The fact that in the modern world. The era of consumption - life in the modern world

“If you want to live, know how to spin.” Life in the modern world is akin to an endless race. The time we live in is a time of accelerated pace of life. Quickly take a shower, quickly eat a sandwich, and run to work. Everyone runs at work too. Time must be saved, time is money.

Time, money and everything that money can buy are the most important values ​​in modern society.

Until recently, almost yesterday, our parents lived completely differently. Their life was predictable and planned. The value was respect in society, a board of honor. Could they imagine how quickly and dramatically life would change?

So what has changed?

Humanity is constantly evolving, life in the modern world is completely different than 50 years ago.

Today a person is rational and pragmatic, fast and dexterous, the best earner, a born entrepreneur, an ambitious careerist. He is flexible in every sense of the word. He feels the rhythm and intuitively determines the time. A watch is his traditional accessory. They symbolize his value - time.

It was the rational man, always cutting corners, not wanting to waste time going around ponds and cliffs, who built bridges. It is these people who have always introduced innovations into the lives of others that make their lives more convenient and save time.

Life in the modern world is comfortable for humans. Just “yesterday,” some 100 years ago, this was not the case. It was the transition to the current phase of development that led to the rapid flourishing of industry, producing everything that allows us to spend less time and consume more.

Life in the modern world - what is success?

Success in the modern world is considered financial well-being and high social status. Today, people strive for high social status and material advantage. This is his value. The one who can consume the most is now considered successful.

If you ask the average person about his goals, desires and plans, they will turn out to be material and related to consumption. Buy a house, apartment or car, visit a country or make repairs. Goals are considered to be what is associated with production and consumption.

Open any book about success - the word “success” means money. The word “goals” means material values ​​that can be purchased with money.

Any success training says the same thing: “Set yourself goals,” as if achieving these goals is success. Have you ever wondered why these trainings don’t work? Why do most people never do what they are taught in training? Why do some of them turn out to be completely unadapted to life in the modern world?

The answer is simple - those who are able to achieve success do not need success training - guided by their innate desires and aspirations, they achieve success themselves, thanks to their mental properties. And such a person will really bring satisfaction, joy and happiness, material and social advantage. This is his value. He will feel that he has been fulfilled in this life. But this is not the value of other people. The rest, no matter how many success trainings they undergo, will never strive for the same. And if they do, it will not bring them happiness and joy, since their innate, true desires will not be satisfied.

The era of consumption. Consumption as the meaning of life

“If you have achieved one goal, set the next one – higher and bigger,” say success coaches. “And you will be happy,” they mean. And for many, material goals are borrowed desires.

Life in the modern world, the world of consumers, provides many opportunities for a comfortable, interesting life. These possibilities are endless, but they require money. There is no way to live for free. For all the delights of modernity - the Internet, telephone, transport, comfort - you have to pay for everything. And if you want more, you need more money. This is why the lives of many people have turned into a race for consumption. Consumption in the modern world has become the meaning of life.

In the race for benefits, a person does not pay attention to his inner feelings - is he happy or not? Does he enjoy life or not? Is he satisfied with his life, or is something missing?

And this is perhaps the biggest trap of our time. If a person does not realize his mental properties, if he does not satisfy his innate desires, if, in other words, he does not fulfill his calling, his species role, then he will inevitably have unconscious internal shortcomings. This results in internal tension, which accumulates over the years and turns into hostility towards everyone and everything.

A person with deficiencies does not feel joy and satisfaction from life in the modern world, no matter how attractive it may be and no matter how much he consumes. He doesn’t understand what’s wrong – it’s unconscious dissatisfaction.

This is similar to dissatisfaction in sex. By the way, about sex. In the modern world, it has also turned into a consumer one.

“I feel good with you, give me your phone number” - sex consumers

Nobody considers a girl who often changes sexual partners to be a girl of easy virtue, as it was before. Frequent changes of partners have entered the range of sexual acceptability in the modern world.

Having a balanced, not too strong libido, such a person chases the factor of novelty. He is no longer excited by the partner to whom he is already accustomed. He seeks new sensations by changing sexual partners.

The sex consumer does not need commitment, relationships, love. He doesn’t care about the person next to him, he “consumes” him. He needs sex, new experiences, pleasure, fulfillment of his own desires. And there is a big catch in this too.

By consuming sex, a person loses that feeling of intimacy of what is happening, closeness, excitement, satisfaction that full intimacy can give. Life in the modern world is different in that feelings, sensuality and sensitivity are dulled, the desire for sex ceases to be huge and exciting the imagination. Easily accessible sex ceases to be something so passionately desired and bringing intense pleasure.

Surprisingly, such consumer sex eventually ceases to bring sexual satisfaction. As a result, private and collective sexual frustration is growing in society. And we have more and more homosexuals, pedophiles, etc.

Life in the modern world - is happiness possible?

We live in amazing times. It is really very interesting, it really gives us a lot of opportunities for enjoyment and fulfillment, for creating successful relationships and happiness in every sense of the word. Life in the modern world is an adventure for each of us.

In order for this adventure to be joyful, and not difficult and stressful, you need to fulfill your own, innate (healthy) desires, realize your own mental properties.

Each generation considers itself much cooler than all previous ones. After all, thanks to technological progress, it knows what was not known before, uses things that did not exist before, eats, drinks and consumes products and services that were invented quite recently. After all, you are a modern person, and they are already covered with the dust of time.

Then this generation becomes “obsolete”, and even more modern people come who believe that no one really lived before them, only this generation truly lives. So generation after generation passes, and they don’t really understand that everything that distinguishes one century from another is not so significant.

Even now, many imagine that technical progress, social progress began quite recently, and we are at its peak. And therefore we are, as it were, smarter, better than our ancestors, and therefore we have every right to not give a damn about their experience.

But maybe we are exaggerating the importance of technological progress? And we exaggerate precisely because we have become a consumer society, and the function of consumption has become perhaps the main task of a person?

Of course, we have made huge strides in consumption. What about everything else?

Flickering effect

The twenty-first century is just around the corner!

Is there a future for consumer society?

The world of consumerism and the degradation of society

The inhuman world in which modern man lives forces everyone to wage a constant struggle with external and internal factors. What happens around an ordinary person sometimes becomes incomprehensible and leads to a feeling of constant discomfort.

Daily Sprint

Psychologists and psychiatrists of all stripes have noted a sharp surge in anxiety, self-doubt and a huge number of different phobias among the average representative of our society.

The life of a modern person passes at a frantic pace, so there is simply no time to relax and escape from numerous everyday problems. The vicious circle of running a marathon at sprint speed forces people to race against themselves. Intensification leads to insomnia, stress, nervous breakdowns and illnesses, which has become a fundamental trend in the post-information age.

Information pressure

The second problem that modern man cannot solve is the abundance of information. A stream of various data falls on everyone simultaneously from all possible sources - the Internet, mass media, press. This makes critical perception impossible, since internal “filters” cannot cope with such pressure. As a result, the individual cannot operate with real facts and data, since he is unable to separate fiction and lies from reality.

Dehumanization of relationships

A person in modern society is forced to constantly face alienation, which manifests itself not only in work, but also in interpersonal relationships.

Constant manipulation of human consciousness by the media, politicians and public institutions has led to the dehumanization of relationships. The alienation zone that has formed between people makes it difficult to communicate, to look for friends or a soul mate, and attempts at rapprochement by strangers are very often perceived as something completely inappropriate. The third problem of 21st century society - dehumanization - is reflected in popular culture, the linguistic environment and art.

Problems of social culture

The problems of modern man are inseparable from the deformations in society itself and create a closed spiral.

Cultural ouroboros causes people to withdraw even more into themselves and move away from other individuals. Contemporary art - literature, painting, music and cinema - can be considered a typical expression of the processes of degradation of public self-awareness.

Films and books about nothing, musical works without harmony and rhythm are presented as the greatest achievements of civilization, full of sacred knowledge and deep meaning, incomprehensible to the majority.

Crisis of values

The value world of each individual can change several times during his life, but in the 21st century this process has become too fast. The result of constant changes is constant crises, which do not always lead to a happy ending.

The eschatological notes that creep into the term “crisis of values” do not mean a complete and absolute end, but they make us think about the direction in which the path should be taken. Modern man is in a permanent state of crisis from the moment he grows up, since the world around him is changing much faster than the prevailing ideas about it.

A person in the modern world is forced to drag out a rather miserable existence: thoughtless adherence to ideals, trends and certain styles, which leads to the inability to develop one’s own point of view and one’s position in relation to events and processes.

The widespread chaos and entropy that reigns around should not be frightening or cause hysteria, since change is natural and normal if there is something constant.

Where and from where is the world heading?

The development of modern man and his main paths were predetermined long before our time. Culturologists name several turning points, the result of which was modern society and people in the modern world.

Creationism, which fell in an unequal battle under the pressure of adherents of atheology, brought very unexpected results - a widespread decline in morals. Cynicism and criticism, which have become the norm of behavior and thinking since the Renaissance, are considered a kind of “rules of good manners” for moderns and elders.

Science in itself is not the raison d'être of society and is unable to answer some questions. To achieve harmony and balance, adherents of the scientific approach should be more humane, since the unresolved problems of our time cannot be described and solved like an equation with several unknowns.

Rationalization of reality sometimes does not allow us to see anything more than numbers, concepts and facts, which do not leave room for many important things.

Instincts versus reason

The main motives for the activities of society are considered to be the inheritance from distant and wild ancestors who once lived in caves. Modern man is just as tied to biological rhythms and solar cycles as he was a million years ago. An anthropocentric civilization only creates the illusion of control over the elements and one’s own nature.

The payback for such deception comes in the form of personal dysfunction. It is impossible to control every element of the system always and everywhere, because even your own body cannot be ordered to stop aging or change its proportions.

Scientific, political and social institutions are vying with each other about new victories that will certainly help humanity grow blooming gardens on distant planets. However, modern man, armed with all the achievements of the last millennium, is not able to cope with a common runny nose, like 100, 500 and 2000 years ago.

Who is to blame and what to do?

No one in particular is to blame for the substitution of values ​​and everyone is guilty. Modern human rights are both respected and not respected precisely because of this distortion - you can have an opinion, but you cannot express it, you can love something, but you cannot mention it.

Stupid Ouroboros, constantly chewing his own tail, will one day choke, and then there will be complete harmony and world peace in the Universe. However, if this does not happen in the foreseeable future, future generations will at least have hope for the best.

For obvious reasons, the modern “prohibition law” is most popular among, because, as you know, the Prophet Muhammad was a categorical opponent of alcohol. But the authorities of the countries have to make some kind of deal with their conscience, since numerous tourists, who make a significant contribution to the country’s treasury, cannot live without alcohol. So you have to get out of it so as not to break the laws of religion and not spoil the business..

Yemen

Alcohol is prohibited throughout the country, except for the cities of Aden and Sana'a. But even there it is allowed only to tourists, only in special institutions, or at home. Alcohol is strictly prohibited for local citizens.

UAE

There are quite strict rules regarding the sale and drinking of alcohol. And in the city of Sharjah it is generally prohibited to anyone who does not have a special license from the state. However, such a license is, in principle, needed by all residents of the UAE who want to conduct their business using alcohol.

Sudan

At one time, alcohol was completely prohibited by the ruling Socialist Party of the Sudanese Union. She professes quite radical Islam, by the way. And if the combination “Islamic socialism” has not yet caused you to break your pattern, then don’t worry - life in the country shows that this combination is not very effective. But tourists can drink here, but only at home.

Somalia

One of the poorest countries in East Africa. It is also Islamic, so the production and consumption of alcohol is prohibited here. So, alas, Somali pirates sail without Somali rum.

Saudi Arabia

Alcohol is strictly prohibited. Even foreigners. Even at home under the bed. Even the slightest hint of this matter is fraught with imprisonment. And there can be no question of importing anything from abroad.

Pakistan

Everything here is quite contradictory. On the one hand, alcohol is prohibited for local Muslims. On the other hand, this is the norm among local Hindus, so the authorities have to somehow balance between them. For example, issue permits for the production and consumption of alcohol to certain national minorities and organizations.

Mauritania

Locals are not allowed, tourists are allowed, but be careful. Only in restaurants and bars that have an official government license.

Brunei

The country is Islamic, despite its location in Southeast Asia. Local residents are strictly forbidden to drink, but tourists are allowed alcohol. But you can only drink a bottle of alcohol purchased at duty-free at home.

Maldives

One of the most popular resorts in the Indian Ocean is also a prohibition zone. But exclusively for locals - tourists can drink as much as they want on hotel grounds.

India

In some Indian states, "local laws" restrict alcohol consumption. To varying degrees, moreover. In some places the ban is categorical for everyone, for example in Bihar and Nagaland. And in others, drinking alcohol on the streets is simply limited. And there are also places where alcohol is not regulated at all.

We also believe that you would be interested to know about some related to Dubai - a city from the UAE. Let's just say that these facts quite comprehensively characterize the cultural features of this exotic and unusual country.

IRAQ
Who is fighting with whom? The Islamic State (IS) and its allied groups are fighting against the central government and the military forces of Iraqi Kurdistan (the Peshmerga militia - literally "those who stare death in the face"). Numerous Arab tribes are also drawn into the conflict: some support the Islamists, while others support the government. Now the main forces of the Islamic State have been defeated, and the territories under its control have been liberated, but the militants continue to carry out terrorist attacks and sabotage.

What are they fighting for? IS aims to create a kind of worldwide “Islamic caliphate”, built on the strict implementation of religious precepts. Those Muslims who do not share their views are equated within the group with “infidels.”

Number of victims. Over the past year alone, the Iraqi army has lost about a thousand people killed. IS losses are unknown.

SYRIA

Who is fighting with whom? Various groups are fighting among themselves, the largest of which are the government forces of President Bashar al-Assad, various Islamist movements, the Kurdish confederation, as well as forces supported by Turkey.

What are they fighting for? Different groups pursue different goals, and some of them are supported by foreign countries.

Number of victims. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, by the beginning of September 2018, 522 thousand people were killed during military operations, and more than 7 million people were forced to leave the country.

SOMALIA
Who is fighting with whom? The civil war in Somalia has been ongoing since 1988. Several dozen different “governments,” “armies,” factions and clans, as well as the Islamist movement, took part in it.

What are they fighting for? Nowadays there is practically no military action. However, Somalia does not actually exist as a single state. Each of the groups controlling different regions seeks to maintain its power.

Number of victims. The number of deaths during the civil war exceeds 500 thousand people.

AFGHANISTAN

Who is fighting with whom? In 2015, NATO troops left Afghanistan. However, armed conflict continues in the country between the government and the Islamist Taliban movement.

What are they fighting for? Military operations are taking place mainly in areas bordering Pakistan. In the territory under their control, the Taliban established orders reminiscent of the medieval ones. The Taliban are also active in the border regions of Pakistan, where they confront the Pakistani army.

Number of victims. Since 2015, the Afghan army and police have lost more than 7 thousand people killed in battles with the Taliban. The Taliban's losses amounted to more than 10 thousand people.

YEMEN
Who is fighting with whom? Local rebels (Houthis) control the Yemeni capital and have formed their own government. Supporters of the old regime, in turn, dug in in the south, where they united with local separatists. They are supported by Saudi Arabia, which is actively involved in the conflict.

What are they fighting for? The Houthis call themselves defenders of the interests of Shiite Muslims, who make up a significant part of the country's population, but for a long time did not have access to power. Supporters of the old government mainly adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam.

Number of victims. About 50 thousand people died during the fighting; more than 3 million were forced to leave their homes.

LIBYA

Who is fighting with whom? The government army is confronting local Islamist groups.

What are they fighting for? Libyan Islamists consider themselves part of the Islamic State and view their actions as part of the global struggle for the caliphate. In turn, the army is trying to ensure government control over the entire territory of the country.

Number of victims. The war in Libya has claimed the lives of more than 10 thousand people.

SUDAN, South Kordofan
Who is fighting with whom? The Sudanese Armed Forces (and the militias that support them) are fighting the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army.

What are they fighting for? Southern Kordofan is located on the border between two African states - Sudan and South Sudan. Each of these countries considers the region its own.

Number of victims. During the conflict in Southern Kordofan, about 1.5 thousand people died, and almost 500 thousand people were left homeless.

ETHIOPIA, Ogaden

Who is fighting with whom? Rebels from the Ogaden National Liberation Front confront the government army. The conflict cannot be called intense, but armed clashes continue.

What are they fighting for? The conflict in the Ogaden has been going on for 24 years. The rebels demand independence for the region, and in the future they plan to unite with Somalia into a single state.

Number of victims. The Ethiopian government keeps all information about the course of the conflict secret. The exact number of victims is unknown.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Who is fighting with whom? In fact, the official government of the Central African Republic controls only certain areas of the country's capital, Bangui. The rest of the territory is under the control of various armed groups.

What are they fighting for? Among the participants in the civil war there are Muslim and Christian fundamentalists seeking to rebuild the life of the country according to the principles of the Koran or the Bible. There are also groups representing the interests of individual ethnic groups and supporters of certain political leaders. Finally, some groups are simply engaged in banditry and extortion.

Number of victims. The exact number of deaths during the civil war is unknown, but human rights activists and international organizations speak of thousands of victims.