site banner

Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 14, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

4
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

Anyone else notice they are they getting downvote more often on the 'orange site' (for those who use it) or reddit or are getting much more negative pushback than usual? Or antagonism? I have at least. I am not referring to here. I think a lot of people are having a bad time, are struggling, and this is manifested in the form of increased anger online. It cannot be blamed on Covid anymore, as that was years ago, but it seems worse now than shortly after and during the pandemic.

I’ve noticed it in a lot of places. I do retail so I’m dealing with the public and it just seems like nobody has any patience to wait their turn.

It feels like society is degrading. But people always say this, even during times when society is actually becoming more polite. I wonder if there's a more objective way to measure it.

I've degraded. I dont see much reason being an upstanding citizen when I can be locked away for months on end at a moments notice. Thef fuckwits I live with dont deserve good citizenry.

I mean I think it’s plausible to look for indicators of breakdown in social cohesion. It would likely show up in beliefs about the world, in number and depth of friendships, in things like vandalism and road rage and the like. It seems like if people are becoming less trusting and less friendly and so on, it would probably show up in data that measures the breakdown of that. If the majority of people don’t trust their neighbors, if road rage and vandalism and domestic disturbances are increasing, that would be pretty strong evidence.