American morals declining?

[Abduzza]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...l?ref=religion

Interesting poll, what do you guys think?



Fellow Americans, do you agree?

[Celtag]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...l?ref=religion

Interesting poll, what do you guys think?

Fellow Americans, do you agree?

I think in some sense they are declining. I think the way people treat each other has gotten a lot worse over the past 20 years. I mean we do have more tolerance now, but I think we tolerate assholes and people that act like there 12 when their 40 also. There is also a redefining of morality going on right now as well. People are having to look at what they consider moral in this day and age. I think some of it's good and a lot of it's bad. I wish people would treat each other better now days and be more polite and helpful, like when i was a kid. We have gotten to selfish and need to realize we are all in this together and just be a little nicer.

[sailor]

I think in some sense they are declining. I think the way people treat each other has gotten a lot worse over the past 20 years. I mean we do have more tolerance now, but I think we tolerate assholes and people that act like there 12 when their 40 also. There is also a redefining of morality going on right now as well. People are having to look at what they consider moral in this day and age. I think some of it's good and a lot of it's bad. I wish people would treat each other better now days and be more polite and helpful, like when i was a kid. We have gotten to selfish and need to realize we are all in this together and just be a little nicer.

Bleh. I have trouble with the idea that morality involves "tolerance, respect, or consideration for others" in the form that we would include behavior of adults acting like they are 12. Instead we have had a huge decrease in civility and expectations of civil behavior.

Morality in terms of nominal acceptance of alternative life styles (ie GLBT among potential others), race, religion I can see being lumped under morality.

As for a moral decline, much of what religious conservatives say is moral decline is considered a personal life style choice by many of the Left and or involved. Examples would include gays, polyandry, unwed motherhood, hook up culture, etc.

[Rhyshadow]

Bleh. I have trouble with the idea that morality involves "tolerance, respect, or consideration for others" in the form that we would include behavior of adults acting like they are 12. Instead we have had a huge decrease in civility and expectations of civil behavior.

Morality in terms of nominal acceptance of alternative life styles (ie GLBT among potential others), race, religion I can see being lumped under morality.

As for a moral decline, much of what religious conservatives say is moral decline is considered a personal life style choice by many of the Left and or involved. Examples would include gays, polyandry, unwed motherhood, hook up culture, etc.

THIS

What people perceive as a decline in morality depends entirely on their world-view. Some of my positions would be immoral to Christians - even my old friend of 30 years from college who's a Born Again - where-as their positions on issues I just look at and shake my head.

My personal viewpoint splits Ethics and Morality into two separate spheres.

Ethics are universal: Don't kill unless it's unavoidable (to save a family member perhaps), don't lie, don't steal - those are Ethical principles.

Morality is social: Whether that social membership is religious in nature or regional, you can't assume that everyone out there has the same views - homosexuality, poly-living, etc are Moral viewpoints and change based on the persons position within their own circle.

Stating that, there is a decline in Ethics going on; more people willing to take from others, kill at will, lie to get ahead. But there are also those out there who try to impose their own Morality on everyone, regardless of who they hurt in the process.

[Morag]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...l?ref=religion

Interesting poll, what do you guys think?

Fellow Americans, do you agree?

Whose morals are we talking about?

[mlr52]

Bleh. I have trouble with the idea that morality involves "tolerance, respect, or consideration for others" in the form that we would include behavior of adults acting like they are 12. Instead we have had a huge decrease in civility and expectations of civil behavior.

Morality in terms of nominal acceptance of alternative life styles (ie GLBT among potential others), race, religion I can see being lumped under morality.

As for a moral decline, much of what religious conservatives say is moral decline is considered a personal life style choice by many of the Left and or involved. Examples would include gays, polyandry, unwed motherhood, hook up culture, etc.

Religious morality has not really changed in this country, since its founding, what has changed, is it is more in the news than before, and there are more people.

The ethics of people as a whole has not changed from the first, European invaders (look at what they said they did), look at what the "Captains of Industry" did. Enron, Madoff, the banking and stock industries. It was the laws that were removed, not the ethics of the people that changed.

On the other hand you have those whose ethics are not brought to light, because they do the right thing whether the laws are there or not (and that does not sell news).

[RandallS]

The ethics of people as a whole has not changed from the first, European invaders (look at what they said they did), look at what the "Captains of Industry" did. Enron, Madoff, the banking and stock industries. It was the laws that were removed, not the ethics of the people that changed.

This. Basic ethics haven't really changed in the US. What has changed is that the sexual and religious (e.g. blasphemy type stuff) morality of Christianity is no longer enforcable by law which greatly annoys the social conservatives.

[veggiewolf]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...l?ref=religion

Interesting poll, what do you guys think?

Fellow Americans, do you agree?

IMO, morality is fluid and can really only be judged by oneself. I try not to get caught up in the whole "morals going to hell" argument for that reason.

Now, ask me if I think that manners are on the decline and I'll say Yes!

[mlr52]

Now, ask me if I think that manners are on the decline and I'll say Yes!

But I never read Emily Post or her book. I do say thank you, and please.

[Owl]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...l?ref=religion

Interesting poll, what do you guys think?

Fellow Americans, do you agree?

No. Good manners seem to have gone out the window, and we get all the news from everywhere so it seems as if more is happening. But I think it's all about the same.