My brain rambles if left to it’s own devices. This morning it started rambling about the age of Aquarius. I don’t know much about that sort of thing, but always thought it meant we were supposed to be peaceful and harmonious. But it seems the opposite has come true. We’re in the twenty first century now and everyone seems to be selfish and crotchety. The kids are violent and disrespectful. There’s race riots in France and Australia. We’re at war. Just thought I’d share the ramblings of my brain with the masses and wondered if anyone else was dissappointed at the way our global society is turning into a shit-fest and wondered if anyone could offer possible reasons? alternatives (want to buy an island together? 
)
Sorry, but you missed the Age of Aquarius. It only happened once, back in the sixties, for twenty minutes.
What you are seeing is more the product of your perception, and the bias towards sensationalism in media, then of reality.
Oh, and for a bonus question, what ancient philosopher commented on the same thing?
Socrates? Euripedes?
Bzzz, sorry, you do not win the Prize!
<Announcer>
For his troubles, Kythereia, a free copy of the republic, which does not contain the famous phrase, but which does contain some similar thought in the fourth book. The below quote is one version of what is often said.
I also would have accepted
[QUOTE=Peter the Hermit
in A.D. 1274]
“The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of
today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for
parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as
if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is
foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest
and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress.”
[/QUOTE]
:smack: That should be “a free copy of the republic”
Normally I’m the one saying 'it’s 100% perception 100% of the time. But I disagree with you in this instance.
Everyone seems to be selfish and crotchety - This is in large part due to perception, but I have noticed a trend by everyone towards selfishness. For example, the rant in the pit about people not moving over for ambulances anymore. People cut me off on a daily basis on the drive home. Or tailgate. While shopping for Christmas presents people were nearly taking each others heads off trying to snatch up the last furbies and transformers. People would run into me if I stopped for even a second in a main aisle to pick up an item. Even the salvation army is saying their numbers are down this year. Stories about Katrina survivors destroying houses lent to them after the hurricane, and something like 54,000 families STILL in hotels after the fact (this is debatable and I apologize if I’ve offended. I just seems like at least some of these people should be able to find work and get a more permanent place to live instead of living off someone elses hand-outs) (I’m going to get pitted for this). I’ve seen people actually lie and commit fraud here where I work to try to pilfer money from the management company. Something I never thought I’d ever see. I’m depressing myself. I digress.
Kids are violent and disrespectful - I’ll be honest, my direct contact with children is very limited. But what I’ve seen are spoiled children who think it’s okay to cuss at their parents, at strangers…spoiled children who act as if they’re entitled to everything they want. Kids who murder other kids parents, and strangers are all over the news. I’m not saying that never happened before, it just seems so prevelent now. I know there’s studies about violent video games and their effect on children. I beleive there’s an affect from video games, from violent music, from basic cable showing murders and rape, etc. Kids driving down the street with music blaring loud enough to rattle my windows. It’s hard to show you the experiences I’ve had or seen on this topic, and I digress. I beleive that kids in this generation are more violent and disrepectful. That’s all I can say.
Race Riots in France and Australia - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4523426.stm & http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4441246.stm
We’re At War - Iraq & Terror (too many cites to list)
uuuuuuuhhhhhh, 
We’re NOT in the Age of Aquarius, and weren’t in the '60s, either.
We’re in the Age of Pisces, and will be until at least 2060, and perhaps (depending on whose calulations you believe) until 2100. More info.
I thought something was fishy…
No you haven’t! 
But really, count all the people who cut you off in line. Now count all the people who do not cut you off in line, etc.
I think this says it all. You are getting your perceptions from a media that loves to find threats.
This is a result of ancient attitudes.
Ditto.
His?!?
And hey, Plato attributed it to Socrates! I get it half-right, at least!
I’ve got a copy of a book called “The Good Old Days – They Were Terrible!” by Betteman. He details the conditions in the US during the 1800s. Yikes. A gazillion times worse than anything imaginable today. Crime, both urban and rural, was rampant. Sanitation was nonexistent. Police were chosen for their ability to be harsh and brutal, and were trained in appropriate use of the nightstick. A suspect brought in to the station was expected to have been brutally beaten already. Crossing the street in NYC was equivalent to putting one’s life on the line. And on and on.
So… out with The 5th Dimension and in with the Patsy Kline!
Well, Tupug, you win my admiration for intelligent, creative use of a SDMB cliché! 
So…except for Australia, pretty much just like the 60s, but with higher tech, and fewer commies?
Well, to be fair, they weren’t strictly race riots in France. 
What else…we still haven’t dropped The Bomb, we still haven’t built any moonbases, and I haven’t seen one single friggin flying car.