A sign read "We blame this generation as if we had nothing to do with it"...

And it makes one wonder.

How much control do people have in telling others how to behave or act?

Do we say "it's nobody else's business" and then whine when bad things happen? Bad, preventable things, that is?

Take your favorite pet topic as to what's wrong with society.

The real question is: If billboard or other signs state pulpy comments that say we are to blame for others' actions, what are the billboards and other signs attempting to imply as the solution? Or is there no solution and it's just a "cute" advertisement of some words picked at random?

This isn't a dig at any one or any thing. You may perceive it in any way you wish, however. Like I said, "pet topic".

Conservatives have long sought to control others with little success. Parents raise their children with the hope that they will internalize certain values, and the success rate of that is also so-so. Seems to indicate, at least to me, that our ability to control others is limited at best, and that even legislation cannot guarantee compliance.

Things as simple as walking on the correct side of the street, or hallway; paying attention to those around you to avoid inadvertently discourteous behavior.

Then again, just about the time I think the world has gone to hell; some child or teenager shows wonderful manners, and not in an Eddie Haskell sort of way.

I also think that over stimulation is part of the problem. People will worry themselves all over the place about this if someone is labelled "autistic" , but normal people are over stimulated and distracted too. It's difficult for ANYONE to think straight when there are TV's blaring, public address systems, and various other sources of noise and visual distraction literally AIMED AT YOU.

Something as simple as going to the deli counter at the grocery store. They have the raised counters and crap hanging over them, which creates a sound vortex aggravated by the exhaust fans on the service side of the counter, and the god damned muzak on the customer side. The lighting is dreadful, either too dim in a misguided effort to look chic, or to garish in a stop-sign marketing mentality.

Count the signs as you drive down the street. There are hundreds of them per mile. Don't stop here, don't park there, caution, yield, stop, crosswalk, turn here for the city park, this is Tree City USA, maintained by Remax Realtors, Congregation Beth Sharon turn right, First Union Bapitst Temple turn left, save the Manatee don't spit in the drains, hurricane evacuation route, alternate US 19 (everything is alternate US 19), no left turn, fire department, buckle up, kiss my ass....

even teach the basics of how to interact with one human being-family members even--let alone large groups or the whole society. I think you are partially correct about the overstimulation, but we also have a me-first mentality these days. The idea that noone else is deserving of respect or the chance to "win" is predominant. It's a very nihilistic way of thinking. If we don't kill each other off eventually scrambling to get to the top of the dungheap, some other nation will put us out of our misery because we've become to obnoxious for the world to further tolerate.

And while that's not a fair or accurate criticism, a values-free ethos, especially in business of the last 30 years has bled into all parts of society, IMO. Whether the bleed came from liberals, or from those who perceived liberals stood for nothing is not the issue for debate, for me: the issue is, what are we going to do about it?

We promote shit.

Your TV news announcer tells you AT & T dropped 20k employees, and the next morning their stock price rises 20%.

We promote shit.

We plug our friends' and associates' businesses regardless of whether they know WTF they're doing, as long as we know we'll get a plug in return. And we rip the shit out of anyone who dares point out the Emperor is nude.

We promote. Shit.

SyFy tv (used to be Sci-Fi network) runs commercials for OnlineBootyCall.com at 5pm during Pirates of the Caribbean. The gist of these commercials is, 'responsible adult relationships are for losers. Come fuck some big breasted hot chick.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djO7qFfPV_c