rid of school summer vacation.

Additionally, we need to hold teachers accountable for their failures.  

By and large teachers are the lowest scoring averages of all college students.

MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE!

Wholeheartedly agree.  I come from a family of teachers.  My two aunts, my brother, his wife, and my two cousins.  Let me tell you the only one that works hard or really teaches something important is my brother.  He's a math teacher.  His wife is a health/physical education teacher.  My aunt who is a huge liberal is a drama teacher.  Needless to say the only one I would want teaching my kids is my brother.  I think it's unfair to say teachers are the lowest scoring averages of all college students.  I'd like to see the stats on that.  I know some great teachers but like everything there are a lot of bad teachers that give the good ones a bad reputation.  I definitely think kids need to go to school year round but with the condition that they do more physical activities, hell maybe even go camping and do more industrial tech and shit like that.   

[CQ]

I believe part of the problem is that for so long, we were fed the "USA is the greatest" line,

That I think is a tremendous part of the problem, and any mention people ever did of fixing errors was met with flag waving and we are the best.

Its like a female declaring she is the prettiest, someone saying a car is best etc. These things are subjective.

Sure Halle Berry is prettier then Whoopi. There are beautiful and ugly women, can't really say who is the prettiest of the pretty ones. Same with nations, its serious arrogance for one to say their nation is best - especially when its so subjective and stats don't back it up. USA is a great nation, so are many others, but one cannot with a straight face look at stats of say crime rates, taxation, national debt, preventable deaths etc and say the USA is the best.

And arrogance always prefaces a fall. Like you said, any criticism people make is met with this weird unpatriotic thing.

That said, the stuff you mention about manners - hardly an American issue. I've literally been around the world, and lived in many nations. Rude folks everywhere you go, bar none.

[Dos Equis]

Same with nations, its serious arrogance for one to say their nation is best - especially when its so subjective and stats don't back it up. USA is a great nation, so are many others, but one cannot with a straight face look at stats of say crime rates, taxation, national debt, preventable deaths etc and say the USA is the best.

I'll say it.  It's the greatest country on earth.  No other country offers what we do on such a grand scale.  That's why people flock here from all over the world.  Some come to live.  Some to be educated.  Some flee religious persecution.  Just look at two of our leaders:  one came to this country, uneducated, barely able to speak the language, penniless, and is now a multimillionaire and governor of California.  The other is second generation American citizen, abandoned by his father, and is now president.  I could give you many stories like this, some known, some not well known.

Yes we have problems.  It's not perfect.  But the good far outweighs the bad.  It's an awesome place to live, work, and raise a family.  I wouldn't live anywhere else.     

[Bindare_Dundat]

I'll say it.  It's the greatest country on earth.  No other country offers what we do on such a grand scale.  That's why people flock here from all over the world.  Some come to live.  Some to be educated.  Some flee religious persecution.  Just look at two of our leaders:  one came to this country, uneducated, barely able to speak the language, penniless, and is now a multimillionaire and governor of California.  The other is second generation American citizen, abandoned by his father, and is now president.  I could give you many stories like this, some known, some not well known.

Yes we have problems.  It's not perfect.  But the good far outweighs the bad.  It's an awesome place to live, work, and raise a family.  I wouldn't live anywhere else.     

Have you ever lived anywhere else? Just curious.

[Dos Equis]

Have you ever lived anywhere else? Just curious.

Yes.  Lived, traveled, visited, etc.  What difference does that make?  Doesn't change any of what I said.  This is an awesome place to live and we have the immigration numbers to prove it. 

[MuscleMcMannus]

I'll say it.  It's the greatest country on earth.  No other country offers what we do on such a grand scale.  That's why people flock here from all over the world.  Some come to live.  Some to be educated.  Some flee religious persecution.  Just look at two of our leaders:  one came to this country, uneducated, barely able to speak the language, penniless, and is now a multimillionaire and governor of California.  The other is second generation American citizen, abandoned by his father, and is now president.  I could give you many stories like this, some known, some not well known.

Yes we have problems.  It's not perfect.  But the good far outweighs the bad.  It's an awesome place to live, work, and raise a family.  I wouldn't live anywhere else.     

Haha pull Arnold's cock out of your mouth would you.  He's the worst governor this state has ever had.  Arnold has a very shady past.  His father was a Nazi.  He didnt come to this country penniless.  That's a myth.  He was no more poor or wealthy than any other immigrant.  Yeah he worked hard and made it.  But he also stepped on a lot of  toes and fucked a lot of people over to get to where he is.  Arnold's a fraud. 

[Bindare_Dundat]

Yes.  Lived, traveled, visited, etc.  What difference does that make? 

What difference does that make? Makes a huge differenece if you never lived anywhere else in the world for any real length of time, otherwise you would be making a statement based on no real experience of any other place. Where did you LIVE, (work, socialize, etc), for longer than a year other than the States? 

[Dos Equis]

What difference does that make? Makes a huge differenece if you never lived anywhere else in the world for any real length of time, otherwise you would be making a statement based on no real experience of any other place. Where did you LIVE, (work, socialize, etc), for longer than a year other than the States? 

No, it makes zero difference.  I stand by my comments.  I love this place.  It is an incredible country.  It is the greatest country in the history of the world.  I'm blessed to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth surrounded by decent, hardworking people (for the most part).  There are things we can improve, which will always be the case, but it is still an awesome place to be. 

The people who do nothing but complain should move. 

[MuscleMcMannus]

No, it makes zero difference.  I stand by my comments.  I love this place.  It is an incredible country.  It is the greatest country in the history of the world.  I'm blessed to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth surrounded by decent, hardworking people (for the most part).  There are things we can improve, which will always be the case, but it is still an awesome place to be. 

The people who do nothing but complain should move. 

People like you that wear their patriotism on their sleeve walk around with blinders on, know fuck all about U.S. history and have spoon fed everything they've been told to them growing up about America.  Yes it is a great country.  Or should I say it USED to be.  We are much less free than we were even just 50 years ago.  We haven't had a free market economy probably for 75 years or more.  Another myth Americans are still clinging too.  Our government has grown exponentially over the last 100 years.  If you think America nowadays resembles anything CLOSE to what the founding fathers envisioned again you are clueless.  America is no different than any other place in the world.  No we are not communist China or Somalia.  But like most countries we do have our trials and tribulations and problems.  But the US Government is fucking out of control.  The entire electoral process means fuck all anymore.  We as citizens have lost our voice.  Our country has been hijacked by tryannical, corrupt, politicians and leaders. 

And those of us who fucking complain all the time are the ones that complain because we care about our country and we are informed enough to know what it used to be and where its headed.  If you don't even realize or admit to a problem how in the hell are you going to fix it?

Also I'd like to know what other countries you've actually lived in and how long?  There are MANY countries that are much more free nowadays than the USA.  Think about all the shit you can't do in this country.  How the fucking government is ever present in every aspect of your life.  That is NOT AMERICA! 

[Soul Crusher]

Sadly, you are correct.  They released a freedom index recently and we were something like 8th or 9th on the list. 

[MuscleMcMannus]

Sadly, you are correct.  They released a freedom index recently and we were something like 8th or 9th on the list. 

This may sound trivial to most but it's a huge issue.  A Canadian farm was raided by heavily armed police and government officials because he was selling fucking RAW MILK!  RAW MILK!  California is out of three states in the country where you can buy raw milk legally.  Everywhere else its illegal to buy it let alone sell it from your farm.  There are rumors that are starting that vitamins and other supplements like creatine will be illegal.  It's already happened in parts of Europe.  Steroids, drugs, whatever is one thing.  But when government starts regulating what you can eat and food so heavily.........that's crazy.