Misanthropes: I don't get you.

[retyopy]

Well, if you're going to hate humanity you might as well find the very finest to hate.

Oh, well played, I applaud you, truly. But considering that the majority of our fine community seems to be misanthropes, would you hate those who agree with you?

Of course, who is worse than them? everyone else is only guilty of ignorance, They and by extension me, are guilty of inaction.

Ignorance is bliss. Inaction is guilt.

 

[aashell13]

we don't like you either. get off our lawn.

OT: I don't think there are many true misanthropes. too much effort, no reward. Lots of irritable introverts though.

 

[simple64]

So you're calling me arrogant for looking down on people and all the while you're looking down on me for my opinion?.

I'm not really getting ivolved with any of this nonsense, just this particular sentence. I mean, it doesn't make sense. It makes it seem like he's looking down on you for a reason, while as you said, you're just generally looking down on people. That...does seem sorta arrogant.

 

[NotSoLoneWanderer]

No need for misanthropes a healthy aura of pessimism is much better

 

[retyopy]

we don't like you either. get off our lawn.

OT: I don't think there are many true misanthropes. too much effort, no reward. Lots of irritable introverts though.

Who made it YOUR lawn, huh?

 

[Crazycat690]

Who says you can't hate humans and still be a positive person who likes to have fun? I mean it doesn't mean you hate life itself right?

 

[simple64]

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.

Sorry to say, but that is the definition of elitism. I mean absolutely no offense by this, but you sound like the kid who ate lunch by himself, mad because the cool kids won't talk to you. That kid who calls the head cheerleader a ***** because she won't go out with you, despite the fact that you never even asked her out to begin with.

Again, I mean no offense and am only saying what your post sounds like. I have no idea what you are like at all, and am not trying to judge you. To be honest, you seem like a very friendly person.

But back to the quoted post, that does inded sound very, very elitist. Who are you to judge their phone conversations? Maybe a few of them are indeed intellectuals capable of deep conversations...but are also interested in other things outside what you feel as important. Their own little problems are probably bigger than you would guess - you wouldn't know, they aren't your issues. Did you try to engage them in intelligent conversations, or are you judging them based on what you feel is worthy for their personal convos?

 

[Vandenberg1]

Oh, sure, on a higher level, I do. Humans suck, life is pain, etc. But on a more practical level, you just make no sense to me, and heres why: Life is so much nicer if you have a positive outlook! Just go out into the world, be a nice person, and do something fun. What's the point of hating humanity? Wheres that going to get you?

EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!

You know that misanthropes don't have to be arrogant and can even be altruistic, only the extreme cases live a secluded life - they just kinda despise humans in general for various reasons, like being greedy, destroying the earth etc

while they buy stuff that takes from the earth more then it replenishes like everyone else...

 

[sumanoskae]

Saying an emotion or opinion doesn't have a point is like getting angry with someone because they have cancer. You don't take up emotions on purpose or to work towards a goal, an emotion or opinion is an involuntary reaction.

Why do I think people are shit?, not because it's easy, just look at them. They're rude, ignorant, close minded, selfish, stupid, greedy, evil degenerates. There are exceptions of course, but they're not common and either end up trying to fit in and becoming idiots themselves, or they become misanthropic and lonely, and it takes time to pry them from their shells.

Pretending otherwise won't change anything, and ignoring a problem won't make it go away.

Besides, valuing everyone really just means that you value no one, and I'm not wasting my time on idiots when I could be spending it with the few exceptions.

The arrogance... it HURTS US.

Who ARE these idiot filth scum you think are so rubbish? Me. My parents? My friends? I dont understand why someone could feel so much better than everyone for no reason. Its just jugdemental and pretentious. Eugh. I dont really have words. Yes you are special, you are better than everyone, everyone else is a dirty filth drinking animal who should be euthanised but because you have that magic hate for them you are better for some arbitrary reason. Congratulations?

This further reinforces my misanthrope leper colony plan outlined above. Send em all away to live with the rest of the "enlightened" who believe themselves so much better than everyone. That way we all win. You can look down on us from afar still and we can be merry.

Misanthropy is looking to be another word for pretentious arrogance and a way of feeling better than everyone else by assuming you are one of the chosen none douches in a world of scum. What a shitty outlook. Also horrifically offencive, jugdemental, presumptuous and wrong.

Signed, A loving degenerate. Im sorry my claws couldnt reach my computer made of childrens crushed hopes and dreams. Sometimes i cant pour enough of my own evil into the fire to get it running.

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.

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.

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:

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.

Thank you, you're much more polite then the last guy I argued with.

Look at it this way, you agree that people have trouble relating, yes?. Wouldn't that make them pretty lonely?, perhaps resentful of their fellow man?.

Most people will stick their neck out if it's convenient, it's just that it's never convenient when it matters. Pretty much everyone I've ever met agrees that there are some things wrong with the world, but none of them are willing to go to the extreme heights to improve it.

But that's not really my problem with them, after all, "Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?". No, what bothers me is that those same people then have the nerve to say "No, it belongs to everyone".

People are either to dumb to realize the full extent of their actions, or smart enough to realize but not possessing of the sheer brilliance and indomitable will required to improve the situation.

Anyone who can see the world for what it is would have to be a monster not to be disgusted by it. And they would have to be inhuman if they didn't have some way of dealing with it.

 

[sumanoskae]

So you're calling me arrogant for looking down on people and all the while you're looking down on me for my opinion?.

I'm not really getting ivolved with any of this nonsense, just this particular sentence. I mean, it doesn't make sense. It makes it seem like he's looking down on you for a reason, while as you said, you're just generally looking down on people. That...does seem sorta arrogant.

I have many reasons to despise people. I'm not calling him out for looking down on me, he can look at the world however he wants. I'm just calling him out for being a hypocrite, assuming that my reasons are fallacious and looking down on misanthropes in general without really understanding them, which is exactly what he accused me of doing.

 

[simple64]

Saying an emotion or opinion doesn't have a point is like getting angry with someone because they have cancer. You don't take up emotions on purpose or to work towards a goal, an emotion or opinion is an involuntary reaction.

Why do I think people are shit?, not because it's easy, just look at them. They're rude, ignorant, close minded, selfish, stupid, greedy, evil degenerates. There are exceptions of course, but they're not common and either end up trying to fit in and becoming idiots themselves, or they become misanthropic and lonely, and it takes time to pry them from their shells.

Pretending otherwise won't change anything, and ignoring a problem won't make it go away.

Besides, valuing everyone really just means that you value no one, and I'm not wasting my time on idiots when I could be spending it with the few exceptions.

The arrogance... it HURTS US.

Who ARE these idiot filth scum you think are so rubbish? Me. My parents? My friends? I dont understand why someone could feel so much better than everyone for no reason. Its just jugdemental and pretentious. Eugh. I dont really have words. Yes you are special, you are better than everyone, everyone else is a dirty filth drinking animal who should be euthanised but because you have that magic hate for them you are better for some arbitrary reason. Congratulations?

This further reinforces my misanthrope leper colony plan outlined above. Send em all away to live with the rest of the "enlightened" who believe themselves so much better than everyone. That way we all win. You can look down on us from afar still and we can be merry.

Misanthropy is looking to be another word for pretentious arrogance and a way of feeling better than everyone else by assuming you are one of the chosen none douches in a world of scum. What a shitty outlook. Also horrifically offencive, jugdemental, presumptuous and wrong.

Signed, A loving degenerate. Im sorry my claws couldnt reach my computer made of childrens crushed hopes and dreams. Sometimes i cant pour enough of my own evil into the fire to get it running.

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.

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.

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:

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.

Thank you, you're much more polite then the last guy I argued with.

Look at it this way, you agree that people have trouble relating, yes?. Wouldn't that make them pretty lonely?, perhaps resentful of their fellow man?.

Most people will stick their neck out if it's convenient, it's just that it's never convenient when it matters. Pretty much everyone I've ever met agrees that there are some things wrong with the world, but none of them are willing to go to the extreme heights to improve it.

But that's not really my problem with them, after all, "Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?". No, what bothers me is that those same people then have the nerve to say "No, it belongs to everyone".

People are either to dumb to realize the full extent of their actions, or smart enough to realize but not possessing of the sheer brilliance and indomitable will required to improve the situation.

Anyone who can see the world for what it is would have to be a monster not to be disgusted by it. And they would have to be inhuman if they didn't have some way of dealing with it.

I'm not agreeing wiht what you posted, especially the very last sentence (the "see the world for what it is" part), but I do wanna know -do you consider yourself part of the group that are either too dumb to realize the full extent of their actions, or smart enough to realize but not possessing of the sheer brilliance and indomitable will required to improve the situation?

From your post, it sound like you put people to an impossibly high standard, but I'm not sure I'm getting it. Not trying to sound rude in me ignorance.

 

[let's rock]

Oh, sure, on a higher level, I do. Humans suck, life is pain, etc. But on a more practical level, you just make no sense to me, and heres why: Life is so much nicer if you have a positive outlook! Just go out into the world, be a nice person, and do something fun. What's the point of hating humanity? Wheres that going to get you?

EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!

Humans invented lawers, we don't get much worse than that. Also we continue to deny an entire group of people the rights to marry who they want. We continously kill each other for no reason. Many descriminate against others for nothing important, almost all humans have some sort of predjudice. We brutaly murder the ecosystem of this panet we love so much, and are resposible for the extenction of countless species of animal. If humans are so good, like you say, why are we almost certain to cause our own extenction from environmental damage or the constant threat of nuclear anihilation? If we are so good, why are we killing ourselves? If humans are so good, why do we descriminate, and why are we so damn stupid? Educuation has almost no value in culture any more. People devote their entire lives to an invisiable wizzard in the sky who doesn't exist, and punch me in the face when I don't. Then we continusley make more of us, more than we can possibly mantain, leading to the further annihilation of our species. Let Greg Graffin and the other members of bad religion explain


(pay very close attention to the pictures in this video)

 

[Sojoez]

I did not read all the previous pages but I do want to tell my point of view.

Yes, sometimes I hate everyone else around me. There are times where it would delight me to see a mushroom cloud raising from the center of the city and I'm dead serious about that.
However, those are the times that I'm bitter and angry. I wasn't born that way you know.

I grew up in a different country and was often the victim of discrimination. As a child, troublesome but can be overcome. As a teenager? Traumatizing. I'm 27 now and still have major problems with trusting people. When I read the news (or an internet forum) I still get angry on how the world works, greed, self-interest, wars, religions etc. It only makes things worse and I don't have someone to comfort me or tell me that its going to be OK.

Life is hard and you have to keep fighting. Thats how it is, but in the dark moments misanthropy rises and then I wish I had the power to change stuff.



PS. if this doesn't make any sense then I'm in a bad moment.

 

[BlueMage]

Basically, people are stupid. Worse, they have the capacity to rise beyond such, but REFUSE to. They WILLFULLY cling to ignorance, myths, out-dated and backward philosophies when they could BETTER themselves.

But they refuse to. And so I hate.

I'll like individuals. I'll even love individuals (I love one very much. She makes getting up in the morning all the better.) But the collective? Not worth my time.

 

[sumanoskae]

Saying an emotion or opinion doesn't have a point is like getting angry with someone because they have cancer. You don't take up emotions on purpose or to work towards a goal, an emotion or opinion is an involuntary reaction.

Why do I think people are shit?, not because it's easy, just look at them. They're rude, ignorant, close minded, selfish, stupid, greedy, evil degenerates. There are exceptions of course, but they're not common and either end up trying to fit in and becoming idiots themselves, or they become misanthropic and lonely, and it takes time to pry them from their shells.

Pretending otherwise won't change anything, and ignoring a problem won't make it go away.

Besides, valuing everyone really just means that you value no one, and I'm not wasting my time on idiots when I could be spending it with the few exceptions.

The arrogance... it HURTS US.

Who ARE these idiot filth scum you think are so rubbish? Me. My parents? My friends? I dont understand why someone could feel so much better than everyone for no reason. Its just jugdemental and pretentious. Eugh. I dont really have words. Yes you are special, you are better than everyone, everyone else is a dirty filth drinking animal who should be euthanised but because you have that magic hate for them you are better for some arbitrary reason. Congratulations?

This further reinforces my misanthrope leper colony plan outlined above. Send em all away to live with the rest of the "enlightened" who believe themselves so much better than everyone. That way we all win. You can look down on us from afar still and we can be merry.

Misanthropy is looking to be another word for pretentious arrogance and a way of feeling better than everyone else by assuming you are one of the chosen none douches in a world of scum. What a shitty outlook. Also horrifically offencive, jugdemental, presumptuous and wrong.

Signed, A loving degenerate. Im sorry my claws couldnt reach my computer made of childrens crushed hopes and dreams. Sometimes i cant pour enough of my own evil into the fire to get it running.

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.

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.

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:

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.

Thank you, you're much more polite then the last guy I argued with.

Look at it this way, you agree that people have trouble relating, yes?. Wouldn't that make them pretty lonely?, perhaps resentful of their fellow man?.

Most people will stick their neck out if it's convenient, it's just that it's never convenient when it matters. Pretty much everyone I've ever met agrees that there are some things wrong with the world, but none of them are willing to go to the extreme heights to improve it.

But that's not really my problem with them, after all, "Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?". No, what bothers me is that those same people then have the nerve to say "No, it belongs to everyone".

People are either to dumb to realize the full extent of their actions, or smart enough to realize but not possessing of the sheer brilliance and indomitable will required to improve the situation.

Anyone who can see the world for what it is would have to be a monster not to be disgusted by it. And they would have to be inhuman if they didn't have some way of dealing with it.

I'm not agreeing wiht what you posted, especially the very last sentence (the "see the world for what it is" part), but I do wanna know -do you consider yourself part of the group that are either too dumb to realize the full extent of their actions, or smart enough to realize but not possessing of the sheer brilliance and indomitable will required to improve the situation?

From your post, it sound like you put people to an impossibly high standard, but I'm not sure I'm getting it. Not trying to sound rude in me ignorance.

I have virtually no opinion of myself whatsoever, I don't even know how I became the person I am, so I certainly can't judge my own intelligence.

I put people up to the standard of practicing what they preach. I don't think anyone is without fault. Most of everyone I've met is some variation on stupid, psychotic or callous. It's just the stupid and psychotic ones I have trouble getting along with.

We're all fucked up in one way or another.

 

[Fawcks]

I'm something of a misanthrope, not because I hate everyone, but more because I avoid people because I can't really feel I can trust them.

It's really hard to talk to someone if you feel that, secretly, they're PLOTTING AGAINST YOU.

 

[shadowform]

You see, the good thing about being a misanthrope is that I don't give a damn if you don't understand it, and don't feel the need to justify myself to you.

 

[PekoponTAS]

I used to be like that, and to be fair I kind of still have a bit of that mentality. At this point though I don't really HATE everyone, I'm just suspicious of everyone who talks to me.

 

[simple64]

Saying an emotion or opinion doesn't have a point is like getting angry with someone because they have cancer. You don't take up emotions on purpose or to work towards a goal, an emotion or opinion is an involuntary reaction.

Why do I think people are shit?, not because it's easy, just look at them. They're rude, ignorant, close minded, selfish, stupid, greedy, evil degenerates. There are exceptions of course, but they're not common and either end up trying to fit in and becoming idiots themselves, or they become misanthropic and lonely, and it takes time to pry them from their shells.

Pretending otherwise won't change anything, and ignoring a problem won't make it go away.

Besides, valuing everyone really just means that you value no one, and I'm not wasting my time on idiots when I could be spending it with the few exceptions.

The arrogance... it HURTS US.

Who ARE these idiot filth scum you think are so rubbish? Me. My parents? My friends? I dont understand why someone could feel so much better than everyone for no reason. Its just jugdemental and pretentious. Eugh. I dont really have words. Yes you are special, you are better than everyone, everyone else is a dirty filth drinking animal who should be euthanised but because you have that magic hate for them you are better for some arbitrary reason. Congratulations?

This further reinforces my misanthrope leper colony plan outlined above. Send em all away to live with the rest of the "enlightened" who believe themselves so much better than everyone. That way we all win. You can look down on us from afar still and we can be merry.

Misanthropy is looking to be another word for pretentious arrogance and a way of feeling better than everyone else by assuming you are one of the chosen none douches in a world of scum. What a shitty outlook. Also horrifically offencive, jugdemental, presumptuous and wrong.

Signed, A loving degenerate. Im sorry my claws couldnt reach my computer made of childrens crushed hopes and dreams. Sometimes i cant pour enough of my own evil into the fire to get it running.

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.

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.

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:

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.

Thank you, you're much more polite then the last guy I argued with.

Look at it this way, you agree that people have trouble relating, yes?. Wouldn't that make them pretty lonely?, perhaps resentful of their fellow man?.

Most people will stick their neck out if it's convenient, it's just that it's never convenient when it matters. Pretty much everyone I've ever met agrees that there are some things wrong with the world, but none of them are willing to go to the extreme heights to improve it.

But that's not really my problem with them, after all, "Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?". No, what bothers me is that those same people then have the nerve to say "No, it belongs to everyone".

People are either to dumb to realize the full extent of their actions, or smart enough to realize but not possessing of the sheer brilliance and indomitable will required to improve the situation.

Anyone who can see the world for what it is would have to be a monster not to be disgusted by it. And they would have to be inhuman if they didn't have some way of dealing with it.

I'm not agreeing wiht what you posted, especially the very last sentence (the "see the world for what it is" part), but I do wanna know -do you consider yourself part of the group that are either too dumb to realize the full extent of their actions, or smart enough to realize but not possessing of the sheer brilliance and indomitable will required to improve the situation?

From your post, it sound like you put people to an impossibly high standard, but I'm not sure I'm getting it. Not trying to sound rude in me ignorance.

I have virtually no opinion of myself whatsoever, I don't even know how I became the person I am, so I certainly can't judge my own intelligence.

I put people up to the standard of practicing what they preach. I don't think anyone is without fault. Most of everyone I've met is some variation on stupid, psychotic or callous. It's just the stupid and psychotic ones I have trouble getting along with.

We're all fucked up in one way or another.

Fair enough. I can't agree with your position (except the stupid, psychotic and callous remark, I've played Xbox Live), but I can respect that you don't conside yourself to be the pinnacle of the human race.

 

[Richardplex]

I could of gone down the route of misanthropy, but instead went for apathy, which was the better choice in my opinion. But, I'd say that being negative makes the good things seem better, while hopeful makes the bad events more crushing. From my perspective anyway.