Introduction
The ‘me’ society can be defined as a culture where people follow the phrase ‘every man for himself’ to get ahead and do whatever it takes to be the center of attention even if that means putting their needs above that of their children or family. The ‘me’ culture has destroyed many a person and ruined many a friendship not to mention relationships, people force themselves into corners that they did not have to because of their selfishness and arrogance; this forces people around them to turn their back to them. “Moving away from the ‘me’ environment to a ‘we’ environment will allow people to enjoy life more even their job” (One thing, 2014). Coincidentally, most people are happy with being a supporter of the ‘me’ society because those same people believe that counting on other people is just a waste of time and energy. Gammon explained that the ‘me’ society has bred a lot of lonely people from young kids to older adults, the ‘me’ society is one of the main causes of alcoholism (Gammon, 2012). The sad part about the ‘me’ society is that it teaches the adult population to be just as selfish and self-serving as the children they are raising, there are adults with families taking ‘family’ pics of themselves only for starters. Children are being taught to look out for themselves instead of looking out for other people, grown men stealing another man’s life’s work or invention in order to get rich and be wealthy. The ‘me’ society has corrupted and ended the era of humility within people, this wretched society has taught people to treat other people who they feel are beneath them to treat them like they are not even human beings.
Thesis
The ‘me’ society has turned a society of givers into takers without regret or remorse, and it has also demoralized people as a whole; no one looks out for anyone anymore.
The ‘me’ society destroys relationships
‘Hey, that was my idea, you stole it from me and that is my design; that should be my promotion!’ ‘I do not need anyone to get where I am going, I have done it myself and I will continue to’. All too often people quote these same statements because of the ‘me’ society, the guy who got the promotion did not even include his partner in on the credit; the young girl makes it known that she does not need anyone to help her and shuns any help she gets. The ‘me’ society has split families up because of one person’s intense need to satisfy whatever need they have at the expense of everyone else. For example, a mother agrees to babysit the neighbor’s 2-month-old daughter. This bothers the mother’s children because even though the mother is getting 100.00 dollars to babysit the child, she did not take her teen children’s lives and schoolwork into account; with the 100.00 that she gets she will be able to get those diamond earrings she wants which means more to her than her children’s grades. As Twenge and Campbell (2009) point out, “narcissism is the main ingredient in the ‘me’ society pie and the more people that eat from this pie, the more of them there will be that forget how to be there for mom & dad or come back home to see family” (Pg.1). It can be argued that people are simply looking out for themselves because it is the right thing to do, but more times than not it has demoralized people and make them feel like the only one that they can count on is themselves. Bingham (2013) explains that religious people are even more susceptible to the influence of the ‘me’ society which ironically violates everything they are taught in the church (pg.1). Mothers acting like their daughters, Fathers trying to act like their sons, parents are supposed to steer their children away from the ‘me’ society concept but they are encouraging it by allowing their children to make choices that they are not supposed to like inviting a few people including the class nerd instead of just the popular kids so as to become a part of the ‘in’ crowd for example.
The ‘me’ society robs people of their morality
Good Manners and selflessness has become extinct in society today because people only want what is best for them and willingly turn their back on anyone not on their level, schools are a fine example of this. The idea that “people forgot the value of the Golden Rule and live their lives selfishly” has been documented (Weed, 2007, pg.1). It is ironic how our forefathers made this country based on the acceptance of difference within their fellow man and now people take their benevolence, ball it up then throw it away like it is just trash. In a small way, it can be argued that people do accomplish more when they do things by themselves because that is how they learn and learn to be independent when it counts. However, more and more people are taking a too literal approach to this because according to them “it is for the greater good” which can be argued that it is, but there is no greater good pushing people and not saying excuse or not accepting people are they are.
The Conclusion
Some people might ask, how do we remedy this, how can we teach our children that this is morally wrong and curable. Simple, be the example, lead by example. Society may have changed vehemently thanks to the ‘me’ society but it does not mean that people have to support what goes on in it. Change is something that everyone is responsible for, not just a few people that care enough to make a difference then be shut out when they are on the brink of destroying the ‘me’ society. Ring (2013) explained that “people are more likely to steer clear of the damaging influence of the ‘me’ society and culture if they are taught the Golden Rule and good manners early on” (pg.1). The issue here is how people define the greater good, giving to a neighbor in need or keeping something a secret that could help someone else out. Ten times out of ten, giving to a neighbor will cause that neighbor to be there for them in the future.
References
Ring, J. (2013, October 5). Let's leave behind the 'me culture' Retrieved December 28, 2014, from http://www.blufftontoday.com/bluffton-opinion/2013-10-06/lets-leave-behind-me-culture#.VKAsRV4AKA
Weed, D. (2014, November 7). Letter, 11/8: Angered at 'me' society. Retrieved December 28, 2014, from http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letter-angered-at-me-society/article_bfbaf95e-efdf-5d08-abbe-2ce4b90aa803.html
Gammon, K. (2012, March 2). Why Loneliness Can Be Deadly. Retrieved December 28, 2014, from http://www.livescience.com/18800-loneliness-health-problems.html
Twenge, J., & Campbell, W. (2009, April 9). Me, me, me! America’s ‘Narcissism Epidemic’. Retrieved December 28, 2014, from http://www.today.com/id/30312181/ns/today-today_books/t/me-me-me-americas-narcissism-epidemic/#.VKApV14AKA
Bingham, J. (2013, February 13). 'Me, me, me culture' of the 1980s poisoning society, warns Sentamu. Retrieved December 28, 2014, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9873943/Me-me-me-culture-of-the-1980s-poisoning-society-warns-Sentamu.html
Thing, O. (2014, September 11). TURN A CULTURE OF ME INTO A CULTURE OF WE. Retrieved December 28, 2014, from http://www.the1thing.com/blog/small-business-advice/turn-a-culture-of-me-into-a-culture-of-we/
