Opinion of individualism

[Don't Blame Me, I'm from Massachusetts]

I'm personally opposed as it seems to promote a "pull it by the bootstraps" and "survival of the fittest" type of mentality. But I'm in the minority when it comes to Westerners in general.

[Goldwater]

FI, quite literally.

[mileslunn]

I'm personally opposed as it seems to promote a "pull it by the bootstraps" and "survival of the fittest" type of mentality. But I'm in the minority when it comes to Westerners in general.

Minority in US for sure but in other Western countries not so sure.  Canada, Europe, and Australia all have stronger elements of collectivism that you see in US.  Canadians pride themselves on their social safety net and we have lots of rules that would be seen as excessive government in US but Canadians are fine with.  Europe is much the same although Northern European countries its more high taxes and generous safety net not necessarily heavy government interference.  Southern European countries due to Catholic church tend to be less individualistic than northern.  Australia and New Zealand are somewhat more individualistic than Canada but much less so than US.

[Jumped off the American Sinking Ship]

Like many things,good in moderation. Can be a problem in excess.

A lot of issues in the country right now can be tied to self-centeredness and selfishness that is borne of hyperindividualism. Individual rights are important as are the needs of the community.

[Sic Semper Fascistis]

I can't possibly answer this. "Individualism" has been used in a myriad different ways, some of which are fairly agreeable or even common sense, while others are thoroughly abhorrent. OP please clarify what you mean by it.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Refer to the old lady in my signature if you want to know my opinion.

[PSOL]

Individualism as defined in the bourgeoise sense is bad

[Ferguson97]

The best and worst part of American culture.

[VPH]

Like many things,good in moderation. Can be a problem in excess.

A lot of issues in the country right now can be tied to self-centeredness and selfishness that is borne of hyperindividualism. Individual rights are important as are the needs of the community.

[Blue3]

It is good.

It was taken to excess, and now there’s a justified swing back to more collective rights and responsibilities… but many of them go too far when they completely reject individualism. If having to pick between the two, individualism > collectivism.

[インターネット掲示板ユーザー Punxsutawney Phil]

Like many things,good in moderation. Can be a problem in excess.

A lot of issues in the country right now can be tied to self-centeredness and selfishness that is borne of hyperindividualism. Individual rights are important as are the needs of the community.

[C r a b c a k e]

I'm personally opposed as it seems to promote a "pull it by the bootstraps" and "survival of the fittest" type of mentality. But I'm in the minority when it comes to Westerners in general.

Minority in US for sure but in other Western countries not so sure.  Canada, Europe, and Australia all have stronger elements of collectivism that you see in US.  Canadians pride themselves on their social safety net and we have lots of rules that would be seen as excessive government in US but Canadians are fine with.  Europe is much the same although Northern European countries its more high taxes and generous safety net not necessarily heavy government interference.  Southern European countries due to Catholic church tend to be less individualistic than northern.  Australia and New Zealand are somewhat more individualistic than Canada but much less so than US.

The welfare state could be argued to be a product of individualism - rather than kinship/patronage/extended family/clan networks providing support, Western countries rely on the welfare state as a cushion. Certainly, most Western countries have a strong aversion to the sort of patronage that would be considered convention elsewhere.

[Long Live The King!]

Catch-all terms like 'individualism' and 'collectivism' are vague in common parlance. How are they defined? Depending on the person, some say it means social darwinism ('survival of the fittest', 'pull yourself up by bootsraps' mentality, etc.). Others say that individual rights refer to freedom from government encroachment. Some view it as the freedom to engage in private enterprise and voluntary exchange of goods, services and money. Certain people associate it with selfishness and a lack of concern for others in the community.

I think if you take a look at the world, those places that implement the principles of 'individualism' as they are defined by most people (individual rights, freedom from government encroachment, free enterprise, etc.) tend to be the most successful societies (US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, et al). But as others have mentioned, they implement these principles to varying degrees, some to a lesser degree than others. Some see too much individualism as a negative for society due to a lack of social solidarity and a sense of common good (and maybe they have a point).

[Del Tachi]

Literally the marker of living in an enlightened society.

[GeneralMacArthur]

Good when I do it, bad when everyone else does it.  Especially you.