Definitely is common in Aus (loss of community). In my job I’m taken to many communities and I have noticed that the county folk are a lot more friendly than the big city people, theirs even a noticeable difference between the people from Geelong compared to Melbourne. That’s where the cult has the best opportunity for successful recruitment, on targeting those in the big cities, Melbourne, Sydney etc who have lost their way and feel rejected and isolated by society, ones that have no community. Look at the success of Hillsong in Sydney, massive following which could partly be attributed to members joining who are longing for the love and warmth of a community, one that is hard to find elsewhere in the big city. Scientology is very aware of this and uses it to its maximum advantage by love bombing, creating a best buddy system etc etc

You may not want to answer but which town are you from ?

I know this is a “feel good” topic but I’m not about meditating and being calm and peaceful while religious climate zealots continue to push for saving the world from fossil fuels with impossible targets and goals. There is actually some movement in Congress to put forward legislation which would allow future “Climate Crisis” lockdowns. Ugh

I live 450 miles north of Bangkok in Chiang Mai, but I have been to most of the great cities in Europe and Asia, and Bangkok feels more like New York City than any of them. Been to Philly a few times, great town. New Orleans one of my favorite American cities, along with my hometown, San Francisco.

Thank you… It was a very very relevant rant!

Yes the Brits were so brave, stoic, and kept that stiff upper lip. Their attitude and saying was, “Press on regardless…” You have to admire that, And we could use a Winston Churchill type person right about now.

“It is an agreed on CULTURAL point to be friendly, calm and respectful with other people. (Emphasis mine)”

A cultural point…how nice. How civilized!

Thanks, Cindy. Yes, England was a living nightmare during WWII, and the Brits were so brave, so stoic.

Thanks Marc, and thanks to everyone else who responded to my rant 🙂

Marc, I get your valid points and do not disagree. My points were made based on those Americans (myself included) who were substantially inconvenienced but who did not suffer homelessness or real hunger and domestic violence, but instead experienced boredom and temporary albeit upsetting joblessness due to the restrictions.

My perspective comes solely from my own personal experience of having lived as a First Worlder in a Third World country where the vast majority of the population was desperately poor and downtrodden and oppressed and purposefully being kept in those conditions by their own government. To this day I compare every thing I believe I’m “suffering” with what I saw there. This is my own personal perspective and I’m merely sharing it. In our country we have safety nets. No one need ever be hungry or homeless for long. There is food, there is shelter, there is clothing for those who need it. There is all kind of help if one is willing to accept it. People in this country do not die in the streets while others step over them to finish their daily errands. Bone thin little children with extended stomachs and hollow eyes do not root in the garbage looking for something edible. America is a rich country, a generous country, an altogether forgiving country. One’s pride may stand in the way of seeking help, and I can understand that. In fact, I TOTALLY understand that! But help for all kinds of problems is available in America if one is willing to seek it and accept it. That said, in America there is still injustice, oppression, racism, classism, amazing ignorance, intolerance and downright dumbness. We still have a LONG way to go in this country.

Good rant, Aqua. I agree. I have a friend who lived in England during WWII and during the bombing of Manchester and London. Their homes and their neighbors’ homes were being obliterated, dead bodies were piling up, they were starving cuz the German U Boats sank all the supply ships coming over with food, so they knew what bad times were. Yet when he speaks of this, he never complains about it and never said that they felt all mad an out of sorts over it. He said the British people pulled together to fight the common enemy and that “everyone did their bit to help.” So now that we had a little lockdown and masks cuz of Covid, we complain bitterly . You’re right, we are such snowflakes compared to the Brits and Americans in WWII.

Hey Aqua,
You make great points.
Just wanna add that a lot of folks became homeless during the pandemic. Domestic violence increased. And so on. A lot of folks experienced real suffering and catastrophic changes in their lives…
But, yeah, I agree that,generally speaking,exercising some civility
and maintaining a sense of perspective on what we have been through is absolutely necessary. Ditto being grateful for what we do have…
Cheers!