The American Way of Life - Is the Stress to Blame For Crazy People?

[s0me0nesmind1]

So there are a lot of debates on whats the blame for the school shooting. I don't want to dive into them in this thread, but I'll list for reference:
1) Guns (Hands down the most popular thanks to the liberal media bias)
2) Divorce. The divorce rate is MASSIVE in this nation. The kid lived without a father
3) Violent Video Games (HILARIOUS)


But one thing I wanted to emphasize / consider was simply: The American Way of Life.

From day 1 we are stressed: WORK HARD IN SCHOOL OR YOU WILL BE A MISERABLE FAILURE! Get into those AP classes, study out the ass. Unless you're the quarterback of your football team with a future in the NFL you better be studying after school for hours on end!

When you step in to the working world - it isn't much of a different atmosphere. Unless you are a lucky < 1% that works at places like google with Nap Rooms, you are stressed 24/7. You have to make those goal numbers. You have to work for your performance evaluation. Your performance evaluation isn't based on how hard you work. It's based on how hard you work in accordance with every other employee in your team. Did you work your ass off? Yes? Well, the other 9 of your team of 10 worked even harder, so you get a bad performance.

Take a step into other nations and it's a completely different story. Europe? WAY more relaxing atmosphere. Work < 35 hour weeks to be considered full time. Automatically start with 1 month of vacation instead of the standard 2 weeks. Even in places like Mexico from people I have seen take trips down there for work - they always come back with the same comments... the work is just more relaxing there. There isn't people running down the hallways. The generation culture of America is STRESS. Do better than everyone else or you FAIL.

And look, I can respect that. I follow it. I made it to the working world and I follow it like a puppet - because I do picture myself with a 6 figure income in the future. But I have a strong frame of mind to do what I want to accomplish. Other people I'm pretty sure this can drive them nuts to the point of murder.


I don't really have an argument, I'm not saying the American Culture is the way to go - or isn't the way to go. I'm not saying it's to blame, I'm not saying it isn't to blame. I do however know that some people have a really weak frame of mind. People succumb to alcoholism much easier than others. And I don't see why that can't be true for the general life of oneself here. What is everyone else's thoughts?

 

[SaurusX]

The Japanese and Koreans have it far worse when it comes to school and work stress.

 

[Genx87]

Why cant we just accept there may not be an answer to why crazy people are crazy?

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

The Japanese and Koreans have it far worse when it comes to school and work stress.

Really? Care to describe? Legitimately I don't know, so please describe it you could please.

 

[hal2kilo]

The Japanese and Koreans have it far worse when it comes to school and work stress.

I know I damn tired of trying to support all kinds of things, wth not enough people and more demands than ever before. Retirement can't come soon enough.

Edit:Sigma 6 this! And shove it up your 5s.

 

[drebo]

The shooting was no one's fault but the kid's. End of story. People who want guns will get guns regardless if they're "banned."

 

[Retro Rob]

Freedom... too much unbridled freedom.

Obama asked the other night, "is this the price we have to pay for our freedom?".

I'd say this comes with so much freedom, and very little restraint.

 

[piasabird]

It can all be boiled down to a lack of morals and life without God. People need to quit taking happy pills and booze and just need to learn to deal with life. Too many quack doctors and depression screenings. There is a natural need to develop our spiritual side whether that is through religion or through studying phylosophy. A little exercise is also good.

 

[sigurros81]

Americans have been working their asses off since the founding of this nation. It is our way of life. Maybe you have a point though, maybe kids these days are raised with such false sense of entitlement that they feel like they do not need to work as hard to get what they 'want'.

Here are a few things to add:

-We are a medicated nation. Kids are so hopped up on all forms of pills these days, and on top of that, their parents as well. There are chemicals in our system that are slowly changing us, for better or worse, I don't know.

-Maybe culturally, we are also not keeping up with how fast everything is changing.

 

[mizzou]

The Japanese and Koreans have it far worse when it comes to school and work stress.

Agreed, as shown with Japanese suicide rates.

They thankfully for some reason, choose to kill themselves and not take down dozens of innocents with them.

 

[kache]

The Japanese and Koreans have it far worse when it comes to school and work stress.

Yep, and they keep throwing themselves off buildings.

 

[SaurusX]

Really? Care to describe? Legitimately I don't know, so please describe it you could please.

I can only go off what I've read in the news and seen on TV. In many asian countries the expectation to succeed in an overcrowded marketplace is enormous. The study schedules for kids is insane with there being the standard eight hours of school followed by an extra four hours of cram school right after. The day doesn't end there with homework of course being assigned in addition. And in Japan this is just the lead up to the HIGH SCHOOL entrance exams which are seen as a crucial indicator of your future success. As for work stress, there's a reason Japan is one of the leading countries in suicide rates.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2094427,00.html
http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/how-much-homework-does-it-take-to-educate-a-nation/
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/glob...s-suicide-world-suicide-prevention-day/56695/
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20120804a1.html

 

[Mai72]

The Japanese and Koreans have it far worse when it comes to school and work stress.

I was just thinking the same thing. Korea ranks #2 in suicide and Japan is #4.

Korean students go to school from 8am until 11pm. It's one private academy after another, and the tests they have to take basically determines their life. Once they're done college they enter the workforce and 50 -60 hour weeks are the norm. Also they aren't allowed to call in sick and if they get vacation time they are very lucky.

Koreans have it very hard.

 

[dank69]

You are aware that they didn't get divorced until 2008? So he was already ~16 by then.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

You are aware that they didn't get divorced until 2008? So he was already ~16 by then.

... Your point? 5 years old or 16 years old, my dad helped me out a lot. If anything, 16 is worse. Those are teenage years. Who is going to teach you how to do workshop shit around the house and general manly stuff? Who is going to have a beer with you after mowing the lawn? Who is going to talk to you about women?

 

[PokerGuy]

I believe stress plays a big part in the issues we have as a society, but not just personal stress. Even worse (IMO) is the vanishing support networks that people have, family and friends they can lean on to keep them (mentally) healthy. With more people working more hours, both parents working outside the home in most households, there is just that much less time for family bonding and social networking. No, not the "facebook" type social networking, that's pretty much worthless, I'm talking real interpersonal communication that keeps people mentally with it.

Single parent households make the problem that much worse.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I believe stress plays a big part in the issues we have as a society, but not just personal stress. Even worse (IMO) is the vanishing support networks that people have, family and friends they can lean on to keep them (mentally) healthy. With more people working more hours, both parents working outside the home in most households, there is just that much less time for family bonding and social networking. No, not the "facebook" type social networking, that's pretty much worthless, I'm talking real interpersonal communication that keeps people mentally with it.

This I can agree with too - as a family we used to have an organized family reunion where we rent out a beach house for 1-2 weeks. EVERYONE in the family from any side was always invited. It all of a sudden stopped

Those were during my child ages too, I guess once I get settled with my job I'll have to try and start it up again.

 

[dank69]

IMO the emerging reports that his mother was a doomsday prepper who taught him how to shoot because she feared an economic collapse is a much more likely contributor to his breakdown.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

IMO the emerging reports that his mother was a doomsday prepper who taught him how to shoot because she feared an economic collapse is a much more likely contributor to his breakdown.

Try not to dive too deep into this particular case - I'm talking about americans in general - and what leads to americans turning into crazies.

 

[BrightCandle]

I am of the opinion its your broken health care system. By having a system where only those that can afford care get it, you have also created a system where mostly healthy people get care and unwell people who can't work don't get care. Its exactly the opposite of how it should be.

Individuals with mental health issues get ejected from the system, without help eventually you see the full extent of their problems and delusions. Combine it with an incredibly brutal culture with lots of high powered guns and you have ripe conditions for quite a lot of these types of shootings.

I agree with the gun nuts, it isn't the guns, they just make the final outcome worse. But its a lot of culturally american choices on taxes and wealth disparity (the worst on the west) that I suspect is causing it. Stress in america isn't particularly more than other western cultures, although the delusion that anyone can become rich is more prevalent.

 

[dank69]

Try not to dive too deep into this particular case - I'm talking about americans in general - and what leads to americans turning into crazies.

Plain and simple it is our culture. It is uncool to study hard or excel at school. It is uncool to be a caring person. Parents don't drill good moral attitudes into their children. Parenting is thought of as a hassle. Children are viewed as burdens. Add mental instability to the mix and you have a recipe for disaster.

 

[SaurusX]

I am of the opinion its your broken health care system. By having a system where only those that can afford care get it you have also created a system where mostly healthy people get care and unwell people who can't work don't care. Its exactly the opposite of how it should be.

This kid and his family were for all intents and purposes rich.

I agree with the gun nuts, it isn't the guns, they just make the final outcome worse. But its a lot of culturally american choices on taxes and wealth disparity (the worst on the west) that I suspect is causing it.

Again, rich.

Edit: Of course, I'm referring to the Sandy Hook shooting.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I am of the opinion its your broken health care system. By having a system where only those that can afford care get it you have also created a system where mostly healthy people get care and unwell people who can't work don't care. Its exactly the opposite of how it should be.

Individuals with mental health issues get ejected from the system, without help eventually you see the full extent of their problems and delusions. Combine it with an incredibly brutal culture with lots of high powered guns and you have ripe conditions for quite a lot of these types of shootings.

I agree with the gun nuts, it isn't the guns, they just make the final outcome worse. But its a lot of culturally american choices on taxes and wealth disparity (the worst on the west) that I suspect is causing it.

Uhhh - I don't think ANYWHERE else in the world does any other country have as much people going to places like psychiatrists / psychologists - nor does any other country have as much people that pop as much depression pills. If anything, people depend on doctors and pills TOO much for mental health IMO. The real world is tough, and thats fine when you accept it and have the attitude of "Well, looks like I gotta hit it hard". Instead, people see a doctor, take pills, and run away from the challenges in life.

As far as wealth disparity - the USA is actually pretty even. Other country have a much larger disparity in wealth.

 

[kia75]

The Japanese and Koreans have it far worse when it comes to school and work stress.

That's true for school but not so much for work.


Japanese and Koreans do spend more time at work then Americans, you're considered lazy if you go home before your boss does. At the same time Americans living and working in Korea tell me that a lot of time is spent shooting the breeze. Where in American you might spend ~9 hours at work and do ~8 hours of work in Korea and Japan you'll probably spend ~10 hours but only do ~6 hours worth of work. Socializing with your boss by going to Karaoke bars and drinking is also expected, I wouldn't really call that work.

 

[dank69]

That's true for school but not so much for work.


Japanese and Koreans do spend more time at work then Americans, you're considered lazy if you go home before your boss does. At the same time Americans living and working in Korea tell me that a lot of time is spent shooting the breeze. Where in American you might spend ~9 hours at work and do ~8 hours of work in Korea and Japan you'll probably spend ~10 hours but only do ~6 hours worth of work. Socializing with your boss by going to Karaoke bars and drinking is also expected, I wouldn't really call that work.

That's funny, where I work (in America) most people spend 9+ hours at work but only do about ~15 minutes of actual work each day.