Why do people care what other people do?

Made this after seeing a few comments in threads. Perticularly along the lines of stay at home mums are lazy (even when she's supporting herself/wealthy enough not to work and not on benefits), vegetarians are stupid (wow, I don't even), people who dress as goths are attention seekers (what are we, 12?), girls who don't shave are "gross"... and it got me thinking...why do people care what other people do if it doesn't affect them? As long as they're not involving me or hurting anyone, I don't give a toss what people want to do

I'm genuinely curious

This is a really good argument. I wonder if that goes for a lot of things? They're threatened by someone who doesn't need to conform, and so they try to attack them to push those feelings onto them.

I'm sure you've heard this before but..

Small minds discuss people.
Average minds discuss events.
Great minds discuss ideas.


I think this can be applied to innovative engineering companies, political parties, even individual families. For example parties who are always targeting a group of people (e.g BNP, UKIP) always have the worst solution to some of our issues. Where-as parties with genuine ideas are (imo) the best.

Although it's 2014, we are still evolving, and eventually (and hopefully) we will realise what we should, and shouldn't concentrate on.

Idk if I'm making sense, but hey, I tried.

We inhabit many irrational behaviours, that being one of them, it's unlikely you're immune to it. If you think carefully, you have probably been guilty of it in the past at some point.

I think I can speak for the vegetarianism one as a recent convert.

People feel the need to justify themselves by attacking vegetarians as they feel threatened by the fact vegetarians are 'strong enough' to take a very moral life choice which they themselves are unwilling to do. It threatens them as they feel like vegetarians see themselves as/are seen as morally superior.

They feel the need to justify their life choices in the face of that and for many people it means attacking that lifestyle.

I think with stay at home mums it is also sometime jealousy, and also in part the fact that the media has conditioned people to see anyone that doesn't work as a scrounger.

I wonder if you asked one of these people why they felt that way about X, what they would say, if they would even have a response?

Are they? How?

I have actually done this on here a few times. Each time I didn't get any reply off them.

What's with this recent trend of people using the word debunked in inappropriate contexts?

Adding the word 'debunked' to the end of your post doesn't lend it anything.

Response: You haven't proven anything. Debunked.

I don't think you know what that word means, do you.

I don't think you know what that word means, do you.

People inhaling an excess amount of smoke in certain places can get damaged lungs

People who are associated with smokers may have to deal with their friends/family members addiction costing time, money and cause emotional strain

The NHS will have to pay for long term healthcare for people who have smoked too much and now have cancer which could've been avoided

I don't think you know what that word means, do you.

I doubt it is that. I think the reason some people occasionally think vegetarians are stupid is because the arguments many vegetarians put forward for their choice are ill-informed and illogical.

The rate of vegetarianism amongst people who have grown up working with lifestock and have a good understanding of the nature of farming is extremely low - and for good reason.

1. Smoking in enclosed public spaces is illegal. Unless you're sitting on the smoker's lap, it is impossible to be exposed to enough smoke in the outdoors to ever damage your lungs. The pollution from car fumes are 100x more significant.

2. Could be said of any hobby or interest. My missus would probably say the same thing about my "addiction" to playing sport.

3. More than covered by their excessive taxes, smokers are a significant net contributer to the exchequer even after factoring in health costs.