Misanthropes: I don't get you.
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Hmm... I don't think I'm a misanthrope per se... but...
I don't trust groups of people in the slightest... I also think people are generally assholes that can and will dick each other over for an ounce of power. But individual persons? Them... I give them the benefit of the doubt... by throwing out a few subtle test questions and judge them based on their responses.
I don't trust groups of people in the slightest... I also think people are generally assholes that can and will dick each other over for an ounce of power. But individual persons? Them... I give them the benefit of the doubt... by throwing out a few subtle test questions and judge them based on their responses.
Uhh... no. It isn't. Trust me, I tried that for a while. And people inevitably let me down so badly that its impossible to see people in general as anything but assholes.gabe12301 said:
Individuals though, I still give them a chance... a chance many still manage to muck up... but still.
It's not that I hate people; it's that I feel a general distrust toward them. My philosophy in life is that everyone's an asshole until proven otherwise, and I don't think it's a bad way of looking at things.
It just seems that walking down any street in America, you're guaranteed to find that 99.9% of the people walking are egotistical and snobby. Just listening to the vapid conversations when waiting for my college class to start or when someone's on their cell phone. Especially conversations that go on in the hallways and hangouts around college. It just seems that everyone is just... STUPID. None of them seem to care about anything, but their own little problems, and none of them want to ever have an intelligent conversation, EVER.
I don't know, everyone has their problems, including me, and maybe this comment is making me look like an elitist. Please understand that I've found some great friends in life; friendships that I want to keep. I've also met people that are unbelievably narcissistic and have no handle on what's going on outside their perfect little bubble.
I dunno, this is what I get due to four years of dealing with assholes in high school.
It just seems that walking down any street in America, you're guaranteed to find that 99.9% of the people walking are egotistical and snobby. Just listening to the vapid conversations when waiting for my college class to start or when someone's on their cell phone. Especially conversations that go on in the hallways and hangouts around college. It just seems that everyone is just... STUPID. None of them seem to care about anything, but their own little problems, and none of them want to ever have an intelligent conversation, EVER.
I don't know, everyone has their problems, including me, and maybe this comment is making me look like an elitist. Please understand that I've found some great friends in life; friendships that I want to keep. I've also met people that are unbelievably narcissistic and have no handle on what's going on outside their perfect little bubble.
I dunno, this is what I get due to four years of dealing with assholes in high school.
First let me make one thing clear, I'm not saying everyone is stupid, evil and psychotic, I'm saying most people are either stupid, evil OR psychotic.BiscuitTrouser said:
So you're calling me arrogant for looking down on people and all the while you're looking down on me for my opinion?.
You talk about misanthropes like they're some kind of disease to be eradicated, like their the few stains on an otherwise shinning world, all the while you make the assumption that I have no experience with any of this in real life.
You're assuming a lot more about me then I'm assuming about you.
I knew a guy who broke his kids leg, another guy who held my father at gun point, someone else who knocked my grandmother out, numerous people who tried to steal from my mom, and some guy who killed my dog.
It would be bad enough if I just couldn't relate to them, but I've met precious few people who've ever held by any degree of loyalty or compassion when it stopped being convenient.
P.S: The ability to judge is a function of intelligence. Being able to judge the safety of a situation is just being smart. Understanding people is just being smart. Having and opinion is just proof that your brain works.
If you don't posses the intellect to analyze and form an opinion, you're not a kind or accepting person, you're just blind.
Apparently sir, You have not seen the world I have. Only then can you truly understand us broody, misunderstood, sparkly vampire misanthropes.
That's because you look at people the wrong way. People aren't shit and people aren't great. People are just people. people are selfish and greedy, people are generous and kind. How you choose to look at them, and at life for that matter is your problem.TheDoctor455 said:
The world has improved so much, so rapidly, and in such a profound way, our vision of what life should be like has also had its standards increase dramatically. The world is so incredibly awesome that even minor acts of stupidity and shortsightedness get interpreted as an atrocity.
Today, a random person says something sexist about a woman's place being in a kitchen, and the person seems to be only half joking, then its the decline of civilization. Go back in time an amount that in the grand scheme of things is an imperceptibly small amount and beating your wife might get you a stern shake of the head if your unlucky. A kid uses a racial slur in a song with highly questionable artistic value and people suck. Go back almost no time whatsoever and giving a black man syphilis because hell, why not, and no one cares. America uses a vague connection between a country and an attack on their civilians in order to attack that country which, to be fair, is being led by an asshole, try to free civilians even if the whole plan is rather half baked, and still ends up being a horrifically unpopular war, and the world is obviously coming to its ultimate destruction. Rome tries to commit genocide because killing people sounds awesome and the populace cheers. Jersey Shores versus Minstrel Shows. Glenn Beck versus Joseph McCarthy. I mean really, the fact that people are capable of being Misanthropic is a surefire sign that people are unbelievably dedicated to making the world a better place, and succeeding.
Today, a random person says something sexist about a woman's place being in a kitchen, and the person seems to be only half joking, then its the decline of civilization. Go back in time an amount that in the grand scheme of things is an imperceptibly small amount and beating your wife might get you a stern shake of the head if your unlucky. A kid uses a racial slur in a song with highly questionable artistic value and people suck. Go back almost no time whatsoever and giving a black man syphilis because hell, why not, and no one cares. America uses a vague connection between a country and an attack on their civilians in order to attack that country which, to be fair, is being led by an asshole, try to free civilians even if the whole plan is rather half baked, and still ends up being a horrifically unpopular war, and the world is obviously coming to its ultimate destruction. Rome tries to commit genocide because killing people sounds awesome and the populace cheers. Jersey Shores versus Minstrel Shows. Glenn Beck versus Joseph McCarthy. I mean really, the fact that people are capable of being Misanthropic is a surefire sign that people are unbelievably dedicated to making the world a better place, and succeeding.
How does it? A lot of people display behaviour that confuses me, therefore I distance myself from them unless I learn that they are otherwise ok. No ass hat behaviour there, since that's pretty much what most humans do. I've just taken to its logical conclusion and applied to the species as a whole.binnsyboy said:
It's funny... most people dealt with individually are just fine. They may or may not be confrontational bigots, irresponsible douchebags, or ineffectual slaves to their own emotions... but as long as those things don't pop up in conversation somehow, you'd never know.
My particular version of misanthropy does nothing to keep me from going out and enjoying the world and its people... I'm just of the mind that anywhere people gather regularly in groups greater than ten or so (and more importantly, identify themselves as a group), any idiocy within that group will rise to the surface and control said group.
In short, I love people... but I hate society. Most people would be just fine if they were forced to fend for themselves just a little when they're young... but people (at least in western first-world nations) simply aren't. They're provided with everything they need and told what to believe... I know, I was one of the ineffectual until I was about 20 years old.
My particular version of misanthropy does nothing to keep me from going out and enjoying the world and its people... I'm just of the mind that anywhere people gather regularly in groups greater than ten or so (and more importantly, identify themselves as a group), any idiocy within that group will rise to the surface and control said group.
In short, I love people... but I hate society. Most people would be just fine if they were forced to fend for themselves just a little when they're young... but people (at least in western first-world nations) simply aren't. They're provided with everything they need and told what to believe... I know, I was one of the ineffectual until I was about 20 years old.
I know i assumed a lot. Im sorry, this topic really rubs me the wrong way. I just dont like the idea of viewing everyone else as rubbish and assuming i or a group of people are better. It is wrong to look down on you. I know. I apologise, i was angry, thats no excuse. Misanthropes just hit me as pretty arrogant. Who are these people who suck? I dont see anyone who deserves that title, and from the wording used a lot in this thread it seems to be everyone that isnt a misanthrope. I dont look around on the train and see this:sumanoskae said:
http://xkcd.com/610/
I see real people. Its sad to think that we are so bad at relating now a days we assume everyone sucks. Even poor randomers who have done nothing to offend you and would more than likely stick their neck out for you. I know i would for a stranger.
Your arrogance is astounding. I find it very difficult to buy that there is a "wrong way" to view people or anything for that matter. And remember that I made a distinction between "people" and "individuals."gabe12301 said:
well at least you don't think that you are better than everyone else that would be just annoying I've seen a few replies on various threads like this where people complain that no one does anything nice for them so they shouldn't either. And I actually do go to a soup kitchen but not that often... it's not like it's anything special anyways.The Valet said:
But most supposed misanthropes only dwell on the bad things in history that don't even affect them and have no legit reason to complain instead they sit there and cry about the environment/economy/place what's wrong with the world here instead of moving on with life or trying to do something about it like joining some organization or something.
besides if you hate people so much why would you even care to think about them I just don't give a rats arse about what they do.
sorry if you find something wrong with this I'm terrible with arguments
P.S. how would I research you if you don't give me information about who you are on your bio?
It might be useful to realise that you're both glossing over where misanthropy ends, and personal judgement starts.BiscuitTrouser said:
A misanthrope assumes that everything he doesn't know sucks, but your qualm with them is that they don't think as badly about themselves as they do about others. They know themselves, or at least are under that impression.
Can you still say you dislike misanthropy, or merely people who don't recognise that they aren't perfect either?
That said: I doubt there will be any true misanthropes in this thread. Pessimists: sure. People who consider everyone around them bad beyond any redemption - by their actions or otherwise? Very unlikely.
It's a nice, long, impressive word though. Have to give it that.
P.S. Xitel, I hate you. You stole all my fun!
And they're shooting themselves in the foot. Every disappointment [and there are always more disappointments than good stuff] hurts more.manic_depressive13 said:
Also, haven't you ever considered that there are some people out there that have spent nearly their entire lives being stomped on? I mean, if you spent your early childhood to adult hood having to take everyone's shit [including people who were supposedly going to help you, but just abandoned you], would you not hate people? Everything has a reason.
And just think about it: Tell me one instance where more than like... 20% of humanity WEREN'T scum?
Edit:
And it isn't? You're funny.TokenRupee said:
So if they hate people, then they should be positive and murder as many as they can? And how is it boring? Unless you consider constant disappointment in everything to be the best feeling ever that gives you the most fun in your life.TheYellowCellPhone said:
You don't have to run around with a goofy smile to have a positive outlook. You can just be an optimist and hope for the best. Besides, better to have a positive outlook than view the entire world as a cesspool breeding only misery.manic_depressive13 said:
Listen to yourselves. Every last one of us lives in a first world country. Who are YOU people to complain about how terrible humanity is? You have fresh clean water on demand! Comfortable, affordable clothing! Reliable private AND public transportation! And you have the gall to complain about people being scum and life being terrible? Try walking 15 miles a day in ungodly heat just to get unclean, unfiltered water. Try living in a place where power-mad warlords kill you on a whim. Try living in a place where you work 14 hour shifts for pennies to provide goods at a price that allows the existence of a middle class in a country you will never see. Try being a single parent, working multiple jobs just to keep a roof over your childrens heads and food in their stomachs. Those people actually have a REASON to complain, I have met MANY of them, have been in there place (some, not all) and none have ever complained that life in it's entirety was terrible, that humanity was incorrigible. Any misery you feel is your own damn fault for LETTING life get you down.
I'm going to lay it all on the line here:
You will fail. You are human, and inexperienced. Learn from your mistakes, pick yourself up when you fall, and try again.
You are not special. Nobody is. Anything you can do many more people out there can do better. You want to feel useful and get better, PRACTICE. STUDY. WORK AT IT.
You get out what you put in. You have a miserable life? Maybe you should try, y'know, doing what you need to do in order to make it better. Sad that people are jerks? Volunteer down at the homeless shelter, the dog pound, the Red Cross instead of sitting on your ass whining about how evil everyone is. It's only true because your defeatist, fatalistic attitude ALLOWS it to be.
A year and a half ago I had nothing. No family for support, no job, no money, and no friends willing to loan me any charity. Now, I'm splitting a room and putting myself through college, writing a novel, creating a webcomic, and studying the C# programming language. Most of the results of these activities will more than likely result in a pile of unsalable crap, but I will learn what I can from my failures and make myself better than I was before.
And you know what? It's hard, it feels brutal at times, but I love life ever the more for it. I love it because I KNOW I can change it when I feel so inclined, I have that power, as I proven to myself over the past year and a half. I have access to all the resources I would ever need, all provided at minimum to no cost to myself or anyone else.
I'm going to lay it all on the line here:
You will fail. You are human, and inexperienced. Learn from your mistakes, pick yourself up when you fall, and try again.
You are not special. Nobody is. Anything you can do many more people out there can do better. You want to feel useful and get better, PRACTICE. STUDY. WORK AT IT.
You get out what you put in. You have a miserable life? Maybe you should try, y'know, doing what you need to do in order to make it better. Sad that people are jerks? Volunteer down at the homeless shelter, the dog pound, the Red Cross instead of sitting on your ass whining about how evil everyone is. It's only true because your defeatist, fatalistic attitude ALLOWS it to be.
A year and a half ago I had nothing. No family for support, no job, no money, and no friends willing to loan me any charity. Now, I'm splitting a room and putting myself through college, writing a novel, creating a webcomic, and studying the C# programming language. Most of the results of these activities will more than likely result in a pile of unsalable crap, but I will learn what I can from my failures and make myself better than I was before.
And you know what? It's hard, it feels brutal at times, but I love life ever the more for it. I love it because I KNOW I can change it when I feel so inclined, I have that power, as I proven to myself over the past year and a half. I have access to all the resources I would ever need, all provided at minimum to no cost to myself or anyone else.