That's true enough. And I agree, I think we'll probably go insane if we try to point to one specific cause of suicide rates.


I don't know, I just feel things like this are constantly changing, and we're in the middle of it so it's hard to have a sense of perspective. Every month there's some new thing that is either destroying our world, our youth, our freedom or our brains. Sometimes it's a terrorist plot, and sometimes it's a new Bratz doll. It's hard to get excited about the newest threat to our humanity.


Finally, I think it can be nearly impossible to judge what, exactly, is a "threat," especially in terms of pop culture. For example, we're in the age of smartphones, Youtube, and near-instantaneous global communication. Is this a good thing, since it will make secrecy and corruption much more difficult, and help connect us as a global people? Or will it twist into a giant surveillance state, where the ability of anyone to be heard means that some crazy redneck or jihadist can post a rant on Youtube that goes viral and soon the entire world is arguing about it?



For another example, science-fiction was seen as brainless escapism. Yet it fueled interest in science, and I've read some very persuasive articles that bluntly state that without science fiction, we would not have made it to the moon.


On the flip side... hm. I'm trying to think of some cultural things that were considered "good," but turned out to be destructive in the end. McCarthyism, maybe? ...hm.


I hope I'm being clear; I've been told my analogies are often not as clear as I seem to think they are.