In today's "Dear Abby" column a reader said that lack of communication between people, resulting in misunderstandings, anger, hatred, fear, loneliness, is society's greatest problem.

What do you think?

Lack of communication and lack of education are big woes for society. By education I don't even mean "book smart" but simply education about others and how life works in the real world. I think taking care of those two things would have profound effects on society.

Hello Wonderfulgirl:

Fear. Fear of illegal's; fear of sex offenders; fear of drugs; fear of an attack, fear of the cut and runners; fear of the neo-cons; the Iranians, Al Qaeda, the N. Koreans, the terrorists, your religion, his religion or anybody's religion.

excon

Lack of communication and lack of education are big woes for society. By education I don't even mean "book smart" but simply education about others and how life works in the real world. I think taking care of those two things would have profound effects on society.

And where does one start?? Americans are still struggling with the egocentric thing, from the "Me Generation" to worry about junior's self-esteem (throwing confetti at work because he showed up? ).

Fear. Fear of illegal’s; fear of sex offenders; fear of drugs; fear of an attack, fear of the cut and runners; fear of the neo-cons; the Iranians, Al Qaeda, the N. Koreans, the terrorists, your religion, his religion or anybody's religion.

But if you look around at the people shopping at the malls and filling up their SUVs and sleeping in on Sunday morning (instead of sitting in that hard church pew praying for salvation from fear), it doesn't seem like anyone's too fearful. Is the fear you are talking about really real?

(Why did "illegal's" get the apostrophe, but none of the other plurals did in that string of fears? "Illegal's" is not possessive, by the way. Have you missed me and my punctuation book?? )

(Why did "illegal's" get the apostrophe, but none of the other plurals did in that string of fears? "Illegal's" is not possessive, btw. Have you missed me and my punctuation book????????)Hello again, Wonderchick:

Plurals'? - I don't need no stinkin plural's!

I put the postrfy there cause spell checker said I should. I didn't put it in the rest cause spellchecker didn't' say I' should.

Me afraid?? Nahhhh, but Bush and his crowd are whippin us up into a frenzy. And, its' working.

Ex'con

Wondergirl, you're right, we do struggle with the egocentric (and ethnocentric) thing. Americans embrace individualism, and as such, we have an individualistic society. We do things because WE want to, because they benefit OURSELVES not others (there are exceptions before anyone gets on my case about charity!). The "Me Generation" is a problem, which is where education and communication need to be concentrated. Instead of teaching our kids they are precious snowflakes and that the world revolves around them, perhaps we should teach them there are other people in the world who matter just as much, and in some cases more than they do. Lack of communication and education fosters all the things you mention in your original post - and every generation is guilty of it. I don't know where to start...

There's a company in India, Reality Tours and Travel, who offers a tour into Asia's biggest slum. At first I was outraged by the exploitation of the poor, but the more I read about the company, the tour and so on, the more it has made me want to take the tour. I think exposing ourselves to different cultures and societies is important, and can ground you; make you realize that if the biggest problem in your day is that you were too busy to take lunch, you're still doing a HELL of a lot better than a HELL of a lot of people out there. So maybe that's it - expose ourselves to other cultures and hopefully it will sink in that we're not the only ones on this planet...

Here's a link to the company I mentioned, if you want to check it out: Welcome to Reality Tours and Travel- Home Page (http://www.realitytoursandtravel.com/)

Hello again, Wonderchick:

Plurals'?? - I don't need no stinkin plural's!

I put the postrfy there cause spell checker said I should. I didnt put it in the rest cause spellchecker didn't' say I' should.

Me afraid???? Nahhhh, but Bush and his crowd are whippin us up into a frenzy. And, its' workin.

ex'con

I see your droll sense of fun hasn't changed at all, excon.

Do you think the media like to stir up the pot when the Bushies throw in fear?

I see your droll sense of fun hasn't changed at all.....Do you think the media like to stir up the pot when the Bushies throw in fear?Hello again, Wondergirl:

I am NOT a droll!

The media cheered Bush on to Iraq. Now they're doing it for Iran. Lou Dobbs on CNN would have you hate all Mexicans. O'Reilly would have you hate all sex offenders. Shaun Hannity would have you hate everybody. Rush Limprod would rather do drugs.

Sure. He's got lot's (?) of help.

excon

Wondergirl, you're right, we do struggle with the egocentric (and ethnocentric) thing. Americans embrace individualism, and as such, we have an individualistic society. We do things because WE want to, because they benefit OURSELVES not others.

Thanks for the link, jillian.

Yes, we need to walk in someone else's shoes somehow in order to fine-tune our sense of understanding of and empathy with those who are not exactly like we are.

I live in a Chicago suburb and work in another one, both multi-ethnic. The special joy of that is working in a public library, a place freely open to anyone of any ethnic group. Throughout the day we see many, many immigrants from various countries in Asia, from Europe, from Mexico, et al. All have or want library cards and know that the library is a safe place to visit. The wives of those on work or school visas can't work for money until they have been in this country for a certain period, so, amazingly, they come to the library to do volunteer work. I am the volunteer coordinator and trainer, and have been blessed as I've gotten to know people from all over the world. Yu-Chen couldn't believe it when I asked her to teach me a few phrases in Mandarin. Jibril and Anita and Amreen loved telling me about foods from their countries. And I'm the better for the conversations. (I now have a passion for samosas and can say "I love you" in Mandarin... )

I do not know if the lack of communication is the foundation from which all stems. I go back to the Golden Rule, which is over 2000 years old - do unto others as you would have done to you. But then Christ said that - and some non believers have field days denying Christ. The rule now seems to be do unto others before they do unto you. A lack of common respect - no matter which country or personal spiritual belief system.

Hello again, Wondergirl:

I am NOT a droll!

The media cheered Bush on to Iraq. Now they're doing it for Iran. Lou Dobbs on CNN would have you hate all Mexicans. O'Reilly would have you hate all sex offenders. Shaun Hannity would have you hate everybody. Rush Limprod would rather do drugs.

Sure. He's got lot's (?) of help.

excon

Actually, you are my favorite droll, excon.

Why has the media sold out? Don't they owe us honesty? (This may be getting off-topic, yet it does seem to go along with your fear idea.)

(It should have been "lots". Add an apostrophe before an s if you want to show singular possession, and after the s for plural possession. Think apostrophe = possession. Hmmmm, think s + apostrophe or apostrophe + s = bad--since most of the time you write plurals, not possessives. We can do this.)

At first I was outraged by the exploitation of the poor, but the more I read about the company, the tour and so on, the more it has made me want to take the tour. I think exposing ourselves to different cultures and societies is important, and can ground you; make you realize that if the biggest problem in your day is that you were too busy to take lunch, you're still doing a HELL of a lot better than a HELL of a lot of people out there. So maybe that's it - expose ourselves to other cultures and hopefully it will sink in that we're not the only ones on this planet...



Yes,
Going to visit one of the slums will enlighten you in ways you never could imagine.
It will really make all the woebegone complains we some up in life seem insignificant.

When I studied there, there were students who were sponsored by the school, we used to give them our previous years good text books for their use and I came back to my home country and it saddens me to see kids throwing away their previous years books just because they are finished with it.
Some of them cannot even imagine the pain the kids in India go through just to get to a good school.
They even have school in the slums,but most are just a room in a house.When it rains the kids have to huddle to get away from the rain coming through the open windows.

And I do not think you have to go away from home to see the slums, I have heard there are enough homeless in the West too.Maybe they are too well hidden for most to see,but I do think they exist in all communities.

A lack of common respect - no matter which country or personal spiritual belief system.

Ah, shy, I think you might be nibbling at the heart of it.

I do think they exist in all communities.

Yup! Visit your local public library and you will see some of the homeless.

firm the poor/homeless/impoverished certainly exist in the West, but it's a different sort of "poor", if you will. The conditions many of the poor in America live in is considered the high life to people in other countries. In America we don't have millions of people living in tin shacks with no access to plumbing or a toilet; the only water source being a polluted river, and living in constant fear of being victimized by others. I don't mean to trivialize the poor in America, because certainly they have their struggles, but given that this is the "land of opportunity" it is different. The numbers of people living below the poverty line is significant, as well as programs for the poor. The American govt has the resources and finances to not let our poor live in such conditions, whereas we turn a blind eye when it is in other countries. Certainly it isn't our "job" to feed and house the world, but many people don't understand WHY there are nations with such conditions, they don't understand the social and cultural and governmental forces behind the living conditions and ideals of a nation. Don't even get me started on Americans and voting! Hence why I stress education! :)

Wonder my mom also works in a library, and sees many immigrants coming to use the resources offered there. It's certainly a place filled with diversity!

Selfishness. Independence. Greed. Pride. Anger. Unforgiveness. Rebellion.

These are societies ills. The results of the above are crime, addiciton, abandonment, etc...

I disagree with "independence". There's nothing wrong with that.

I don't mean independence as is taking care of your business. I mean independence as in "I don't need anybody, I have all the answers."
I disagree with "independence". There's nothing wrong with that.

I don't mean independence as is taking care of your business. I mean independence as in "I don't need anybody, I have all the answers."

That's not independence. I'll tell you the word as soon as I think of it.

That's not independence. I'll tell you the word as soon as I think of it.

Selfish?
Individualistic?
Self-centered?

Selfish?
Individualistic?
Self-centered?

Yeah, like that.

Egocentrism.
Egotism/egoism.
Narcissism.
Solipsism.

(Thanks, jillian!)

We need a thesaurus! :)

selfish - Synonyms from Thesaurus.com (http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/selfish)

We need a thesaurus! :)

selfish - Synonyms from Thesaurus.com (http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/selfish)

I was using an online one and then the words began to pop into my head. My son was throwing in his two cents too.

Xenu (also Xemu), pronounced ['zi.nu:], according to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, was the dictator of the "Galactic Confederacy" who, 75 million years ago, brought billions[1] of his people to Earth in DC-8-like spacecraft, stacked them around volcanoes and killed them using hydrogen bombs. Scientology holds that their essences remained, and that they form around people in modern times, causing them spiritual harm.[2][3]

So you see, there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of these problems you have outlined.

So you see, there is a perfectly reasonable explaination for all of these problems you have outlined.

Magprob, if only I had known!! You could have provided me with the explanation and saved the board another Member Discussion question.

I will contact you next time before I post a question.

Well, I usually charge for my advice but I'll give you it once more for free... then that's it.

once more for free...then that's it.

Maybe I could wash your car every weekend and get a special discount price?

My chauffeur handles that but maybe you could do some super hero work for me. You see, I have this arch villain that keeps committing mean and dasterdly deeds at my expense.

You see, I have this arch villain that keeps commiting mean and dasterdly deeds at my expense.

I'm a terrific baker. Perhaps I could sweeten him up with caramel brownies or lemon bars or melty, chewy chocolate chip cookies with or without chopped pecans?

With, by all means with! "Salavating on keyboard!"

With, by all means with! "Salavating on keyboard!"

Um, the sweets would be for your arch villain, to keep him away from you.

Wonder Woman Deluxe Pet Costume - S : Target (http://www.target.com/Wonder-Woman-Deluxe-Pet-Costume/dp/B000W8Q3QU/sr=1-1/qid=1193546441/ref=sr_1_1/602-3849330-0966241?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Awonder%20woman%20halloween%20costume&page=1)

Cute costume!

I'm a cat person and Wondergirl, not Wonder Woman. I wonder a lot, thus Wondergirl. Wonder Woman was a superhero. I am only a super baker.

Superman got old and tired and kept running into stuff when he flew around so they introduced Super Boy.

Same with Batman. He got so old he looked like a sriveled up ole rat with wings. They introduced Bat Boy. Didn't you see him on the cover of that newspaper in the check out line at the supermarket?

Wasn't Bat Boy Sammy Sosa?

The guy that did the Macareana?

No, the Chicago Cub who used a cork bat. (You must not be a sports fan.)

http://www.paleocraft.com/images/tw14.jpg

"wonder" woman!!


http://www.veritnet.com/karen/main.gif

We are all equal aspects of The Same Source, The First Cause, God, expressing in all spheres of existence with Unconditional Love, and the natural, instinctive, powerful desire to evolve back to The Source as a perfected aspect of God. Over the years, however, mankind has steadily and increasingly turned its back on God towards an alternative, darker existence of gross materialism, dogma and indoctrination, often driven by the Ego and the desirefor power and control. Most people are influenced by such erroneous factors as what other people think of them, the desire to conform to the expectations offamily, friends, neighbours, society, others, and only to live instrict accordance with "the way things are done". It is only when an individual has the courage, strength and determination to face the truth that he or she can become truly free to fulfil his or her own true destiny with joy, meaning and real purpose, and to consciously attract anything and everythingthat they can possibly desire into their lives. In order to achieve this Divine state of awareness, it is necessaryto consciously become an open channel through which God can express and experience in the physical world, a process that we, as humans, control ourselves as individuated aspects of The Source. We determine our own experiences and God provides for all our wishes, needs and desires necessary for those experiences, and thereby, through us, God experiences and expands, and thus the entire Universe expands. Most people however are doing exactly the opposite by striving to conform to the expectations of others, pursuing material gain as afirst priority, and forcing things in a perceived direction byphysical means, instead of being an open channel of expression of The Source, The First Cause, God, and are therefore often contrary to the perfect flow of the Universe. Quite simply, such people are failing to "let go and let God", the inevitable result of which is suffering and lack of Spiritual evolution, ultimately resulting in the Higher self of the person sending yet another incarnation toEarth for the opportunity to learn the lessons once more that were not learned in the previous incarnation. Even in the 21st century, "society" is still operating by a systemthrough which people are trapped from a very young age into a system that often prevents happiness, fulfilment and evolution. From the very first day a child is born into what should be a glorious, joyful and fulfilling life on Earth, the child is immediately and continuously indoctrinated into the trappings of the material world. A child is taught to focus exclusively upon thefive physical senses, to behave in a certain way that precludes maintaining their strong connections with the inner worlds, and taught to treasure material things, such as toys, as a prelude to coveting bigger material possessions later in physical life, often as a first priority over everything else. Later, young children are expected to go to school in order to get the "qualifications" required to obtain a "job" that they may"work" for the next 40 or 50 years before "retiring" on a meagre"pension", after which they may live out what remains of this life in the hope of simply surviving in a generally non-caring worldwhere very often service to self comes before genuine service to others. From the moment of birth, the Minds of most children are shaped by parents based upon their own perceptions of what life "is all about", usually based in turn upon their own current circumstances,and the lifestyle, traditions and "values" of their own parents before them. Many children are taught that it is wrong to aspire to anything outside of their "station in life" and should instead focus on the lifestyle that their parents have always accepted and found to be quite "adequate". The Mind of a child at both conscious and in particular Subconscious levels is highly impressionable, and it does not take many years of such indoctrination for the Subconscious Mind of a child to accept what their parents have thrust upon them as "reality". Humans have been trapped in this paradox, a cycle that often results in misery as a result of living a false reality that is inconsistent with their true mission. It is not until this cycle is broken, and people recognise, understand and exercise true freedom based upon their own reason for being here, can they finally realise true joy, fulfilment and happiness, and the means by which to complete their mission on Earth this time around. The current systems of society originated three hundred or more years ago. It might well have worked back then to the extent it was consistent with the people living at that time, but with society still enforcing these very archaic systems, mankind has failed to progress at many fundamental levels.

Adrian Cooper

We are what we believe.

Our problem is overall selfishness and lack of morals or good judgment. We live in an "It's all about me" society. Everybody wants what they want, the feel they deserve to have anything they want and it does not matter what they do or who they harm to get it.

I remember what I meant by independence. It's the spirit of individualism, saying that I am an island and don't need help, and don't help others. That's what I meant.
I don't mean independence as is taking care of your business. I mean independence as in "I don't need anybody, I have all the answers."

the spirit of individualism, saying that I am an island and don't need help, and don't help others. That's what I meant.

But don't forget -- individualism can also be a good and positive thing, as individual self-reliance and liberty. That's what has made this country great (but has also created its woes when it has been used wrongly).