Have we become too emotional in the UK?.
Discussion
The "Roadside Memorial" thread got me thinking about other displays of emotion that we in the UK seem to have taken to doing in the last decade or two.
As well as being partial to a bit of Floral verge decorating,we also like hanging out Flags on our houses and cars when ever our country does well in sport,mainly football,yet up to around 20 years ago you would be lucky to spot a flag at Wembley for an international match.
Programmes on the TV like "Gerry Springer" and "Trash" have blessed our screens with chav like "ive fackin ad enuf ov yoo" rituals kickin off ,where people bear their souls to the nation.
Radio shows that openly talk about how people spice up their sexxxxx lives,threesomes etc or what a bad partner i have.
Now ime not knocking it as ive done my own share of "bearing of soul" in the past
but are we becoming too open with our emotions,bearing in mind the UK is supposed to be a "stiff upper lip" ,"take it on the chin" nation.
When/why did it all get all emotional,did it come about with the death of Lady Diana (as has been mentioned on another thread) or was it about before,i remember all the 'England flag stuff' around Euro 96.
Is it since the 80's, when we were told its better out than in?,or even the national papers and media living of the backs of hype,does a good disaster or bad/sad event generate £££££££££'s.
Or is it just another Americanism that we have taken on?
As well as being partial to a bit of Floral verge decorating,we also like hanging out Flags on our houses and cars when ever our country does well in sport,mainly football,yet up to around 20 years ago you would be lucky to spot a flag at Wembley for an international match.
Programmes on the TV like "Gerry Springer" and "Trash" have blessed our screens with chav like "ive fackin ad enuf ov yoo" rituals kickin off ,where people bear their souls to the nation.
Radio shows that openly talk about how people spice up their sexxxxx lives,threesomes etc or what a bad partner i have.
Now ime not knocking it as ive done my own share of "bearing of soul" in the past
but are we becoming too open with our emotions,bearing in mind the UK is supposed to be a "stiff upper lip" ,"take it on the chin" nation. When/why did it all get all emotional,did it come about with the death of Lady Diana (as has been mentioned on another thread) or was it about before,i remember all the 'England flag stuff' around Euro 96.
Is it since the 80's, when we were told its better out than in?,or even the national papers and media living of the backs of hype,does a good disaster or bad/sad event generate £££££££££'s.
Or is it just another Americanism that we have taken on?
I feel that the "let it all out" school of emotional exhibitionism is very negative, as it is used as an excuse not to take responsibility for, and control of, emotional feelings. That is not to say that bottling things up is good either, just that there is a balance which is more appropriate, better for the individual and those who may wish to share or help, and more dignified. I think we undervalue diginity and modesty.
We have nothing else to worry about. We have either a job or benefits, we have enough food and are sufficiently warm. So with all these primitive needs satisfied our prehistoric mind finds new things to worry about. Like speedkills, global warming, nut allergies and eating prawns kills orang-utans 
simpo two said:
We have nothing else to worry about. We have either a job or benefits, we have enough food and are sufficiently warm. So with all these primitive needs satisfied our prehistoric mind finds new things to worry about. Like speedkills, global warming, nut allergies and eating prawns kills orang-utans
Agent Smith: Did you know that the first Matrix was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program. Entire crops were lost. Some believed we lacked the programming language to describe your perfect world. But I believe that, as a species, human beings define their reality through suffering and misery. The perfect world was a dream that your primitive cerebrum kept trying to wake up from. Which is why the Matrix was redesigned to this: the peak of your civilization.
crazylegs said:
Agent Smith: Did you know that the first Matrix was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program.
I think a Matrix like this would work very well personally and only a few would fail to accept the program
Prof Beard said:
I feel that the "let it all out" school of emotional exhibitionism is very negative, as it is used as an excuse not to take responsibility for, and control of, emotional feelings. That is not to say that bottling things up is good either, just that there is a balance which is more appropriate, better for the individual and those who may wish to share or help, and more dignified. I think we undervalue diginity and modesty.
I feel their is a respectable balance needed and all this crying at a drop of a hat when you are awarded something is totaly uncalled for,its not until you see families,like the Walker family conducting themselves in such a resposible manner during an interview,after something so terrible,that you see and respect such dignity and control being shown.
>> Edited by ZR1cliff on Thursday 1st December 21:13
Prof Beard said:
I feel that the "let it all out" school of emotional exhibitionism is very negative, as it is used as an excuse not to take responsibility for, and control of, emotional feelings. That is not to say that bottling things up is good either, just that there is a balance which is more appropriate, better for the individual and those who may wish to share or help, and more dignified. I think we undervalue diginity and modesty.
Well Said
We need a return to the qualities which made Britain great.
rude-boy said:
Agent Smith: Did you know that the first Matrix was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program.
I think a Matrix like this would work very well personally and only a few would fail to accept the program
And would you call those few the 'remainder of an imbalanced equation' perhaps?
ZR1cliff said:
I feel that the "let it all out" school of emotional exhibitionism is very negative, as it is used as an excuse not to take responsibility for, and control of, emotional feelings. That is not to say that bottling things up is good either, just that there is a balance which is more appropriate, better for the individual and those who may wish to share or help, and more dignified. I think we undervalue diginity and modesty.
I feel their is a respectable balance needed and all this crying at a drop of a hat when you are awarded something is totaly uncalled for,its not until you see families,like the Walker family conducting themselves in such a resposible manner during an interview,after something so terrible,that you see and respect such dignity and control being shown.
>> Edited by ZR1cliff on Thursday 1st December 21:13
Hear hear.
Most of these wild emotional displays are just crocodile tears.
I think emotions are increasingly misplaced these days.
More and more people seem choked up about the lives and deaths of celebrities we've never even met, yet there seems to be more and more crimes committed with a complete lack of empathy or emotion for the victim.
Or maybe I'm just noticing it more as I get older.
More and more people seem choked up about the lives and deaths of celebrities we've never even met, yet there seems to be more and more crimes committed with a complete lack of empathy or emotion for the victim.
Or maybe I'm just noticing it more as I get older.
PhillT said:
I think emotions are increasingly misplaced these days.
More and more people seem choked up about the lives and deaths of celebrities we've never even met, yet there seems to be more and more crimes committed with a complete lack of empathy or emotion for the victim.
Or maybe I'm just noticing it more as I get older.
Nah, I think you're spot on.
I always remember sometime ago when a member of a notorious chav gang got killed (revenge killing I reckon), and you've never seen anything like it at the funeral! All the chavs and chavettes sobbing their hearts out like it was Jesus who died.Those who cried the most were the biggest trouble makers you had the misfortune of meeting, and there they were in church with their gold chains , rings on every finger , lip, nose and eye brow pretending to follow every word the man of the cloth was saying, the hypocritical bar-stewards!
Talk about crocodile tears!
Talk about crocodile tears!
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