There seems to be a real spirit of meanness in the world today. Psychologist and Stanford professor Robert Sutton says that “disrespectful, demeaning, and downright mean-spirited behavior is worse than ever” in a recent interview with New York Magazine. Sutton’s claim to fame is studying meanness. He’s written several books on the subject, but I’m not going to list them here.
This is not to say the meanness didn’t exist in the past (e.g., slavery, wrongs against Native Americans, McCarthyism, racism, anti-semitism, etc.). But today’s meanness seems to be somehow more personal and far more widespread. It seems to cross all regional boundaries, sectarian groups and most social and economic lines–though white males are, by poll results at least, the most disgruntled.
Meanness in the past seemed more general and more political in nature. Today, society seems to have turned inward spurning the common good for personal gain. Material well-being and personal development seem to be a focus.
Today, it seems that everywhere you look, people are angry–though no one is exactly sure what the people are angry about. Everyone seems to feel like they are victims–victims of the government, of crime, of minorities, of feminism, of special interests, of cheap foreign labor. The list goes on and on.
The targets seem to be everyone. Those in power, the government in general, corporations, as well as the least powerful among us: the poor, the foreign-born, the disadvantaged. TV and Talk Radio do nothing to dispel these feelings, in fact they amplify and justify them, and society rewards them with more listens, and clicks.
So what can we do about it. I’m not sure. I’m hoping to do my small part by trying to point out the issues and remain positive in spite of them. I will continue to open doors for people, help those who need help, encourage and pick up those who fall down, show kindness, be patient, love my neighbors. Will it be effective? Not if I’m the only one. I’m hoping you, dear readers, will join me in this bold quest. I hope you’ll use this little forum as a place to discuss, rationally debate, and hopefully find ways to combat the current atmosphere. So, I leave you with the question, “What will you do about the meanness in the world today?”