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Post by SharksFan99 on Jan 24, 2018 23:47:56 GMT 10
A common characteristic of nostalgia is to only focus on the positives and completely overlook the negative aspects of a certain time period. Given that the 2000s were the previous decade, it is increasingly beginning to receive more nostalgia as time progresses. Yet, many people are subconsciously glorifying the positive characteristics of the decade and not addressing what 2000s culture/society was truly like.
I figured that this thread would be a change of pace, as instead of discussing what the positive aspects of the 2000s were, it delves into what the other, "less-positive" characteristics of 2000s society were like. In your opinion, what were some of the worst aspects of the 2000s?
Here are a couple I can think of:
* Individuality wasn't as embraced as much back in the 2000s, at least when you compare it with the 2010s. 2010s culture is essentially based on being true to yourself and following your own path.
* Homophobia was still prevalent. When I think back to what it was like when I was a kid, it's great to see how social attitudes have progressed within the past 5-10 years. Many countries around the world have now achieved marriage equality.
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Post by X2M on Jan 25, 2018 12:18:39 GMT 10
The two disastrous wars. They have taken a toll on the US since they began, and it took forever for both Iraq and Afghanistan to end. Not only did they cost millions or billions of dollars and there were lots of casualties, but there also wasn't honestly any purpose of invading those countries in the first place.
9/11 - Self-explanatory
The Bush administration. The actions of this presidency caused us to be where we are right now.
Hurricane Katrina. It devastated New Orleans and the areas surrounding the city to where people had to evacuate and relocate to other places. It destroyed thousands of homes, killed dozens of people and cost millions of dollars in damages.
The 2000 election. The results of this event caused an unpopular candidate to win the election which then produced other unfortunate events that took place later on.
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Post by #Infinity on Jan 28, 2018 19:03:38 GMT 10
* Individuality wasn't as embraced as much back in the 2000s, at least when you compare it with the 2010s. 2010s culture is essentially based on being true to yourself and following your own path. Coming from you of all people, this surprises me. I thought you felt the 2010s have been an era of pressured conformity and a generally shallow, homogenous flavour to the pop culture of the time? I'd guess you think the 1990s were more individualistic still, but I really don't see how the social media-dominated 2010s are nearly as positive a time for the individual as much as they're a prime era for coffee shop hipsters and loudmouthed alt-righters in particular.
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Post by longaotian on Jan 28, 2018 19:24:10 GMT 10
* Individuality wasn't as embraced as much back in the 2000s, at least when you compare it with the 2010s. 2010s culture is essentially based on being true to yourself and following your own path. Coming from you of all people, this surprises me. I thought you felt the 2010s have been an era of pressured conformity and a generally shallow, homogenous flavour to the pop culture of the time? I'd guess you think the 1990s were more individualistic still, but I really don't see how the social media-dominated 2010s are nearly as positive a time for the individual as much as they're a prime era for coffee shop hipsters and loudmouthed alt-righters in particular. I was thinking the exact same thing lol
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Post by SharksFan99 on Jan 28, 2018 23:21:37 GMT 10
* Individuality wasn't as embraced as much back in the 2000s, at least when you compare it with the 2010s. 2010s culture is essentially based on being true to yourself and following your own path. Coming from you of all people, this surprises me. I thought you felt the 2010s have been an era of pressured conformity and a generally shallow, homogenous flavour to the pop culture of the time? I'd guess you think the 1990s were more individualistic still, but I really don't see how the social media-dominated 2010s are nearly as positive a time for the individual as much as they're a prime era for coffee shop hipsters and loudmouthed alt-righters in particular. The issue with the 2010s, is that the mainstream pop culture doesn't entirely correlate with social attitudes and ideals. The music industry is over-saturated by two music genres and billions of people access the same social media sites daily, yet we have seen significant progression in marriage equality and an increased emphasis on minority groups. It's a complete contrast. I do believe that mainstream culture this decade has been quite shallow and very conformist. However, with that said, I believe there is a collective social attitude about promoting individuality and equality. There are more avenues to express yourself and people are encouraged to be true to themselves. When I think back to what life was like when I was a kid, individuality just wasn't as strong of a focus. For instance, Emo culture was frowned upon by many, despite the fact that it was a counter-culture in it's own right. If Emo culture was still relevant now, it's quite likely that it would be more publicly accepted, because it's a scene which promotes individuality and not conforming to the masses.
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Post by #Infinity on Jan 29, 2018 1:38:58 GMT 10
Coming from you of all people, this surprises me. I thought you felt the 2010s have been an era of pressured conformity and a generally shallow, homogenous flavour to the pop culture of the time? I'd guess you think the 1990s were more individualistic still, but I really don't see how the social media-dominated 2010s are nearly as positive a time for the individual as much as they're a prime era for coffee shop hipsters and loudmouthed alt-righters in particular. The issue with the 2010s, is that the mainstream pop culture doesn't entirely correlate with social attitudes and ideals. The music industry is over-saturated by two music genres and billions of people access the same social media sites daily, yet we have seen significant progression in marriage equality and an increased emphasis on minority groups. It's a complete contrast. I do believe that mainstream culture this decade has been quite shallow and very conformist. However, with that said, I believe there is a collective social attitude about promoting individuality and equality. There are more avenues to express yourself and people are encouraged to be true to themselves. When I think back to what life was like when I was a kid, individuality just wasn't as strong of a focus. For instance, Emo culture was frowned upon by many, despite the fact that it was a counter-culture in it's own right. If Emo culture was still relevant now, it's quite likely that it would be more publicly accepted, because it's a scene which promotes individuality and not conforming to the masses. Well, I don't really feel countercultures today are any more frowned upon than they were in the past. Maybe the LGBTQ, #MeToo, and Black Lives Matter movements have given the facade that this decade is super progressive and individuality is celebrated, since minorities are standing up for social justice more than ever before, but the problem is with the heated discussions they've wrought, there's also a greater atmosphere of paranoia and distrust, which for a lot of people has forced them into collective identities for fear of being criticized. A good example of this is my own experience as a queer woman. My traditional femininity, a vital part of my natural expression, is a rather stark contrast to most lesbians, whose experiences have caused them to associate this style as oppressive and likely even submissive to men, whom they of course want not to be controlled by. They feel a lot more natural dressing, behaving, and consuming media that speaks more to this rejection of patriarchal definitions of femininity, which is of course lovely for their sake, but on the flip side really does not resonate with me at all. I personally do not feel weakened or oppressed wearing dresses and makeup. Rather, I feel empowered, as they are a significant affirmation of my individuality, which for so long had been hard for me to embrace due to my awkward social skills as a kid and general aversion to the trends of the day. I express glamour and listen to shiny, bubble gummy dance music with the same type of pride ironically that a lot of gay men have had. Tegan and Sara, Rachel Maddow, and Halsey are not my personal role models of success and individuality, they're rather figures who represent what the lesbian community tries to pressure me into celebrating. Rachel Stevens is a much more identifiable role model to my personal experience, even though she's generally more embraced by gay men rather than lesbians. Whatever the case, because my sense of expression and taste is so radically different from the predominant lesbian community, I have never been able to really make solid friends within the lesbian community and have actually disowned my lesbian label, simply because my experiences have caused it to just not feel right. To feel welcomed and make close bonds, I generally have to spend time with non-lesbians, as then I feel I'm able to just be a dignified individual rather than a black sheep in a minority group highly protective of its identity. X2M can probably speak fairly similarly for his own experience as a black man. He's told me before there are a lot of things most of his fellow black peers today really embrace that don't resonate the same way for him, and it's made him feel isolated a lot of the time. I won't go into any more detail, since it's his personal experience and he can elaborate himself if he wants to, but the point is, especially in the 2010s, if you don't fit the general mold of a particular minority group's activist identity, you're likely going to be looked down upon and feel out of place. Whether or not you're accepted as a minority really depends primarily on the general crowd you're hanging out with, and the radical climate of the 2010s have proven that in spades. On one hand, queer, racially diverse, and female individuals are less likely to be judged among college and young adult crowds with a general exposure to mainstream popular culture and diversity. However, those same people would likely feel almost as isolated and unwelcome within a socially conservative community that celebrates assholes like Trump and are in a fiery backlash against the gains made by the core popular culture of today. bchris02 from InThe00s' experience going from a liberal city environment in 2008-2012 to his rotten Missouri hometown from 2012 to the present, where he was forced back in the closet, is a more than perfect example of just how different a world one community can be from another in this day and age. Honestly, even in the 1950s, the beatnik community was a stark contrast in its values from the socially rigid suburban image the decade has earned today, and many of its most celebrated figures, from Jack Kerouac, to James Dean, to Marlon Brando, were all active bisexuals, despite laws at the time that outlawed same-sex relationships. Maybe '50s beatniks weren't quite as progressive as '10s hipsters are, but the biggest overall distinction between then and now is really the legal recognition from the figures in power, which has made things safer for minorities in most, albeit not all parts of the world.
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Post by SharksFan99 on Jan 29, 2018 9:31:38 GMT 10
Well, I don't really feel countercultures today are any more frowned upon than they were in the past. Maybe the LGBTQ, #MeToo, and Black Lives Matter movements have given the facade that this decade is super progressive and individuality is celebrated, since minorities are standing up for social justice more than ever before, but the problem is with the heated discussions they've wrought, there's also a greater atmosphere of paranoia and distrust, which for a lot of people has forced them into collective identities for fear of being criticized. A good example of this is my own experience as a queer woman. My traditional femininity, a vital part of my natural expression, is a rather stark contrast to most lesbians, whose experiences have caused them to associate this style as oppressive and likely even submissive to men, whom they of course want not to be controlled by. They feel a lot more natural dressing, behaving, and consuming media that speaks more to this rejection of patriarchal definitions of femininity, which is of course lovely for their sake, but on the flip side really does not resonate with me at all. I personally do not feel weakened or oppressed wearing dresses and makeup. Rather, I feel empowered, as they are a significant affirmation of my individuality, which for so long had been hard for me to embrace due to my awkward social skills as a kid and general aversion to the trends of the day. I express glamour and listen to shiny, bubble gummy dance music with the same type of pride ironically that a lot of gay men have had. Tegan and Sara, Rachel Maddow, and Halsey are not my personal role models of success and individuality, they're rather figures who represent what the lesbian community tries to pressure me into celebrating. Rachel Stevens is a much more identifiable role model to my personal experience, even though she's generally more embraced by gay men rather than lesbians. Whatever the case, because my sense of expression and taste is so radically different from the predominant lesbian community, I have never been able to really make solid friends within the lesbian community and have actually disowned my lesbian label, simply because my experiences have caused it to just not feel right. To feel welcomed and make close bonds, I generally have to spend time with non-lesbians, as then I feel I'm able to just be a dignified individual rather than a black sheep in a minority group highly protective of its identity. X2M can probably speak fairly similarly for his own experience as a black man. He's told me before there are a lot of things most of his fellow black peers today really embrace that don't resonate the same way for him, and it's made him feel isolated a lot of the time. I won't go into any more detail, since it's his personal experience and he can elaborate himself if he wants to, but the point is, especially in the 2010s, if you don't fit the general mold of a particular minority group's activist identity, you're likely going to be looked down upon and feel out of place. Whether or not you're accepted as a minority really depends primarily on the general crowd you're hanging out with, and the radical climate of the 2010s have proven that in spades. On one hand, queer, racially diverse, and female individuals are less likely to be judged among college and young adult crowds with a general exposure to mainstream popular culture and diversity. However, those same people would likely feel almost as isolated and unwelcome within a socially conservative community that celebrates assholes like Trump and are in a fiery backlash against the gains made by the core popular culture of today. bchris02 from InThe00s' experience going from a liberal city environment in 2008-2012 to his rotten Missouri hometown from 2012 to the present, where he was forced back in the closet, is a more than perfect example of just how different a world one community can be from another in this day and age. Honestly, even in the 1950s, the beatnik community was a stark contrast in its values from the socially rigid suburban image the decade has earned today, and many of its most celebrated figures, from Jack Kerouac, to James Dean, to Marlon Brando, were all active bisexuals, despite laws at the time that outlawed same-sex relationships. Maybe '50s beatniks weren't quite as progressive as '10s hipsters are, but the biggest overall distinction between then and now is really the legal recognition from the figures in power, which has made things safer for minorities in most, albeit not all parts of the world. Thank you for your post. To be honest, I always had the impression that the 2010s were more socially progressive and individualistic than the 2000s. However, after reading your post and the experiences you, Cowboy_Fan and bchris02 have had, I've come to realise that it isn't entirely the case. I guess, regardless of the era, there will always be small factions of the community which continue to hold onto archaic beliefs and values, unfortunately. If only people would be more willing to embrace others and not be so stubborn in their own personal views. We would achieve so much more, if that were the case. In regards to the progressive and individualistic nature of the 2010s, I think the general perception of it would vary in different countries. I've never traveled to America before, so I might be completely wrong on this, but I've always had the impression that the US is really socially and politically divided . It seems like everyone has such contrasting views from one another. That's one aspect in which I don't like about the United States. There's so much tension caused by differences in views and values. To me, the UK, Australia and New Zealand just seem so much more unified. Of course, there would likely be some small towns in those three countries which are similar to bchris02's hometown in Missouri, but I don't think I have ever traveled to a town/village which is so conservative/backward-thinking and I've traveled through every state/territory in the country, except for Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
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Post by #Infinity on Jan 29, 2018 10:55:51 GMT 10
Thank you for your post. To be honest, I always had the impression that the 2010s were more socially progressive and individualistic than the 2000s. However, after reading your post and the experiences you, Cowboy_Fan and bchris02 have had, I've come to realise that it isn't entirely the case. I guess, regardless of the era, there will always be small factions of the community which continue to hold onto archaic beliefs and values, unfortunately. If only people would be more willing to embrace others and not be so stubborn in their own personal views. We would achieve so much more, if that were the case. In regards to the progressive and individualistic nature of the 2010s, I think the general perception of it would vary in different countries. I've never traveled to America before, so I might be completely wrong on this, but I've always had the impression that the US is really socially and politically divided . It seems like everyone has such contrasting views from one another. That's one aspect in which I don't like about the United States. There's so much tension caused by differences in views and values. To me, the UK, Australia and New Zealand just seem so much more unified. Of course, there would likely be some small towns in those three countries which are similar to bchris02's hometown in Missouri, but I don't think I have ever traveled to a town/village which is so conservative/backward-thinking and I've traveled through every state/territory in the country, except for Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Yes, your perception of America is pretty spot-on. It's an extremely polarized country as far as social values go. Even though the UK, for example, definitely has its legions of anti-immigration nationalists who voted for Brexit, plus strongholds of minority countercultures in places such as Brixton and especially Northern Ireland, the country as a whole isn't quite as divided as the US is. Even comparing the nation's current right-wing Prime Minister, Theresa May, to Donald Trump, May at least seems like an intelligent, well-intentioned leader, in spite of her wishy washy stances and general interest towards the elite classes. She isn't just some hate-mongering boor with no desire to bring her complicated homeland together, like Trump is to his country. From what I understand, too, Britain may have its more conservative regions, such as Somerset and Hampshire, but even those places aren't as notoriously backwards as the American South mostly is. States like Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina are quite comparable to Russia in their close-minded social attitudes.
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Post by SharksFan99 on Jul 25, 2018 13:37:06 GMT 10
While I was at work earlier today, I was thinking back to my own experiences at primary school and one thing I thought of, was what the most popular sayings in the playground were. I'm not sure if this was the case at other schools, but a common expression at my school was to call something "gay" if you didn't like or agree with something. Most kids in the playground said it as well. They would say something along the lines of "ew, that's so gay". In retrospect, I can't believe we got away with saying that, as it's so derogatory and insensitive.
I can't even begin to imagine how a friend of mine must have felt at the time. One of my closest friends in primary school was gay, although he didn't reveal his sexual orientation until the end of primary school. He would have had to hear all of those horrible expressions which were said by the other kids. I never made any of those comments, because I personally thought it was stupid.
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Post by smartboi on Jul 25, 2018 14:24:45 GMT 10
While I was at work earlier today, I was thinking back to my own experiences at primary school and one thing I thought of, was what the most popular sayings in the playground were. I'm not sure if this was the case at other schools, but a common expression at my school was to call something "gay" if you didn't like or agree with something. Most kids in the playground said it as well. They would say something along the lines of "ew, that's so gay". In retrospect, I can't believe we got away with saying that, as it's so derogatory and insensitive. I can't even begin to imagine how a friend of mine must have felt at the time. One of my closest friends in primary school was gay, although he didn't reveal his sexual orientation until the end of primary school. He would have had to hear all of those horrible expressions which were said by the other kids. I never made any of those comments, because I personally thought it was stupid. Yeah both gay and retard were pretty common insults when I was in elementary school as well. I even remember occasionally hearing the word retard being used on television. Its interesting how quickly things have changed. In fact, I wonder if elementary school students still talk like this.
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Post by SharksFan99 on Jul 25, 2018 16:13:59 GMT 10
Yeah both gay and retard were pretty common insults when I was in elementary school as well. I even remember occasionally hearing the word retard being used on television. Its interesting how quickly things have changed. In fact, I wonder if elementary school students still talk like this. Yep, "retard" was a common insult here as well. I actually don't think they do, to be honest. I work as a school crossing supervisor (it's my first job  ) and I have never overheard any of the kids say "gay" or "retard" during the two months that I have been doing the job. Although, it's not as if I actually spend any time in the school itself, so I guess it's possible. 
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Post by skullmaiden on Aug 13, 2018 13:01:15 GMT 10
A common characteristic of nostalgia is to only focus on the positives and completely overlook the negative aspects of a certain time period. Given that the 2000s were the previous decade, it is increasingly beginning to receive more nostalgia as time progresses. Yet, many people are subconsciously glorifying the positive characteristics of the decade and not addressing what 2000s culture/society was truly like. I figured that this thread would be a change of pace, as instead of discussing what the positive aspects of the 2000s were, it delves into what the other, "less-positive" characteristics of 2000s society were like. In your opinion, what were some of the worst aspects of the 2000s? Here are a couple I can think of: * Individuality wasn't as embraced as much back in the 2000s, at least when you compare it with the 2010s. 2010s culture is essentially based on being true to yourself and following your own path. * Homophobia was still prevalent. When I think back to what it was like when I was a kid, it's great to see how social attitudes have progressed within the past 5-10 years. Many countries around the world have now achieved marriage equality. -Individuality not being embraced enough is absolutely true of the 2000s! If you weren't a prep you were looked down upon by those people if you were alternative, or even if you didn't wear name brand. Listeners of music that wasn't pop or rap were considered outsiders and same if you didn't care for sports and you were a guy or weren't girly enough for the preppy girls. It was stupid. Now there aren't clear distinctions between subcultures, or the lines are very blurred, and it seems a bit less superficial. Hell the Tumblr style is still "in" as far as I can tell, with the brightly colored hair and all. I don't look fondly back on that part of it whatsoever. An example of how bad it could be was like this: A lady I was friends with told me of a bad experience once due to that mindset. She's middle aged, but into the alternative scene as are her kids. When one of them was younger there was some pop artist's concert she wanted to attend and there was a photo op meet and greet deal happening before the show. She wasn't dressed like a soccer mom and her daughter wasn't dressed like a cutesy little princess type and they were turned away by staff just for that alone. As you can imagine her daughter was devastated and she was furious. -On a similar note to the previous one was what got glorified and what was seen as uncool. Clubbing, partying, drinking to excess and promiscuity was seen as something the coolest people did and if you weren't into that shit you were a loser. Music these days still includes these themes, but it seems like more straight laced people aren't ragged on so much anymore for feeling differently. -Reality TV became super popular during this era and did have it's gems, but also some truly trashy garbage like Temptation Island, Rock of Love, and shows of that type. Even Big Brother had some contestants who were downright cringe worthy. These days reality TV is everywhere, but most of the shows revolve around some really mundane subject matter like antiques, wedding dresses, cakes, and businesses of all sorts.
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) and I have never overheard any of the kids say "gay" or "retard" during the two months that I have been doing the job. Although, it's not as if I actually spend any time in the school itself, so I guess it's possible. 
