It takes more than a village to change the world for the better.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (43124)
March 30, 2025 10:18pm CST
Honestly, it seems that they are everywhere. Angry, hateful, and mean people.
At first, I thought it was my imagination. I've thought about this anger problem so many seem to have, for quite some time. It's not my imagination; it's really a problem. People seem to explode with anger over truly trivial things--the car in front of them not going as fast as they would like for them to go, the clerk at the store was too slow, or there wasn't good service or food at their favorite fast food restaurant. Gas was too pricey. The world hates them...it goes on and on.
Where is this all coming from?
I've given that a lot of thought, too. I do think quite a bit of it is from social media, at least in the young people. Let's be real--things are not always nice, or civil, on social media. Most often, there is no filter and people say whatever they want to say, definitely not censored in any way. If we are on a social media site, we all see this on a very regular basis. Of course, there are some sites where a person can be anonymous, and those can be very heated, for sure.
Researching this subject, it seems that the world is, indeed, getting angrier. People are more entitled. They want what they want, when they want it--and they want it right now, immediately! The instant gratification thing is stronger than ever before. Some say this partly comes from the internet in general (instant information) cell phones everywhere, instant deliveries of wants and needs, and so forth. We expect to get everything FAST. And those who have to wait on anything are not patient, because they have been taught otherwise now.
I did a lot of reading on this, trying to find answers that really aren't there. It seems that some of it is, indeed, people wanting instant gratification. Other reasons are fear of the unknown, poor leadership, being with other angry people, insecurity...there's more, but that would take forever.
No, I didn't find a magic solution.
The two best suggestions I read after all that was:
''Be the change you wish to see.''
''Treat others the way you want to be treated.''
All that thinking and searching, and the answers I found are as old as time itself. And we still can't get it right?
Pixabay picture.
21 people like this
18 responses
@MarieCoyle (43124)
•
31 Mar
It really is sad. I want a better world for my kids and my grands.
6 people like this
@kareng (72989)
• United States
31 Mar
@MarieCoyle I do believe we all do. It's very sad!
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
@kareng
I recently read that more couples than ever are deciding against having children, as they fear to bring them into this nutty world. That hurts my heart.
4 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (47775)
• India
31 Mar
@TheHorse
I think we are on the same page on this thinking.
Yet we also have to counter the proverbial "nay sayers".
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (188415)
• United States
31 Mar
We live in tough uncertain times, which of course will only become worse with Trump at the helm. I think it is a reflection of that.
4 people like this
@kareng (72989)
• United States
31 Mar
@snowy22315 @MarieCoyle It is a much better direction than Biden's direction!
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
We are not going in a good direction, and all the tension in our country is like a wildfire. Hard to control, and nearly impossible to put out.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (77230)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Mar
It doesn't help that Facebook was outed some time ago for running an authroized and insane social experement, dezined to intentionally try and make people depressed. When you look into it further, social media has an adictive quality to it. It can make people act differently to how they normally are, and as you said, Angry.I do feel that services, such as deliveries, is a needed service for those who truely need it. It also gives jobs to those who otherwise wouldn't have one. But, we have somehow stopped teaching moderation, or making people learn the disappoitment of defeat or the joy of accomplishment. Which, I don't think can entirely be blamed on social media.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (77230)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Mar
@MarieCoyle N, they are not. Not anymore. I do see some kids riding bikes along our street, but not as many as I might've when I was growing up.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
@kaylachan
The only people I usually see with bicycles are university students and a few teenagers. Never anyone younger unless they are possibly with their family at one of the parks nearby.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
Social media can be very addictive. I also think some of the games are violent, as well. As for teaching moderation, or a well-balanced life, there are a lot of kids growing up with no restrictions. Once they are about 3 years old, they are playing on a phone and that's that. I don't think some children are taught to think for themselves.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
So simple, and evidently, so difficult for some to follow.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (187189)
• United States
31 Mar
Unfortunately my husband's 2nd cousin is quick to anger. I must watch what I say to her and try to ignore it when she gets irritated with other drivers. I'm more mellow; and unfortunately we spend 3 days a week together. It gets rough some times, especially since I'm dealing with my own emotions.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (187189)
• United States
1 Apr
@MarieCoyle Yes. She is the mother of the 3rd cousin. I mentioned something to her mother about her living here; but she's pretty happy where she is...she left the decision up to me. It makes more sense for her daughter that has a husband, 2 boys and 2 pitbulls. I have about 3/4 of an acre fenced in; and all they have to do is open up the back slider to let the dogs out. I also have 4 bedrooms.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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1 Apr
@LindaOHio
I am sure you will get it worked out. I would imagine she might want to live there when she thinks about it longer. I would think 2 sons and 2 big dogs would pretty much fill up a little house.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
I am sorry to hear that she is like that. I’m sure that would be difficult to deal with.
Correct me if I’m wrong, the second cousin is the mother of the third cousin, right? So she would probably be glad if her daughter inherited your nice home? I hope so.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (47775)
• India
31 Mar
I think we must first ban YT Shorts and Instagram Reels.
Their Short Watch format and habit of Scrolling, Scrolling & Scrolling is making people across generations - Gen Z, Gen Y and even Gen X impatient, self centered and prone to temperamental issues.
Even keeping one of my Teenage child away from the tentacles of these Short format videos can become a challenge.
And why YT and Instagram are promoting these more than longer format is that their consumption is very high.
That brings in extra revenues for them.
Apart from that I think an overall portrayal of wealth and things of show off across Media - TV, Internet and to some extent movies is making people greedier and in some ways reducing their tolerance towards fellow human beings.
Whether we like it or not, these problems are quite global in nature, especially where the Social Media consumption is quite high.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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1 Apr
Too much social media and a lot of it is not censored very well. As you said, it's all about the money.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (143633)
• Roseburg, Oregon
31 Mar
@MarieCoyle It is the way we should be in our life.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
I recall both grandmothers saying that to my sister and I, more than once.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
@jstory07
We are all a work in progress, in a way. I truly hate all the anger everywhere.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (115082)
• Marion, Ohio
31 Mar
I agree that people seem angry. I just try to keep being my happy self
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
I try to stay as positive as I can. If I find myself near a situation close to the anger and hate I see at times, I leave. I'm not living like that.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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1 Apr
@kareng
Work? you mean...actual labor?? Um, some people have forgotten what that is, I think.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
I see a lot of people demanding instant gratification, and a lot of anger if it doesn’t happen. As you said, the anger is the worst. Anger can often lead to frustration and violence, as we know, which can cause even more problems.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118754)
• Anniston, Alabama
31 Mar
It's a new generation.
I personally think that parents don't want to be as hard on their kids as their parents were on them, however, that's not a good idea because it's making the world as it is now.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (118754)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 Apr
@MarieCoyle you raised them right.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
My children are all adults, and all but one of them have children of their own. I'm not sure how they arrived at the decisions of their own with their spouses, but they all monitor the screen time of their children, phone time, game time, everything. They have parental controls on all of it. The children are involved in sports, etc. and honestly don't seem addicted to phones, so that is a good thing. I'm not bragging, but my kids all worked as teens and bought their own cars, etc. I think there needs to be more of that. One of my grandsons is 15 and in driver's education right now--he has been mowing lawns and doing yard work since he was 13, and saving that money toward a car. I'm just glad that they seem to all work for what they want in life. The real world is out there and it's a hard place to be, they all need to know how to survive.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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2 Apr
@andriaperry
All I could do was the best I could. I am proud of them all. They are good people. Thank you so much!
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
You are right, the entitlement thing is big and it seems to be growing daily. It's just sad.
1 person likes this
@grenery8 (16200)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
3 Apr
if we still had more info on the table, some still would not comply. as you said, they feel entitled. i understand about young people but just today, when i was heading to the store, some middle aged woman almost bumbed into me. she had so much space in a pedestrian path and if i didn't move, she would have hit me by the elbow and all good for her. also, yesterday, same age, i moved by side for some woman to stand closer to the chair in a bus, where she could hold onto something and she was pushing me with her bag. she used my good intentions against me, i feel. many people don't have manners, don't care and if there weren't patient people and good people among us, this kind of people would destroy us. and yes, it's hard sometimes being tolerant to that kind of people.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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4 Apr
There are a lot of people who have no idea about manners, you are correct. They either don't know, or don't care to practice any form or manners or good behavior.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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7 Apr
@grenery8
A person has to wonder if some of these people even know what manners are.
1 person likes this
@grenery8 (16200)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
5 Apr
@MarieCoyle very much so. i feel really lucky that noone drives me over sometimes.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (163214)
• United States
1 Apr
Angry outbursts get attention--some people are starving for attention--we need to give them attention when they are not angry so that we are not rewarding the outbursts.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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1 Apr
That makes sense to me. The only problem I see with that is there are people who always seem to be angry, no matter what.
@much2say (57513)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Apr
I used to laugh about older folks tsk tsking about young whipper snappers being this way or that . . . but NOW I get it and wonder if it's all even worse in our times 
. Modern conveniences and advanced technology had the intent of making life easier, but boy did it do a number on humanity. With that I do think there have been generational changes - in parenting, teaching, sense of (lack of) community/village - among other things the put us where we are today. How exactly do we change this downward path .
. Modern conveniences and advanced technology had the intent of making life easier, but boy did it do a number on humanity. With that I do think there have been generational changes - in parenting, teaching, sense of (lack of) community/village - among other things the put us where we are today. How exactly do we change this downward path .1 person likes this
@much2say (57513)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Apr
@MarieCoyle Exactly. Real life interaction is missing from the tool box of "living" these days. Who needs to reach out to real people face to face when your phone/internet is your best friend. I do think "screen time" fulfills the void of boredom and loneliness for many people . . . it's almost a false sense of being social that one might not feel they ever need to reach out to a real person to talk to. How sad. And right - people don't seem to know how to communicate nor deal with others anymore . . . no patience, no manners, no thinking before one speaks 
.
.1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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11 Apr
Oh, I love what you wrote and how you wrote it. You are so spot on. I feel like so many are missing out on a lot of family/friend actual and real life interactions now. You go anywhere now and you can see entire families, like a mom and dad, with all the kids, and every single one of them is on the phone texting, etc. They aren't visiting with each other or just making small talk. Their heads are a million miles away, they are living in cyberworld. It's rather frightening, many now do not even know how to interact with others in person.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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14 Apr
@much2say
You said a mouthful with that....no patience, no manners, no thinking. It's frightening, they are not learning life skills staring at the phone all the time, either.
@RasmaSandra (84328)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Mar
Everything seems to be getting harder and harder,
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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31 Mar
I try so hard to remain positive. But some things that are happening are hard to be positive about, for sure.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (109048)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
31 Mar
I am in agreement with you that people today want to be satisfied now instead of being patient.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (109048)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
1 Apr
@MarieCoyle You are right.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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1 Apr
@Deepizzaguy
I find it deeply concerning that patience is becoming a rarity.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43124)
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1 Apr
George, I honestly don't think some people even know what patience even is anymore.
1 person likes this
