Are we a country of complainers?
 

Hi Everyone, I have been getting many emails that complain about many situations like immigrants and politics. I have always been a very optimistic person and whenever I enter a situation I look for the positives and things that I have in common with others. When I do this I overlook the negatives and differences that I have with people. I think that this outlook works for so many reasons. There is no hate in it and it brings people together. It is such a better way to live then to be negative and divisive with others. If you approach someone or a group and work from the positives it just makes everything so much better. When a person works from the positives the negatives disappear. One example of this is with children. Focus on their negatives and you get a terrible outcome. Focus on the positives and the world comes alive. Does anyone understand what I am saying here? Feel free to question any of my assumptions. I love to examine a topic in detail and will not take any offense!

Hi Sannah! Hard to find anything to disagree with in your statement. Great to have you here at NeuroTalk. Welcome! :)

It's an interesting topic, Sannah. I don't think that this preeminent need to gripe is unique to the U.S. population, though we Americans do have an inflated sense of entitlement.

When I get those kinds of emails, I look to see if the sender is just pushing it along, or if he/she is actually doing something about the problem/issue. To me, if one wants to complain about something, he/she should also plan to do something about it.

Communication is a mighty tool and, in my opinion, underused and misunderstood by too many people. When we want change, it is in our power to foster that change. If we choose to "ignore it so it will go away", or merely complain about it, we are doing nothing to improve the situation. So, I say, shut up and do something proactive, or keep your emails to yourself!

Hi Guys! We sound like-minded! Where do these negative people hang out! I would like to affect them. These emails are always the forwarded ones. I usually write a rebuttal and send it back. You are right AMN, I am sure that it is not just the US population but the US population is my concern at this time (the elections really bring this stuff out). I am really impressed how Obama keeps his campaign positive. I hope he can keep it up. AMN, I am originally from Michigan. I grew up between Traverse City and Grand Rapids. Now I live outside of Louisville.

Sannah,

The negative folks generally have never really seen anyone in a real rock-bottom situation (i.e. a refugee camp). That would enlighten them and change their entitlement-ridden behavior.

Maybe Obama can increase incentives for peeple to joing the Peace Corps or learn a little discipline by joining the armed forces (like the Corps! - slight bias here;)).

Most folks have never really seen what it is like to be "down and out". It would open their eyes to what they really DO have.

-Vic

could it seem like this country is more of a complaining country because we have freedom of speech, and are allowed to express our views regardless if I you or others agree or disagree, just a diff approach to it,

as for the emails I can relate. lately i have had a lot of really negative ones not speaking their mind types but more hatred of a certain group of persons, which is a shame, i feel sorry for those type of folks

I try my hardest not to complain - and have little patience for people who are negative and constantly complaining about every little thing. I think it's just a mindset they have become accustomed to and it's hard to break out of.

Thanks for the insightful responses! Victor, I totally agree with you! Maybe this is why I see things this way. I grew up in a poor, uneducated and dysfunctional family and I am none of those things today due to info, hard work, and help from others.

5 kids, I love freedom of speech and think that it is especially great when people stick to the issues. I can actually have a political discussion and not get upset because I strongly believe that we each have a right to our own opinions. I don't come from a position that I have all the answers. I think that what causes a lot of problems is that many folks have a set mind set that you cannot mess with. Their mind set is the truth and to mess with it is a threat. I actually hold a combination of liberal and conservative positions.

Your second thought hit the nail on the head. This is exactly the emails that I am talking about. I think this kind of stuff is actually a political ploy to divide and conquor so that we don't really address the issues that are important to most of us. If we are all down in the pit fighting with each other, certain groups can do what they want with our tax dollars and policies. This is one reason why I feel so strongly about Obama. He wants to end this stuff so that we can focus on the real issues.

Hi Kitty, I don't think that complaining is always bad. You cannot solve a problem unless it is identified so addressing a problem is sort of like complaining but it is different because the main focus is to try to solve it not to just complain.

immigrants complain too

the legal ones go through many hoops and maybe pay money to get to usa and the illegals get to do it for less or free

usa is one third the population of china now, and life gets crasser and crasser

this is why im not a liberal anymore
i used to be more liberal i suppose

and yes years ago i heard on a radio show ,someone from eastern Europe i think said in usa people complain about everything

do you know that congress is ripping us off?

social security was supposed to increase at a set level but they are only paying like half of what it should be while illegals demand welfare and stuff