A person’s worth nowadays seems to be judged according to social status and material possessions. Old fashioned values such as honour, kindness and trust no longer seem important. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

A person’s worth nowadays seems to be judged according to social status and material possessions. Old fashioned values such as honour, kindness and trust no longer seem important. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

As per a common perception, the contemporary definition of gauging persona has witnessed a paradigm shift: it banks on affluence, and influence one enjoys in society, rather than conventional traits underpinned by ethical and moralistic beliefs. However, I fail to completely concur with this notion: while such an attitude does exist, most instances mandate assessing the age-old traits: reliability and virtuous attributes.    

To start with, monetary prosperity, and respect one wields at societal level, have gained precedence for some. The advent of social media and consumerist attitudes has led many to believe that opulent lifestyles augmented by expensive automobiles, branded clothes and huge houses fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, are the true parameters of ascertaining accomplishments of individuals. However, these beliefs tend to be short lived; most, especially youngsters, are able to steer clear of such ideology, subsequently realizing that these attributes fail to translate into noble personalities. 

Having said that, conventional values: generosity, reliability, empathy, and so forth, have endured eternally, for these are considered critical for social and personal interactions. When one engages with their loved ones, relatives, friends and acquaintances, among others, they are expected to be honest; be in possession of the ability to comprehend the emotional state of others; and reliably respond to circumstances. This can be corroborated by citing the example of individuals enjoying popularity among families, friends and neighbors, regardless of their economic backgrounds, and being sought for advice and assistance. Likewise, businesses while seeking partners, and hiring workers, evaluate the track-record to  establish their credibility, something defined by honesty and ethical working styles.  

To conclude, disputes aside, except a minority that harbors such thought process, most have always relied on time-tested traits of dependability, truthfulness, and empathetic approach- this defines true personality - and shall continue to do so.