**INTRODUCTION** Greetings to @steemalive and @focusnow, good day. It's my delight to participate in this wonderful contest organized by @steemalive especially given the topic in question which is both apt and quite interesting. Please, do follow along as i take you on a tour of this amazing contest under consideration, as I do so simultaneously. ![2gsjgna1uruv8X2R8t7XDv5HGXyHWCCu4rKmbB5pmEzjYSg7SnZ4Loy8DiFQ24Tspgksf3RTqdoUrJu1ThKdbp5P2oVmjSV16aVa7s8FjRHrzLFubc.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaDR7rpn9siVWJu1zFF6UA3T1o4BjekMCJHLNkLFKSXkL/2gsjgna1uruv8X2R8t7XDv5HGXyHWCCu4rKmbB5pmEzjYSg7SnZ4Loy8DiFQ24Tspgksf3RTqdoUrJu1ThKdbp5P2oVmjSV16aVa7s8FjRHrzLFubc.jpeg) *At this juncture, i will be highlighting 5 societal ills or flaws that i observe happening in the environment where i live and they're as follows.* **BAD PARENTAL UPBRINGING (BAD PARENTING)** Bad Parenting can be traced to the social crisis and modern behaviour that is prevalent in this modern age as a result of moral decadence. Besides, permissiveness and carelessness on the part of parents while raising or bringing up their kids right from infancy also contributes to the present societal flaws that exist in our various environments. Hence, it wouldn't be out of place to conclude that something is definitely wrong with today's modern society, of course, our world is indeed sick both socially and morally. **You may check out the following image to see how parents are contributing to this societal flaw today.** ![Screenshot_20220106-151154.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfXZNjSHbAVymBbv7CPqW6jWASBj6mFcJHaeHox7mErYy/Screenshot_20220106-151154.jpg) [Image source](...w.parentmap.com) **Bad parenting- how it happens** I notice that this societal problem usually happens in my environment at an unprecedented and alarming rate quite unlike in the distant past. Majority of parents who live in the same environment with me are responsible for this problem due to the way they bring up their children with regard to the type of toys or gift items they buy for their children. For example, in my environment, it is common among parents to buy toy guns for their kids to play with as shown in the image above, whereas some other parents buy toy guns to baby-sit their babies while they're busy doing some other thing else. I have observed that nowadays, parents buy more of those toy weapons for their children to play with more than they buy other toys such as dolls and model cars. Eventually, as these kids gradually grow up, they will begin to practice rough play with their folks using those toy guns, and as time goes on, these little ones will start getting used to that practice and idea that have been implanted in their minds by their parents right from infancy, and at this point it then becomes very difficult for the children to break free from that dangerous practice. Did you guys notice in the above image how some parents today are being portrayed in the light of the kind of toys they provide for their children? **Why some parents are victims of this societal flaw known as bad parenting** * They do so particularly during holiday periods in order to keep their children company while at home. * Some parents buy toy guns for their children so as to keep them busy while they too are busy with some other things at home, thus, making it possible for them to enjoy some peace. * Some parents who buy such combat toys for their children do so in order to make their kids feel excited and loved. **Why it is such a bad thing for parents to buy combat toys such as guns for their children.** Check out the following reasons: * I'm sure that no parent(s) would want his or her kid to be marked by eagerness to fight or contend with his folks all the time, this is the first reason. * Because no parent(s) would want his child nor encourage him to develop fighting skills and begin to create trouble to his or her peers whether he or she is out of sight of parents, at home or at school. Therefore, as parents who want to get the best out of their children, toy guns shouldn't be among your list of gifts. **DRUG ABUSE** ![Screenshot_20220106-194407.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYHCmLw1XsjJofLciDuWDbXT8zSgBNWdN5EDNnGyprX9f/Screenshot_20220106-194407.jpg) [Image source](www.pexels.com) In simple terms, drug abuse is an act of improper use of drugs. The abuse of drug involves the use of narcotics such as Indian hemp, coccaine, heroine, etc. which negatively affects someone's mood and behaviour and is usually taken for recreational purposes rather than medical purposes. These mind-altering substances induce mental lethargy and are also soporific in nature. As a matter of fact, i have personally observed that the use of narcotics such as Indian hemp is very common in my environment. Even some of my neighbors including young guys and ladies are addicted to this illegal substance. In fact, this societal flaw has really eaten deep into the lives of many people living in my own locality as if it were an acceptable norm. **Why people abuse drugs such as Indian hemp** * Drug addicts or abusers such as Indian hemp smokers or users claim that using such illegal, addictive drugs help their mood and also that they take it for recreational purposes. * Drug abusers who use Indian hemp claim that using this hard drug helps them to escape from the harsh realities of life such as when they're under stress or weighed down as a result of anxious moments. * Such drug abusers claim that Indian hemp is soporific in nature, meaning that the drug induces sleep, hence, it is an advantage for it's users who want to sleep. * Indian hemp smokers admit that it gives rise to an altered state of consciousness, thus, the smoker may feel high, very happy, relaxed, sociable, etc. **Why using or smoking Indian hemp is such a bad thing to do.** 1. Because it induces mental lethargy, which means mental dullness or sluggishness thereby regarding sound mental health. 2. It is morally and spiritually defiling or unclean. 3. It induces abnormal lack of energy to it's users. 4. Drug addicts or abusers who smoke Indian hemp are portrayed in the society as irresponsible persons. 5. It's a mind-altering substance which, after sometime brings the user back to his senses, bringing him to face head-long the realities of life when the effects of the drug have subsided or cleared off. 6. Irritation to the lungs. 7. Risking the chance of chronic bronchitis and the development of cancer of the respiratory tract(that is more connected with smoking). **BRIBES** ![Screenshot_20220107-040543.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQu6TcopwPostsyzFc4sQ4Nsp53fGfP3y9SYesAKwCxzy/Screenshot_20220107-040543.jpg) [Image source](www.shutterstock.com) **Bribery, which is popularly known as kickback, is the act of offering something illegally to a person in order to receive certain services or to have one's way and much of the time, this illegal gift takes the form of money. This is another flaw that has socially and morally wrecked my environment and the society in general.** I have observed that this societal ill has engulfed virtually all facets of human effort for economic survival and source of livelihood in the environment where i live, and particularly is this the case with some workers of the Power Holding Company Of Nigeria (PHCN) who normally come for formal disconnection of light in my locality as they take advantage of customers who sometimes default payment of their monthly light bills for various reasons. Of course, we're all aware of the method of operation that is common among these field workers when they're out for disconnection, that they illegally collect or are given a certain amount of money by defaulters, either as demanded or willingly, so as to have their way and avoid having their light disconnected. However, the money that is usually collected by those unscrupulous field NEPA workers from defaulters during their operation doesn't go into the company's account or pocket, rather it is shared among these workers thereby making it to be what it actually is, bribery. In fact, this is just 1 out of the varied societal ills of this nature that i observe happening in my environment and beyond. **Why do unscrupulous elements that make up this company's workforce collect bribes?** * Because the society or environment in which we live today is already corrupt, hence, it breeds greedy and self-centered individuals. * They're discontented with what they have including their income. This problem of bribery has indeed eaten deep into the system of the present-day society and it's no secret at all. **Why is bribery such a bad practice?** * First and foremost, it is because that act is contrary to moral values. * Bribery is an indication of greed on the part of the receiver. * It's a dishonest and corrupt practice. **DECEPTIVE ADVERTISEMENT** This is yet another flaw that i observe wrecking my environment, and of course, it is way too rampant in today's commercial world. In this case, individuals, companies and organizations promote or advertise their products and services via various platforms and media in a manner that disguises or misrepresents the actual nature of those products and services in order to make money or to sell. Those organizations, including most individuals who are into marketing or salesmanship in various fields of businesses usually change their appearance or manner, so as to hide or mask the true identity of their goods and services thereby ending up selling just an image. Thus, most of what is being portrayed in the advertisement world today, including the environment where i live, are too good to be true for there's a high level of deception in today's advertisement world. Most modern-day advertisements aren't truly what they're portrayed to be. **The images below are depictions of a deceptive advertisement in today's commercial world.** ![Screenshot_20220107-070236.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSnMYdBmyZrjUAS9HzDpVLRYkyFD4HtHxgwwgXsPH3YpQ/Screenshot_20220107-070236.jpg) [Image source](pixabay.com) ![Screenshot_20220107-071453.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdDn2CxMhsHNLcMK3BXAPB2PdXxGMgtgLZhFce3bC52W4/Screenshot_20220107-071453.jpg) [Image source](pixabay.com) **FRAUDULENT BANKING SYSTEM** Fraud is the act of deliberately deceiving or cheating someone with the intent to gain an advantage. This dishonest and corrupt practice is very common in today's banking system and i have also personally observed it happening in my environment. Actually, i notice that the most fraudulent activities in the banking system are mainly committed with the use of the ATM. The most common and frequent case in this regard is a situation in which a customer's account is wrongly debited in the course of using the automated teller machine (ATM), perhaps after several attempts to make withdrawals with his or her ATM card without success. I have personally experienced this particular societal ill in the past and if not for my patience, persistence and hard struggle to have my money reversed back into my account, although it took a while, i would have given up on the struggle and forfeited my money particularly in view of the unnecessary delays and disappointments that characterize most banking systems, especially the old generation banks. Nonetheless, the bank manager where i went to make the withdrawal that day(UBA) was initially insisting that the false debit was as a result of network issue, but after waiting for 24hrs and there was no headway regarding the reversal, that was when i swung into action and was successful at long last. The problem of fraud in various forms is a common experience in today's banking system, and i also observe this wrong being done in my environment at present. ![2gsjgna1uruv8X2R8t7XDv5HGXyHWCCu4rKmbB5pmEzjYSg7SnZ4Loy8DiFQ24Tspgksf3RTqdoUrJu1ThKdbp5P2oVmjSV16aVa7s8FjRHrzLFubc.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaDR7rpn9siVWJu1zFF6UA3T1o4BjekMCJHLNkLFKSXkL/2gsjgna1uruv8X2R8t7XDv5HGXyHWCCu4rKmbB5pmEzjYSg7SnZ4Loy8DiFQ24Tspgksf3RTqdoUrJu1ThKdbp5P2oVmjSV16aVa7s8FjRHrzLFubc.jpeg) **CONCLUSION** *I am very much grateful to @steemalive for coming up with this contest which helps us to be alert to happenings in our environments. I also thank you for visiting my blog.* Cc: @focusnow @samuel20 @ninapenda @njiatanga