Romany

I do think this 'doom and gloom' appears to be a western phenomenon. For exhibit #1, I submit Maxi's depressing posts - no slur intented Max. I have learned in countering my own bouts of depressive illness to focus on the positives, I'm even grateful if the only positive I can find in a day is that I remained pain-free. Other days are full of wonderful little events; my neighbour's offer to remove a couple of overgrown small trees - for free, the free gift of a tough hessian bag at a shopping centre, even though I hadn't spent the pre-requisite $20, an echnida snuffling through the undergrowth on a hot summer's afternoon, the man who stopped and reconnected the faulty wiring between the car battery and alternator, the all round hugs at the end of a particularly good 'take' when on set. That my mother can still sit back and laugh with gusto at Spics & Specs, despite tied to an oxygen machine 24/7.

Sorry I'd better stop now, I suspect that people's eyes are glazing over.

I wonder if in eastern culture the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism plat a part in acceptance of the here and now. Living in the present; mindfulness. When you don't have a lot it pays to appreciate what you do have.

And like negativity, positivity can be contagious. A simple choice, but it takes a lot of practise. So you can either think of life as pushing sh#t or collecting fertiliser.

Fractelle, Romany, I hear exactly what you say. I　find my most frequent criticisms on OLO are of those who engage in extreme left/right diatribes, or those who create this world of conspiracy theories as can be seen on this thread (sorry OUG, but honestly, there's more wild conspiracies in there than you can shake a stick out. Get out and about once in a while).

I believe one reason why I so frequently disagree with people in these instances, is that these views often come back to the entrenched negativity that can be seen by many posters.

Travelling less developed places, I can only echo Romany's point. I've got a few theories.

There are a number of factors here - I think we're hardwired to focus on threats to our well-being. When we have such a large amount of information, we often end up focusing on it.
Just look at how much news is about violence.
It comes back to the 'car accident' effect: people slowing down so they can gawp. Unfortunately, this tends to inflate the sense of doom.

Now, here's where I think the difference between the west and less developed countries comes in - by taking so much about the world through the media and the internet, we rely less on our everyday experiences.

It's funny, because I think many OLO posters are quite capable of going out one day, walking through a sunny place with trees and beautiful weather where they see smiling children, before coming home to a large house and delicious dinner - then getting on OLO and explaining why the world is so screwed up.

I try to keep things in perspective.

On the other hand, people who rely more on their everyday experiences are more likely to appreciate this as reflective of the wider world. The funny thing is, that these people come from less developed places.

Rather ironic, huh?

No worries Fractelle, point accepted.
I regret you find my posts depressing, I am merely putting a point of view based on what I know and think, it is not reflective of me or my view of life generally. The negativity is what is really happening in this world, whether your in Oz, Japan, or Terra Del Fuego, so that the fact others don't know what's about to happen and are positive etc in no way alters my points, surely?

turning left and turning right..made a comment aimed at me,quote<<my most frequent criticisms on OLO are of those who engage in extreme left/right diatribes''>>..,[like turning left then turning right?..lol..''..<<or those who create this world of conspiracy theories as can be seen on this thread>>...one comnspricy you didnt rebut ..lol

<<(sorry OUG,but honestly,there's more wild conspiracies in there than you can shake a stick out.Get out and about once in a while).>>..well dear turning about 180 degrees of seeperataion[in lue of rebuttal],...lol..how about using..your own topic...and your own comment..to expose the truth,

so lets try the topic..you yourself started
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=2729&page=0

quote topic subject<<Swine flu.How serious is this going to be?

QUOTE from your initial post[i note your last post rebuts the fewars of your first ..lol..quote<<..My guess is we're looking at deaths that will probably reach into the tens of thousands globally...
..Perhaps into the hundreds of thousands,...[lol]..though I'm hoping it doesn't go that far or higher.>>..lol....wow 180 degress of turn to no good result;..thats a bi-polar 180 degree reversal of the sentiment of your last post ...lol

look 180 degrees..i like the new you..who is more relaxed than the uptight you who posted the topic..[how far are you prepared to stretch a point to make a point ..lol]..180 degrees?

[turn left turn right]that puts you right back to where you began..[of null affect]..two 90 degree turns ...all that effort for nuthin

OUG, the regular flu killed 35,000 last year in the US alone.

Given this, place the deaths in perspective.

There is still a threat, and I'm still concerned, and I still think the vast majority of conspiracy theories are paranoid idiocy, especially when you cram a whole bunch of them together. Try to stick with one brand of paranoia at once, it'll make you a whole lot more credible.

But the news since then has indicated that the 150 deaths at the start of the outbreak, were false reporting.

Also, there's the fact that the spanish flu killed on its second round, after it mutated. This flu spreads quickly and still has devastating potential, but given that it's just potential I'm reasonably sanguine. If it does turn out bad, we've got prior warning.

I reiterate - I've done no U-turn. Read it again, and deal with it.

P.S. I'm watching you from a secret camera hidden in your lampshade! I'm actually a secret/agent/corporate/alien/9-11/co-conspirator! Boo! Greetings from the grassy knoll!

oh dear agent turn leftwing right, it is sad bro as you said 35,000 REGULAR FLUE DEATHS annually[WHY SPIN UP less than 10?]

look we both agree on your quote..<<..But the news since then has indicated that the 150 deaths at the start of the outbreak,were false reporting...>> so lets agree to disagree as to by how much they tried to spin this...[yet spin it is]..its certainly not a pandemic

i comment on only a few topic's mainly where the intelectual prostitutes are playing their mind fuc...you were the origonator of the swine flue topic[and it has proved to be totally inacurate[your fears on the numbers]..as well as the affect

[the 35,000 regular flue deaths would have been a better point made at the swine flue post[yet you chose to not relate that fact there and then,infact chose to spin the fear,by that alone are you revealed]