On being outraged...

Perusing threads on here these days seems to depress me a bit. So many threads started with a sense of outrage, be it at the government, terrorism, behaviour etc. I don't participate here for that, but it got me thinking. Do we like to be outraged about something? Is it an extension of the perception of Whinging Brits? Or are we coping less well with what society and the world throws at us, either directly or indirectly?

I'm trying to be more positive whenever possible, because I know that if I let all these things get to me too much it will do me more harm than good. Not always easy, I know, but I think I am now better (mostly!) at slotting away the stuff that would cause me too much negativity.

How do others see it?

Re: On being outraged...

Some do seem to find trouble and outrage that's for sure. Others seem to seek to be outraged I'm with Orangutan can't be doing with it.

Re: On being outraged...

Just as an experiment the next time someone in the street asks or someone at a dinner party asks what you think of ISIS or the situation in Syria or Africa say ..'I have no opinion thankyou'

I can assure you it will be met with outrage from whoever asks you.

Society tells us we must be outraged at particular events if we try to abstain from being involved we are accused of ostrich tactics or being uncaring..

So saying something like * it happens, I know it happens, I did not cause it, I cannot control it ,and my opinion will have no effect on the eventual outcome* is a non commital statement that will have your questioner blowing a gasket.

Re: On being outraged...

Since time began there has always been something to be outraged about, these days I avoid negativity when I can.

Re: On being outraged...

Really interesting questions Orangutan!... Not too sure I can think of an answer ( might need to ponder a bit more) but I'm just wondering if , when something either locally, nationally or globally outrages us , we often react collectively to , kind of, feel a sense of togetherness . That being said I agree that we are a nation of whingers because we have adopted that spirit of fairness, patience , turn taking , politeness and not being seen to be rude so that when someone ,say , jumps the queue we are immediately outraged whereas its par for the course in other countries and cultures and they don't get het up about it!
That being said I find that as I get older, things that used to enrage me don't anymore but also I get het up at things that previously I wouldn't have batted an eyelid at.
Think I'm rambling now and worried that I've got the wrong end of your stick, as it were.

Re: On being outraged...

Isn't it what forums run on ? I have never seen a 100% positive forum in my life, if I did I would avoid it as it would be rather sterile and boring I think. Life is a big mix of everything and that's what a forum should reflect.

Re: On being outraged...

Being outraged about being outraged, seems odd to me.

Re: On being outraged...

I always think of forums as a bit like a dustbin. It seems to be the repository for all the stuff that people don't know what to do with or can't let out anywhere else for whatever reason!

I think the trick is to take it with a pinch of salt in the same way as we do with some folk we meet on a regular basis... acknowledge and pass on! Or not.....the choice is ours. We can participate or not. And that's a positive!

Re: On being outraged...

I think we can all be outraged about particular subjects. In my defence as well as participating in serious threads, I also post funny ones, i.e. jokes, clips, etc. i find you don't get much feedback from funny threads. Maybe that tells us something.

Re: On being outraged...

Some things anger me, but there a lot of threads on this board where people wring their hands in anguish and express outrage at something that has happened and I just don't give a ####!

I've got to much to do to get worked up about things that don't directly affect me.