Are we, as a people, losing our compassion for each other? I see and hear things all the time that just make me feel ILL. People have so little regard for each other anymore. Where did this come from? When did it become “ok” to ignore those in need, treat each other with disrespect and laugh at other’s misfortune? As far as I’m concerned, it is just as important as it ever was to look out for my fellow man. Moreso, maybe, now that things are so rough out there in the big, bad world.
I saw a story on the Today Show this morning that turned my stomach. A woman in a waiting room collapsed and was left on the floor until she died. People saw her. People who worked at the hospital saw her. And no one helped. Until it was too late. Should it matter that it was an emergency room in a psychiatric hospital and not a standard hospital? NO. Should it matter if she was homeless? NO. What mattered is that she was essentially ignored and left to die because no one wanted to deal with her.
And what about the seventy-something year old guy that got hit by that car in New Hampshire about a month ago. It was a hit and run and there were people walking the street. NO ONE helped him, no one ran over to see if he was okay. What is wrong with this picture? I can’t fathom seeing something like that and just going on about my business. I simply could not. How is it that other people CAN? That scares me, folks. It really does.
And what about online? Oh, you hear it all the time. Stories about cyber bullying, etc and so forth. Those are the obvious examples. But what about the little moments, the small ways in which we turn our backs on each other on a daily basis here online? Why is it okay to ridicule someone on Twitter just because you’re online and consequences be damned? Even if you would do the same thing in person (perhaps moreso, because that in my opinion makes it even WORSE), WHY would you? What would you get from tearing someone else down? Does it honestly make people feel better to do this? I don’t get it.
Do you see in my sidebar where it says “kind blog”? I still try to hold true to the ideals of that badge. Sometimes it’s really hard. I get snarky like the rest of them. Boy, howdy, do I! But I try to limit myself, especially on this blog. Because it’s not doing myself or anyone else any favors. You all have my permission, by the way, to call me out if you do catch me disrespecting anyone here. I just don’t want to be that person.
I wouldn’t hit and run in real life and I won’t do it online either. I wouldn’t turn my back when I saw it happen in person and I’m trying not to do it online either.
Let’s all try to remember that we’re all in this together. We’re all people, we’re all human beings and we all have feelings. Lets show a little compassion, now, before it’s too late.
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7 Responses to “What happened to compassion?”
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I completely agree with you! I find it appalling how so many people lack common courtesy. It infuriates me! I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who feels this way. Thank you for posting this.
Ariels last blog post..Adjustments
That story got to me this morning too. The sad thing is, I live within 50 miles of both incidents. I told my husband that I think this is giving northeastern people the rap they’ve been trying to fight off for so many years. That selfish, rude, awful behavior. It’s disturbing and disgusting and it makes me wonder how many parents teach their kids that this behavior is okay!
The points you make in your post are dead on. Someone had to say it. Thanks for having the courage.
Can you hear me screaming, “Bravo!!!”?
Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for childrens last blog post..I have 30 days to become a master photographer
Seriously. I semi-read a blog who posted something this morning that says, “Everything I say will hurt feelings or start a fire, so I won’t say it.”
At first, I was like, oh, how sad that she’s silenced. Then I was all like, how horrible that all you can say are hurtful things.
There are great, pay-it-forward stories out there. We just don’t hear about them as often.
I saw that story this morning also and wow…just wow. I cannot believe so many people saw and walked by someone who had fallen like that. It is sad that our society has become so self centered that we cannot even look past ourselves to reach out a hand to another. And in this case…a simple “hey..you ok?” would have save a life.
This is exactly why I love you.
Loralees last blog post..Perspective
I hear you! How I found out about the world of blogging was via a good friend who found my sister-in-laws blog where she talked about me and my husband. It destroyed our family and really exposed her and her mother in ways that one can never get past.
People feel like this is some special place without consequences, but they’re wrong. Eceryone pays as they go.
Jaclyns last blog post..* I feel so special