What's the single factor for most people not caring? (about social change)

[R_P_A_S]

In YOUR personal experiences with family, friends and colleagues.. what's the most obvious reason why some people just don't seem to care about the politics that shape our lives and decide our future?

Some people know every single reality show or when the next Apple gadget is hitting the store... But can't take 5 minutes out of their week to read a headline on some news that concerns them.

Why?

[Yuppie Grinder]

Because conseumerism is comfortable.

[Le Rouge]

Because of corruption I guess...At least for some people I know. Maybe they are excusing their laziness.

[Iron Felix]

If you don't teach a man to think, he probably won't. If you teach him not to think, then of course he won't.

[Lynx]

In my experience, the main reasons are cynicism and being too busy or preoccupied.

[Agent Equality]

Because its viewed with a varying degree of....stinginess. Its weird to want change apparently

[The Jay]

Last fall when there was a petition going around to call for the Patriot Act to not be extended I asked my roommates to just type their name and email address, but they wouldn't even agree to let me do it on their behalf. When pressed on the issue they said that they didn't really care since they had nothing to hide. Needless to say, my jaw was on the floor for the next three weeks.

[tfb]

I think they see that their votes don't do anything, but have been led to believe that communism only works "in theory" (so there is no alternative to capitalism), that any violence is bad (so revolution is out), that personal property rights are sacred, that something supernatural will keep bad things in check, etc., so they just give up on trying to change anything or worrying about anything.

[Arlekino]

Little out of topic maybe. Is funny how society are not interesting in politics. Today I serve 4 ladies as myself waiter, I brought menu there is picture of ginger cat on the table, again I brought drinks they are talking about cat, again starters and main course still talking about cat. So it gives idea how we in love of animals.

[xub3rn00dlex]

From my experiences it's their feeling of supremacy when compared to others, this including racism, sexism, etc.

[R_P_A_S]

How about you guys? what's there ever a point in your lives that you were just as apathetic or worst? What made YOU change?

[xub3rn00dlex]

How about you guys? what's there ever a point in your lives that you were just as apathetic or worst? What made YOU change?

Yes. Meeting my ex.

[The CPSU Chairman]

Cynicism. A resigned hopelessness. People see that things are shit, but they don't believe it can get any better, so they don't try. Caring about bad things that can't be changed is too stressful, so people turn to mindless, meaningless consumerism to eat up their time. Heavy consumerist propaganda also plays a role here. Consumerism is "in", and people want to be popular and fit in with everyone else.

[MustCrushCapitalism]

Uneducatedness. Propaganda starts being yelled into your ears the minute you understand the words.

Beyond that, people who are uninterested in politics just... ack.

[R_P_A_S]

Cynicism. A resigned hopelessness. People see that things are shit, but they don't believe it can get any better, so they don't try. Caring about bad things that can't be changed is too stressful, so people turn to mindless, meaningless consumerism to eat up their time. Heavy consumerist propaganda also plays a role here. Consumerism is "in", and people want to be popular and fit in with everyone else.

I agree! There's also an other pretext... For example... My mother who i love to death.. she sees how involved I am and I asked her.. "doesn't this concern you?" She tells me.. "My only concern is you, your brother and sister." I work for my family and serve my family... I'm too old now to be running around for other peoples causes if I can barely keep my home organized.."

[NewLeft]

In my experience, the main reasons are cynicism and being too busy or preoccupied.

What a versatile excuse!
I'm too busy to excercise/cook/work/date..

[tfb]

How about you guys? what's there ever a point in your lives that you were just as apathetic or worst? What made YOU change?

I was apathetic until the Gaza flotilla raid and a facebook argument about it with a guy who was in the IDF.

[Boothe]

The failure of the education system have taken their toll on the world. It isn't "cool" to the majority of people to care about the problems of the world, let alone the ways to move forward and fix them. However, the minute you begin discussion of celebrity scandals and sports, then suddenly everyone takes an interest in the conversation. It is an extremely sad situation to witness everyday and just makes me that much more dedicated to the pursuit of our cause.

[Azraella]

How about you guys? what's there ever a point in your lives that you were just as apathetic or worst? What made YOU change?

Depression, anger, hate... it's all normal expressions of dissatisfaction with the system. You know... when I was younger, we'll say after my brother was killed at 9-11, I became a very angry person, I became a strong anti-theistic but theistic misotheist if that makes sense. I was angry at God and I wanted to destroy religion because I seen it as a false hope. God was a bastard and hated his own creations and he was going to send us all to hell. I carried that anger with me for several years. Jung's ideas started to get to me and I found myself questioning things. I hated people, including people I never met, I hated god, and I even hated myself. I went into a sort of deistic phase at first after I started to chill out and I started reading and learning about socialism. I read lots of Tolstoy too, especially about religion and I went into a spiritual awakening phase and found Asatru shortly after. Through lots of reading and grappling with the superior minds of people that have made a profound impact in how I view the world.

I didn't grasp this then, and especially when I was younger and angry, but I finally think I understand what Tolstoy meant when he talked about religious and scientific superstitions. It is incredibly easy to give in to hate. I mean, sure, I have a strong dislike of the state and capitalism and organized religion, and it is incredibly hard at times to seperate the sin from the sinner, but we must. It is not hate that drives me. It's my love for people and their potential. It's not what we are, it's what we could be. Man is to serve man, and I want to end man's inhumanity to man and beast.

I am a Giver. That much is for sure. That is what years of refining myself, I still grapple with my own shadow. The revolution does indeed begin with you. I have yet to to know the other side of me. Am I an Orphan? Frightened of others caring for me? Perhaps I am the Destroyer, who wants to destroy a system to create something better. The funny and sad thing is that I wish I grasped this when I was younger. Excuse my ageism, but I sincerely wish I had grown up sooner.

Sorry for rambling.

[RadioRaheem84]

People have a fear of losing what little they have gained even though they know that advocating for social change they would gain so much more.

But it's the toss up that if they lose, they'll lose big.

Coupled with a serious presupposed view that the rich rightfully deserve their gains.

That messing it up for them (the rich) might mess it up for them (the aspiring rich) in the future too.

[No_Leaders]

I think it's due to complacency. People get what they want like a new HD tv, or that promotion at work. Not to mention your average bourgeoisie dilutes himself with television sitcoms, sports games, and so on. I think really it's because most people don't know any better or don't care. They're brought up into a life thats filled with mass consumerism, and ads, symbols of corporate greed and dominance everywhere. From the cars driving next to you on your way to work, to the starbucks on the street corner, to the billboads screaming at you down the interstate. This is a well tuned machine that has been constantly growing, and people accept it as 'the way it is'. This is why showing people there are alternatives is so very important especially now. People need to open their eyes and see that there is more to life than just countless fashion accessories, and what the Patriots did to the Jets on sunday, or that new episode of 'insert random sitcom'. These distractions keep people indoctrinated and oblivious to the point that it's so etched into people's minds that THIS is happiness. This is the 'American Dream' so to say. It's moving out of the apartment and getting that house, it's buying that new mercedes benz, It's getting that promotion you've been striving for. It's all senseless, mindless 'dreams' that the bourgeoisie chases, due to constant brainwashing and indoctrination.

[Nox]

People don't care because they think that they are just one person and thus can't make a difference to anything.

It's kind of ironic because it's right to an extent but if everyone thought that way then nothing would get done.

[Black_Rose]

" Not to mention your average bourgeoisie dilutes himself with television sitcoms, sports games, and so on."

I am not a bourgeoisie, merely upper-middle class.

BTW, I am not aware that the bourgeoisie immerses themselves in sports.

In addition, I am an MLB fan, and I don't think my patronage of watching FOX's game of the week and free TV Dodger games has diminished my sense of class consciousness.


and what the Patriots did to the Jets on sunday

If I remember correctly the Jets played against the Bills and the Jets won. I don't know what will happen to Sanchez this week. I don't know if I care. Maybe too many people are hoping Cam Newton would do well for their fantasy teams.