http://theintelhub.com/2011/11/14/22-signs-that-the-thin-veneer-of-civilization-that-we-all-take-for-granted-is-starting-to-disappear

Some are still saying that the violence is not increasing, but it is just
more detailed reporting. This does not seem to be true. Just need to
glance through the news, movies and computer games.

Most interesting are the acts of violence that do not seem to have a very
logical cause. Today, a woman stabbed her aged partner because she thought
he was cheating - at Monopoly! In many areas now, children playing in the
street, or even in their own gardens, is no longer safe.
And, as I see it, this is just the very beginning.

How to stay safe? May have to start avoiding certain areas - especially at
night. Some people I know have bought guns.
(To save your own, or a family members life, would you shoot someone?
Interesting idea on which to contemplate?)

I have no idea if this is really true, but it seems to me that we draw to
ourselves incidents to help us see ourselves and our behaviour more
clearly.

I seem to remember Loa Tzu talking about this in his book:
“The Tao Te Ching"
http://zen-buddhist.blogspot.com/2011/01/tao-te-ching-book-of-way-by-loa-tzu.html

I remember him saying that life goes in stages. When one has transcended a
certain level then you will not be attacked physically; next, verbally;
next mentally; and so on.

So it seems to come back to this thing about being unconditionally aware
of our behaviour - actions, expressions, and thoughts, in each moment.