The Naipaul-challenge

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Originally Posted by prickly_pete

They're not overexaggerated though, that's the thing. Millions of people are currently on medication for depression. Millions more are drug-addicts. Millions more still are in therapy or counseling for anger management, sexual anxiety, feelings of powerlessness, or some other psychological problem. You can't simply ignore these questions by pointing out that there are a large number of charities. The two facts are completely unrelated. Its like saying we have 0% unemployment because attendance at Yankee Stadium is up compared to last season.

Completely counterproductive to talk about things this way.

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I'm not ignoring that people require therapy or receive counseling. I'm suggesting, again, that your argument is one-sided. Let me clarify.

My argument for this sub-topic is that you're overly generalizing society based on only one component of it. I am not disregarding the millions of people requiring medication or in depression. My consistent rebuttal is that there are just as many, perhaps more people than your somber forecast, donating, participating in charity, and involved in selfless acts of kindness. This isn't to suggest that your general notions should be dismissed, but that you're ignorant to the abundant kindness in society, one that is often less documented by the media distributing the news because it is less attention-grabbing. Your argument suggests a one-sided nosedive into self-pitying depression and misery. Yet it is ignorant to the exponential growth of participation in charity, which demonstrates a greater willingness to be involved and demonstrate selfless acts of kindness. Your arguments suggest a one-sided understanding that is ignorant to that which goes underappreciated and under-reported in all of our mediums of newscasting.

For that reason, your argument fails. It seeks to create a broad generalization of contemporary life that is ignorant to the less-noticable qualities that define contemporary life. Does it suffer from depression, drug addiction and general strife? Yes. But it is not defined by it, as you try to do.

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Originally Posted by IceM

I'm not ignoring that people require therapy or receive counseling. I'm suggesting, again, that your argument is one-sided. Let me clarify.

My argument for this sub-topic is that you're overly generalizing society based on only one component of it. I am not disregarding the millions of people requiring medication or in depression. My consistent rebuttal is that there are just as many, perhaps more people than your somber forecast, donating, participating in charity, and involved in selfless acts of kindness. This isn't to suggest that your general notions should be dismissed, but that you're ignorant to the abundant kindness in society, one that is often less documented by the media distributing the news because it is less attention-grabbing. Your argument suggests a one-sided nosedive into self-pitying depression and misery. Yet it is ignorant to the exponential growth of participation in charity, which demonstrates a greater willingness to be involved and demonstrate selfless acts of kindness. Your arguments suggest a one-sided understanding that is ignorant to that which goes underappreciated and under-reported in all of our mediums of newscasting.

For that reason, your argument fails. It seeks to create a broad generalization of contemporary life that is ignorant to the less-noticable qualities that define contemporary life. Does it suffer from depression, drug addiction and general strife? Yes. But it is not defined by it, as you try to do.

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He's understands your argument... he's simply pretending not to

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Originally Posted by IceM

For that reason, your argument fails. It seeks to create a broad generalization of contemporary life that is ignorant to the less-noticable qualities that define contemporary life. Does it suffer from depression, drug addiction and general strife? Yes. But it is not defined by it, as you try to do.

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Fair enough, but allow me to clarify as well ;)

It is true that more people are involved in charities, but again this has no more bearing on general mental health than does an increase in gym memberships. I point out depression and drug use as symptoms of a more general social problem. If you look at popular music, at film, at news, at the speeches of elected officials you can't help but notice that our age has a very pessimistic tone compared with previous ages. There's not alot of belief in personal initiative, or enterprise, or self-reliance, or self-confidence. The vast majority of people generally think society is heading in the wrong direction.

This is very different from previous ages (such at the Pioneer or Colonical Times) that had a much more optimistic tone expressed in the art, public speaking, and views of themselves.

7/10 but I recognized a few.

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Originally Posted by JBI

7/10 but I recognized a few.

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That's exactly what I scored too.

So men are as sentimental as women? I think I will remember this the next time I'm sick....

I would rather have a woman looking after me...

Yeah, women make be the only thing that actually makes life worth living.

Is this Naipaul who we're referring to the V.S. Naipaul? Then let me assure you - this is what he lives for - to irk people. Albeit his writing is exceptional but the man is a nihilist. Whatever is, to him is not.

It is VS Naipaul.