I'm Going To Whine About The Age of Whiners

ER · February 06, 2020, 12:34:27 PM

Have you noticed we live in the golden age of whiny people?

And have you noticed how whiners are given so much attention? How they're even applauded for their whininess, when not long ago to whine was a character flaw?

And have you noticed more people than ever seem to feel entitled to whine, and to subject other people to their whines?

Wonder why that is?

As I see it people have never had less about which to whine.

Speaking globally, more people than at any point in history have access to clean water, sanitation, medical care, and useful information. Life expectancy is on the rise, more of the planet is economically developed than ever, childhood diseases are either eradicated or waning, racism is drying up, democracy is spreading, gender-parity is closer than ever, and yet people whine like they have it bad, and it seems those who whine the most have the least reason to be whiny.

I recently met some Kurdish people, Kurds being the most picked-on human beings on Earth, deprived of civil rights, deprived of life, liberty, even a country in their ancestral homeland, and yet they were happy, positive, uncomplaining people who seemed focused on improving their own lot in life, not complaining and whining to others. I met them and I thought....wow. Imagine if everyone had that sort of fortitude. I compared them to many first-world people I knew and I felt shocked....and shamed.

It's like among us, where we have it so good, there is some collective confusion that sees being pitied as so desirable a thing that it's sought after, and the understanding of what it is to be pitied has been lost coinciding with the age of social media. (For the record, when someone pities you, that person sees you as having less status than she or he does, and do you want to be thought less of?)

I hope this is a trend that will pass, but I fear what will make it pass is an onset of some great crisis that will bring on such hard times that people will be forced to struggle so hard to survive they won't have time or means to whine anymore, and those who do whine will either die in their "#poor me" helplessness, or be so shunned by those who are working hard to make it that they'll be shoved aside and thereby silenced.

If you're reading this, I'd say to you you have it good. Speaking historically and globally, you're one of the lucky ones: the lucky few. Consider yourself fortunate beyond the kings of the ancient world, and cherish the unearned goodness you have.

And if you can't see that, then....you're foolish.

And of what value are fools?

Alex · February 06, 2020, 01:10:02 PM

The joys of first world problems my dear. People won't realise how good they really have it until they lose it.

All I can feel for these people is pity, and that is an emotion I always associate with contempt (unlike sympathy where I will feel for someone and want to help them).

retrorussell · February 06, 2020, 02:32:58 PM

People want to whine and not put forth any effort to make things better-- though often their situation isn't even bad at all. And this country is more and more inclined to bend to their whim. F***ing snowflakes.

Allhallowsday · February 06, 2020, 03:31:33 PM

I don't care for explanations.
I don't like excuses.
Sometimes, an explanation is fair and an excuse warranted.
I've had some bad luck in the past couple of years, yet I asserted to a good friend recently that I consider myself a lucky man. He asked why, so I explained (none here).
We are living in a time of self-absorption, obfuscation, and diversion. My attitude is, get on with it or put a cork in it. About two years ago some of this bad news got around and my surviving older brother said to me: "My little brother, it's not fair! Boo hoo hoo!" I reacted negatively to his "tears": "You never treated me like your 'little brother'!" He is cursed with loads of excuses. I told him to put a cork in it. It's useless whining horse hockey.

WingedSerpent · February 06, 2020, 05:42:08 PM

People have always been whiney. Its just we now have social media to exacerbate it.

RCMerchant · February 06, 2020, 05:48:54 PM

Quote from: retrorussell on February 06, 2020, 02:32:58 PM
F***ing snowflakes.

I hear this term quite often- I still don't understand what it means, or what snow has anything to do with the price of eggs in China.

I DO know it's a hardcore conservative term for "bleeding heart" liberals, but seems to me folks on both sides of the political fence both seem to cry about their lot in life.

Alex · February 06, 2020, 06:14:38 PM

Quote from: RCMerchant on February 06, 2020, 05:48:54 PM
Quote from: retrorussell on February 06, 2020, 02:32:58 PM
F***ing snowflakes.

I hear this term quite often- I still don't understand what it means, or what snow has anything to do with the price of eggs in China.
I DO know it's a hardcore conservative term for "bleeding heart" liberals, but seems to me folks on both sides of the political fence both seem to cry about their lot in life.

For myself, I use it to describe anyone who gets upset at the slightest thing.

RCMerchant · February 06, 2020, 06:17:15 PM

^ But why "snowflake"? Why not "raindrop", or "hailstone"?

Allhallowsday · February 06, 2020, 06:24:22 PM

Quote from: RCMerchant on February 06, 2020, 06:17:15 PM
^ But why "snowflake"? Why not "raindrop", or "hailstone"?

Because a snowflake is well formed, but melts easily.
Also, it is intended to disparage any liberal man's manhood. 'Cause he's a "...snowflake..."

retrorussell · February 06, 2020, 06:30:00 PM

Yeah-- it melts easily, like their sense of self-worth, responsibility and moral code. I'm certainly not going to peg all liberals or young people like that, but even more than that attitude I get annoyed at those that encourage it by bowing to their supposed "needs". Work hard, be responsible, don't p*ss people off and don't be a whiny little b**ch!

Allhallowsday · February 06, 2020, 06:33:08 PM

And don't forget he's a snowflake, 'cause he's delicate!

Rev. Powell · February 06, 2020, 06:53:57 PM

Quote from: RCMerchant on February 06, 2020, 06:17:15 PM
^ But why "snowflake"? Why not "raindrop", or "hailstone"?

http://youtu.be/iyWve3H4QDs

RCMerchant · February 06, 2020, 07:06:59 PM

I have noticed that the term gets thrown around quite liberally..
"Liberally". Get it? Like "liberal"? Haha!

Ah-ha..ha...

I'll show myself out...

chainsaw midget · February 06, 2020, 10:46:49 PM

Quote from: RCMerchant on February 06, 2020, 06:17:15 PM
^ But why "snowflake"? Why not "raindrop", or "hailstone"?

I think it has something to do with every how they say every snowflake is special and unique.

Alex · February 07, 2020, 05:10:30 AM

I don't see any particular reason to limit the phrase to liberals. Right now, it seems like both sides of the coin act the same way. You ever listened to any of those right of centre radio talk shows/podcasts? Oh boo hoo, I don't get everything my way and there are things happening that I don't like so I am just going to whine about them endlessly.

Certainly in the UK it seems to apply to a broader base of people than just one specific area of politics.