Our society have seen many changes in the perception of an individual throughout history. Some say, that in this day and age, people tend to judge their peers based on social status or on materialistic wealth. Values and virtues that were crucial in the past, such as honour, kindness, and trust, seem to slowly fade away. In this essay I will discuss why I agree with this statement, as well as illustrate my views with examples.
In our modern world, it seems like the most important goal in life for most people is to get famous, rich or achieve a high societal status, since that is the only way to get other’s attention and respect. This phenomenon is intensified by the appearance of social media platforms as well. The users usually tend to show their best selves, and brag about their monetary achievements, while their followers only see the bright side of the happenings. For example, Instagram made it really easy to get a peak into celebrities everyday lives, and the members of the online world tend to put them on a pedistele, while looking down on their own self, just because the other person has a larger audience, or greater income.
I believe that this is an ongoing issue, and we as a society should make an effort, to pay attention to the so-called old-fashioned values, and see that they are worth more than any amount of money or fame. Honour, kindness, trust, honesty, and many other virtues are the ones that make us human. These ethical and moral guidelines help us to navigate our lives without harming others’ freedom. I think, that individuals who own these virtues, deserve more respect than a shiny car or a good job. For instance, I try to befriend people, who inspire me and whose behavior matches my values, instead of judging them by their wealth.
In conclusion, throughout the years the basis of our judgement about other people has shifted from moral values to material possessions and hierarchical status. However, we should not lose all hope, with greater effort we can turn things around.