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Is Paranoia an Acquired Taste?

Guest post by: Sylvia Lafair

Article Overview: In "Don't Bring It to Work" the underlying idea is that when stress hits the hot button we all revert to behavior patterns we learned as kids in our original organization, the family for protection and survival. That is what seems to be showing up around our country in this time of sadness and confusion. The knee-jerk reactions are so similar to ones that we can all remember when disagreements broke out in elementary and middle school playgrounds. We were given detentions, told to behave, but rarely sat down to really look at what started the upset in the first place.

Is Paranoia an Acquired Taste?

In "Don't Bring It to Work" the underlying idea is that when stress hits the hot button we all revert to behavior patterns we learned as kids in our original organization, the family for protection and survival. That is what seems to be showing up around our country in this time of sadness and confusion.

The knee-jerk reactions are so similar to ones that we can all remember when disagreements broke out in elementary and middle school playgrounds. We were given detentions, told to behave, but rarely sat down to really look at what started the upset in the first place.

Here are the questions for us as a nation right here and right now: When does "free speech" cross the boundaries of healthy discourse? When do attacks on "the other" move from debate to becoming political vaudeville? Why do those who incite get the biggest headlines?

Those with the loudest voices are making gobs of money and we know that in our society the core belief is "more is better" and whether that leads to a positive world or not doesn't even come up for discussion.

Reason is silenced by ugly sound bites and slick humor. For example, in the past Rush Limbaugh has been quoted stating that "feminism was established to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society". Why are these comments accepted as part of today's "freedom of speech"?

Both Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh are raising fears that liberals could use the shooting as an excuse to clamp down on their voices. And liberals are blaming without taking any responsibility to look at the deeper issues of a divided, polarized culture.

You can hear the echoes from the school yard "It's his fault, it's her fault, it's their fault, not mine".

When do we all say "STOP?"

When do the media take responsibility? Program after program shows bloody dead people lying around and crime scenes as the way of the world. Reality TV shows rude people spewing out nasty language and the "worst" of the words bleeped out (like we don't know which four letter word is being tossed into someone else's face)!

Rudeness wins! And we all lose!

Here is where we need to focus; the brains of young children are malleable and studies show that excessive stress causes damage in brain development. Hostile words, verbal abuse make a difference. It is too easy to shrug off people as being "mentally ill" and let it go at that.

There is a Rodgers and Hammerstein song from "South Pacific" that says it all "You have to be taught to hate and fear, you have to be taught from year to tear, it has to be drummed in your dear little ear, you have to be carefully taught".

Hey adults take a moment and think about what you are saying; the human brain is greatly influenced by environmental behavior and paranoia, sadly, can be learned.

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Article Tags: behavior patterns, disagreements, hot button, paranoia, sadness, school playgrounds, stress, survival



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