It begins.

[DarkMilly]

Then radio and TV and the internet happened and

Very little difference actually occurred. Sadly knowledge of something bad happening and actually changing so that the bad thing doesn't happen again are very different things.

In fact, I'm sure that we all often see where people get so hyped up about something bad that happens, that for whatever reason, in trying to solve it, more bad things happen. If that makes any sense at all, my head is a bit mushy from sitting for hours doing a really boring assignment.

Also, on topic, I'm sure we have all seen this but oh well... I find it amusing

[sok]

About this world being a terrible place:
Actually, according to some scientific research, humanity is getting less violent(based on percentage of people who died of war related causes) even including the world wars. Aaaaand not to mention medicine:P
So, world still is terrible, but a bit less than an hour before.

[Sammich!]

Very little difference actually occurred. Sadly knowledge of something bad happening and actually changing so that the bad thing doesn't happen again are very different things.

What I mean is that people weren't aware of "how terrible the world is" until larger news sources came into the picture. A long time ago people weren't worried about what was happening across the planet. Now people are looking at everything at once, because they have access to literally everything. What affect this has on the human brain, I dunno.

[sok]

I think that before internet/radio/tv people had enough terrible stuff happening to them near them.

[LordSappington]

Everything is going to look more terrible when you get all the bad things thrown out at once.
Also, you tend to hear bad stories more than GOOD stories, since it makes for better news. So really, you're failing to account for all the unknown number of GOOD stories that aren't being told.
Here; this page will take some of your cynicism away.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Heartwarming/RealLife

[Sammich!]

Everything is going to look more terrible when you get all the bad things thrown out at once.

Yuss. We hear everything at once, whereas people didn't hear everything at once back in the old days.

While I don't think the world's become a worse place, I do think people are more paranoid and on edge than they used to be. And humanity's become feeble under all our technology. But that's a different story.

[AmadeusMaxwell]

*Comes out of zombie-proof bunker after 3 weeks of hiding*

Huh. The apocalypse was much shorter than I had expected.

[sok]

While I don't think the world's become a worse place, I do think people are more paranoid and on edge than they used to be. And humanity's become feeble under all our technology. But that's a different story.

yup. And there is no better way to control a large group of people than fear. Stalin kinda perfected it, but modern governments are more subtle, i think.