Apathy

I have noticed, among my friends of a certain age, an apathetic attitude towards world events in general. Everything is 'bullshit', especially any topic related to social justice or politics. They only care about money or working out. I get it, not everyone has the capacity or time to speak out or be engaged but it disturbs me how little they care about anything besides status and material possessions. Its really fucking depressing particularly in light of recent events. Is it a generational thing (lots of these people I speak of are older, like late 40's)? Or is it a cultural thing? I don't know... i'm not feeling great lately and am not myself. Maybe I am over analyzing all this.

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apathy or wisdom or fatigue?

Jun 3, 2020 at 3:19pm

Equality, a fair state, a new relationship between the people and power...this is old, old stuff. We keep inventing it when we are 20 and in the university pub, but by the time we are a "certain" age, we recognize or should recognize that these ideas have been in circulation forever.

That doesn't make these ideas wrong. Liberty, freedom, accountability of state agents -- these are good things. And more to the point, you CAN occasionally and with great effort achieve improvements.

But because it is such a long process and most people aren't equipped to be hardcore into these things (there is no coincidence that the most effective advocates you meet are often, well, jerks), there is a normal tendency to concentrate on things that we CAN control. Such as how hard we work, what we eat, and being consistent about fitness.

It's a natural thing.

You don't have to follow that model, it's just...what happens.

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it is all...

Jun 3, 2020 at 3:25pm

... a media driven spectacle. It's a television program that you get to involve yourself with, to feel some sort of self-righteousness. It's modern religion.

Religions tend to require that people hold some events (religious services, etc.) to be important, and if you don't, you're not within the religion.

This is the basic premise to religion, holding that certain activities, activities that are not natural, like eating, drinking, fucking, etc. are important, indeed, so important that they serve to regiment eating, drinking, fucking, etc.

It's not wrong to be religious, but, like being depressed because your friends don't go to Church is sorta weird, IMO.

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If you were born before the internet

Jun 3, 2020 at 3:28pm

Like me, mid 40s and seeing all these younger people online doing absolutely nothing with their feel good clicktivism...yes, it's all bullshit. Your black square on IG didn't do a frickin thing yesterday!

To affect true change one must make huge personal sacrifices and dedicate their lives to a cause. Otherwise, the system will roll on as we in our 40s have seen it do without a flicker of change for the better.

As one of my Edinburgh hostel mates said to me back in 2006 when I was still steamy hot about the bogus war on terror..."it's all sewn up mate, nuthin you can do now." I took his words to heart and went back to trying to enjoy what life I have left to live. Don't care about money or stuff, just taking it day by day.

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So?

Jun 3, 2020 at 4:56pm

Maybe you could go back to the farm and grow us some food, while we collectively sit on our butts and draw a guaranteed annual income. What would motivate you to take the risk? We are all a commodity in the 'economy'. It's how it works. It's what keeps us fed and keeps us from starving.

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Ugh

Jun 3, 2020 at 5:05pm

Haters gonna hate, OP. Thus makes them uncomfortable. You're right, of course. There are, however, shit tons of us fighting for change and you're welcome to join.

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Complicated

Jun 3, 2020 at 7:26pm

I’m in my late 60’s and my friends are still very concerned about what’s happening in the world. However, we all feel that it’s high time that younger generations take the reins and run with it. I’m tired. I care very much but my body is failing and I don’t have the money, energy, or strength to do what needs to be done. I’ve witnessed countless generations after mine be completely complacent and quite ignorant about the state of the world. Much more concerned about status and material things than my friends and I were at their age. So personally, I’m thrilled to see people fighting back against the monstrous things going on in our present day world. It’s about time!

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Anonymous

Jun 3, 2020 at 7:49pm

Canadians are known for their complacency and Vancouverites for being self-absorbed. It's the perfect storm of stupidity. I do find that that people become more politically aware as they mature but that's on a spectrum depending on the person. Sadly, many Canadians only become politically active when it's time to vote then slip back into a state of complacency and dullness.

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Just an old head

Jun 3, 2020 at 8:24pm

I've noticed the same thing as a 40 year old man.

My answer for myself is that I have learned to reserve my reactions for proper times, or better ways. In all ways of life.

My defence of us old school dudes is that we grew up listening to Goodie Mob, Tupac, and the rest. I felt aligned with the messages of persecution and being mislabelled right away. Not just because I am also a visible minority (ethnically) but also because my heros were my age when they took to the airwaves- sharing their feelings about the state of things. ( We ain't ready, to see a black pre-sid-dent, still gets me)

Today I listened to keep ya head up by pac, and my eyes welled up given the current state. More so now, because I felt like the beauty and bravery in the face of this mess, now going on for half of my adult life, have never felt MORE REAL.

I just didn't know what to do, who to talk to, who to tell. So I just rolled my windows down and blasted that music, and it felt great just like it always did.

Doesnt mean shit, i've been doing it for 20 years, but still - I keep the message alive by never ever ever ever replacing the music from my time.

That was one of the hardest times I can remember for Black America, because I was born in 1980, and i watched the LA riots unfold in real time, but Ive held it close to my heart for my whole life.

In Living Color did sketch comedy about Reginald Denny and "can't we all just get along". Cube did a line with "hit im with a brick and i'm dancing"

My hero's tried to cover it, make fun of it, make it into songs. I took their word as the truth and still do. I'm just used to listening, and sharing through the music. That's where I'm still at.

Everything is bullshit when it comes to social justice or politics? That's what the mouthpiece of the hood has been saying for my whole life (NWA fuck the police, Public Enemy 911 is a joke).

We can talk about big issues for sure. Just keep being honest like you're doing on the internet, and some honest people will reply :)

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It's up to them to do the work

Jun 3, 2020 at 8:46pm

It's not a generational thing. Don't waste your energy on people who can't do the self examination. It leads to burnout and ineffective change. Redirect your empathy and energy to fighting for people and communities in despair.

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Anonymous

Jun 4, 2020 at 2:18am

People as they grow further and further away from being idealistic teenagers/young adults begin to fossilize.

It usually starts with the person getting "really pissed' at the state of their life...then they start acting in similar ways to their parents lol

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