I've been alive long enough to notice certain things that were not as they are now or are totally the opposite now. You may call it my special analytical skills or having a lot of time on my hands, I have come up with the list (once again) of human/lifestyle behaviours or attitudes that I have seen evolving in front of my own 2 eyes in the last 25 years.
1. Compliments are offensive
Some times back people used to actually compliment each other. Now if you will, you'd come off as needy/ pushy/ selfish/ ass licker/ ass kisser/ etc. (you get the picture) And mostly with me, I come off as sarcastic, then I feel the need to beg and plead to convince the other person that I actually honestly like their dress. Pathetic it is!! Meanwhile, mean and hurtful things come out much easier and are taken more positively.
2. Kids are no longer shy
There were times when parents had their own personal talent show where the only participant and thats why the winner was their cherished kid. Their guests/relatives/anyone who knocked on the door was tormented to go through that lil something that "exclusively" only their kid could do (mostly overly gesticulated "baba black sheep" performance). Obviously the parents never got why the kid is so reluctant (in real, embarassed and humiliated). On the contrary now the situation is as such that parents need to pull their kids back, kids already know what they are good at (mostly something outrageous such as artificial burping or sheela ki jawani ) and they will not hesitate to show that, they know how to act cute, they are no longer shy. And now this un-shy/outrageous kid is a source of embarassment and humiliation for their parents. How I love to watch this drama.
3.There's no such thing as General Knowledge (GK) anymore
I used to have a GK class once a weak in school, they used to teach us anything and everything that is general and enhances knowledge and there was a test for that as well (I was "cool" enough to think that it was stupid even back then) now you have google for that and everyone knows how to use it and nothing is general anymore, what was general before is exclusive now and viceversa. People can and have to know only what interests or affects them. I cant even imagine life without google.
4.Basic Humanity is visible
people are much nicer now, I have some real mean older relatives to say this for a fact. People may not keep in touch as much (everyones so busy apparently, hence they will only press "like" on your every FB profile pic) but they are pleasant when they meet each other in person. Employees are treated in much more polite and decent manner (even if they are excruciatingly dumb). People in the service industry (waiters, house maids, etc) are treated with respect now. People dont judge others based on their color/nationality or religeon, not openly atleast. In short, we are living in a much lesser hostile environment than 20 years ago.
5. Show of wealth
I knew people who were filthy rich but noone wud have eva guessed that by looking at them, if you were rich, then thats one thing you would hide the most.but now everyone acts like they cud make a cigarette out of a 20 KD note and fag it off n not care a bit. nobody knows if they r actually Uncle Scrooge's nephews or what, but they all act like that. In a way its good and bad, good coz generally everyones seen as well off or are working hard towards getting there and bad coz if u r not so and not working hard enough too, then u r just in the grind pretending all the time.
6. Celebrations
Whether its a simple birthday, some festival or a wedding, earlier people used to come together and celebrate like it matters, now its more of a source of irritation. Its seen as a time when ull have to meet ur relatives, make small talk, be nice, smile, throw compliments in random directions and die bit by bit waiting for the "food is served" announcement. There was a time when ppl used to flock into our house on Eid (my Eidy collections were the highest in the neighborhood) but not any more (Eidy-recession). Things r laid back and simpler, ppl prefer to celebrate in their own style with ppl who matter to them, but i miss the old days.
These and so many other things like, ppl are more informed, less wasteful, more civil, less loud, healthier, more competitive, more creative and more stressed out. And as a person I have too seen a lot of changes in myself, over the years and sometimes over a weak or a day. And I guess, thats what makes living so much fun :D
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