Are you sick of being told how to live your life??

i live in the philippines. the government, in terms of telling people what to do, is okay..not that strict. but i believe in the end, it's your own decision whether you will follow it or not. what is important is you think wisely, you think of the pros and cons of what you are doing and it must always be for the best of everybody not just yourself

The reason the government has taken to handing out advice like confetti is because we tend to blame the government for everything that goes wrong even if it's our own fault, and demand to know "why didn't the government tell us!" Eg, there was the issue where several middle aged people fell for those scams where some Nigerian offers to give you half their money if you supply your bank details - only a really stupid, greedy person would fall for this, I mean, who gives out their bank details to some complete stranger from Africa? But the victims blamed the government for not warning them! So the poor old govt has had to do an expensive publicity campaign about it, and the FSA's website is full of warnings. And it's the same story with all the other issues you raised. People have loudly blamed the government for obesity in children (as though ministers were personally in charge of the child's feeding instead of their parents). And govt has sighed, and issued leaflets on how to eat properly because they know that telling people to take responsibility doesn't work - when they do that, they are simply accused of evading their duties! Same thing for exercise - people loudly blame the government for the fact that citizens are too lazy to do any exercise, so govt has sighed and issued guidlines and tried to exhort people to move a bit. In fact pretty much every bit of nanny state advice is the direct result of people blaming and attacking the government for something that is in fact the individual's fault. I really doubt ministers want to spend hours on weight loss leaflets, when they could be spending time on far more serious and exciting strategy. You are right that thirty years ago govt didn't bother to do any of this stuff, - but then thirty years ago people didn't blame the govt for everything either. As a result modern govt has an awful lot more work to do - they must perform the same functions as their counterparts thirty years ago, PLUS they must contend with a whinging, mewling population that demands hand-holding at every turn. Really, who would wish to be a minister?

I do my best to be a good person, bring my kids up as best I can and eat a healthy diet, if I failed then I tried, The diet shows made me ill last year so I'll stay plump thank-you very much, everyone knows more about how to deal with my kids than me but they seem to survive. My dog is happy, I have given up watching a huge amount of helpful programmes as them make me reach for the prozac. I like being me, so I blow a big raspberry to all the people who could make me a better person as then I would loose something precious - my sense of humour. God, I feel better for a good rant. England is indeed a nanny state but I am a rebellious older teenager - lots of years older but still young inside, lol

Well, just human behavior - the would be masters looking for subjects. On the other hand, however, there is nothing wrong with being instructed or being taught proper manners or behavior. Simply accept those you think or find profitable and ignore the rest.

I get tired of hearing people telling me how to live my life because I don't do what they say anyway. They're wasting their time, that's for sure. They can never tell me, "Oh, I know how you feel," because they absolutely don't. They can never tell me, "You know it will make you fell better if you do this," because I know what makes me feel better. This is my life and I am accountable for it. I appreciate the concern, dahlings, but please mind your own life for crying out loud! I'll seek your wisdom if I want to.

I find it frustrating how media tells you how to live but theres so many different ways they throw at you and it's messing people up.

here in the philippines, most of us in still stuck with our culture and traditions. our parents brought us well before in a more strict environment. some families still follow the arranged married tradition. some don't. some go for strict family ties. some don't anymore. we don't have much strict rules here. which i find really good for everyone.

I live in the USA and I think it's been one for awhile now! Everywhere you look "they" are telling us the 'proper' way to do things.. and if you think about it, the proper way to look too!! I've stopped listening haha. I only watch TV when I'm going to bed and I stay away from certain articles. It's been working!

There are far too many people and authorities that feel they know what is best for the individual. The practice becomes more prolific every day and I agree with you that we are reaching a level whereby guidelines are set up for the most obvious factors of life. However, this certainly does not bother me, I simply ignore such advice and live my own life.

I live in Pakistan which is at its peak of illiteracy. Trust me, u guys are soo lucky, that u are a provided a proper guideline to follow, taught the rite code of conduct that shd be applied in crawling along. I wish it was so here, atleast wid da awareness amongst people,dey wudnt go abt doing crazy things and involve demselves in healthier activities, raise their kid properly, give dem good education and get rid of this alien concept drilled in their minds dat tells dem" Dotters shdnt study"! I am sure ur country doesnt encourage dis

well am not sure if you would call Nanny stae but I have never listened to alot of what they say soyes it is justcommom since to do . and our parents and grand parents might of made some mistakes but I think all got raised up pretty good I have to laugh at some of the things the try to tell you to do

I agree with you, it's alright to give me advice, but to nag or dictate is another story. Yes America is becoming less and less of a Free nation each year we have these bigots running our country. Their the moral police, problem is their morals are wacked.

I live in Australia, and the government and and television try to tell us how to live our lives as well. I do not like it but then again some people probably need a push in the right direction as there are so many people obese and other things you have here. So yes our country is doing the same here.

You make some good points. It is the purpose of most governments and the media to control our lives as much as possible. They are the people with the power and they have to find away to keep it by telling us what we can and cannot do. I don't know if the US is becoming a nanny state. Maybe a fanny state...but that is another subject. I ignore the gov't and media at all costs and try to think for myself. All long as I can, I will do as I please as long as I don't violate the rights of others.

I cannot reply to this as I have not been told how to - yet! will check my TV sure there will be something to help, lol! There is a lot of good advice out there, the lies are in our heads. Telling what is practical in our everyday lives is hard. Stars with money and staff may have perfect lives, the rest of us just listen in bewilderment. My mum just did what she could, and my dad just worked every hour he had. The buckets of commonsense were overflowing but it was still hard. I'm also a short chubby mum and my partner also works every hour just like my dad did, I get through the day as best I can, like my mum. Watching the perfect people getting it right makes me depressed. I never stop from dawn til after dark and having time to worry if I'm doing it right means I've forgotten to do something far more important. Sorry to whinge but it felt good.

Nope, in my country we don´t have this kind of thing, or at least not in the same level you have there. But I don´t care much about these "How To", at least those like "loose weight, be a better lover, etc" they are useless for me and I don´t really care about them.

On the one hand, we see such things because a lot of people want to know these things, such as how to lose weight, get in shape, dress stylishly, etc. In the U.S. there are lots of lawsuits so companies and the governments have to spell things out specifically so they don't get sued... like one company that made a Superman Halloween costume printed on the box 'this costume does not enable you to fly'... because you know some idiot will buy the costume, try to fly, and then sue the company because he got hurt jumping off a building. Many people today behave like children, so in a way it's not surprising that they get treated like children.

It's definitely like that in the USA. Not just the Government being the nannies here, it's the people. It seems like people are getting worse and worse all the time. More closed-minded everyday. I find it really sad.

That is deep. I have notice that is many different country that they practice this. Like Iheard one country, they tell you how many kids that you are allowed to have in a household. That is getting ridiculous. Almost controlling. I wouldn't want to live my life like that. There are too many rules has it is!

ive never been told how to live my life ive been give advice but never been told how to live it to be perfectly honest i like people giving me advice cause it make e think at a different angle