Multi-Source Academic Writing (Essay Sample)

The me culture
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Despite the advent of the internet allowing people to communicate often through online platforms, people are less likely to have real social interactions in comparison to earlier times. There is increased concern that the extreme individualism in America has led to many people being less emphatic to their fellow beings. In the clip ‘if we could see inside other people’s hearts’ there are people from all walks of life in a hospital, and with the’ patients and staff experiencing good and bad news, and since everybody matters empathy is an important aspect that should not be ignored (Vimeo, n.d.). Engaging in selfless acts is rewarding, even when there is no instant recognition for such acts as it often leads to safer and healthier communities. This paper focuses on the consequences of the ‘me culture’ which extends from extreme individualism.
Over the last few decades the ‘me culture’ has become too common in America and this has a long-lasting negative impact on the society. To highlight on this phenomenon, Mackey (2012), mentions that more people are willing to enjoy welfare benefits more than ever before, without necessarily giving back to the society or trying to find work. It is possible that extreme individualism has let to narcissism and materialism to the extent that people focus on how they can benefit first without taking into account whether they are necessarily overburdening other people. In any case, the bailouts of financial institutions by American taxpayers after the Great recession is a stark remainder, that many people were not held accountable for their reckless behaviors and decisions that led to the economic downturn.
The benefits of being mindful to other people cannot be overstated as often those ignored may be need of help. Even though, capitalism has been a feature of the American society, individualism and snobbish behavior will ultimately result to the vulnerable being left to fend for themselves. Calamur (2014), focus on a story where a hungry 47 year old woman who stole eggs, but was then not arrested by a police officer who decided to pay for the stolen eggs. This scenario shows that where possible being mindful of others can often help to create harmonious relations with other people in a community.
The changes in the American society have affected the way people interact, and there is recognition that today’s generation are not well prepared to deal with the challenges of life (Brooks, 2011). For instance, today’s students live a life that is too structured, but upon entering the job market they realize that there is a need to be more open maintained and cooperative with other people. Hence, the ‘me culture’ may be harmful given that people need to work more as a team in their workplaces, even when maintaining their independence (Brooks, 2011). It is through looking around and working with other people that one can realize that overemphasis on the self downplays the relevance of team building in the workplace and solving many of today’s societal problems.
According to Weeks (2012), people’s self absorption and focus on the self has been gradual, but has now become ingrained in the society. Being less courteous is seen as the norm and not the exception, whereby people are more demanding and less likely to give a helping hand to others. It is no wonder that people are less likely to make eye contact with others around them, and this detachment shows that people are self- absorbed. The aspect of self-absorption is associated with rudeness and aloofness, and lack of concern to other pole is simply a manifestation of the disadvantages associated with the ‘me culture’. It is the loss in values that has led to this phenomenon given that honesty and respect are ideals valued in many cultures (Weeks, 2012).
There are societies where religious strife exists, but religion is one of the avenues through which people are more involved in the society. Religious people tend to be more empathetic and caring to the needy and less fortunate in the society. As more people become less religious there is concern that this is a prevailing trend where religions seem to play a remote role in the lives of people (NPR, 2013). This captures the situation in America where there is skepticism about the role of religion in the society. Despite extreme individualism being a common feature in America, people are still interdependent. In any case, the ‘me culture’ has weakened people’s sense of community resulting to weaker social ties and less enthusiasm for religious observance.
A reflection on the recent changes in the American society shows that the ‘me culture’ has resulted to erosion of values. This has in turn been associated with people being less courteous and caring to their fellow beings. It is apparent that selfishness and fall in religious observance have also become more common with the insistence on extreme individualism. However, all is not lost and the Great recession brought forth the problem of the welfare system where people simply prefer to benefit, even th...