Earlier quoted context omitted.
> There are plenty of things happening around me that influence me You’re being really pedantic with those examples - obviously, they weren’t talking about events like the “birth of a child”…
I understand the context, but I was questioning the OP:s use of "anything", so I don't think I'm being pedantic. They could've just as easily said "any news around you", or whatever they felt they meant. If I expand OP's statement, I'm a bit troubled by the (purposeful) spreading erosion of trust in society. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to distrust, especially now, but when you blanketly start distrusting everyt…
Nope, you’re 100% being pedantic. OP said “things happening around you”, which most would not interpret as “birth of my child” or random “kind gestures”.
> I'm a bit troubled by the (purposeful) spreading erosion of trust in society
I hear this kind of misguided sentiment quite often. I hate to break it to you, but your hope/trust for humanity doesn’t change reality.
Eg, my European colleagues who call political corruption as “transgressions”, implying that somehow it’s a rare occurrence in the EU, but obviously developing countries are “deeply corrupt”.