Morality in Decline
Most people over 40 agree that morals in western society have been in a downward spiral for the past few decades. We see it everywhere--in the violence all around us, in the promiscuous behavior of the young generation, in the road rage on our highways, and in the general disregard that people show for one another
Kids don’t respect their elders the way they used to, and they think nothing of cheating on exams. Vandalism is common and computer hackers get enjoyment out of messing up other people’s computers. If young people think this is the way things have always been, they're wrong.
Not long ago, the worst things that American kids did in school were to chew gum or pass notes to their friends during class. Now sexual behavior and carrying knives or guns are the main problems. Some schools now have metal detectors at their entrances and pass out condoms to the boys.
Dress codes used to be strict, but today fashions focus on showing as much skin as possible. In the old days students danced at school dances, but today what passes for dancing is more like simulated sex on the dance floor. They call it “freak dancing”. Dancers rub against each other in sex positions. Most schools have banned it, but students say they just’ having fun”.
The USA isn't the only country experiencing a breakdown of morality. In Japan and Korea the recent trend is for middle-aged men to pay $100 or so to spend 2 or 3 hours having sex with teenage girls. South Korea now has an all-sex cable channel, but just a few years ago that would have been unthinkable.
Many people blame the entertainment media movies, TV, the music industry —for the decline of morals in society. Many movies are filled with unnecessary violence and sex. Even computer games are centered around killing the opponents.
Pop stars, who are the role models for teenagers, have to be sexy in order to become popular. TV news channels sensationalize their news programs with video scenes of violence to steal TV viewers away from the other news channels.
The result of society's preoccupation with violence and sex is that the public has become desensitized. Scenes that would have shocked audiences 30 years ago don't surprise anybody today. Nobody is shocked by public nudity. Naturally , most producers of entertainment: media claim they're only giving people what they want. They say that their artistic creations only portray life as it is and that they are not responsible for causing it. They say they wouldn't produce if people wouldn't buy it, and they're probably right.
Another possible reason for the decline of morality is the breakdown of the family caused by rising divorce rates. Meanwhile, the digital generation is producing a generation of social misfits who can interact better with computers than with other human beings.
