25 September 2008

Yes, complain, complain, complain; it is our national pastime.  But are we any different from others?  The wife of a Palestinian Arab told me once that her husband avoided his countrymen because that's all they did, was complain - in a highly vocal and argumentative manner.

No, complaining is an international pastime.  Of course, the media is aware of this and exploits it.  But tonight I am not targeting the media - for a change.  I am targeting us; what we seem to be becoming.

It suddenly occurred to me today that not only do we like to complain, but there is a seemingly growing number of people who not only love to complain, but their motive is to use complaining to hurt - to damange.  Much like playground tattle-tales they want to get someone in trouble, or worse, destroy them.  What is this all about?

Is it the lingering immaturity of which we can not help being aware today?  The twenty somethings that act like they were still eighteen?  Or sixteen?  Or is it pure venality?  A desire to want to destroy?  To that allow me to stretch to another extreme: could it have something to do with a lack of compassion that seems to be coming from TV's blood and guts specials?  The tough venere that comes from gang psychology?

Or is it just plain mean-ness?  Parents (many) don't go to teachers to discuss, they go to the principal to get teachers in trouble.  Politicians don't debate, they try to destroy by inuendo if facts are lacking.   And an apparently growing number of managers feel that leadership is something akin to humiliation - or character assassination of colleagues.  Can I use the word respect ?  Or more appropriately growing lack of personal respect?  What's with us?  Are we so convinced that we are now living in a zero  sum game, that to win someone else has to lose?

Tell me I am dreaming this and this isn't real.  Please.  But until you do I am becoming uncomfortably convinced that it is.  First terrorists, then hackers - of course there have always been criminals, but even they seem to becoming more brutal.  There's the word: brutal.  Complaining is harmless, more or less, but brutal destruction?  For the pleasure of doing it?  That's pathetic.