With the big issues now off the agenda, driven from the scene by the media, particularly in the western world,

I lived to witness for example, sales processes deteriorate from sales by informing the customer, too sales reliant upon the customer not being informed.

I have watched customer service deteriorate too a mere surface response instead of an intention understood by all to be beneficial.

I watched the treatment of hardworking loyal employees by employers deteriorate to an exploitive relationship, instead of a mutually beneficial one.

I have observed verbal communication skills deteriorate from conversations and consultations, too verbal jousts with the object being professional blame deflection, instead of problem solving, in a generation.

I have suffered the separation between the cost of something and what a consumer is expected to pay for it.

I have tally-ed the cost of increasing control for the wealthy and powerful, against the continuing abrogation of the rights and freedoms of the citizen in my lifetime and have decided , that it ("the future") won't be my cup of tea. Even in our once wonderful land.

This has all happened in a mere 15 years or so. It's kiss your a#se goodbye stuff for mine on all sorts of levels. What do you think ?.

Life is wonderful.

You really need to smell the roses and consider how lucky you are.

Travel.

Get some perspective.

If you have a loved one or a family, tell them how much you love them.

Enjoy a hot shower, something we take for granted, that so many never have, and consider you are one of the luckiest people in the world.

Indulge your senses, heighten them with drugs, luxuriate in philosophy and pontification, pay $7.95 and hold 32GB in your hand, videophone someone in Japan, google, taste the culinary delights of different cultures, down shots of Gletscher Eis, watch the Big Lebowski, and marvel at the angelic face of your favorite actress.

There are an infinite list of joys, simple joys, and when you die, you wont really be too worried about such trivialities.

I agree Houelle that there are many wonders and distractions for us all and I am a willing participant in all that, but this post is not about me.

It's about our changing attitudes, and my case the comparative view that age allows provides me with insight into the things we have lost, that someone not having lived in earlier times could not possibly understand or perceive.

In fact Houelle, your topic shift towards me is a prime example of the blame deflecting type of conversation that has now become the norm.

e.g I have this view because "I don't get out enough", "I don't tell my family I love them enough",I haven't held 32GB in my hand (as we descend into trivial achievement), all of which is inaccurate, personal, and off topic.

You have nothing it seems to discuss re ethics attitudes or generational change.

Well I don't think my perspective tonight is going to do it for you either, thinker 2.

I sat down earlier tonight with my eleven year-old son and we watched a chef called Po (from Australia) visit Cambodia. She went to look at the work of Scott Neeson and his organisation CCF who work with children who inhabit an area once surrounded by a huge rubbish dump...I mean the rubbish dump was their sustenance.

I know this all sounds rather cliche, but I was really uplifted. These kids are still extremely poor and vulnerable, but they have a school and they are fed and clothed. My son was visibly shocked as he realised how these kids had lived - and still live beyond the school day. He watched as a few children emerged all bathed and dressed in "new second-hand clothes", their hair brushed and a backpack set upon their shoulders. We couldn't help but feel that this is "what it's all about".

Anyway, the main thing I noticed was the absolute gratitude that radiated from everyone, the sheer kindness with which people treated each other. It made me smile, because these people are so humble. The young women who were shepherding the younger children had spent their younger years fossicking on the rubbish tip, until this fellow came and began to help them get the community together.

I know what you're trying to say in your post, that the way we treat each other has deteriorated - perhaps because we have too much.

Perhaps we don't know how to be humble anymore.

Come on smile.
Just 12 years ago we had work choices, now even those who over looked its implementation say it was wrong.
We fight carbon pollution and plan a disability scheme.
We saw a landing on Mars that is still brilliant.
Find a date in history, any one.
Then look at it in 20 years, we are going ok warts and all.

I recently have had two very positive experiences with sales people.
They knew their job, they were helpful and were able to find what
I was seeking quickly and sorted out my misunderstanding on a detail.
One was at Myers and the other was in K-Mart.

Things are not as bad as many believe.