Generally speaking, I think most people are...

[MOB Karen]

Let us know how you feel about this subject. :D

[MOB Karen]

I have to believe that most people are good, not friendly but good. Which to me means, they would never intentionally hurt another human being, and would help someone who really needed it. I hope so anyway. :)

[LaceyinPgh]

As I get older and learn more I have come to this conclusion. People for the most part are oblivious to the the world around them. They have no desire to pull their heads out of the ostrich hold that for the most part they have dug for themselves. It is to the point that they don't even connect how events that happen in another part of the world or in a different time have an impact on them. It frustrates me. So in general people are oblivious pains in my ass.

[WebLady]

This is a hard one ... I want to believe that most people are good and would help others and wouldn't hurt anyone. But I don't know if I can say that I think most people are that way.

I have come across many people that seem good; strangers that smile at you, a stranger that will stop and help you change a tire and such. But I've also come across many people that just seem indifferent and/or oblivious. There are others that will try to be your friend only to use you for something. And lets face it, there are ppl out there that will rob and/or hurt you if given the chance.

So I don't know how to answer this question.

I don't let these thoughts affect how I view all people, but I do try to be cautious and aware of ppl until I get to know them.

[Jenn060306]

I think there are alot of people who are completely oblivous to the world and the people arround them. They don't care about anyone but themselves and are generally really rude. There are the exceptions in the world who are really wonderful and selfless. Unfortunetly it feels like all the bad people out weigh the good.

[AllyM1]

People are oblivious... They could care less what's going on in the world around them... as my grandpa says, "As long as they have a six pack and the tube, they are content." Which I think it's truly pathetic.

[Valmai]

I tend to think they are more selfish than oblivious, a lot of people know wots going on around the world and closer to home they just choose to ignore it! x

[LaceyinPgh]

I tend to think they are more selfish than oblivious, a lot of people know wots going on around the world and closer to home they just choose to ignore it! x
Not in the US. People here don't know what is going on in the world around them. They are lucky to be aware of something 2 towns over. In a recent CNN/AOL poll more Americans could identify Harry Potter/Daniel Radcliff than Tony Blair. The majority couldn't name 3 out of 9 Supreme Court Justices. These are all people who have an impact on our daily lives. I doubt if I walked out on the street that I could find 5 people who could name both of our state's Senators and 3 out of 21 Congressmen that represent us. Hell, we have Congressmn in this country who pride themselve during campaign season on being able to say that they have never had a passport because they have never had to leave America. It is ridiculous that we as a soceity feel that great redneck patriotism of "If it ain't American it don't matter."

[WebLady]

See now I don't think that just because you may not know alot about politics (as in naming both of our state's Senators and 3 out of 21 Congressmen) makes you oblivious to the world around you.

I don't know these things, I find much of politics quite boring, so I don't pay much attention to it (I just cram when it is time to vote :)) I know who the president and VP is and I know some of the other major players names but I don't know if I could tell you what their position/title was.

And I've only left the US once, but I am certainly no redneck :bbconfused: :p

[LaceyinPgh]

See now I don't think that just because you may not know alot about politics (as in naming both of our state's Senators and 3 out of 21 Congressmen) makes you oblivious to the world around you.

I don't know these things, I find much of politics quite boring, so I don't pay much attention to it (I just cram when it is time to vote :)) I know who the president and VP is and I know some of the other major players names but I don't know if I could tell you what their position/title was.

And I've only left the US once, but I am certainly no redneck :bbconfused: :p

No, but these people do affect what happens to you daily. You recognize that. A lot of people that you deal with in fact won't or don't recognize that. They view the political structure as just something for wealthy white men to partake in during their retirement years. They don't see or at least don't want to take the time to see that in fact it does have an impact on what happens in their back yard.

World politics is something that a lot of people don't know much about. American society in general (due to the fact that we were able to explore and expand within our own boarders and not have conflicts with neighbors - thanks Canada!) doesn't like to examine that in fact no matter how independent we like to think we are in fact we are linked to every other person and nation in this world. That train of thought (I'm not saying everyone has it) has gotten us into more trouble than it has kept us out of. The inability to pull our heads out of those ostrich holes I referenced early feeds into this problem. We can't see it so we don't address it.

Since we as a society has never had "real" international problems to deal with until very recently, we have made up own (abortion, gun contol, gay marraige just to name a few). Those non issues eat up the citizens' time and influence how they select government officials. We are doing ourselves a disservice by being so oblivious to the world around whether you are talking about politically, economically, socially, or culturally.

To clarify my original arguement I am saying that in all aspects the majority of people walk around oblivious to the world around them. Since they can't piece togehter that in fact it does invovle them they don't care about the issue. The issue could be something as detrimental to human society as the crisis in Sudan or as minor as the fact that their kid is being obnoxious and getting on everyone's nerves at the neighborhood picnic. Not caring about the issue carries over to make the person or the society seem uncaring, selfish, greedy, ignorant, or any other choice of negative adjectives that you could use.

Political thought is small part of human life. It just happens to be one that I am well versed in. So, it is easier for me to draw conclusion and examples from it.

[MOB Karen]

See now I don't think that just because you may not know alot about politics (as in naming both of our state's Senators and 3 out of 21 Congressmen) makes you oblivious to the world around you.

I don't know these things, I find much of politics quite boring, so I don't pay much attention to it (I just cram when it is time to vote :)) I know who the president and VP is and I know some of the other major players names but I don't know if I could tell you what their position/title was.

And I've only left the US once, but I am certainly no redneck :bbconfused: :p

I agree with Brandi. I don't give a flying f*ck who the senators or congressmen are. I have been out of the US more times than I can count. I think the world revolves around the US. I pay attention to the world affairs as much as I can possibly take, to be perfectly honest, it usually just bores the hell out of me. But that doesn't make me a bad person.

[WebLady]

... Political thought is small part of human life. It just happens to be one that I am well versed in. So, it is easier for me to draw conclusion and examples from it.
Well you are definitely more versed in politics than I ever care to be ;) But I still luv ya :bbmrgreen:

ETA -- I just noticed Karen agrees with me :D

[AllyM1]

I don't think politics are for everyone. DH and I are very into politics, that's basically all we do. (sad, I know) I think for someone like you Karen or you Brandi, who particularly don't like politics, it is essential that you atleast know the President, VP, maybe Secretary of State, and ATLEAST your Congressman/woman. Which I am sure you know atleast 3 out of the 4! =)

I only say that you should know your direct Congressman/woman because I am always contacting my congressman. Hell he probably knows when he's about to get a letter from me or DH. There will come a time when there is an issue that you are completely against, and it always makes me feel better that I took the time to let my Congressman know that I approve or disapprove of certain issues. I also really enjoy getting a (preprinted I believe.. but oh well) response from him telling me his thoughts.

Like I said in the first sentence, politics aren't for everyone, but I do urge you to know just a few basic people and atleast know your Congressman/woman.

[ladymelissa]

I think most people are generally good.

People may seem oblivious, when most are probably just busy. If one works 8 hours per day, has about an hour or more total commute, spends 1-2 hours getting ready (or personal hygiene), 2 hours eating/preparing meals, 8 sleeping, half hour cleaning/ doing laundry, throw a couple of kids or pets in there, a workout and a little entertainment; how much time is really left over to examine world politics?

Politicians, IMO are pawns that we elect to voice our opinions on issues. It's not so much the person as the issue. If you voted for/against them then you know who your reps are and then you can write them if necessary.

Naming the Supreme Court Justices is a poor example of awareness, we have no direct vote in choosing them and they don't have a set term, therefore never campaigning and the only time they are mentioned on the news is when they are appointed or made a major decision. And most of the time they are not referred to individually anyways.

[SoontobeMrsClark07]

I had a hard time choosing because I think most people are good but they are also oblivious. I chose good though.