If you are in your 50s plus…

[Anonymous]

Do you look at the explosion of various sexual identities, rampant mental Heath issues including ADHD, depression, Autism and Anxiety, violent crimes including school shootings but too numerous and disturbing to list individually, and think WTF is happening and why?

[Anonymous]

Yes I do, but I think that people my age (60s) have been feeling this way forever, just about different stuff.

[Anonymous]

Yes, early 50’s and I absolutely don’t recognize today’s society, don’t worry I have kids that make sure I know how completely out of touch and old fashioned I am! Some things are progress but so much is not! Where have all the morals and values gone???? I just hope the pendulum swings back at some point!

[Anonymous]

Not really. Violence, identity issues, sexual concerns, mental health issues have always been with us. What’s changed and what I don’t recognize is a sense of being neighbors — fellow citizens who share a sense of community together, as a country and in ways that used to be more closely knit. I don’t recognize the competitiveness, the greed, the blatant selfishness. Those things have always been with us too — but alongside many many messages that prompted and supported a sense of connectedness and shared community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not really. Violence, identity issues, sexual concerns, mental health issues have always been with us. What’s changed and what I don’t recognize is a sense of being neighbors — fellow citizens who share a sense of community together, as a country and in ways that used to be more closely knit. I don’t recognize the competitiveness, the greed, the blatant selfishness. Those things have always been with us too — but alongside many many messages that prompted and supported a sense of connectedness and shared community.

Just to add: I grew up, hemmed in by the vestiges of legal, racial segregation. I’ve had opportunities and achieved things beyond my ancestors’ wildest dreams — although not beyond their expectations. I imagine that they would be saddened, but not shocked, by the pervasive public racism and divisiveness.

[Anonymous]

Yes and I agree with the pps.

[Anonymous]

Mid 50s, and I worry more about the destruction we've done to our planet and wonder if it can be salvaged.

[Anonymous]

No, I've lived in many different communities in my life and knew these type of things were always bubbling under the surface. But I could also see that some communities were oblivious to it. I can imagine it comes as a shock now. And let's face it, older people like me don't always like change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, early 50’s and I absolutely don’t recognize today’s society, don’t worry I have kids that make sure I know how completely out of touch and old fashioned I am! Some things are progress but so much is not! Where have all the morals and values gone???? I just hope the pendulum swings back at some point!

I feel the same way. There’s such a disconnect from reality. I do think the pendulum will swing back, and I suspect it will be painful.

[Anonymous]

I think the recognition, acknowledgment and development of treatments for mental health issues is a good thing. I also think the explosion of sexual and gender identities is good. I think they existed but people were forced into polars rather the continuum that makes more sense. It is a good new world in that regard.

The other things are disturbing. It’s like we care less for our neighbors. Even when I hear things here like people hating on little kids who knock on their door to play with their kids and when I see people not helping their neighbors you can see the distancing where we were once a community.

The school shootings bother me most. Not only the guns and the needless death of kids. But what does it take for a kid or kids to get to that point and What is it that changed that we’ve gotten to this point and how are we missing the signs? I was particularly disturbed by the Ethan Crumbley case where pareants refused to take him home. The parents rejection of sound professional advice is something that has become so common and so different from when people respected those with special training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mid 50s, and I worry more about the destruction we've done to our planet and wonder if it can be salvaged.

Agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the recognition, acknowledgment and development of treatments for mental health issues is a good thing. I also think the explosion of sexual and gender identities is good. I think they existed but people were forced into polars rather the continuum that makes more sense. It is a good new world in that regard.

The other things are disturbing. It’s like we care less for our neighbors. Even when I hear things here like people hating on little kids who knock on their door to play with their kids and when I see people not helping their neighbors you can see the distancing where we were once a community.

The school shootings bother me most. Not only the guns and the needless death of kids. But what does it take for a kid or kids to get to that point and What is it that changed that we’ve gotten to this point and how are we missing the signs? I was particularly disturbed by the Ethan Crumbley case where pareants refused to take him home. The parents rejection of sound professional advice is something that has become so common and so different from when people respected those with special training.

Agree with all of this.

Very glad we are more aware and sensitive to LGTBQ and mental health.

The gun culture is out of control. Cosplay gone wrong.

And everyone seems so self-absorbed and just out for themselves. Community cohesion is waning.

So some good changes, some bad changes.

[Anonymous]

I’m 49 and worried about our democracy falling, the planet, borders closing (in an major emergency), the economy, mass shootings, racism, the widening income gap, the loss of logical reasoning, and killer robots.

[Anonymous]

My biggest fear is misinformation.

I think our society will fail due to misinformation. It’s scary how effective it is at driving (misdirected) opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the recognition, acknowledgment and development of treatments for mental health issues is a good thing. I also think the explosion of sexual and gender identities is good. I think they existed but people were forced into polars rather the continuum that makes more sense. It is a good new world in that regard.

The other things are disturbing. It’s like we care less for our neighbors. Even when I hear things here like people hating on little kids who knock on their door to play with their kids and when I see people not helping their neighbors you can see the distancing where we were once a community.

The school shootings bother me most. Not only the guns and the needless death of kids. But what does it take for a kid or kids to get to that point and What is it that changed that we’ve gotten to this point and how are we missing the signs? I was particularly disturbed by the Ethan Crumbley case where pareants refused to take him home. The parents rejection of sound professional advice is something that has become so common and so different from when people respected those with special training.

Agree with all of this.

Very glad we are more aware and sensitive to LGTBQ and mental health.

The gun culture is out of control. Cosplay gone wrong.

And everyone seems so self-absorbed and just out for themselves. Community cohesion is waning.

So some good changes, some bad changes.

I am also in this camp. I agree with both pps. The erosion of community is disturbing. I think WFH will continue that trend.