Using "Modern Times / "The Year" As Justification For Immorality

[Graham Carter]

 

Is it just me, or does this (the title of this thread) annoy the hell out of anyone?
Let me offer an example, there will be a news article with user comments, or a social media post with comments, and folks come out with responses such as...

Quote

* "People Its 2018, we are not living in the dark ages"
* Its the 21st century, why are we still against Ghey Marriage" 

 

...IE using "The Year" Or "Modern Times" as a misguided justification for immorality!
This is not a  debate though, its to discuss using the era we live in, as justification for allowing previously regarded bad shit to happen!

[Ezzy-525]

Yeah...I don't know what you're on about.

[Kamjam21xx]

I gotcha.

[Taja]

Well, I guess you are saying that this is not an argument? Though it can be, in my opinion.

 

Saying: "you agree with slavery? This is 2018!" Its ok.

Saying: "eww, you eat bread? This is 2018!" Makes no sense.

 

About the gay marriage example, I think its pretty ok. It never made sense to be "against" gay marriage anyway, but today its just so ridiculous that its baffling.

[flibberdipper]

3 minutes ago, Ezzy-525 said:

Yeah...I don't know what you're on about.

Lowkey dude probably found some strong ass drugs and this is the first thing that came to mind.

[TheGlenlivet]

It's called Progress.

We used to make menstruating women leave the village so as not to bring the wrath of the gods upon us too.  Half the population of the earth is glad that "morality" is dead.

 

[Kamjam21xx]

Just now, TheGlenlivet said:

It's called Progress.

We used to make menstruating women leave the village so as not to bring the wrath of the gods upon us too.  Half the population of the earth is glad that "morality" is dead.

 

Ummm i dont think thats what he is getting at... 

 

More like... i just shut down a ladys cake shop because she didnt make me a cake for my gay wedding. Even though it goes against her religion. Its 2018 cmon.

 

Or like, yeah i just had my daughter taken in to get surgery so she wouldnt be a whore and get pleasure from a man. Its 2018, cmon let me be.

 

I mean i dont really have great examples, but still.

[Fred Castellum]

Why even bother letting something as simple as that bother you? 

 

Also shouldn't this belong in off topic?

[Kamjam21xx]

@PCGuy_5960 move thread?

[App4that]

Did you know the term "dark ages" comes from renaissance rich kids who looked down on the poor of the middle ages?

[Professor Dingledore]

Quote

IE using "The Year" Or "Modern Times" as a misguided justification for immorality!

If you're using religion as a source of what IS moral then you've already lost the plot. We don't eff our cousins here in Atheist land because it's 2018!

[Graham Carter]

44 minutes ago, Kamjam21xx said:

Ummm i dont think thats what he is getting at... 

 

More like... i just shut down a ladys cake shop because she didnt make me a cake for my gay wedding. Even though it goes against her religion. Its 2018 cmon.

 

Or like, yeah i just had my daughter taken in to get surgery so she wouldnt be a whore and get pleasure from a man. Its 2018, cmon let me be.

 

I mean i dont really have great examples, but still.

You got it!  Its just as bad as when people who are trying to cement their opinion and use "fact" in their statement as if stating "fact" makes it any more accurate!

 

[Arika]

I can't believe you made this thread....it's the current year, we shouldn't even be talking about it

[Jtalk4456]

1 hour ago, Graham Carter said:

 

-snip-

eh we live and learn, it happens, worldviews change, as long as the morality increases who cares why? If a person stops being racist because the modern world won't accept it anymore, I'm just happy they're not being racist anymore

Also what the crap is 

Quote

Ghey Marriage

 

[DildorTheDecent]

2 minutes ago, Jtalk4456 said:

 

That's OP trying to be cool since the "interwebz" isn't fun anymore.

 

It's 2018 OP, come on.

[Graham Carter]

I think most are getting off topic... the meat n potatoes of this discussion is simply why do some use "the modern times" as a groundless excuse for something to be accepted.

 

By all means back up your argument with reasons of morality, religion, right and wrong etc, but not just throw phrases around like the example already provided...

Quote

"Its 2018, cmon let me be."

 

[Ithanul]

Humans tend to go the easy route to confirm their view point (usually a general term that refers to group thought).

 

Nothing new really, most just don't put in the effort.  About the most effort I ever saw was in my college History and English classes when our teachers had us talk about past culture norms in history.

[Kamjam21xx]

Sometimes you gotta knock up a chicken to fry some eggs. 

 

Cmon its 2018

[Graham Carter]

8 minutes ago, Ithanul said:

Humans tend to go the easy route to confirm their view point (usually a general term that refers to group thought).

 

Nothing new really, most just don't put in the effort.  About the most effort I ever saw was in my college History and English classes when our teachers had us talk about past culture norms in history.

Never thought if it like that, but whole heartedly agree :-)

[AshleyAshes]

Because the current year isn't the explanation as to WHY those things are not considered immoral.  It's just an explanation that those things are no longer considered immoral at this time and that your attitudes are not in line with contemporary standards.

[Canada EH]

2 hours ago, Graham Carter said:

The Year" Or "Modern Times"

Its the ole addage of the 1999 fear.

Life moves on and times flies by

in no time today will long in history

or as I assume you are inferring, today are modern times and just living for the moment as compared to the past.

[Volbet]

I would argue that you're looking at the statement wrong.

Saying "It's the current year" is rarely used as an argument or justification on its own.

Rather, it's a way to create a context in which to argue some kind of point.

Referencing the year helps create a historical context, and in this case, puts moral outrage into perspective of the development in moral (and overall social) norms. What was considered morally reprehensible 100 years ago isn't today, and some things that were allowable 100 years ago are frowned upon today.

 

We're thereby forced into considering our outrage and consider why we're outraged in light of our historical development.

[Graham Carter]

18 hours ago, Volbet said:

I would argue that you're looking at the statement wrong.

Saying "It's the current year" is rarely used as an argument or justification on its own.

Rather, it's a way to create a context in which to argue some kind of point.

Referencing the year helps create a historical context, and in this case, puts moral outrage into perspective of the development in moral (and overall social) norms. What was considered morally reprehensible 100 years ago isn't today, and some things that were allowable 100 years ago are frowned upon today.

 

We're thereby forced into considering our outrage and consider why we're outraged in light of our historical development.

Some very good points, I like this :-)

 

For me personally, it comes back to frustration, from, as has already been highlighted, sheer laziness to explain ones reasoning.....

 

For example, where there are discussions be they online or in person, when the phrase is used, regardless of its intentions, or as you so eloquently summarised to highlight what was morally wrong in years gone by...

 

...Whatever the motive for using the "modern phrase" my frustration is that when its "clearly" used as an excuse or justifications for actions without backing it up with ones reasoning (going back to the laziness once again)

 

Smacking children is another hot topic... and if I or someone replied to a discussion along the lines of "I don't smack my child, because OMG its the 21st century!

...would summarise the reason for this discussion!

 

However, if someone said " I don't smack my child, because A) bad experiences in the past B) prefer other methods of punishment etc, this would be a quality rebuttal 

 

If your passionate about something, then shout it from the rooftops and backup it up with passionate arguments and reasoning... don't just blurt out "because its 2018"

 

 

[AshleyAshes]

8 minutes ago, Graham Carter said:

sheer laziness to explain ones reasoning....

Is it any less lazy than you using the word 'immortality' as if what is moral and is immoral is fixed and absolute and that others are being 'immoral' and justifying their 'immorality'?

[Graham Carter]

Dammit, have Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80's stuck in my head now 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOV5WXISM24