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How Can We Measure Social Decay?
A proposed system for determining if a society is on the rise, in decline or just holding the line
Each generation has its norms, the way they expect the average person to behave, plus or minus the usual quirks of individuality. Many of these norms are inherited from the prior generation that raised you and they likewise inherited their own. In this way, stronger “universal” norms are passed down through the generations to create the fabric of society. Upon this base, each generation has to deal with new conditions, trends in culture and frankly, do it their way. It’s a right. But what if this fabric becomes frayed and develops tears and holes? What if norms become abnormal? What happens when society starts to pass on its flaws more than its virtues? That is what I call Social Decay.
In short form, Social Decay is the cumulative effect of poor upbringing on a large scale, whereby parents and schools fail to instill enough virtues in the young, and by circumstance, ignorance and/or neglect, raise a worse, less prepared, less civilized, and less happy generation.
I will say up front, I’m a pretty progressive sort and have a fairly high tolerance for “weird” behavior having grown up around hippies, and later, edgy punks. I will go so far as to say we need these folks who swim…
