[Open Eyes]

I have been disgusted with our political environment, disgusted with the past election process too. I honestly don't see any "real intellectual" exchanges going on from "ALL our politicians" which really was expressed "worse than ever" in our last election. All it does is promote this behavior to become "acceptable" in all other areas where we interact, from our work environments right down to our children.

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This time of year viruses carry health misery around offices, but according to the latest science, it's not just the flu that's catching. A wide range of behavior, from laughter through obesity, has been shown to spread through networks much like the latest bug.
And now, according to recent studies, we can add one more item to the list of the highly contagious: being a jerk.
You know that an obnoxious boss can make life miserable for his or her direct reports, but new research covered at length in HBR this month, shows that tormented victims are actually more likely to engage in office nastiness themselves, thereby spreading the unpleasantness in a widening circle around an organization.
A blog post by the studies authors, Christine Porath and Christine Pearson, sums up the findings: "stress isn't the only reason people are uncivil at work. In our current HBR article, we present research findings that about one in four people are rude because their bosses are rude. Employees notice what seems to be working then they follow that lead, for better or worse." They go on to offer suggestions for individuals and organizations to counter this effect.
Porath and Pearson aren't the only researchers to document this secondhand rudeness. WebMD recently reported new research from University of New Hampshire organizational behavior professor Paul Harvey which likewise shows that jerks infect their colleagues with their bullying behavior.
"Abusive bosses not only cause misery for the employees they target, but they also poison the work environment for the victims' co-workers," reports the article. How? The researchers write: "Employees realize that the organization is allowing this negative treatment to exist, even if they are not experiencing it directly."
The takeaway here for business owners isn't a mystery. Obviously, if you're guilty of occasional nastiness yourself, cut it out immediately. You're doing more harm than you may have realized. But even if you're the picture of civility yourself, these latest findings are more evidence tipping the scales towards a zero tolerance policy for jerks at your company, even if they're high-performing jerks.
Have you noticed bad behavior spread this way in your own professional life?
Read more

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[Open Eyes]

In my time here at PC, I have met some really "intelligent" and nice people that struggle so much because of the kind of environment we have now in society.

We live in a world of so many suffering from stress and depression, so many on medications just to help them function now. In my generation, honestly "antidepressants" were not the norm like they are today. I find this very troubling.

What I "do" see more an more of is "anger" in our society today, and some "very strange" efforts are being made to "push others around" more than setting examples of "actually communicating and problem solving" in a more "coopertive and respectful manner". Our entire societal mood right now has way too much "anger" and resentments going on. It is everywhere and was "very obvious in our past election". No matter what party you leaned toward, try to really sit back and "think" about how our political leaders really "behaved" in this past election process. One huge red flag that I saw was the VP debate and how Joe Biden "laughed and smirked at every point his opponent was making". Honestly, wow, the fact that some people thought it was "some kind of brilliant" just totally floored me. That behavior was absolutely direspectful to "we the people" who have to decide "who to hire" for our leadership. Bullies? umm let me think about "how a bully behaves towards others", they laugh at others and put them down. I guess somehow on some level we have decided that is "acceptable" somehow.

To me, a true "leader" is one that has the "intellect" to put an end to this problem, "not to promote it".
A true "leader" doesn't just stand solid and "point a finger" and "blame" either. A leader, a true intellect, steps up to the plate and actually begins the "exchange of ideas to find a resolve and direction in a respectful manner". A "leader" is not just someone who says they "want to discuss issues, yet never really actually "has a true discussion" but instead simply says, "I wanted to discuss it but so and so didn't let that happen and just wants to continue pointing a finger". A leader is not someone who "stresses a nation" but someone who encourages "independant strength and desire to thrive and an environment in which that can actually take place, not an environment of the kind of "bullies" we are encountering in today's environment. A "leader" is not someone who devotes most of their efforts and dialouge towards defacing some kind of "opposition" but instead, steps forward with a plan and bright ideas and intellectual exchanges directed at "we the people" "inspite of the opposition". A leader is not just someone who can "identify" a need or void within a system with colorful words, but someone who can present "real solutions that our nation can afford to slowly put in place". A leader is not how a person has to have "everyone on their side of the political party system, but someone who can "unite the parties" understanding that the opposing party is there because it reflects the choice of many of "we the people". And the foundation of what our country was fundamentally designed to be:

"This simple approach is all about reaffirming people's freedom to choose. When you ask someone to do something, you add on the sentiment that they are free to choose."

[Open Eyes]

"What I would like to see more often in this nation is an open and intelligent conversation, not people just casting aspersions at each other," Carson said on "This Week." "I mean, it's unbelievable to me the way people act like third graders. And if somebody doesn't agree with them, they're this and they're that and, you know - it comes from both sides. And it's just so infantile." Quote Dr. Ben Carson

I watched this man speak and I found him "very refreshing" and it was just so nice to hear "an intellectual" which I feel this man is, talk about the troubling political environment we have now.

They want to label him a "conservative" when what he really is is an "Independant" .

What I also liked about him is that he also talked about the significance of the "family unit" which is something I don't hear from politicians these days tbh. It was the first time I noticed something sunk in because when it came addressing the horrible ongoing violence in Chicago, inspite of extremely strict gun laws, the ongoing issue of the kind of families these "criminals" evolve from was finally brought into focus.

What I like about this man is that nobody is "writing what he says" he isn't standing up and talking from some kind of prompter that has all the words "written by people who are paid to put together speaches that can be moving". He doesn't have the animation of the typical "political motivational speaker", instead he speaks from his heart. He didn't take the stance of a bully either, he instead invited those around him to consider how he views some possible things to consider that may be more helpful for our country/society.

What I like about him is that his life was not about the "political arena" like most of the other politicians who are mostly attorneys and all about winning, instead he was his own man who spent most of his life dealing with the issues of "brain health in children". I don't see a man "looking for power and popularity either". I see a very "interesting, intellectual man" wanting fairness for all. While he does bring a religious tone to his speach, well, after all it is a prayer beakfast, the quotes he has are messages we know can lead to better mental health that have been simply worded the same without a religious tone.

http://www.examiner.com/video/dr-ben...breakfast-wi-1

[Hellion]

Yeah, I can see how the general attitudes of society can contribute to bullying and even encourage it a lot of times. I feel that is a lot of what I've dealt with...it's probably a lot to due with the consumerist/corporate focused culture. Everyones gotta be faster, wealthier or ahead of the next person, fake it till you make it because if you can't carry your own weight then it's just life...everyone for them-self kind of thinking contributes.

There is this disturbing tendency in society to kick those who are already down, or veiw them as lesser for having troubles with self sufficiency and functioning...or seem to be very different or maybe weaker in some ways. Like if someones not very assertive there can be all kinds of stigma...like there is all kinds of crap on the topic of dating about how lack of confidence isn't 'attractive.' and people that lack it are just clingy losers not worthy of a relationship for instance. I mean I don't see how that helps anything....that mentality exists elsewhere but that is just one example. I mean where is the environment to build a foundation for any confidence when you can't keep up with the so called status quo? system seems to be designed to make things harder on you the worse off you already are.

[Open Eyes]

Well Hellion how did you have a chance when you went to school where your focus in learning was spent on how to deal with bullies? How do we learn to enjoy our work when our focus is the bully bosses? How do children learn to be "safe" and calm at home when the parents are "bullying and arguing with each other in front of them" because they might bring home the stess from workplace bullying? How do we as a nation feel safe when our political leaders are basically "bullying each other", instead of being like the eagle flying forward with his right wing and left wing pumping together? It all trickles down to our children and it is causing alot of harm to all of us IMO.

I really wonder how many people are on antidepresants in this country? Why?

I know I have alot of things tied together in the thread, but to "blame" one thing is wrong because it tends to trickle down from the top and spread out over time.

It isn't just in our own leadership either, it is the leaders globally that are bullying each other as well, and it is trickling down to the citicens in other countries as well, not just here in the States.

(PS), lol I spelled trickle wrong in my title, that is what happens when living with all dislexics.

[Hellion]

Hmm intrestingly enough they don't even teach you how to deal with bullies in school...then parents and people will say 'tell the teacher', 'just ignore it.' well if you tell the teacher they may not believe you, it might case them to do more bullying due to being 'tattled' on...one can only ignore harassment for so long before it gets to them. So yeah not sure what is an effective way to deal with such people....maybe some focus should be put into that though education should also be aimed at teaching that bullying behavior is not appropriate and is detrimental to society as a whole....but good luck convincing the collective society that behavior is detrimental to society as a whole. A lot of people seem quite fine with the view that if you can't take the heat well that's your problem society does not have to change to better fit the needs of it's people.

[Open Eyes]

Originally Posted by Hellion

Hmm intrestingly enough they don't even teach you how to deal with bullies in school...then parents and people will say 'tell the teacher', 'just ignore it.' well if you tell the teacher they may not believe you, it might case them to do more bullying due to being 'tattled' on...one can only ignore harassment for so long before it gets to them. So yeah not sure what is an effective way to deal with such people....maybe some focus should be put into that though education should also be aimed at teaching that bullying behavior is not appropriate and is detrimental to society as a whole....but good luck convincing the collective society that behavior is detrimental to society as a whole. A lot of people seem quite fine with the view that if you can't take the heat well that's your problem society does not have to change to better fit the needs of it's people.

Yes, but how can we stop bullying when we see our leaders do it?
This idea of "we should be able to "ignore" it doesn't work. It never did and it always leads to "stress" whether it is an adult on the receiving end or an entire society, that is my point. Our leaders should be setting a better example. In a very "polite" and poinent way that was Dr. Carson's message too, to both parties.