That'd be terrible. I don't fancy being obsessed over by a bunch of bronies.krasus7 said:Besides, I'm just waiting for 2012 to happen where humanity will be transformed into ponies.
(sorry, could resist a pony joke)
Misanthropes: I don't get you.
- Thread starter retyopy
- Start date
This, basically. I understand why the misanthropes and nihilists feel this way, but really? I, personally think that having too much of an "intellectual" view on life is the stupidest thing you can do.TheYellowCellPhone said:
Though it might not have been your intent, that statement right there makes you sound like an ass hat. So maybe you're not so much different from this big ol' species you loath so much.Iron Criterion said:
I don't understand misanthropy either...
It just seems odd to have a few bad things happen to you by a few bad people, and then jump to the conclusion that all people on the earth must be bad all the time. Then you have the usual suspects who point out that although 99.9% of humans are sinners, 0.1% are really really loverly charming people who love every living thing unconditionally, and have a smile and a kiss for all the good little girls and boys.
Why does no one stop to think about the every-man? Or the every-woman. No one stops to think that its only really 10% sinners, 10% saints with 80% of people just trying to get on by from day to day. Can you seriously imagine a single mother of two beating the shit out of someone for giggles? Or alternatively, can you picture said woman giving away £50 notes for nothing?
Also, misanthropists, no matter how much you despise the cess-pit of scumbags and idiots that make up humanity, your are still one of them. Your efforts to dettach yourself from them are all in vain. In my opinion anyway.
It just seems odd to have a few bad things happen to you by a few bad people, and then jump to the conclusion that all people on the earth must be bad all the time. Then you have the usual suspects who point out that although 99.9% of humans are sinners, 0.1% are really really loverly charming people who love every living thing unconditionally, and have a smile and a kiss for all the good little girls and boys.
Why does no one stop to think about the every-man? Or the every-woman. No one stops to think that its only really 10% sinners, 10% saints with 80% of people just trying to get on by from day to day. Can you seriously imagine a single mother of two beating the shit out of someone for giggles? Or alternatively, can you picture said woman giving away £50 notes for nothing?
Also, misanthropists, no matter how much you despise the cess-pit of scumbags and idiots that make up humanity, your are still one of them. Your efforts to dettach yourself from them are all in vain. In my opinion anyway.
They do it because its not that easy to flip the happy trust switch. The bad tends to stick with you more. I think with intentions at the very least people want to good though. Ask most people if they consider them selves to be nice and they will say yes. But most of those people will do something immoral at some point without even thinking about it, thats the part misanthropes remember. Its not easy reshaping the your world view in just an instant.
But that?s why people are so damn interesting! I love people for those exact same reasons. There's something devilishly entertaining about the hypocritical attitudes of human beings.TonyCapa said:
I'm no exception. I'm generous to those who have gotten into my inner circle of friends but to everyone else I'll screw you out of every last penny and I have no qualms about firing people on the spot. I'm probably the most honest person you'll ever meet and I can say truthfully I've never lied in my professional career (partially because I would go to jail if I did), but there?s a difference between telling the truth and the whole truth, I excel at that.
People are what they are. Whether you like them or find their tendencies utterly abhorrent but every single one of them has a story and every story has a kernel of wisdom in it, even the stupid, greedy, backstabbing, annoying ones. Sometimes especially those.
People who are happy have shit eating grins and are gross? Well sorry for smiling. I dont mind people who want to sit in dark rooms and cut themselves while listening to "LET THE BODIES HIT THE FUCKING FLOOR" for the billionth time but dont hate on people who are happy. We just found the way to win at life and you apparently didnt. We are not delluded. Or stupid. We just like stuff? Is this a crime? Are the only two options for misanthropes sadness or idiocy? Cant we be happy and not retarded?manic_depressive13 said:
Im going to take a deep breath. And ask a few honest questions. Maybe im wrong about misanthropes. Can you help me a bit here?
1: Humanity has to prove themselves. You or i or anyone hardly has a global view of all good/bad occuring in the world at any given time (dont you dare mention the media >.> faux is in that category) how do we jugde that they failed your supreme test?
2.What is the arbitrary unit/jugdement on how much we suck/rock? Who decides this? Why is your jugdement on humanity any better than anyone elses? Is it a purely personal experience? Is it stuff you see online? Can you REALLY REALLY, look at 7 billion people ALL AT ONCE and make such a snap jugdement on if they are worthy or not worthy in your eyes? Is that really fair?
3. Isnt the whole idea insanely counter intuative. I mean people hardly act nicer because they are misanthropic... surely the realisation the world sucks would drive someone to try harder to improve it? Are these people lazy? Entitled? Do they want to sit on their golden thrones while the filth peasents improve the world for them and they watch and jugde if they are worthy yet? I dont understand at all, and that wasnt aimed at you tbh, funny image. I mean i figure if you dont wanna be part of the solution why complain?
4. Isnt to assume the worst in people horrifically jugdemental? Isnt that like asking the time from someone and having them scream in your face about how terrible you are? Arnt all baseless broud assumptions always wrong and ignorant? Why is this an exception?
I hope you can answer these. Im confused. Can ANYONE answer these?
You openyl admit to being a misanthrope. Can you answer my questions?TonyCapa said:
You know, I did not think I was a misanthrope. For me, it was simply a small neurotic collection of agrophobia and insanity, but then, oh then, I had to click the Red Button and now Justin Bieber's strange, lucid eyes and curiously sickening half smile is beaming at me from the place of every single avatar and frankly it just makes a man hate. Hate. Hate. Haaateeee.
Much more to the point, the problem is you (for any given value of you) boil "misanthropy" down to a simplistic idea that "Misanthropes = hate humanity". Never mind the fact some people might have a reason to hate the world, nevermind the idea that someone just isn't very happy because of a chemical defeciency in their brain, no possibility of some vitamin shortage causing an emotional overlay.
Misanthropy, however you really classify it, is a very easy position to take, because it means you don't have to worry so much about all the other possibilities. If you just assume everyone sucks, you're free to carry on with your own business with as little mental strain as possible, because, hey, EVERYONE elses is a moronic fool with no capacity for self awareness, the murdering, betraying sheeple, and that solves that. Single mother? Asshat. Addict? Fool. Charity worker? Monster in disguise.
But, OP, what you're actually getting at isn't misanthropy. Misanthropy is the hate of humanity or human nature. A misanthrope can still love, say, birds, epistomology, Warhammer mineratures, samurai swords or making souffle. A misanthrope can live a long, happy and very, very fulfilling life with many pleasures. The hate of life would be misvita, I guess. I don't know, I don't speak Latin. Maybe the people you speak off are simple misogelastic, ie, they hate laughter? Or maybe you've run into misoxenists, people who hate strangers?
Anyway, I normally explain the mindset by invoking the monkeysphere.
What is, indeed, the monkeysphere?
http://www.cracked.com/article_14990_what-monkeysphere.html
Find out.
It'll all make so much more sense, then!
Much more to the point, the problem is you (for any given value of you) boil "misanthropy" down to a simplistic idea that "Misanthropes = hate humanity". Never mind the fact some people might have a reason to hate the world, nevermind the idea that someone just isn't very happy because of a chemical defeciency in their brain, no possibility of some vitamin shortage causing an emotional overlay.
Misanthropy, however you really classify it, is a very easy position to take, because it means you don't have to worry so much about all the other possibilities. If you just assume everyone sucks, you're free to carry on with your own business with as little mental strain as possible, because, hey, EVERYONE elses is a moronic fool with no capacity for self awareness, the murdering, betraying sheeple, and that solves that. Single mother? Asshat. Addict? Fool. Charity worker? Monster in disguise.
But, OP, what you're actually getting at isn't misanthropy. Misanthropy is the hate of humanity or human nature. A misanthrope can still love, say, birds, epistomology, Warhammer mineratures, samurai swords or making souffle. A misanthrope can live a long, happy and very, very fulfilling life with many pleasures. The hate of life would be misvita, I guess. I don't know, I don't speak Latin. Maybe the people you speak off are simple misogelastic, ie, they hate laughter? Or maybe you've run into misoxenists, people who hate strangers?
Anyway, I normally explain the mindset by invoking the monkeysphere.
What is, indeed, the monkeysphere?
http://www.cracked.com/article_14990_what-monkeysphere.html
Find out.
It'll all make so much more sense, then!
Meh, for some people like me it's not actually a choice. Some of us just have fucked up brain chemistry. But I've rationalized it. The way I see it, being a misanthrope is a win-win. If I expect the worst of people, one of two things could happen: 1) They live up to my expectations, and while they're a shit person, I'm at least right about it. So I get the little boost of being right. 2) They exceed my expectations, and I'm pleasantly surprised.
Really though, in the long run I just can't understand how you WOULDN'T hate people. They're scum, for the most part. But hey, to each his own. World wouldn't be able to function without optimists like you.
Really though, in the long run I just can't understand how you WOULDN'T hate people. They're scum, for the most part. But hey, to each his own. World wouldn't be able to function without optimists like you.
Thanks for helping. Can you try and answer my questions in my earlier post? I wanna know what the answer is to my questions... i cant see how you CAN hate people. Stinks or arrogance to the extreme, jugdementalism and a very simple rationalisation for people too slow to realise people vary from bad to good.xitel said:
The worst part is you are right. If the world ran on optimism it would be a much better place. Surely a logical solution would be to ask all misanthropes to live together like a leper colony so they can share their coolness and mutual hate for everything with others who think like them while the world trundles on a slightly happier place?
This is ok. I can live with this kinda misanthropey. Where the determination to improve it stems from the view that all people inherently suck until proven other wise. This person has the drive to make the world a better place and i respect that above my natural distaste for misanthropes. Good for you. Continue to change my view about misanthropes.Mischa87 said:
"My hate is general, I detest all men;
Some because they are wicked and do evil,
Others because they tolerate the wicked,
Refusing them the active vigorous scorn
Which vice should stimulate in virtuous minds." ~Molière
Some people seem to be thinking that misanthropes are always looking on the gloomy side in general, no, it's only regarding people, humanity.
I am a textbook example of a misanthrope, but that doesn't mean I don't have friends, it doesn't mean I hate on everyone I meet, it just means, that I distrust people, and assume they are capable of wicked, hateful things, until proven otherwise.
This is not a choice, and this can stem from real experiences.
In my case, it stems from intolerant surroundings, and just shitty luck. I'm the only openly transsexual woman in my backwards, overly-religious town. I assume most of you have never heard of the 4/44/444 stat for transwomen (I'd cite my sources on this one but it's been years since I originally read it, you could probably find it online if you looked hard enough, sorry) We're 4~ times as likely to be the victim of a violent crime versus ciswomen, 44~ times more likely to end up homeless than ciswomen, and are 444~ times more likely to be the victim of sexual assault in comparison to ciswomen. We've also got a 70% suicide rate by age 30, and are the 2nd hardest group to get into a healthy relationship, only beaten by the severely physically handicapped. All of this is because of the hatred, and bigotry of other people, people so ignorant, and hateful, they will instantly shove aside, hate on, or otherwise kill anyone different than their narrow world views. You thought generic-bullying-because-some-ass-thinks-you're-a-nerd was bad, think of how hard, and how proving of my distrust for humanity the regular beatings, harassment, hate letters, death threats, and the wrongful rape accusations were/are. By all rights, I should be pretty hetero/cisphobic, but that's just not me.
The biggest obstacle in a transsexual's life, other than their own body, is other people.
This doesn't mean I haven't tried to do something about it. I've co-founded a LGBT support group in my town, organized our school's first GSA, played a pivotal role in my backwards little town's first pride parade,and highhandedly ran a transsexual support group online. I've swayed my bigoted family's views, including much of my extended family, who are such hateful people, they started race riots in my town.
I may be a misanthrope, but the way I live my life, is to try to have the largest positive impact on the world, and it's people, before I pass.
Some because they are wicked and do evil,
Others because they tolerate the wicked,
Refusing them the active vigorous scorn
Which vice should stimulate in virtuous minds." ~Molière
Some people seem to be thinking that misanthropes are always looking on the gloomy side in general, no, it's only regarding people, humanity.
I am a textbook example of a misanthrope, but that doesn't mean I don't have friends, it doesn't mean I hate on everyone I meet, it just means, that I distrust people, and assume they are capable of wicked, hateful things, until proven otherwise.
This is not a choice, and this can stem from real experiences.
In my case, it stems from intolerant surroundings, and just shitty luck. I'm the only openly transsexual woman in my backwards, overly-religious town. I assume most of you have never heard of the 4/44/444 stat for transwomen (I'd cite my sources on this one but it's been years since I originally read it, you could probably find it online if you looked hard enough, sorry) We're 4~ times as likely to be the victim of a violent crime versus ciswomen, 44~ times more likely to end up homeless than ciswomen, and are 444~ times more likely to be the victim of sexual assault in comparison to ciswomen. We've also got a 70% suicide rate by age 30, and are the 2nd hardest group to get into a healthy relationship, only beaten by the severely physically handicapped. All of this is because of the hatred, and bigotry of other people, people so ignorant, and hateful, they will instantly shove aside, hate on, or otherwise kill anyone different than their narrow world views. You thought generic-bullying-because-some-ass-thinks-you're-a-nerd was bad, think of how hard, and how proving of my distrust for humanity the regular beatings, harassment, hate letters, death threats, and the wrongful rape accusations were/are. By all rights, I should be pretty hetero/cisphobic, but that's just not me.
The biggest obstacle in a transsexual's life, other than their own body, is other people.
This doesn't mean I haven't tried to do something about it. I've co-founded a LGBT support group in my town, organized our school's first GSA, played a pivotal role in my backwards little town's first pride parade,and highhandedly ran a transsexual support group online. I've swayed my bigoted family's views, including much of my extended family, who are such hateful people, they started race riots in my town.
I may be a misanthrope, but the way I live my life, is to try to have the largest positive impact on the world, and it's people, before I pass.
because morals are boring. how can i achieve my life goal of becoming a mad scientist if my SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS! are shackled to the ground by feeling bad about what im doing to people.retyopy said:
everyone needs to laugh about something, and whats more hilarious than turning annoying people into hideous abominations and using them to TAKE OVER THE WORLD.
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahaaaaaa
Most of my personal misanthropy comes from being too observant of people. I'm a watcher, I like to watch people (in a detached way, not a creepy stalker way) and most of what I found is that people are in general stupid, arrogant, narcissistic fucks who are utterly incapable of giving two shits about anything other than themselves when it comes right down to it. Granted I know having anxiety/depression doesn't help this outlook on people. For the most part people just annoy me, they talk too much about stupid things and most can't have an idea of their own if it came up and slapped them in the face.
Well, I think I can answer most of your questions in one answer, so I won't enumerate them. Now, I can only speak for myself, but I don't actually DECIDE to hate anyone. I just have absolutely zero respect for anyone right off the bat. I can't judge based on appearance, and I can't judge based on hearsay, I can only judge based on actions and words that I myself witness. So basically, my opinion of someone is zero when I first meet them. And when my opinion of someone is zero, I automatically expect the worst, so as not to be disappointed when it actually happens.BiscuitTrouser said:
There's also the problem that, as the sample population size increases, my expectations decrease in turn. A single person could be the best person you've ever met, or the worst. It can vary wildly. But two people, the potential for good decreases, as far as what I expect. As you increase in size, the potential decreases, to the point where, when you consider all 7 billion people, considered solely on potential, we're a stagnated race. We do nothing but damage the things around us, through one way or another.
Then you take human nature into account. Humans are animals, despite all of our sentience and evolution. And as such, we have animalistic instincts common to all such creatures. Namely the desire for survival. And as such, all people, with a few exceptions, are inherently selfish. People will do what benefits them, no matter what. Even if the benefit is intangible, just a boost to their self-esteem or whatnot. And when you consider that, even charities and whatnot is tainted in their motivations. Yes, they're helping people, but for the most part they're helping people so that they can feel better about themselves. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but the fact that those exceptions exist proves that the rule holds true, to me. Basically, I'll admit that there are people that are great examples of humanity, but by being so they are actually suppressing their human nature, thus making me question whether they even count as examples of humanity anymore. To use a metaphor, some people are beautiful roses, but those roses are growing in a bed of shit.
And you could read a bit about misanthropism - as I said on the first page misanthropes don't have to be arrogant, or wholeheartedly hate humanity - these are extreme cases and you obviously only aim at these extremes.BiscuitTrouser said:
A lot of misanthropes are even altruistic and try to help others - you know, misanthropy is, despite the etymological appearances, conceptually not unlike the related notion of philanthropy.
The hedgehog's dilemma is a nice analogy how a lot of misanthropes see humanity.
Main reason I am in anyway against most of humanity is that a large proportion of them are looking to either screw you over or laugh at your expense.
Looking at it brightly will not stop people screwing you over though. If anything it will make you a more obvious target to be taken advantage of.
I am a misanthrope because I need evidence as to why I shouldn't.
Looking at it brightly will not stop people screwing you over though. If anything it will make you a more obvious target to be taken advantage of.
I am a misanthrope because I need evidence as to why I shouldn't.
I can be quite the misanthrope. For one thing, I'm alot funnier being negative than positive. For another, I do plan on actually trying to do something about this supposedly "crappy" world.
And another, just because you think that humanity can generally be cruel, does not necessarily mean you think every last one is.
Although there are some whiny angsty teens who practice misanthropy and never even bother trying to think of ways to fix what is wrong with the world, and that's...annoying, to say the least, even destructive in extremes. If everyone who ever saw anything wrong with the world simply whined and never did anything about it, human progress would slow down significantly, or even stop altogether.
And another, just because you think that humanity can generally be cruel, does not necessarily mean you think every last one is.
Although there are some whiny angsty teens who practice misanthropy and never even bother trying to think of ways to fix what is wrong with the world, and that's...annoying, to say the least, even destructive in extremes. If everyone who ever saw anything wrong with the world simply whined and never did anything about it, human progress would slow down significantly, or even stop altogether.