Do you find yourself caring less about what’s going on?

20 comments

1. Definitely. And I’ve stopped using FB like 10 years ago

2. I barely care what’s happening to me anymore.

3. I think overall it depends on what you mean in this scenario. I don’t care to know what goes on in the daily aspects of life of everyone I know except for my wife and kid. As for wold problems outside of the news which is 24 hour all the time seeking whatever negative things it can to call it news there is always social media that tends to throw out whatever it chooses to be offended at the moment and make it into a big deal or bigger deal than it needs. So, is it caring less or is it being more selective about what you need to care about?

4. Politics. Used to care immensely when I was younger. No I couldn’t care less.

5. I certainly care less about the small stuff and more about the big stuff. I feel more of a responsibility to do things – personally and professionally – about megatrends like climate change and inequality, and so want to make sure I’m up to speed on those issues and where I can make an impact, or at least attempt to make it less worse.

   But outside of all but my closest friends I don’t really stay up to speed on people’s lives. I can barely remember what people do for a job unless they’re in a well-defined profession. I’m aware of approximately how many kids they have and at least some of their names. The ones that move from the city to the suburbs tend to drift out of my life anyway.

   I think to some extent it’s because people our age tend to follow similar, well-worn paths. Very few folks do anything other than have kids, move to the suburbs, slowly progress professionally, have a mid-life crisis and retire. The ones that follow a different path definitely capture my attention more.

6. I think the sad reality is that when we are younger we have free time and an excess of energy. As we get older we get responsibilities and have less dominion over so much of our lives that the trivial interactions we had with our friends are the first to suffer. And if we have a woman front and center in our lives that tends to take up a lot of time and energy.

   The only solution I have found is to be that guy who makes it a point to reach out to my close circle on a regular basis and to organize shit for us to do a few times a year. It makes me a pain in the ass, but each of my close friends have thank me for being that guy at some point.

   I don’t know if this is similar to what you are experiencing or not. Best of luck

7. There’s a lot I don’t care about. I definitely care about world events, but most other things are just nonsense and I don’t understand how grown people still get bogged down in interpersonal drama. You hit on it with increasing levels of responsibilities. I have real shit to deal with. I have a crazy job, I got a screw stuck in my tire yesterday that I have to deal with this morning. I’m about to get a bathroom redone. My new glasses hurt my nose and have been giving me headaches. I don’t even have kids and I’m constantly dealing with stuff. I think I cared more about trivial things when the only real responsibility I had was passing a science test on Friday.

8. Yeah, for sure. When I was younger I cared about everything and wanted to be in the know about what’s in, etc. Now I still care passionately but just about things I care about, a few hobbies, family mostly. It’s almost meditative being a bit ignorant in some aspects.

9. I’m not a man (sorry) but I also relate to this feeling. I was very big into politics and had a strong sense of justice when I was younger and now I’m jaded and just like “eh” … I guess the world successfully broke me.

10. Wait til you are 60 buddy.

11. I think when you’re younger, hanging out together is the default because you’re bored and have less to do. With a busier life with family etc, you have to put actual thought and energy into seeing friends. I have two very close friends that I make a point to keep in contact with and to hang out, go for a hike, or have dinner with every two weeks or so. You just have to prioritize it and stick to it. Having a shared hobby or activity helps and can provide an extra reason to hang out. My dad used to golf every Saturday with his brother for this reason. I hike with one of my friends every two weeks. We get to catch up on each other’s lives and families. It’s nice to have.

12. We live in a constant state of crisis it seems like. Eventually you just burn out and kinda go numb. Atleast that’s where I seem to be.

13. I care about a lot of things, but it’s becoming increasingly harder to find people to share that with. Most folks only care about me in the present, otherwise I feel like an afterthought. I’ve tried to re-establish friendships with some childhood friends, but those turned out to be duds because they only time they ever wanted to do anything was when I asked. No reciprocation at all, which says limited interest.

    I’ve been trying to find time to hang out with the folks at the boardgame group, but these are mostly younger men. I hate to say it, but the only place that seems to have a regular crowd is the local bar, and I really don’t want to develop relationships based on booze.

14. Only care about my own family and friends. Everything else, isn’t worth my time.

15. I care. I still follow the news. I’ve just come to realize that there isn’t much I can do about it.

    I focus on what I can do. I can foster peace in my family and in my community. I can provide assistance to those around me. I can be available to those I meet who are in need with my time and energy. I can become in active participant in these situations by being active in my community.

    I pray about the other larger issues. I support organizations that affect change in those areas. But I focus on what I can do, which is affect change in my very small corner of the world.

16. For me I picked up Taoism — realized that all that ever was, and all that ever will be, is influenced by so many variables. Yes, we should care about things and have a sense of community, however, I feel that the modern age of “everybody can have a voice / everybody can have an audience” has made it seem to alot of people that truly we can change world — but I feel time and time again has shown us that the world always moves in one direction slowly.

    We are generational creatures, there’s a generation after us and a generation before us — we all “add a bit of push” to the history of wheel, as long as its turning.

17. Yes, you pretty much summed it up.

    I have to worry about my family, my finances and properties, my increased responsibilities in my career, and my declining health. Young people have far fewer things to worry about.

18. Yes, relates to YOLO and maturing and realizing we are finite and have limited time on this floating rock. Ppl complain/don’t like me.. cool? Sounds like a YOU problem. Same way with at work you prioritize your workload, you need to prioritize your non-work life i.e. family/hobbies. Plus, the older I get, the less I care about other people’s problems since I got my own, thanks!

19. I am more aware of my limitations in terms of time and energy (which is dwindling as I get older) and spend it more judiciously.

    Things in the world still concern me, but I know I cannot have an impact on everything.

20. For me, if my women is front and center in my life that also means there are not a lot of free hours for me to do what I want with friends, etc.

    24 hours in a day
    8-10 hours of work
    6-8 hours of sleep
    Couple hours of misc things (commute, errands, etc)

    There are not of hours left and the ones that are trend not to be at the timesthat are convenient