I agree…yet, I don’t. We’re actually safer NOW than we have been at any other time in society. However, our PERCEPTION is the exact opposite. So, we need to understand that perception isn’t reality and our news is just a fear-based sales pitch marinaded in opinion…it’s not actually news. Unless it’s BBC. Then, it is.

I wasn’t an adult during this golden age, so I don’t remember what it was like *not* to be always connected, yet alone. However, I remember my parents driving drunk and almost dying in a crash — and me having to be pulled out of school to take care of them and my brother at age 10 because there wasn’t anyone else. I remember my mom sending me up to the corner store for cigarettes at age 7 and the clerk giving them to me. I remember when all restaurants and airlines were full of smokers. I remember racist jokes at every gathering and men calling women “broads.” I remember my dad sitting on his ass and my mom slaving away in the kitchen to make every meal each night. And if they found and he hit her, no one cared…because she probably deserved it and he could do whatever he wanted — he was the man of he house.

I also remember playing a record over and over again, reading the lyrics and all the insider language on the album sleeve. Not wearing a bike helmet. Diving boards at swimming pools — and boy, was that a cool thing. I remember when people moved over out of the left lane and allowed others to pass when driving because they knew it was the passing lane and they had courtesy, not arrogance. We lived by the phrase “Question Authority” and were told to always ask “Why?”

Now, people can’t think for themselves and they must watch a news channel that aligns with their own world views.

Personally, I think there should be a push for education and to shut off the news. Question Everything.

If you look for yellow cars, you’ll see yellow cars all over. If you look for anger and crime, you’ll see anger and crime everywhere.

Most people actually ARE nice. Just say hello. They’ll say hello back. If you want to see change, make it happen. Start smiling and saying hi first. Because they think the same about you that you are thinking about them.

Maybe have a game night or throw a dinner party. People will come hang out. Just be sure to keep the “news”/Anger Porn turned off. :)