One Long Rant

I haven't posted here much lately, mostly because I'm certain the world has gone bat-shit crazy and I don't want to add to it. Maybe it's just the headlines I've been reading (because I read once that the world isn't nearly as bad as we perceive it to be--it just seems that way because negative stories get all the press) but where the hell did our compassion go? When did it become popular to demean, insult, and bully others as a national pastime? It's not enough that we dislike something--a movie, song, actor, politician, cause or what have you--we have to burry them. We have to let the whole world know that in our opinion (and since when is that worthy anything?) not only do we thing this movie sucks, for instance, but the actor is a talentless, total waste of skin that you would happily watch die in an apartment fire while all your friends stood around and cheered. Then we'll criticise them on everything from their sex life to their height and hair colour, none of which had a damn thing to do with the quality of the movie or their acting. And it doesn't matter if said actor is 12 or 40 years old; it's our god given right--no, it's our duty--to let that 12 year old know what a useless hack they are, and how we can't wait until they're hooked on drugs and selling their sex tape on EBay. Half of us are either low brow cretins who demean others for being snobby and elitist, or pretentious snobs who demean them for being ignorant and crass. And 99% of us couldn't do better, or even 1/100 as well. Kids are bullying other kids so badly at school that they're committing suicide, and then feel indifferent about it afterwards. Politicians cheer when someone yells out "Let them die" when debating about those who can't afford health care. We have "swarms". I mean wtf is that? The mob mentality phenomenon is bad enough, but this is premeditated! I used to lament the value of life in Third World Countries. They'll kill you there just because you're in the way, or within range, and in the most horrific way possible if they have the time. Your life has absolutely no value to them, and they don't feel any remorse afterward. But you know what? You're life here is worth only as much as you can afford. You get the medical care you can afford; the justice you can afford; the opportunities you can afford. Someone said a little while ago that no one's writing good dystopian future science fiction any more. Well that's because we're already damn well living in one. We have become a society of arrogant, self-centered, self-important critics who can only feel content about themselves when they're demeaning the work, contribution, or lives of others in the most sarcastic and destructive way possible. We take absolutely no responsiblity for our own actions, and we respect neither the rights nor property of others. Where once we prided ourselves on being kind, giving and polite, now we strive to be cruel, greedy and rude.

And you kids get off'n my lawn.