Welcome to Gaia! ::

I have to agree with Mipsy Kitten on the marriage thing. Back then people were matched up based on not so much of whether they had any feelings together but more because society thinks they make a good match. I think a major difference too is that back in the late 19th / early 20th century you rarely get a divorce from fear of tarnishing the family name or becoming tarnished goods yourself. Yet even then infidelity was not an uncommon thing that happened when couples were not happy together. It's just that during the late 20th century when divorce became a more acceptable solution for couples whom are unhappy together. Of course a major problem that we see today in relation to the divorce rate (55% in the US I believe is what I last heard) is that people are jumping into life long relationships before they even know themselves well let alone knowing each other all that well.

Anyhow back to the original rant, it seems that there are two different modernizations that you are discussing, the societal, and the technical. The technical side of modernization is that simply there is supply and demand and so an company must be able to balance the supply and demand with making a profit. From that you see the mass produced "cheap" products. But without the mass production that you strongly oppose we wouldn't have cars, televisions, computers, or cell phones. So you kinda have to take the bad with the good.

The societal modernization that you discuss we see happening everyday. Lets face it time is always marching forward and so you can try to fight it or go with it and evolve so to speak to survive. Although I have not seen the movie The Queen, I think she realized that in order to keep order she must be able to relate on some level with her people and how can she be expected to do that if she is not in touch with modern society? It's really not so unusual take Madonna for example, do you think she would still be around if she sang the same types of songs and used the same type of music as she did in the beginning of her career. I think the answer is no, she realized to stay in touch with her fans she had to evolve to the societal changes that were and still are occurring. With life ever moving I think we all need to be able to evolve with the modernization that is ever ongoing.

Wow I think somewhere in all that typing I started to "think out loud" so to speak, sorry if my rambling was too much... ^^

I think that as a whole, our culture is rapidly losing a sense of personal responsibility, and that is where the problem lies.

Can't get a job? Blame the government.

People looking funny next door? Call the police.

And wow, I should have the right to a job and to have kids and a house even though I can't afford any of it, and goddammit somebody's going to pay for all that. Etc. I could keep going.

I also agree with the above poster that I could very easily do without modern technology.

I'm glad that this has really turned into a debate! Thank you everyone for all of the input and ideas. Now, onto the debate!

1. I was asked to explain why I find somethings in this life with a lack of value. Alright. On a material sense: Things simply aren't made to last anymore. For example; My computer isn't made to last. I am not meant to keep this desktop for the rest of my life. It is meant to be replaced by a better model in a matter of years or even months. This "Replacement" isn't only with computers. It also lies within most appliances and with clothing. This dress will only be in style for the next five minutes so let's make it out of yarn and cardboard. We live in a material world. The "Almighty Dollar" is incredibly important these days. It is my belief that a lot of manufacturers simply want to make money quickly. So, they make cheap things in a large quantity.

In a non-material sense: All of the time I hear people saying "Oh I've screwed them." "Yeah we're ******** buddies." That makes sex so much less valuable. I'm not saying that this has changed in our day and age. I'm simply saying that it makes things less heavy. Fornication and affairs seem to be quite common. This is my main example for "cheap" on an emotional level.

2. Perhaps the past is not where we need to go. You're right Kukushka, the past was not as bright as I remembered. I suppose wishful thinking got the better of me. Life was bad back then too...So, like I've said, we need to create a new world.

3. As for the male bashing rant...I'm sorry. Some of the things I said were said more out of anger than out of reason and sense. It was wrong of me to bring my own personal quarrels into this without solid facts.

4. I think this whole thread is a mixture of bad cheesecake and my fascination with the "Southern Belle." I don't know why I fantasize about that sort of life. I don't like all of its aspects, mind you, just some. For example, I love the thought of sitting about in the garden and drinking tea in fancy dresses while we brag about our sons. I don't even have a son...I just love the image of "Refinement".

5. Kukushka: "And yet you dated them!

There are plenty of kind people out there. Why do you think you caught the "sickening" ones so often?

Err... my general point being that nostalgia is wrong 99% of the time. There was never a time of chivalry, where men respected women and where everyone lived in harmony without trying to get things from relationships. Modernity has certainly brought with it it's own fair share of problems, but we must understand that the problems of previous era were just as bad (and sometimes worse).

That being said, however, complaining that "in these days, no one has respect anymore!" is a rather futile argument. Griping about the state of the world will do little to change it. Instead, live your life the way you wish everyone lived theirs. Be a model human being. Inspire others to be so too. Become a teacher, a mentor. Volunteer. Don't lecture people about proper behavior - just behave properly yourself and put yourself out there so that you can teach by example. My general rule in this matter is that you should sit back and think about the kind of person you wish your future child would be and work to become that person. "

Touche...You make a fine point. I could go on to plead my case of "Oh, I try to..." But that would just tarnish your words. I've said what I needed to about that. I am honored to have had this debate with you.

I like that! It's true, too.

People tend to look back on the past with a sense that it was better in large part because it isn't happening now. But things weren't necessarily better then, just different.