Top 2 Trends of 2020 That Need to Die

The year 2020 was an eye-opening year that truly changed the way we view the old adage "hindsight is always 2020". We've seen a lot of strange firsts for society, as well as continuations of problems that have needed to be resolved for some time. We've also seen some severe regressions in cultural thought and behaviors amongst all sorts of people that have resulted in catastrophes that could be prevented if we all learned to get along with one another.

In this article, we shall explore together just a few of the many trends deemed fashionable for 2020 and into 2021 (in the actual world of fashion and in other areas of culture and politics) that truly need to go. These are things that do not belong in a modern, thinking, and free world. If the world is to eventually become a better place for people to live, these things have to go away. And now, without further ado.....

1. Masks

Ohhhh, yeah...we are so going there!

It's not just the mere donning of the masks that bother me so much as the cult that surrounds them. When you see people literally freak out on each other due to one refusing to wear a mask in public in certain stores, and the frankly dangerous bullying and mob mentality that occurs in the process towards such people, it's enough to make a person absolutely go berserk and have no other desire than to rebel against such atrocity! There are compilation videos online featuring people acting like vicious animals toward each other and literally calling the police on people for not wearing a mask, or letting the mask slip too far beneath the nose. I have seen, heard, and experienced firsthand of this behavior happening to friends and family who have breathing problems and carry doctors' notes but were still outright bullied. In short, the mask issue has become way more than just about masks--it has turned into a sick and twisted cult started by germaphobes and control freaks who simply can't handle it when someone else has a different way of doing things.

I know we're in the middle of a pandemic, but the rules regarding masks have yet to solidify due to ever-changing standards on what should be done. Studies abound on how masks are actually quite ineffective against the virus, as the masks actually increase respiratory illnesses (not just COVID) in general by keeping the exhaled air trapped within the mask and forcing the wearer to breathe back in the old air. The inability to breathe is also a major problem, as there are people who have breathing disorders and disabilities who still have to get out and about in the world because they have no other choice (they have to work where able, get gas and groceries, etc--like everyone else). There's also great inconsistencies in what types of masks a person is allowed to wear, which fluctuates between stores and workplaces alike.

The point? It's been nearly a year since the world started getting shut down due to this virus, and we don't have any solid rules beyond what is obvious--have good personal hygiene around others, keep your house clean, wash hands, and if you must cough or sneeze, use a tissue. Stay home if you're sick.

Everything else regarding lockdowns, social distancing, and the use of masks are still incredibly unclear and inconsistent. If you're going to demand that everyone wear masks, then make the rules clear and consistent while still being fair to those who can't wear masks due to breathing issues, and under no circumstances is anyone to bully another into wearing masks if they don't want to! This is one of those areas where each individual needs to make the decision for themselves.

Look, it comes down to this--either we get consistent rules for the masks, or we do away with the masks in favor of the people deciding for themselves what is best. For most people, the virus is only as bad as a typical common cold; that is to say, it is miserable to deal with, but able to be successfully gotten over nonetheless. For those who are more strongly affected by the virus, they should be taking extra precautions for their own selves exclusively--and it should be on them to make sure they stay as healthy as they can. Yes, we should help each other where possible, but we need to draw the line at the complete alteration of our lives to satisfy the few who are merely fearful.

2. Inability to have a conversation/the rise of cancel culture.

Bad logic, poor debate skills, and having too many feelings and anecdotes in place of solid evidence have led to the public being unable to talk to one another on and offline. There was once a point in time where people could have different beliefs and even disagree wholeheartedly with each other, and yet learn from and respect one another. Politics was for the most part kept to the ballot box and private or casual conversations with one another, instead of being splattered across social media platforms.

All too often, people make trolling statements online to get a rise out of their audiences, and in creating such chaos, they don't actually spurn a solid debate. Instead, it devolves to feelings and attitudes that even children don't demonstrate on a playground. It leads to full-blown cancellations of people and their careers over (in a lot of cases) minor infractions, rather than treating such instances as teachable moments or reasons to take a look in the mirror and show mercy accordingly.

Then there's the hypocrisy factor, where rules apply to the masses and not the rule-makers. Rules for thee but not for me, in other words. This especially needs to go away. Hypocritical rules do not help anyone in conversation--all they ever do is create feelings of frustration with the opposing party due to lack of freedom to use proper logic and letting that take effect as it should. Follow the rabbit trail, and you'll see that much of where we are today in conversation comes from hypocrisy and the purposeless riling up of others.

Instead, why not try instilling once more the long lost art of having a good conversation with people, and practice listening in order to actually hear the other person out, rather than just to respond to the other's argument? Also, why not use proper logic instead of feelings and anecdotes? Feelings and anecdotes need only to provide examples, not supplement the entire conversation.

Getting rid of hypocrisy and gaslighting people into a state of anger will go a long way towards improvement throughout the rest of this decade.

Bottom line, the trends in general that need to fall away are the ones that inhibit the people from having the freedom to do and be as they are. The "new normal" we are all experiencing is one that is inconsistent on many levels and frustrates all those who are forced to live through it. It has to come to an end at some point because we are all so deeply tired of it.

I'll leave you with this quote from C.S. Lewis:

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."