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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/1/2009 2:32:15 PM | | The opposite for me -- I've become less sensitive. Twenty -- thirty years ago I would probably have felt moved to want to do something, whereas now... eh -- I've got enough challenges to overcome without adding others problems. I'll still have the feel of "there but for the grace of God go I", but overall, I'm becoming less sensitive. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/1/2009 8:43:54 PM | I have always been sensitive to suffering, and if that sensitivity is heightened in later life, it is not because of age, but rather exposure to more atrocities.
When Katrina hit, I worked as a volunteer to assist victims for more than 2 full years after the storm. Even today I received emails about news publications on Katrina cases and families I worked with.
The majority of Americans have no clue of the inhumanities and injustices people and animals suffered. The media couldn't tell you the whole truth - it might hurt their ratings. And quite frankly, some of it was so graphic, it couldn't be aired on national television.
I am still angry and I still grieve for all those I witnessed suffer.
It forever changed my life and literally now defines who I am. I've always fought for the underdog, but now it's no longer a job, it is truly how I live my life. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/1/2009 9:09:22 PM | rottierescue, what a wonderful thing to do, helping the victims of Katrina. And maybe it is due to having been exposed to all the pain and suffering of people and animals, as opposed to age. I know when my late husband had his final, massive heart attack, standing next to me in the kitchen, and I had to perform CPR until the paramedics arrived, that I could no longer work in a critical situation in respiratory therapy. It hit too close to home. The pain was too overwhelming.
Here in the States there is so much violence and cruelty. I know you can never escape it, no matter where you go, but it just seems to be so prevalent here. When Paul asked where I would prefer to live... the States or Australia... I chose Australia because it is less violent. I love this country dearly and I don't want to leave for good, but I would love to live somewhere that wasn't so bloodthirsty. Maybe it isn't different in Oz. Maybe I'm just hoping it will be. And it isn't fear for myself that bothers me. It's knowing these horrific things are happening all around me.
Why do people feel the need to hurt others? Why? I've never understood that mentality and I never will. It is so much easier to get along with people than to fight with them or abuse them. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/2/2009 12:57:16 AM | I think I've become less sensitive as of late. Maybe I'm still smarting from the latest proof that 'no act of kindness goes unpunished' but I'm beginning to develop all the sympathy of a civil servant who replies "that's unfortunate" when someone calls in an attempt to correct a beaurocratic error that's destroying their lives.  | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/2/2009 8:07:56 AM | Here in the States there is so much violence and cruelty. I know you can never escape it, no matter where you go, but it just seems to be so prevalent here. When Paul asked where I would prefer to live... the States or Australia... I chose Australia because it is less violent. I love this country dearly and I don't want to leave for good, but I would love to live somewhere that wasn't so bloodthirsty. Maybe it isn't different in Oz. Maybe I'm just hoping it will be. And it isn't fear for myself that bothers me. It's knowing these horrific things are happening all around me.
I know what you mean to a point. I have felt that it is, or must be, less violent on a daily basis in Canada, or western Europe (not sure of the situation in any of the former Soviet-run countries), or even Australia. I really don't know any stats on this, or if this is my / our imagination or ? I don't want it to turn into an American-bashing thread. But, let's face it , it is violent here.
My personal theory on it is that it has to do with a few factors which those countries may not have , or at least may not have to the same extent: the sheer amount of people (and people of so many varying races, ethnicities, creeds, cultural backgrounds, etc); the prevalence, let's face it (and again not to take the thread in this direction because this is a real can of worms) but the prevalence of guns and the whole gun 'culture' we have here. Combining those two (or more) factors, along with social inequalities, poverty, etc, should create the kind of daily gun violence I read about here in Chicago for example.
When I went to Italy last, there is not nearly as much gun violence in the country as a whole, BUT.... in the outskirts of Naples there certainly WAS.... I was in fact surprised by the violence resembling anything the west side of Chicago has to offer. The kids around these areas not far from where my own dad was born, live in what are essentially tenements, run by gangs, and they behave very much like inner-city gangbangers around here; drive-by shootings, innocent victims in the crossfire, sometimes they are so violent and brazen they don't even drive-by they literally WALK-UP and lay out enemies in broad daylight.... and people of course know better than to "witness" anything.
So, granted most people know that parts of southerly Italy may not be the best comparison to make with many other parts of Europe, etc, as it's kind of known to be a bit more crime- and corruption-prone, I'll be the first to admit it, but I also learned there's no true escaping brutality, guns, violent men (and women too), a perhaps human propensity towards what we call "vendetta" / retaliation (regardless of religious beliefs which may suggest the contrary course of action), and so forth. So, I suppose there literally is no utopia and one may be shocked at what one may find, just about anywhere (short of perhaps Switzerland or some of the Scandinavian countries where I hear there really is relatively little violence).... But again those countries have overall far smaller and much more homogenous populations than the US , so it renders direct comparisons almost unfair. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/2/2009 7:42:13 PM | | No Charlie your certainly not along it is just people feel it is futile to try and do anything about. I for one am horrified when I think that all the major conflicts in human history have had a religious basis, how can that be, I figure all that I can do is intercede if ever I see one human dominating or hurting another especially a man with a woman or a child. There is, in my opinion, absolutely no excuse for one person to force themselves on another and that goes for governments too. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/3/2009 9:11:16 AM | I agree entirely, and while I am still rather young, being only 23, I am amazed at how desensitized most of the western nations are to global suffering.
Last i knew, around 80%-ish of the world's population lived on less than 10$ a day.
We as Americans, most of the time, don't see what is actually going on in the world, due in part to being desensitized at a young age to violence and conflict...
Now, I'm not bashing America, so don't get me wrong, but i feel in order to see any problem or situation clearly, you have to examine it from all angles, all perspectives, in an unbiased manner.
Yes, most violent AND nonviolent conflicts between nations have been caused by religion, though sadly, this is not going to change any time soon.
Though i sorely, SORELY wish it would.
While that would be a HUGE leap for humanity as a whole, we are simply too greedy, and have too large of a need to control things, to order things how we see fit.
If only we WERE ready.
But then again, that's going down the "What if" road.... Lol ^_^
Yay for political Discussions....of sorts!  | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/3/2009 12:54:40 PM |
Last i knew, around 80%-ish of the world's population lived on less than 10$ a day.
This is always such a cliche that I hear. Sure - and when we as American go abroad and do as the natives do, we also find that we can live on $10 a day. Similarly, when those same folks emigrate to this country and get jobs, at 10 or 100 times what they made back home, they find that it doesn't last 10 or a 100 times longer. At times, it goes just as quickly and buys little more than their $10 a day at home bought.
Yet, this is one of the most common reasons we are given that our wealth MUST be redistributed around the world and we MUST sacrifice to bring everyone else up to our standard of living - except by then, we will be below theirs. Be careful what you wish for - you just might get it...and regret it forevermore. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/3/2009 7:58:25 PM | You misunderstand me.
I agree we could not, and in fact, would not do as you say, anything in our power to raise the global standard of living. We simply are not, and will not be prepared for the kind of international co-operation and trust this would imply for many, many years to come.
I'm going to quote some student material i came across, just to lay some groundwork for what i'm trying to say.
Keep in mind these are a bit outdated, and the values are no longer accurate, though with the condition of the global market today, i expect they would look a bit more grim than they do in these figures.
Availability of Essential Services
Adult Literacy Rate
High-income: 98.6%
Middle-income: 87.8%
Low-income: 68.9%
(Least Developed: 50%)
Students in Secondary Education
High-income: 95.6%
Middle-income: 70.9%
Low-income: 57.4%
(Least Developed: 31.2%)
Doctors (per 100,000 people)
High-income: 252
Middle-income: 172
Low-income: 70
(Least Developed: 30)
Availability of Essential Goods
Daily Calorie Intake (food)
High-income: 3,412
Middle-income: 2,889
Low-income: 2,596
(Least Developed: 2,099)
Per Capita Energy Consumption (kwh)
High-income: 9,531 kwh
Middle-income: 2,464 kwh
Low-income: 563 kwh
(Least Developed: 82 kwh)
Access to Clean Water (% Without)
High-income: na
Middle-income: 20%
Low-income: 30%
(Least Developed: 36%)
Televisions (per 1,000 people)
High-income: 674
Middle-income: 258
Low-income: 145
(Least Developed: 29
As you can see, there is a huge gap in these figures.
These are from 1998.
I'm stating that the world is indeed divided into "Haves" and "Have-nots" so to speak.
Your view, as i understand it, is that my post was intended to convey that we should work to fix the entire world's problems using our "Hard earned money" or national resources.
This could not be done. Just as you say, we would bankrupt ourselves before we even put a dent in it. Our system of currency would not allow it, it in itself being a system of self-perpetuating debt.
What i'm saying is that if we are to ever be equals with one another, we will have to re-devise our entire system.
I wont go into detail unless prodded, since I believe i would need more time to think out my explanation and word it properly, because im not entirely efficient at this whole... Debate thing yet :)
I do agree with you, in summation, but i believe i put my point across incorrectly and you interpreted in a different manner than i intended it to be.
Or something like that. ^_^ | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/4/2009 12:34:01 PM | Interesting OP, I feel the same. Just recently I've told my son not to share with me graphic description of what he has read about his long gone hero, the same goes for gory headlines in papers and the news on telly make me shiver when depicting youngsters finding themselves in the courts for utter cruelty and twisted minds.
I think that all experiences I have encountered so far in my life, some not even thinking of that could ever happen to me, made me more appreciate uplifting ~ smile bringing ~ inspiring stories just like people with sunny personalities. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/4/2009 12:48:20 PM | | I have found that age hasn't made me more sensitive to suffering, but it has made me more aware of how people bring most suffering to themselves through their lack of interest in changing things or falling for pretty talkers that promise everything for nothing... It has put me in a position also to do more for those that suffer because of things outside of their control though. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/4/2009 10:05:39 PM | I realized at a very young age that most people are in a position or have been given the means to mitigate the major problems in their lives. I disagree with this. Most people in this world live in 3rd world countries under dictatorships or other brutal and oppressive governments, are uneducated (with little or no access to education), are functioning primarily in survival mode, etc. Most people living on this earth have few if any options. Often when they do rise up and rebel and try to 'mitigate' the situations that cause their lives to be so difficult, they end up dead or in a similar or worse situation. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/4/2009 10:20:18 PM | On two sides one thing to remember is now reporting is easier than in the older days. Come on ,by horse, do you think the top thing on ones mind then was gossip? Now you just type and have a response.
Like congress has laws for every person they rep, the district of people is layed out by horse. So when you reply do not tell me by horse is not a current form. (another story yes) I think that ought to be changed...
Back to subject
2. Sick things go on in this world and now that folks may talk about it we hear more of it.  | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/5/2009 6:46:42 AM | Do we become more sensitive as we get older and are facing our own mortality or am I alone in this feeling? I've found there are some movies and TV shows I cannot even watch due to the violence they contain and how upsetting it is to see. Am I the only one who has become overwhelmed by the violence and cruelty of the world today?
I understand your thought and concerns.
Short answer , Yes & NO
For we are all different ~ some might feel as you feel ~ grow as you grow.
other's might become hardened to the same exposure.
A solider must be come harden ~ to preform his job. ~ Some never get over this experience and stay hardened ~ and some will go to great lengths to see another man not have to experience the carnage of war.
It's the maturing process that goes on inside each of us as we learn exactly who and what we are ~ and our true purpose. ~ Like flowers, some never reach full bloom, never growing into that final stage of development and realizing I'm a flower! but seeing themselves only as a "seed" or the "vine" .
Your job is to understand this ~ not passing judgment and help other's grow.
Dance | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/5/2009 6:59:17 AM |
Am I the only one who has become overwhelmed by the violence and cruelty of the world today? I don't think the violence in today's world is any worse than it ever has been; it's just that we see on TV and read so much more about it than in previous tims. I teach a unit on World War I poetry by poets such as Wilfred Owen. One image that is unforgettable to me is that of a wounded soldier caught on a barbed wire fence in no man's land. He dies a slow death, and his comrades are unable to go out and rescue him. After he is dead, crows pick at the remains. The other soldiers lie in the trench listening to his death calls. It's horrible. It happened nearly 100 years ago. What people do to each other is, as you say, unbelievable, and so it always has been. I don't think I could have done the work you did, seeing so much pain on a daily basis. Maybe you just reached your limit and that's why you can no longer do it. I too cry over certain news stories, but I can't remember a time when I didn't. It's not surprising to hear, ForumFilly, that you are a very sensitive women. Maybe you are just allowing yourself as you are older now to express what you have always felt inside. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/5/2009 9:46:29 PM | Am I the only one who has become overwhelmed by the violence and cruelty of the world today
Absolutely not!
But I think If we look back over our lives, we will see that our attitudes have changed frequently. What once seemed acceptable and valid suddenly made no sense to us. Then as we grew older we may have readopted our initial beliefs. Every time we held a thought about “This is how it is,” we believed we knew an absolute truth, that was absolutely right.As long as our mind is full of value judgments about good, bad, right, and wrong, we suffer. As long as we want only good feelings, "we" are constantly struggling.
I suppose what we need to do is heed the words that are so well summed up by Kris Kristofferson. “Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose.” We need to stop trying to understand because we really don't know and probably never will know the "Whys"! Now.........
I have to try to take my own medicine | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/6/2009 8:03:47 PM | | I think so, in a way or the other extreme which don't care at all, me despite my postering as being tough my heart has gotten bigger, I was torn up the other day about a bunch of kids being in a hospital sick with cancer. how they were suffering but so upbeat and some of us who are living with no ailments at all, complaining about a flat tire or mustard being on a hamburger. I wonder sometimes. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/12/2009 1:42:34 AM | of coarse! It would be a very sick person that didn't!
In the world of pain ~ there is many and we all learn them as we go.
First it's bumped heads ~ then skinned knees ~ about the time you've figured out what really hurts you have your first ear ache and that's a very confusing pain, coming out of nowhere. Each one of us graduates and advances from one pain to another.
and each time you graduate your thinking, there can't be anything worse then that! But there always is.
At 50, you begin to realize, you just entered into the "Major League" and there's no end in sight.
Some people are less sensitive to pain and others pain , I know a few. It must be "their pain" before it can be anyone else's. I think we all know someone like that.
It wasn't until this year, I could set and watch 9-11 on TV. Only today could I watched it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~, I have no words to share with you about it . I'm hurt and mad.
~~~~~~, I think that I will be for sometime.
Dance | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/12/2009 1:56:41 AM | Of course one feels great sorrow over 9/11; what bothers me is that this type of thing has happened and continues to happen in other countries to other innocent people, and Americans as well as other Westerners pay little to no attention. How can it be, if we are indeed more sensitive to the "suffering of the world" as forumfilly has suggested, that it still continues to focus only on our own backyard. Yes, 9/11 was horrific. Since then and before then, this type of thing happened to and happens to people in other parts of the world, and sometimes/often is much worse.
I am not saying we should care less about one thing or another, but that we should care equally. I care when I see a news report like that little girl who was kidnapped at 11 and held captive for 18 years. I am moved by many things. I just feel frustration when people say they care, but their caring is limited to a small sphere of reality rather than the wider world. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/12/2009 3:29:06 AM | @SmilingSalmon:
I believe the world has always been a hard, cruel, killing, evil place, except for brief periods of specific history. I think that during the Victorian era and the proceeding 50-75 years, individuals in the western world were trained and cultured to present more civil, humane and formal virtues, so most people were less cruel and more gentle and genteel; while armies went out to conquer and cruelty stayed mostly on the battlefield and women stayed at home learning to be proper and obedient.
Well, what was the Victorian Era really like?
- slavery
- workhouse/poorhouse, where you went if you could not pay your debts
- the start of the industrial revolution, with 14/16/18 hour work days for children as young as 6.
- the "rule of thumb", which in English common law, meant that it was legal for a man to beat his wife as long as he doesn't use a stick thicker than his thumb.
- European attitudes about non-European peoples that made Hitler and his ideas about race look positively enlightened. Let's not get into attitudes about non-christians.
Back to the topic at hand:
I don't think the world has become more cruel - we're just more aware of it.
Even 20 or 30 years ago, you didn't hear about something bad or cruel unless it was truly spectacular, or it happened in your local area. Now with 24 news networks and the internet, I can sit here in Canada and hear about a rape in Botswana.
I do agree with you, however, that as we grow older and see more and more - and yes, become aware of our own mortality as well - we do become more sensitive. It's much easier to be able to identify with others, when we have children of our own to worry and think about. | |
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| As you've gotten older, are you more sensitive regarding suffering in the world?
Posted: 9/12/2009 4:28:43 AM | Local murders do seem more common now. When I was young one murder over many years was terrifying. These days it's more likely to be cited as "The 5th murder of this year".
These local events don't bother me as much as they used to because in a sense they've become more anonymous. When you had one murder every few years, the media tended to spend more time giving the background on the victim so that you identified with them. Now, unless there is something unusual in their murder, they are literally just a number.
Atrocities far from home bother me now about as much as they did when I was young. That is to say, I don't think about it unless, again, I can identify with the people being affected. While the Irag invasion on Kuwait didn't draw any empathy from me, the plight of the people in Afghanastan did, because of the treatment of the women. The women went from leading lives like ours in NA to being second-class citizens, restricted from education and limited in when and how they travelled. They were stoned for actions we take for granted here. Anyway, because I could identify with that group of people and could imagine what it would be like if it happened here, I really reacted to it.
So in my case, it's not age that's made me more or less sensitive. It's always been how much I identify with the victims. | |
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