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From mind-numbing reality TV shows to utterly shameless social media content and smart devices that are everything but, here are some of the best examples of how “progressive” ideas turned many lives into nightmares. Though many of these products or ideas appeared before the 2000s or 2010s, they blossomed in recent years and proved that humans are not getting any brighter.
Online trolling
Online trolls want conflict, they seek arguments and enjoy creating a hostile environment. It is a way for people to hide behind their screens and spew hate.
It is pointless, but at the same time, it can cause emotional harm to the victim of online trolling or bullying.
Fast fashion
What’s in today might be passé by the following day. The concept of fast fashion is clever because it leaves you always wanting more. But, the impacts on the environment and your wallet are simply too harmful.
Fast fashion depletes water sources and pollutes rivers. The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world. But there is also a psychological challenge: wearing one dress to two events has become unacceptable, which is wasteful and pricey.
Juicing
Unhealthy lifestyle choices cannot be solved overnight or in the span of a few days. Juicing is a popular way to detox, but it can easily lead to fatigue, headaches, cravings, and dizziness. Because your protein intake is low, you are not doing any favors to your muscles and bones.
Learning about nutrition might be dull, but it is the right way to keep your overall health in check. Additionally, exercising and spending time outdoors will benefit your body and mind.
Selfie sticks
The obsession with taking selfies only worsened once selfie sticks came into use. These sticks celebrate the whole culture of self-worship and can be annoying while visiting tourist attractions.
Robocalls
Robocalls are more than annoying: they are disruptive, intrusive, and even alarming, considering they can come at any time of day or night.
Even more, robocalls can give a sense of unease and serve as a reminder that nothing is private, including your phone number.
Fast food
Most fast food chains serve meals with poor nutrition, which leads to numerous health problems, including obesity. However, fast food chains are not the issue. The real problems are frequent visits or ordering vast amounts of food that give your body nothing but a short-lived sense of fullness.
Fast-food restaurants gained popularity many decades ago, but with time, we started seeing them as a quick solution to food preparation. That’s how many end up juicing without consulting their doctors.
No-zero policies
Some schools practice the so-called “no-zero policies.” This means that students cannot fail a class, enabling them to be lazy and unmotivated.
While traditional grading needs some updating, the “no-zero policy” is not benefiting anyone. Kids who want to learn feel unappreciated, while others are unprepared for the real world.
Autocorrect
Yes, turning it off is easy, but not many remember to do it. That’s how we end up with bizarre messages from our family and, even worse, our colleagues and bosses.
Autocorrect is supposed to be a helpful tool, but given the choice, many of us would rather risk misspelling than explaining awkward exchanges.
All social media
Even without online harassment and a complete lack of privacy, social media promotes “fake news” and superficial values. It is time-consuming because there is no end to scrolling, though it started as a way to connect with friends and family who are not nearby.
Like many other things, social media is not the issue, but it is designed to make you want to see more, so you must keep yourself in check. Otherwise, you will spend most of your life trapped in a perfectly curated virtual insanity.
