Robert A. Heinlein
“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.”
Robert E. Howard
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M.C. Tuggle, Writer 
Two great quotes, even more significant in today’s climate.
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Tales from the Neon Beach,
As Pound once noted, literature is news that stays news.
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Wow, we are on the same page. The title of my new post (coming in the wee hours tomorrow) is “This Is a Civil Emergency.”
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Jan M. Flynn,
What’s that old saying about great minds?
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Two quotes that are sure to resonate.
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ralietravles,
Two wrongs don’t make a right, but two Roberts do.
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Doesn’t bode well for us, does it? Howard’s post is right to the point.
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D. Wallace Peach,
Yes, it is!
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No truer than today’s society/world! Thanks for sharing.
–Michael
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E. Michael Helms,
My pleasure!
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Two great quotes and sadly so correct. Thank you for putting them forward. I do particularly like Robert Hainlein’s just now.
Miriam
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Miriam,
I’m afraid he’s right on target.
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This is worrying in regards to our current “culture.”
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Thinking Moon,
Sad but true.
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Haha. They would have loved social media.
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Richard Rabil, Jr,
That’s the thing — the ‘net gives the timid the power to toss insults without facing the consequences. I think the so-called social media have harmed social relations — and possibly our political unity as well.
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Yes. Agreed. I remember so clearly when one of my grad school professors (this was about a decade ago) declared his belief that the internet could become one of the most powerful forces in breaking down barriers and promoting unity in our society. I was inclined to share his optimism. What neither of us quite realized at the time was exactly your point: the same tech that allows us to overcome certain barriers (namely geographic distance) also allows us to neglect our common humanity and say even more horrible things to each other than we might otherwise if we were in the same room together.
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The Internet as a whole is of course an improvement over the mass media. I probably agree with you on the specifics of social media.
The timid speaking insults seems equivalent to the bold doing the same, because there are no repercussions anyway, as your first quote states. Those who are timid today can tend to be those who fear harming others, undermining an institution they respect, and you get the idea. If Conan assaulted/battered some jerk, the jerk would sue Conan, not become timid. I try to do right by others due to religion.
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Richard Rabil, Jr.
Well put. That’s exactly what’s happened to us.
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What’s really weird is some of the so called dregs of humanity are the most courteous people I’ve ever met. I guess it’s because they know someone might use bad manners an a excuse to take them out.
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williamrablan,
Uriah Heep, for example.
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These two quotes resonate with me and my experiences in California.
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