But it also saved some farms and dairies because the government began buying surplus and distributing it to the starving and also paying farmers to plant certain things to ensure an even supply.
There are two sides to most stories.
Is human compassion dead or dying where you live?
- Thread starter chic
- Start date
There are two sides to most stories.
grahamg
Old codger
- Location
- South of Manchester, UK
I often hate to be told "There are two sides to every or most stories", (as I hope I'm telling the truth, say on fathers rights and my own situation, and those challenging me by stating there must be another side to whatever I'm saying, or more than one side, are effectively closing down a debate because its not possible to hear from my ex or my daughter), however in this case I do believe you're right.
!On the thread topic I doubt very much human compassion is dead, or will ever die, though at times it may look as though its on life support.
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
It's only an incentive to return the cart. The quarter pops back out when you return it to the line. We don't "pay".You have to pay a quarter for a shopping carriage!!! What a racket.
Usually I just give my empty cart to someone coming in and waive away their quarter. Pass it on, I tell them.
You have to pay quarters too @RadishRose? In the US?
A deal like that wouldn't work here. People would trash the carriages and set the grocery store on fire. Here, we are on an honor system and we DO return the carriages. No paying rent on a grocery cart for use. This is part of what I mean about this pandemic time. People are not helping my making another's life easier now when we need it most but they make it harder by lots of little irritants like rent on a grocery cart and many other things. I had to call my bank yesterday about a pressing problem. Due to covid, they don't have enough people to take calls and they have been saying this for a solid year now. I feel like "can't you hire someone?" Instead they prefer to make you wait a minimum of 20 mins to get your call answered and they DON'T offer to hold your place and call you back when someone IS available. It's just inconsiderate and uncaring. Darn it, I'm stressed enough.
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
True, and I'm familiar with that one.
Remy
Well-known Member
- Location
- California, USA
It's not just you. I've about given up on most.
mellowyellow
Well-known Member
Road rage is the scariest thing for me - don't cut into the other lane too quickly or nose someone out when merging and don't EVER blow the horn at anyone for ANYTHING because your life may be at risk. And it's not just angry men on the road, women are just as bad.
And there are lots of reasons why people get angry, sure Covid is a big one, but I think the divide between those who are comfortably off and those who are not, has to be taken into account. It's easier to be kind if you are living in a comfortable home that you own, but if you are 6 months in arrears with the rent, why wouldn't you be angry? I sure would be.
If you have Netflix, watch the movie "The Kindness of Strangers", it will cheer you up.
And there are lots of reasons why people get angry, sure Covid is a big one, but I think the divide between those who are comfortably off and those who are not, has to be taken into account. It's easier to be kind if you are living in a comfortable home that you own, but if you are 6 months in arrears with the rent, why wouldn't you be angry? I sure would be.
If you have Netflix, watch the movie "The Kindness of Strangers", it will cheer you up.
fuzzybuddy
SF VIP
- Location
- The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Nostalgia is always warm and cozy. History is cold and hard. "Back then, we pulled together......". No, we didn't. Take WWII, yeah, "back then, we pulled together" is nostalgia. Multiple riots over race, war restrictions, jobs, wages, the draft, the war itself, and food shortages occurred all during the war. That's history. We have a tendency to remember a white washed view of the past. Let's face, you weren't as aware of the world when you were 10 than you are now. People have been saying the place is going to hell since forever, and today is some young person's golden age " when we all pulled together". There never has been a time where there hasn't been some kind of challenge.
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officerripley
Well-known Member
- Location
- Porlock, Calif
Exactly! (Like I use for my signature here sometimes: "Beware of nostalgia; most of the time, it's a great big liar.")
Did you live through WWII or the Great Depression? I hadn't been born until long after WWII so I remember neither. My parents, grandparents and great grandmother lived through these events and they did tell me people were kinder then.
SetWave
Well-known Member
- Location
- Monterey Bay
I must say that it warms my heart when people are friendly. Even a simple greeting as I sit on the cliff checking the waves means everything. I also really appreciate the acts of kindness encountered while driving . . . and try to let the others speed off into oblivion . . .
officerripley
Well-known Member
- Location
- Porlock, Calif
I too was born after the Depression and WW2 but my parents and grandparents had a really hard time of it those years: either they were out of work or had terrible bosses, every landlord was awful, the neighborhoods they lived in were awful, even the churches were extremely judgmental and no help. The only one was one of my stepmothers who had a real--and unfortunately in some cases, unjustified--upbeat outlook on life. As my biol. dad said about her, "No wonder she thought the 'good' old days were great! Her dad had a good, federal govt. job when the stock market crashed and kept it all through the Depression; easy for her to talk!"
Don M.
SF VIP
- Location
- central Missouri
Locally, our people are still quite nice, and we haven't seen any change in behavior as a result of this pandemic. Our local school announced a fund raiser for the Junior/Senior proms a couple of weeks ago, and they offered a Lasagna meal for $7....to be given out today. We bought a couple of tickets, and I went over there at Noon to pick ours up. There was a steady line of cars...almost like a small version of some of these CV testing/vaccination scenes....and if the food tastes as good as it looks, we should have a great Supper tonight.
Speaking of NetFlix, road rage and what can result from blowing your horn at someone, have you watched the movie 'Unhinged' staring Russell Crow on Netflix?
Wow! The title of the movie is very appropriate
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
same thing happened here during and for years after WW2.. my grandparents didn't talk much about anything least of all the war years but their peers, their friends did.. and to listen to them talk everyone was a saint... but in actual reality if you read about the history of the time for your city or country, you'll find the truth was very different, that people robbed others blind who had nothing, there were spivs ripping everyone off, people would stab you in the back to get what they wanted since there was nothing much left after the war, families living 10 to one room in slums ripped off by the landlords for the rent ... apparently the statistics say that about 40 % of children born during the war years and just after, weren't the sprogs of the husband ..and so on,,, and so forth
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Lakeland living
Life is good
- Location
- Ontario Canada
Younger people record on phone, no one wants to get involved these days. That is the in thing...
I may throw up....
Gaer
"Angel whisperer"
- Location
- New Mexico U.S.A.
i think people are not as compassionate, (from my point of view) but that's their way. I am only responsible for my own thoughts, speech, feelings and actions.
Did you ever read The Four Agreements? I think you'd love it. Just Guessing!
Gaer
"Angel whisperer"
- Location
- New Mexico U.S.A.
No, I haven't read that. I'll check it out. Thanks.
Aneeda72
Well-known Member
Have you tried McDonald’s lately?
same with Wendys, the meat in the hamburger is awful, so sad.
OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
I live in a well diversified city that has some caring, giving people. There's a Muslim brother who serves dinners to the hungry, anyone who lines up, every Sunday night regardless of the weather. He sets up outside. His organization also provides drug counseling and job placement services During the pandemic, another young man organized with restaurants and volunteers to deliver free meals to seniors for two months during the summer. They also delivered masks, toilet paper, bottle water and even bouquets of flowers which were donated by a local florist. Although our city has crime, too often violent in nature, on the flip side I often read of good deeds being done by various groups and individuals. I notice people have started to greet one another on the street. Cars and trucks will stop for me when I'm crossing at a corner where there is no traffic light.
Aneeda72
Well-known Member
I think the old saying about being a friend to make a friend is true. We moved into our new money pit last February. As I worked on the yard I waved at the people who drove by, after a while they waved back. After a while some would slow down and say how much they loved the yard.
I walk around my neighborhood, wearing a mask. People are used to seeing me. All of them wave, and now, lots will chat to me when getting in and out of their cars. I am familiar. Children, walking to the junior high say hello or wave at me.
Just today an elderly woman pulled up beside me, in her car as I was walking, and said you are going to get skinny. Yup, I replied, I already lost my butt. Which I have, it’s as flat as a pancake,
. People come out of their houses and yell at their dogs to stop barking at me, and introduce themselves, yelling from their doorways.
To get friends you have to be friendly. Are these people compassionate? I would say yes depending on the circumstances. As for people who are working, it is so dangerous to work now. People are so exposed to the virus. Perhaps it is we who lack compassion towards them?
Perhaps, in such stressful times, we expect too much.
I walk around my neighborhood, wearing a mask. People are used to seeing me. All of them wave, and now, lots will chat to me when getting in and out of their cars. I am familiar. Children, walking to the junior high say hello or wave at me.
Just today an elderly woman pulled up beside me, in her car as I was walking, and said you are going to get skinny. Yup, I replied, I already lost my butt. Which I have, it’s as flat as a pancake,
. People come out of their houses and yell at their dogs to stop barking at me, and introduce themselves, yelling from their doorways.To get friends you have to be friendly. Are these people compassionate? I would say yes depending on the circumstances. As for people who are working, it is so dangerous to work now. People are so exposed to the virus. Perhaps it is we who lack compassion towards them?
Perhaps, in such stressful times, we expect too much.
I listened to a podcast once that said poor people are more willing to give charity to another person than people who are well off. So maybe when many people had gone through homelessness and hunger during the Great Depression they were kinder. In more recent times we are mostly among people unfamiliar with having serious troubles and consequently less compassionate.
But on the other hand I keep reading in the news about various people being helped through Go Fund Me, so there must be a lot of kind people left. The only appeal like that I can remember donating to was someone I knew who needed money to buy hay for some horses. Though once I saw a one-eyed wild pony stallion that needed rescuing so I called a "rich" (didn't have to contribute to Social Security part of the year) friend and asked her if she would pay the $500 to rescue him. She actually did, I was amazed at her generosity.
Where I live, compassion is alive and well. Especially since the pandemic, everyone seems to be extra thoughtful and kind to each other. Our smiles may not be visible through our masks, but they are definitely there, lots of warmth around from neighbors and strangers.