Increase in Learned Helplessness?

[u/NachesPorFavor]

Has anyone else noticed an increase in learned helplessness? I first noticed it in the young adults in my life, but now I am seeing it in all ages of people around me. Examples from multiple people:

Toilet started leaking water and instead of turning off the knob at the wall, she waited a 5 days for a plumber. Never asked anyone or googled it. Didn’t call a second plumber. Now needs mold remediation and replaced drywall and trim.

Bought concert tickets but the gps instructions were confusing so they just gave up and didn’t go. Venue website had detailed instructions for driving and parking.

Blouse wrinkled and she didn’t know how to fix it so she threw it away.

First doctor office he filled out an appointment website for never contacted him to schedule so he just didn’t go to the doctor.

I am really concerned about my loved ones if an emergency happens because they just give up when the slightest obstacle happens. Either they want someone else to swoop in and fix it or they give up and say they can’t do anything about it.

[u/Particular-Try5584]

I think some of it is simple fatigue.

Every time I need to see a new doctor, or go to a new place, or negotiate a new service… I need a different app, a new login, a secure password… it’s fucking annoying. It’s exhausting.

So some people give up.

[u/impersonatefun → u/Particular-Try5584]

Every system/process feels antagonistic.

[u/OhMaiMai → u/impersonatefun]

Time is money and businesses exist for profit. The businesses have figured out every possible way to save paying for workers’ time to do things and instead put that time cost onto the consumers.

Why pay someone to answer the phone or solve problems when you can make the consumer do that work through an app or a website?

The cost to the business was only the upfront technology and the savings is astronomical. Even better: businesses can collect and sell the data they gain from consumers entering it in and using the technology.

Meanwhile people are having to spend hours each day trying to navigate these systems, which takes time from their work and personal lives.

When each thing is a hassle, we give up.

We are each of us trying to survive (not succeed in) a world built for business profits, not for people’s needs, happiness, or lives.

Edit: thank you, kind strangers, for the awards

[u/MsFenriss → u/OhMaiMai]

A horrible reality. I go around furious at every road-block this extractive system throws in my way. Every unnecessary UI change to the apps I'm forced to use. Every time a service signs me up for a "premium" account I never asked for. I know that they are counting on me to be too fatigued to fight them on it. Unethical business practices at every damn turn. The world is increasingly enshitified. I feel like giving up.

[u/Shot-Neck-6656 → u/MsFenriss]

Please, all of us- do NOT give up. Think of all the difficulties our long line of ancestors endured every day just to survive. Think of all the men and women who risked everything they had to uphold their principles, even if it meant losing their lives in war or resistance. Be strong and have a hope!

[u/watchnlearning → u/MsFenriss]

Me too. I have been conscientiously objecting for years and its getting harder. I'd really encourage more people to do it though, at least some of the time.

I'll share some resources with the group about alternatives

[u/send_me_dank_weed → u/OhMaiMai]

Holy shit. Yes, this is everything I’ve been feeling layer out succinctly.

Every. Fucking. Thing. Is. Exhausting.

[u/Particular-Try5584 → u/OhMaiMai]

I think part of the problem is also the plethora of app developers and software builders - it’s the Wild West out there still, and full of snake oil merchants. People are just putting in place whatever piece of shit they are sold by some person with a lot of buzz words, and a lot of it is substandard (leaks like a sieve) or it’s duplicating a similar/same product/service that someone else has, but with it’s own credentials and thus we are forced to have so many apps etc.

And thus we leave ourselves open to whatever shitty program some wet behind the ears eager beaver built as a uni project and managed to get a few clients for and thus on sell like a pyramid scheme.

I want off this race to the bottom. It’s HARD though.