I agree with the point Scruffy is trying to convey, but not with the example he used. I believe people didn't have those things back in the day because people were stupid back then. I think people put too much emphasis on their conditions. But some people are victims of things beyond their reach that has seriously damaged their persona, and to not be respectful of that and try to be the bigger person when you in fact have the mental ability to be able to, well... crazy scenarios: if we stop talking about and having public focus on this whole mental problems/psychology thing that's been rocking everyone's bells the past ten years, people with mental problems would maybe be unemployed, even though the reasons for their mental problems may be things like being abused as a child or other things that can't be blamed on the victims. nobody wants a depressed worker. people would have no moral quarrels about making fun of people with mental problems, or demean them. this is like kicking someone who is down, it is a bitch move in a sense. easy targets, and we know that so long as no one govern humans we are wilderness beasts. we are predators. every guy at least would take the opportunity. the point in paying taxes and being a part of a community is to make sure everyone within that community is taken care of, and just because someone's having a problem that you haven't had or can't relate to doesn't mean it's not your duty as a citizen to respect it. just like you expect people to respect that you take a sick leave while receiving pay when you break both your feet. the two things are essentially one in the same, and people who disagree are simply wrong so there's nothing to discuss there. carrying out any tasks that require you to use your brain when you have mental set-backs because of how you feel is similarly difficult to carrying out a physical task when you have physical set-backs. anyone who had to go to work after a break-up or death in the family will know.
so i actually think our generation's awareness of emotions and that whole thing is a step forward in our social evolution. the next natural step is to control the level of awareness in people, because like i said, i agree that some people are too caught up in their feelings.