In this case, I’m referring to the notion that we all make minor sacrifices in our daily interactions in service of a “greater good” for everyone.
“Following the rules” would be a simplified version of what I’m talking about, I suppose. But also keeping an awareness/attitude about "How will my choices affect the people around me in this moment? “Common courtesy”, “situational awareness”, etc…
I don’t know that it’s a “new” phenomenon by any means, I just seem to have an increasing (subjective) awareness of it’s decline of late.
It’s a bit of confirmation bias. Once something “big” happens to you, you start seeing little things that you’d before just write off.
But a part of it is the increase in homeless people. Many of them, thanks to mental illness and drug addiction, can’t follow a social contract.
Of course, naturally, they get left on the street where they ruin everyone else’s day instead of being forced into an area where they can exhaust themselves out, and get their illnesses treated.
Because that would cost too much money, of course, as if letting those people lose their grip on reality and break shit doesn’t already cost money.
It’s the prime source of despair for me at work, as a custodian. Be it staff, clients, or coworkers - being a lazy selfish piece of shit feels pretty common.
I’m not witnessing this rampant disregard for the social contract. Most people pay their taxes, don’t assault others, follow traffic laws, etc.
I guess there are examples like for example the mask thing during the pandemic. But we can have different opinions on what constitutes the social contract.
Maybe I believe I should only wear a mask when I’m sick. If I follow that protocol, in my mind I am still following the rules of the social contract. Someone who believes you should wear a mask 100% of the time may feel I am not following the social contract.
Some people would agree with the first and some with the second and others with something entirely different.
The real litmus test for me is the laws. The social contract isn’t simply a morality / ethics thing. It’s an agreement “you don’t get in my way and I won’t get in yours” and that’s pretty much what has sparked our common laws.
I keep in mind that observation bias is a thing and I can’t remember the people around me who are constantly following it.
Many years ago I was walking out of Port Authority and a women, clearly mentally ill, ran up to me and wacked me in the back. There is zero doubt that I have passed well over 10k people in that area in my life. I only remember 1 of them because of what she did 1 time to me.
Common courtesy and following the rules and situational awareness are not the same thing as “how will my choices affect the people around men in this moment.”
