In this case, I’m referring to the notion that we all make minor sacrifices in our daily interactions in service of a “greater good” for everyone.
“Following the rules” would be a simplified version of what I’m talking about, I suppose. But also keeping an awareness/attitude about "How will my choices affect the people around me in this moment? “Common courtesy”, “situational awareness”, etc…
I don’t know that it’s a “new” phenomenon by any means, I just seem to have an increasing (subjective) awareness of it’s decline of late.
I doubt that’s a new thing honestly. I’ve always been encountering people who think only of themselves.
But also, a part of this social contract should be things like “nobody’s perfect” and “everyone makes mistakes”. That goes with your part together too, sometimes we don’t think something through and may come ofd as selfish or ignorant. But that’s also normal if it just happens randomly sometimes and it’s not too much of a pattern.
I think these days we tend to demand perfection too much, and write someone off way too quickly.