Off Topic: The Flood
This topic has moved here: Subject: Putting things into Perspective
  • Subject: Putting things into Perspective
Subject: Putting things into Perspective

The Universe demands to be noticed, to be seen, and dutifully noted.

What use all those incredible firework dimensions if no eye fixes and reflects, no brain takes notes, no heart moves with passion at the display?

NASA answers the silent cry of the Cosmos for recognition.

NASA is the witness and we fellow witnesses to the endless deeps.

When you look at recent tragic events that have been going on around the globe and in all likelihood will be playing out for a long time to come, such as the ongoing events in syria - here's a video.

- It really starts to put things in perspective for those of us living in the western industrialized world (which should be about 90% of the people here). Why do we complain about the most trivial things when people like this boy and entire countries have suffered unspeakable atrocities that the international community is unwilling to intervene in?

Why do people in general whine incessantly about the most insignificant matters you can think of - they take to online social networks, bite your ear off at every chance they get about the turbulence of their romantic relationships, their social status, and generally quite trivial and borderline pathetic matters - I once had a relative throw a whining fit over the poor strength of the wireless reception at my house and there's no shortage of people on Facebook posting overly dramatic statuses to the world.

I just find it silly that these things should provoke people as much as they seem to - do they really have that much of an emotional impact on people or are we just massively over-dramatizing things - blowing things way out of proportion because of the relative comfort that we are lucky enough to live in?

Sure, you have every right to feel aggrieved at something you perceive as 'unfair' - instead of preoccupying ourselves with the little issues, maybe we should step back for a second and look at the bigger issues going on in the globe that make most of the things we complain about and take for granted everyday that really puts everything into perspective.

Maybe we should show some dignity and take off the glasses of self-entitlement to show ourselves how bad it can get in the real world.

TL;DR - Kiddies have to toughen up and stop whining so much about little things. There are a lot of people in the world that have it much worse than you.

  • 11.28.2012 5:42 AM PDT

TRU7H. CARNAGE. BUNGIE

yep, but it's too easy to forget/not to care about it..

  • 11.28.2012 5:44 AM PDT

Hello.

Join if you like Food.

Posted by: Verbatim
I wanna join him when we chew her out.

Posted by: Muffin enforcer

Pffft we have freedom of speech might as well exercise it to it's full extent, otherwise, it's wasted

Why shouldn't I be allowed to complain just because I'm not a starving african child

Sure people have it worse than me, but what good is not complaining going to do?

It's not like it changes anything, I've said the same thing you have, but I still have plenty of breath to curse at every bus I miss and every dent in my car

You're not going to change anything

[Edited on 11.28.2012 5:48 AM PST]

  • 11.28.2012 5:44 AM PDT

I think about this often, just then... actually. But although things may be worse somewhere else, that does not mean we should stop complaining and get what we are given. Complaining is not the right word to use for my case, criticism fits better. If something can be improved, improve it. Believe me when I say I understand what you are saying, you are right in a sense.

  • 11.28.2012 5:48 AM PDT

Hello.

Join if you like Food.

Posted by: Verbatim
I wanna join him when we chew her out.

I'm not living in a third-world country

I was born here

I intend to stay here

  • 11.28.2012 5:50 AM PDT

It's reflected in the news, too.

Watch, and you'll often see the "biggest" story about how no-lifer has won a ridiculous amount of money doing bugger-all in some ridiculous reality TV show, while reports on embassies being blown up and scientific breakthroughs take the backseat.

That said, it's painfully obvious how much the media contributes to this mentality, and is why I can no longer watch any more.

  • 11.28.2012 5:52 AM PDT

I'm an Indonesian Halo (and other games) gamer!
Bhineka Tunggal Ika!!

Seriously, watching the news and stuff like that kinda...
I don't know.

In Mass Effect 3 used to think, "What the hell, the Reapers and -blam!- your galaxy and you just sit by, trying to ignore all these stuff?!"
Well, if people in earth could just pretend that all those horrible stuff that's going on outside of their own country is not their concern, I guess even galactic civilization could do it too.

  • 11.28.2012 6:04 AM PDT

Cole

You have to point out the bad to make things better.

  • 11.28.2012 6:14 AM PDT

I am your sword and shield to guide you through countless battles. I am your Alpha and Omega; beginning and end. I am GAMMA.


Posted by: dazarobbo
It's reflected in the news, too.

Watch, and you'll often see the "biggest" story about how no-lifer has won a ridiculous amount of money doing bugger-all in some ridiculous reality TV show, while reports on embassies being blown up and scientific breakthroughs take the backseat.

That said, it's painfully obvious how much the media contributes to this mentality, and is why I can no longer watch any more.

I agree. Nowadays, the news isn't really news. It's just a virtual gossip magazine.

When was the last time a really important story took to the headlines? The news has gotten to the point of talking just to hear itself. I would rather hear about important world events than whether or not wallmart had it's best black Friday ever. Who cares about that?

  • 11.28.2012 6:36 AM PDT
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There's obviously people worse off but don't act like things like that don't happen to people in the West.

I don't get threads like this, you could say people complain about trivial things then post a link to a Western soldier who's lost multiple limbs fighting a war that's not theirs to put it into perspective but for some reason people always point to the East.

Is it fair that kid got his leg blown off? Hell no.

Should we be made to feel bad because his country can't sort it's -blam!- out in the year 2012? Nope.

[Edited on 11.28.2012 6:43 AM PST]

  • 11.28.2012 6:42 AM PDT
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Posted by: Qbix89
Talking about Sweden is an ultrabannable offense.

Posted by: Achronos
Too bad being completely and utterly wrong isn't a bannable offense.

Unfortunately there's not a whole lot we can do as individuals for Syria, Palestine and other impoverished areas.

We can give them money, but in reality it's just one drop into an ocean.

Not saying that one drop does nothing; it could be that one drop that overflows the fountain.

Just saying, it's not as effectual unless we all go together, which is something that isn't happening.

We can, however, affect the events and lives of those close to us. And that is what we focus on, the lives of those who come into direct contact with us; because that's what we can most directly interact with.

I'm going to keep using my garden hose to try and fill the ocean every now and then, but it's far more effective to fill my neighbours' ponds.

You know, my own pond is lookin' a little dry as well...

[Edited on 11.28.2012 6:48 AM PST]

  • 11.28.2012 6:46 AM PDT

Posted by: AngryBrute1
Oh yeah, since somebody does not believe what YOU believe; that makes us vapid...
I cannot grasp that what you call "Something happened to nothing, and that nothing became something, and it was smaller than than a period."

Posted by: Assaultor
You have to point out the bad to make things better.

  • 11.28.2012 7:20 AM PDT

Posted by: The Kangol Kid
It was then that I decided he really is like semen(everywhere) and I gave up on life.


zoobkillerninja <3


Posted by: Muffin enforcer
Why do people in general whine incessantly about the most insignificant matters you can think of - they take to online social networks, bite your ear off at every chance they get about the turbulence of their romantic relationships, their social status, and generally quite trivial and borderline pathetic matters
Ego... Selfishness. It's simple, really.

  • 11.28.2012 7:28 AM PDT
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Posted by: Wikked Navajoe
Posted by: Assaultor
You have to point out the bad to make things better.
True, but it's not a very attractive option in this mediated world. We're presented with so much stimulus, constantly, that activism and politics have to mimic entertainment in order to register properly with people. And when it does that it becomes just another option, and part of the daily routine: here a starving child, there a new television series. Neither seems to hold any more importance than the other. It's just an option.

[Edited on 11.28.2012 7:37 AM PST]

  • 11.28.2012 7:36 AM PDT

Break down, every single one of you.

TL;DR - People in general have to toughen up and stop whining so much about little things. There are a lot of people in the world that have it much worse than you.
fixed

One thing you have to realize is that people who live a cushy lifestyle, like many Americans, have never suffered this kind of experience and cannot truly fathom it. Because of this, our mental scale of 'bad things' is very different than those in third world countries.

As to the international community stepping in, there is a slight problem with that. If you haven't notice, some countries tend to get upset when other countries put their foreign noses in their business, even when the first country was asking for help. Remember last year when Libya (or was is Syria? I am so disconnected from world news) was revolting against their dictator and asked America for help? We eventually stepped in and helped, but then they got upset because we stepped in. This happens quite a bit and it causes countries to think twice about helping another.

[Edited on 11.28.2012 7:42 AM PST]

  • 11.28.2012 7:42 AM PDT

Per Audacia Ad Astra

Posted by: dazarobbo
That said, it's painfully obvious how much the media contributes to this mentality, and is why I can no longer watch any more.
I stopped watching television due to adverts, reality shows and general rubbish that suggests a false idea of the world's scenario.

  • 11.28.2012 7:45 AM PDT

If you can read this, that means I'm not a Shaolin monk...

yet.

Ugh, if I had to care everytime some -blam!- happened somewhere I wouldn't do anything else.

  • 11.28.2012 7:58 AM PDT

The Universe demands to be noticed, to be seen, and dutifully noted.

What use all those incredible firework dimensions if no eye fixes and reflects, no brain takes notes, no heart moves with passion at the display?

NASA answers the silent cry of the Cosmos for recognition.

NASA is the witness and we fellow witnesses to the endless deeps.


Posted by: NH Chainsaw Edge
Posted by: Muffin enforcer

Pffft we have freedom of speech might as well exercise it to it's full extent, otherwise, it's wasted

Why shouldn't I be allowed to complain just because I'm not a starving african child

Sure people have it worse than me, but what good is not complaining going to do?

It's not like it changes anything, I've said the same thing you have, but I still have plenty of breath to curse at every bus I miss and every dent in my car

You're not going to change anything


Feeling aggrieved is one thing, externalizing it to the outside world is another, or letting issues overwhelm you, like the recent influx of teenagers committing suicide over bullying. People in general should adopt a stronger mentality when confronted with the relatively minor inconveniences that the majority of us suffer in our daily lives.

  • 11.29.2012 1:16 AM PDT

Someones whos going to change the world is in our midst. Really though people are not going to stop complaining about stupid crap until the stuff we have to complain about gets much worse and its no longer deemed stupid. People are going to complain if theres something to complain about, maybe you should take your own advice and stop complaining about it.

  • 11.29.2012 1:29 AM PDT

Allons-y!

I wish I could, but it's hard to remember that instances such as those are occurring in the world, as they are not right in your face. Humans aren't meant to think like that anyway, we only process what's in front of us.

  • 11.29.2012 1:52 AM PDT
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Posted by: AlmondJoy99
I wish I could, but it's hard to remember that instances such as those are occurring in the world, as they are not right in your face. Humans aren't meant to think like that anyway, we only process what's in front of us.
How do you function.

  • 11.29.2012 2:03 AM PDT

Allons-y!


Posted by: Elegiac
Posted by: AlmondJoy99
I wish I could, but it's hard to remember that instances such as those are occurring in the world, as they are not right in your face. Humans aren't meant to think like that anyway, we only process what's in front of us.
How do you function.


Hmm?

  • 11.29.2012 3:29 AM PDT
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Posted by: AlmondJoy99

Posted by: Elegiac
Posted by: AlmondJoy99
I wish I could, but it's hard to remember that instances such as those are occurring in the world, as they are not right in your face. Humans aren't meant to think like that anyway, we only process what's in front of us.
How do you function.
Hmm?
How do you function.

  • 11.29.2012 10:50 AM PDT