Man's Inhumanity to Man (and Woman)

Cloud · 10-30-2009, 10:22 AM

I'm depressed today. And I shouldnt' be, because it's my birthday. I'm trying to smile at people as they wish me happy birthday. But I had trouble sleeping last night, because I kept thinking about all the horrible things I read in the news. Some examples from just this week:

--gang rape of high school girl while 20 people stood around and did nothing

--Somalian authorities sending out whipping gangs to the markets to whip women for not wearing socks; and bizarrely, for wearing bras

--In Ghana, women are being raped on the streets -- for something (I forget why)

--In Saudia Arabia, a women tv executive received 60 lashes for merely producing a show in which a man talked about his sex life (the man received many more)

and on and on. So, I have to ask myself--have people been this horrible always? Is this kind of behavior worse in this day and age? Or does it just seem that way because of global news bringing this all to our attention?

Just not watching the news doesn't help, because I know that it's going on anyway. A lot of this seems to me to be violence against women, and/or violence perpetrated by religious authorities, but that may be my personal filter.

I just don't know how to feel. Am I just too sensitive? Should I stop reading the news? Are human beings just irredeemable?

Nirvana · 10-30-2009, 10:36 AM

Some people just suck Cloud and that has been going on since Cain slew Abel. This is the age of taking videos and photos o everything that was only told about years ago. Its so in your face.
Forget that crap and have a Happy Birthday and a cyber[[[[[[[[[HUG]]]]]] for you!

smoothmoniker · 10-30-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

So, I have to ask myself--have people been this horrible always? Is this kind of behavior worse in this day and age? Or does it just seem that way because of global news bringing this all to our attention?

Have hope! Be of good cheer! People are less violent toward each other than they have ever been, at any time in history. Really!

Check out what Steven Pinker has to say about it.

The violence is closer to us than it has ever been, because of the world-wide scope of visual media, but the quantity has gone down ... way down.

Pie · 10-30-2009, 10:46 AM

My great-grandmother was burned to death on her husband's pyre (she was in her late 30s). A great-aunt was beaten to death by her husband for not having a son. My grandmother had to drop out of school when she was married -- at the age of nine.

By and large, this doesn't happen nearly as frequently as it used to. I think that's progress.

And -- Happy Birthday!

Shawnee123 · 10-30-2009, 10:47 AM

I was very bummed about the gang rape.

No, it's nothing new. With all the progress, women around the world are still treated cruelly, and as property, and beaten, and raped, and subjugated.

Do we hear about it more? Probably. Is it happening more? Who knows? I think it may even be happening less: some strides have had to have been made since the days of the proverbial caveman bonking the proverbial cavewoman on the proverbial head, and dragging her by her hair back to the cave of hell.

This isn't cheery I guess, but I think strides have been made in a deeply ingrained flaw in our society.

And Happy Birthday Cloud!

Cloud · 10-30-2009, 10:55 AM

hmm. the idea that this sort of thing actually happens less now is sorta worse.

Undertoad · 10-30-2009, 11:18 AM

WTF No! It's tremendously better! How in any way can it be considered worse?

SamIam · 10-30-2009, 11:20 AM

I have cried over the news. I especially remember hearing about the children killed in the Oklahoma City bombing. I was driving to work when it came on the radio and had to pull my car over, I was so upset. I think it was Robert Burns who said, "Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn."

I took a long vacation from the news, and that helped. When I see a disturbing headline, I still won't read the article like in that gang rape thing.

You are powerless over the tragedies that happen daily in this world. All you can do is resolve to treat those around you as well as you can. Your kindness can make the difference in another person's life, and that's what matters.

Happy birthday!

Cloud · 10-30-2009, 11:28 AM

because it's so bad now. if what is happening now is less, how much more did our ancestors suffer this inhuman brutality for millenia. because it means that such things are a normal state of being for homo sapiens.

skysidhe · 10-30-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

because it's so bad now. if what is happening now is less, how much more did our ancestors suffer this inhuman brutality for millenia. because it means that such things are a normal state of being for homo sapiens.

Happy Birthday Cloud! I just had one too. It's just one more day to me. After you get so old one more day doesn't really matter in the scheme of things i.m.o.

About the world and the scheme of things and the ongoing human condition? I know it looks bad BUT there have been worse times through out history. People have made progress in other areas. There are medical teams and hunger relief efforts going out all of the time.

My mom worries over the condition of the world too.I always try to tell my her to look on the bright side of things or at least to find one thing to feel good about because there are plenty. When she worries and says she has been
thinking' I just say don't think. Rest your mind and body if even for a little while and you'll feel rejuvenated for it.

I know my life view maybe a little Pollyanna to some but I assure you it is not. I can be very emo if I wanted but I have taught myself to get a little thicker skinned. I don't think people should get so callous they won't care exactly but not care so much that they hurt themselves . I think a proactive approach in contributing to whatever it is that burdens one the most is the best way to work through it.

I think a little herb tea with honey helps plus listening to some music is a nice way to be good to oneself.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-30-2009, 12:04 PM

Welcome to the real world, Hippie.

Happy Birthday on You
Happy Birthday on You
Happy Birthday all over You
Happy Birthday on You

skysidhe · 10-30-2009, 12:05 PM

I wanna be bruce when I grow up.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-30-2009, 12:08 PM

Now that's an oxymoron.

skysidhe · 10-30-2009, 12:22 PM

oh sorry. To make up for it I will send you a moronic picture of me to prove it isn't SO oxymoron-ish....esk? whatever.

I would post it here as a Happy Halloween thing but I would rather it be laughed over in private.

Cloud · 10-30-2009, 04:36 PM

it's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to . . .

10-30-2009, 10:22 AM	#1
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Man's Inhumanity to Man (and Woman) I'm depressed today. And I shouldnt' be, because it's my birthday. I'm trying to smile at people as they wish me happy birthday. But I had trouble sleeping last night, because I kept thinking about all the horrible things I read in the news. Some examples from just this week: --gang rape of high school girl while 20 people stood around and did nothing --Somalian authorities sending out whipping gangs to the markets to whip women for not wearing socks; and bizarrely, for wearing bras --In Ghana, women are being raped on the streets -- for something (I forget why) --In Saudia Arabia, a women tv executive received 60 lashes for merely producing a show in which a man talked about his sex life (the man received many more) and on and on. So, I have to ask myself--have people been this horrible always? Is this kind of behavior worse in this day and age? Or does it just seem that way because of global news bringing this all to our attention? Just not watching the news doesn't help, because I know that it's going on anyway. A lot of this seems to me to be violence against women, and/or violence perpetrated by religious authorities, but that may be my personal filter. I just don't know how to feel. Am I just too sensitive? Should I stop reading the news? Are human beings just irredeemable? __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

10-30-2009, 10:36 AM	#2
Nirvana Back in 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,684	Some people just suck Cloud and that has been going on since Cain slew Abel. This is the age of taking videos and photos o everything that was only told about years ago. Its so in your face. Forget that crap and have a Happy Birthday and a cyber[[[[[[[[[HUG]]]]]] for you! __________________ Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.

10-30-2009, 10:46 AM	#4
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	My great-grandmother was burned to death on her husband's pyre (she was in her late 30s). A great-aunt was beaten to death by her husband for not having a son. My grandmother had to drop out of school when she was married -- at the age of nine. By and large, this doesn't happen nearly as frequently as it used to. I think that's progress. And -- Happy Birthday! __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

10-30-2009, 10:47 AM	#5
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I was very bummed about the gang rape. No, it's nothing new. With all the progress, women around the world are still treated cruelly, and as property, and beaten, and raped, and subjugated. Do we hear about it more? Probably. Is it happening more? Who knows? I think it may even be happening less: some strides have had to have been made since the days of the proverbial caveman bonking the proverbial cavewoman on the proverbial head, and dragging her by her hair back to the cave of hell. This isn't cheery I guess, but I think strides have been made in a deeply ingrained flaw in our society. And Happy Birthday Cloud! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

10-30-2009, 10:55 AM	#6
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	hmm. the idea that this sort of thing actually happens less now is sorta worse. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

10-30-2009, 11:18 AM	#7
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	WTF No! It's tremendously better! How in any way can it be considered worse?

10-30-2009, 11:20 AM	#8
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	I have cried over the news. I especially remember hearing about the children killed in the Oklahoma City bombing. I was driving to work when it came on the radio and had to pull my car over, I was so upset. I think it was Robert Burns who said, "Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn." I took a long vacation from the news, and that helped. When I see a disturbing headline, I still won't read the article like in that gang rape thing. You are powerless over the tragedies that happen daily in this world. All you can do is resolve to treat those around you as well as you can. Your kindness can make the difference in another person's life, and that's what matters. Happy birthday!

10-30-2009, 11:28 AM	#9
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	because it's so bad now. if what is happening now is less, how much more did our ancestors suffer this inhuman brutality for millenia. because it means that such things are a normal state of being for homo sapiens. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

10-30-2009, 12:04 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Welcome to the real world, Hippie. Happy Birthday on You Happy Birthday on You Happy Birthday all over You Happy Birthday on You __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-30-2009, 12:05 PM	#12
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	I wanna be bruce when I grow up.

10-30-2009, 12:08 PM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Now that's an oxymoron. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-30-2009, 12:22 PM	#14
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	oh sorry. To make up for it I will send you a moronic picture of me to prove it isn't SO oxymoron-ish....esk? whatever. I would post it here as a Happy Halloween thing but I would rather it be laughed over in private.

10-30-2009, 04:36 PM	#15
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	it's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to . . . __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

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