Opinion: Of Increasing Choices and Looming Societal Collapse
By: Bolaji Olabode
Over the past decade, I’ve observed an overwhelming increase in the choices made available to us as a people and our unpreparedness for this profound shift in the human condition. This surge in options, once limited and straightforward, has left us ill-equipped to navigate its complexities. What was once a simple framework for identity and relationships has morphed into a labyrinth of possibilities, and I believe this shift is not just disorienting but a catalyst for moral decline and a looming societal collapse.
Growing up, choices were clear-cut. You were male or female, pursued schooling or a trade, and were single, married, or divorced—a status rarely worn with pride. Religious identity was equally defined: Muslim, Christian, or traditionalist. These boundaries, while restrictive, provided a stable foundation for understanding one’s place in the world. They weren’t perfect, but they offered clarity in a world that now feels like a kaleidoscope of confusion.
Today, the sheer volume of choices is staggering. You can be gay, lesbian, or any of the color color you might have seen at the Osun Mall during any festive season. A Black person identify as White, while a White man identify as Black, defying the tangible realities of race. Relationships, once defined by neighborly bonds or marriage, now include cohabitation, open relationships, friends with benefits, or hookups. Terms like “prostitute” and “baddie” now coexist, blurring moral and social lines. Divorce is no longer a weighty decision but a casual pivot to “something else.” This proliferation of labels and lifestyles reflects a society unmoored from its traditional anchors.
This deluge of options is, I argue, the root of a creeping moral decadence. The freedom to redefine every aspect of existence—gender, race, relationships—has eroded shared values that once held communities together. When anything goes, nothing holds firm. The absence of clear boundaries fosters a culture where self-expression trumps collective responsibility, and the consequences are evident in the fractured discourse we see today. People pick and choose their causes, ignoring the broader implications of their choices.
Take the Asherkine case, a recent controversy that exposes this selective outrage. Public attention fixates on the erroneous claim of being the boyfriend by the guy, sidelining the deeper issue: a teenage girl, barely old enough to grasp her dignity, is assumed to “own her life” and its consequences. Society shrugs, excusing her choices as freedom while ignoring the erosion of values that once protected the vulnerable. This isn’t just a single case—it’s a symptom of a culture that celebrates unchecked autonomy over accountability.
The implications extend beyond individual scandals. When identity and relationships become infinitely malleable, we lose the ability to engage in meaningful dialogue. Neighbors are no longer just neighbors; they’re potential “situationships.” You can be married but it is “open.” There is the divorce yet “casual.” Single but “hooked.” Friends aren’t just friends; they’re “with benefits” or something else entirely. No philosopher or psychologist can define what “dating” means anymore. This fragmentation makes it harder to build trust or consensus, leaving us polarized and disconnected. The moral fabric that once stitched society together is unraveling, thread by thread.
As Peter Drucker presciently noted, historians may one day look back and see this unprecedented change in the human condition—not technology, the internet, or e-commerce—as the defining event of our generation. The ability to choose who we are and how we relate has outpaced our capacity to understand the consequences. Freedom is a gift, but without guardrails, it becomes a burden, leading to a society where nothing is sacred, and everything is negotiable—just as Bolarinwa Olabode noted in his book Africa: A Continent Between the Cruxes of Freedom and Responsibility.
I fear we’re on the brink of a great fall. The endless array of choices, while liberating in theory, has created a world where meaning is diluted, and moral clarity is scarce. If we continue down this path, we risk a future where shared values vanish entirely, leaving us to navigate an increasingly chaotic world alone. The challenge now is to find balance—embracing freedom while rediscovering the anchors that keep us grounded. Only then can we hope to avert the collapse that looms on the horizon.
Bolaji Olabode is a Public Analyst and an Educational Consultant. He writes from Edunabon, Osun State.
