Monday, September 27, 2021

Learned Hopelessness

 https://twitter.com/juliaioffe/status/1442172987772268545?s=20


Nobody asked me, but...   so many comments on that tweet, asserting that things are never going to get better, and when they do life will still suck because they've seen what people are really like.  

American history, less than a century ago, 25% unemployment while the powers that be assured everyone that prosperity was just around the corner, and the resulting disillusioned resignation from everyone except the fortunate few with a good job and money.  

Do humans have a short memory for this kind of thing?  A lack of interest in history and its lessons?  ("We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.")  First thing that comes to mind is the memory of reading what others wrote about people within the framework of Living Through the Depression; those who endured it and made it out the other end, the writer observes, those humble citizens remember the tough times and are accordingly extra careful with money, including saving and washing and re-using disposable items. Not so much the interpersonal aspect, though.  Well, maybe some "people helped each other out more back then."  But that angle might be more in view in writings from a country that lived under fascism and its people's loss of faith in human nature after learning what they're capable of.  

A long pause after finishing that last sentence.  Maybe that's all I have to say on the matter.  Yeah, re-read it and proofread it, and leave it at that.  


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