And YouTube does not help at all.

I watch between 12 and 18 vids a week on YouTube,
And
Ten days ago I started seeing vids about shop lifters, drugged out homeless people, car hackers, thugs thugging.

I never googled any of that and have no interest in watching any aspect of that.

Those vids are what prompted this thread.

Even Steven. But seriously, there is no correct answer. Define a "good" person and a "bad" one. You're going to have a thousand answers.

The vast majority of people are good.

One problem is the bad people are prolific. They're crime waves in and of themselves.

Good people never make the news because they spend all their time working, taking care of their families and doing all the mundane things we all take for granted.

YouTube is crap. Sensationalist bullshit solely focused on getting views. The National Enquirer of the modern age.

Wait...do I get an opinion as an "outsider"?

I prefer the term, "lesser 49"

Seriously, the definitions of "good" vs "bad" in terms of people has blurred lines these days. Maybe it's always been that way. I've been blown away by the compassion and selfless service of some people who, by all societal norms, including the ones you've listed, would be considered a bad person. More commonly, I've become increasingly jaded to the ugliness of people who I'd label "Instagram Christians," you know, the ones putting on a public show of holiness while committing true atrocities behind closed doors.

Some of the most vile and evil people on the planet, in my mind, are considered good, societal contributing Americans. Respected amongst their peers.

My spouse asked me if I include the people that do nothing to abate, say or discourage the bad people ,
In The bad people column

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
My spouse asked me if I include the people that do nothing to abate, say or discourage the bad people ,
In The bad people column

I certainly do. I believe they are worse than those doing wrong. Evil can't be blamed for being evil...but those who make the choice to do nothing, or ignore it...they make me sick. They know better.

All it takes for evil to prevail. . . . .
Yadda yadda yadda

To some extent, you will see and find what you are looking for.

If you think people are bad, you are much more likely to see that.

If you think people are good, you will see more of them.

It varies a bit depending on circumstances, but yeah, you'll see what you expect to see.

To add to that, ponder how one's attitude, either positive or negative, and to what extent your perception of good and bad will be.

It's your choice.
.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OKCGene,

Society has two choices:

It can be almost all good people, but occasionally “weird” gets lumped in with bad, and bad people may not get the chance to rehabilitate.

Or, bad people are allowed to interact with society, and get protected, and hope it doesn’t reach the point of changing to a low trust society.

A high trust society is a must, for civilization. Civilization can survive dictatorship, speech restrictions, etc.

It cannot survive a low-trust culture.

We are nearing a nadir of low trust - I’m concerned Biden will get a second term. If so, that will, probably, be the nadir/break the GOPs leadership enough to let some actual conservative/libertarians take leadership roles.

We have to swing back. We cannot let the nation become Miami.