Misanthropes: I don't get you.

[Vault101]

As a misanthrope, I would say it comes from the knowledge of just how awful people can be. Te economies ruined due to a group's short sighted greed, the bloodshed over philosophies or religion, the various atrocities we've done in the past.

And then looking through the history books and seeing how they were done over, and over, and over again.

And then looking at our more recent history, AND SEEING THOSE SAME MISTAKES MADE ALL OVER AGAIN AS IF THEY NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE! BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE CURRENT IDIOTS THINK THEY CAN DO IT BETTER!!

But what I hate most of all, are the optimists. Those who think that by forcing on a smile things will be alright. That forcing a positive outlook will make you genuinely happy. I find those forced smiles falling straight into the uncanny valley, and optimists in general annoy me.

In other words you, my good sir Retyopy, have not endeared yourself to me with your opening post.

human nature *shrug* BUT we have made progress, theres no denying that

I dont think optimism has to be about "forcing" a fake smile, everyone knows thats not gonna work

I think optimism depends on how you look at things, the world isn;t black or white (as some seem to think) its grey, how dark is the grey? its darker for some, lighter for others, or the old glass half full/half empty analgy, you cant force somone to be happy but somtimes happyness isnt helped by how you see the world

small example http://www.cracked.com/article_19376_5-scientific-reasons-your-idea-happiness-wrong_p2.html

 

[Nouw]

It's all about perspective. Also, why is stupidity so looked-down upon? Is it their fault that they're 'stupid' and have sub-par intelligence? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Ultimately, hating on them would only cause them to hate you. You should show compassion and sympathy, not feel a false sense of superiority over them.

False? FALSE?! There's nothing FALSE about my sense of superiority thank you. And I shall look down on them. Stupidity is often analogous to ignorance. There is a cure for ignorance - learning. And this is an opportunity available to practically anyone who seeks it.

But so few do. Worse, they tear down those that do.

THAT is what is worthy of hate.

There is no need for such a reaction. Would you care to reply again in a less aggressive and outraged manner? I often see no point in discussing such a touchy subject if you do not talk in a polite manner. But hopefully you respond to my next post in a calmer tone.

You can not generalize a mass of people. That does not mean what you say is not true, I know many people who reject knowledge and enlightenment. What I mean is that they're not as bad as you perceive them to be. Try and look at them from a different perspective. A perspective of compassion and understanding. Personally, if someone is rejecting such opportunities I'd rather feel sympathy and compassion for them. There is no need to hate people who are trapped in a negative mindset.

But alas, I can not and will not change how you think if you reject it like them.

 

[CoL0sS]

I'm only misanthropic in the evening, in the morning I'm too lazy .
All jokes aside, it's hard not to hate people sometimes. I maintain a reasonably positive outlook on life, but sometimes even I want to "set the world on fire". That mostly happens when I get hurt by people I tought were my friends. I mostly forgive their "transgressions" and attribute it to my own selfishness, being a loyal, caring, thoughtful puppy dog man that I am. It's a perfect way of allowing it to happen again, in a vicious circle of stupidity. But you know what, fuck it I want my dark side to grow and prosper so I can some day be dark, brooding, mysterious and cool

 

[Vault101]

I'm only misanthropic in the evening, in the morning I'm too lazy .
All jokes aside, it's hard not to hate people sometimes. I maintain a reasonably positive outlook on life, but sometimes even I want to "set the world on fire". That mostly happens when I get hurt by people I tought were my friends. I mostly forgive their "transgressions" and attribute it to my own selfishness, being a loyal, caring, thoughtful puppy dog man that I am. It's a perfect way of allowing it to happen again, in a vicious circle of stupidity. But you know what, fuck it I want my dark side to grow and prosper so I can some day be dark, brooding, mysterious and cool [/B]

Im sure thats how people love to see themselfs...

how I see it? THEY are the worst parts of humanity, lacking empathy, the scum of the earth that would hurt others to fulfill their own self rightiousness, just fucking pathetic

no offence against you of coarse

 

[CoL0sS]

I'm only misanthropic in the evening, in the morning I'm too lazy .
All jokes aside, it's hard not to hate people sometimes. I maintain a reasonably positive outlook on life, but sometimes even I want to "set the world on fire". That mostly happens when I get hurt by people I tought were my friends. I mostly forgive their "transgressions" and attribute it to my own selfishness, being a loyal, caring, thoughtful puppy dog man that I am. It's a perfect way of allowing it to happen again, in a vicious circle of stupidity. But you know what, fuck it I want my dark side to grow and prosper so I can some day be dark, brooding, mysterious and cool [/B]

Im sure thats how people love to see themselfs...

how I see it? THEY are the worst parts of humanity, lacking empathy, the scum of the earth that would hurt others to fulfill their own self rightiousness, just fucking pathetic

no offence against you of coarse

None taken, it was intended as a joke anyway
While I hate general lack of empathy and people who don't show any consideration towards others, I've learned to accept it. I see it almost every day, and it still makes me angry. I guess it's a good thing. At least it means i still care (I hope)

 

[Vault101]

I'm only misanthropic in the evening, in the morning I'm too lazy .
All jokes aside, it's hard not to hate people sometimes. I maintain a reasonably positive outlook on life, but sometimes even I want to "set the world on fire". That mostly happens when I get hurt by people I tought were my friends. I mostly forgive their "transgressions" and attribute it to my own selfishness, being a loyal, caring, thoughtful puppy dog man that I am. It's a perfect way of allowing it to happen again, in a vicious circle of stupidity. But you know what, fuck it I want my dark side to grow and prosper so I can some day be dark, brooding, mysterious and cool [/B]

Im sure thats how people love to see themselfs...

how I see it? THEY are the worst parts of humanity, lacking empathy, the scum of the earth that would hurt others to fulfill their own self rightiousness, just fucking pathetic

no offence against you of coarse

*ahem*

just want to finally say

fuck you, Im not a bad person, you have no right to judge me.

thanks

Generally, it's not a very good thing when you counter your own arguments.


OT: You cannot force people to be happy, or to change their fundamental principles. Doing so would not be happiness, in any way, shape, or form. Furthermore, how do you know that life is so much better if you look at humanity with a positive outlook? Are you saying that your views are completely objective, and that you know best?

I'm sorry, but that is just utter bullshit, and you're an idiot for saying it.

I dont think its about "forcing people" but some of it is to do with ones perspcective on things....I get the feeling alot of misanthropes havnt had the easyest time...so mabye the problem isnt with humanity..its them?

anyway mabye I was judging, anyway what i ment was, think of the worst people ever, Hitler they did horrible things, but they didnt do horrible things for the sake of being horrbile, they did them for a purpose,

thats what frightens me when people are like "yeah humanity needs to start over" do you think some people would "press the nuke button" if given the chance? and fuck us ALL over...that is pure evil, and what truly scares me

 

[Vault101]

I'm only misanthropic in the evening, in the morning I'm too lazy .
All jokes aside, it's hard not to hate people sometimes. I maintain a reasonably positive outlook on life, but sometimes even I want to "set the world on fire". That mostly happens when I get hurt by people I tought were my friends. I mostly forgive their "transgressions" and attribute it to my own selfishness, being a loyal, caring, thoughtful puppy dog man that I am. It's a perfect way of allowing it to happen again, in a vicious circle of stupidity. But you know what, fuck it I want my dark side to grow and prosper so I can some day be dark, brooding, mysterious and cool [/B]

Im sure thats how people love to see themselfs...

how I see it? THEY are the worst parts of humanity, lacking empathy, the scum of the earth that would hurt others to fulfill their own self rightiousness, just fucking pathetic

no offence against you of coarse

None taken, it was intended as a joke anyway
While I hate general lack of empathy and people who don't show any consideration towards others, I've learned to accept it. I see it almost every day, and it still makes me angry. I guess it's a good thing. At least it means i still care (I hope)

thats the thing, I think lack of empathy scares me most of all...and its somthign misanthropes thrive on...as explained in my above thread

 

[bakan]

I think it's funny how you reply to every single post but not to my post @Vault101 - was it a shock that your conception of misanthropy isn't quite right and you don't know how to reply to it?

Btw you actually thrive on rants and bullshit, doesn't make you any better than the type of humans you seemingly despise.

 

[BlueMage]

It's all about perspective. Also, why is stupidity so looked-down upon? Is it their fault that they're 'stupid' and have sub-par intelligence? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Ultimately, hating on them would only cause them to hate you. You should show compassion and sympathy, not feel a false sense of superiority over them.

False? FALSE?! There's nothing FALSE about my sense of superiority thank you. And I shall look down on them. Stupidity is often analogous to ignorance. There is a cure for ignorance - learning. And this is an opportunity available to practically anyone who seeks it.

But so few do. Worse, they tear down those that do.

THAT is what is worthy of hate.

There is no need for such a reaction. Would you care to reply again in a less aggressive and outraged manner? I often see no point in discussing such a touchy subject if you do not talk in a polite manner. But hopefully you respond to my next post in a calmer tone.

Dude that was calm. There's this little thing in debating that can often spice up an otherwise placid and slow-paced dialogue, and that's a little thing I call dramatisation. Keeps the conversation interesting to read for others, no?

You can not generalize a mass of people. That does not mean what you say is not true, I know many people who reject knowledge and enlightenment. What I mean is that they're not as bad as you perceive them to be. Try and look at them from a different perspective. A perspective of compassion and understanding. Personally, if someone is rejecting such opportunities I'd rather feel sympathy and compassion for them. There is no need to hate people who are trapped in a negative mindset.

I can, I will and I've rarely, rarely been proven wrong in such a manner. And when I have, such joy have I known to find one who is not the ignorant fool I originally (mistakenly) took them for.

But so few and far between they are! Why waste kindness and compassion on those that would spit it back in your face? I'd rather be occasionally very pleasantly surprised then frequently bitterly disappointed.

But alas, I can not and will not change how you think if you reject it like them.

True enough. But how do you not know that I have already pursued that path, and found it wanting? Sympathy, compassion, these things I have only in finite amounts, and I'd rather spend it on the individuals I know and cherish than the great unwashed who couldn't care less.

 

[Sovvolf]

Well I don't see what there is to get. Misanthropes see the negative in everyone including themselves. Honestly not an ethos that I can really take up. I tend to see people around me as neutral until proven otherwise. That being said, from what I've experienced around people I haven't seen any real reason to think that everyone is greedy, selfish or evil. I've certainly seen some awful people in this world and I've seen some bad things happen but even with the worse people I've seen a positive light in them.

I believe that most people like to do the right thing or do good. You just have some people that are bad eggs. That being said I guess it depends on how you look at the world. Someone as pessimistic as a misanthrope will probably only ever see the evil and the greed in people while being oblivious to the good. While the more positive idealists may only see the good in people.
That's why I like to remain neutral in my viewings of people. From that I get to see both sides of the coin.

 

[SD-Fiend]

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

Same here. I am a friendly, outgoing person, I have lots of friend and believe that this place would be better off if mankind was to become extinct. I have a lot of empathy for people around me, but when I see storms and fires destroying the US I think "and that's why you shouldn't f*** with nature". Deep in my heart I believe that some countries (Like the place I reside) deserve everything nature throws in their way for being so ignorant and selfish. But I also have little faith in the learning potential of humans in general, so I don't dare to hope that people would build a better society once the old one is in ruins.

you... you do know that those fires burn down the trees and forest as well right? and storms are predicted so we expect those things


anyways I really hope that we don't go extinct if there is a calamity then i pray we can recover from it and move on if we can't then we will forever be known as losers in the eye if the universe.

 

[flatten_the_skyline]

you... you do know that those fires burn down the trees and forest as well right? and storms are predicted so we expect those things


anyways I really hope that we don't go extinct if there is a calamity then i pray we can recover from it and move on if we can't then we will forever be known as losers in the eye if the universe.

Sure we "predict" storms, but we also cause conditions that make them more probable and more severe. And maybe Fire is a means to learn that climate change isn't just "a theory some scientists talk about", as some people in medieval societies believe.

I don't pray for anyone. And if I'd die as the last human on earth, I'd die happy.

 

[SD-Fiend]

you... you do know that those fires burn down the trees and forest as well right? and storms are predicted so we expect those things


anyways I really hope that we don't go extinct if there is a calamity then i pray we can recover from it and move on if we can't then we will forever be known as losers in the eye if the universe.

Sure we "predict" storms, but we also cause conditions that make them more probable and more severe. And maybe Fire is a means to learn that climate change isn't just "a theory some scientists talk about", as some people in medieval societies believe.

I don't pray for anyone. And if I'd die as the last human on earth, I'd die happy.

I;m not sure fire (or global warming) works like that... also if you were the last person on earth you'd die alone and afraid screaming for help that will never come.

 

[flatten_the_skyline]

Sure we "predict" storms, but we also cause conditions that make them more probable and more severe. And maybe Fire is a means to learn that climate change isn't just "a theory some scientists talk about", as some people in medieval societies believe.

I don't pray for anyone. And if I'd die as the last human on earth, I'd die happy.

I;m not sure fire (or global warming) works like that... also if you were the last person on earth you'd die alone and afraid screaming for help that will never come.

Die alone: Yes. Die screaming: Maybe. Maybe I'd kill myself at the prospect of not being able to sustain myself anymore after living a fullfilled life on canned stuff and fruit... Maybe I die while being eaten by zombies. Which always looks pretty messy in the movies.

I know that people are quite reluctant to see the errors of their ways, even when hurricanes and fires destroy their homes. The people of Tuvalu on the other hand are pretty active in demanding urgent action for the climate - their nation is 5m above sea level at maximum, and plans to evacuate the whole island are discussed. Humans have an amazing capability to deal with crisises - look at post-war Germany, how quickly it was rebuilt. The thing is that we'd need some of that strength and dynamic today, while we still live in times of convenience and denial, if we want to stop the worst case scenario...

 

[Emissary Laito]

I just can't pick and choose and sort out who i want to be nice to or not.

Why not? I do that all the time, and I hate double standards.

 

[Emissary Laito]

Yeah, humans are scum and all...
But I still love 'em.
I don't know, maybe it's because they're so cuddly. I was an extreme Misanthrope but at some point I just got tired of it.
Did not look back ever since.

Go give the guy above you a haircut lul.

Also, I consider it to be just something that people just grow out of eventually. I was like that for a while, but it went away.
Never really get into very serious arguments with misanthropes as a result. Would make fun of them, but that's not exactly going to change their views so I avoid it lul.

 

[stephenbrooks]

I object to the word "misanthrope", I prefer the term human-sceptic.

 

[TheDoctor455]

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.

I find it very difficult to buy that there is a "wrong way" to view people or anything for that matter.

Then why are we on this thread?

The whole point of having these discussions is to try to push your point across. You can't make any statement without believing you are right and thus being arrogant by definition. Any other way and it wouldn't be much of a discussion would it? I was simply defending my views as is the point of all threads and discussions. So, to each his own and I wish you well.

Fair enough. I simply object to the underlying sentiment in your comment that seemed to imply that you believed anyone who didn't agree with you was inherently wrong. I got the sense that you never seemed to ask yourself one of the hardest questions of all: "what if I'm the one who is wrong?"

A question I have asked myself, many, many times.

Interesting. I've never bothered to directly think about that but I suppose my answer would be: if I'm wrong than I'm wrong but when discussing points of view or philosophy that doesn't mean I'm not right.

Again, fair enough.

But to get back to the original point of this thread... no... I generally don't look at humanity in a negative light... or a positive one Thing is, I don't trust people to do anything, good or bad. Why the hell should I trust them? I haven't MET most of them. The ones I have met... ah, that's a different story, there... I can make judgements based on my interactions with them.

So my overall view of humanity? I don't have one. I simply don't hate people (most of the time) any more than I like them (most of the time); I simply don't trust them.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

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!

What's the point of hating clothing coloured blue? Where's that going to get anyone?

Im perfectly fine with my life, partly BECAUSE of my intense hatred of this species we call "man".
You see, BECAUSE I am so incredibly disgusted by the aspects I've recognized as stereotypical of humans, I actually take great effort in doing my very best to AVOID living up to those stereotypical aspects myself.

Of course, that doesn't give me a free pass from my hatred towards myself (I can't be a misanthrope but not hate myself at least a little, since I am human no matter how much I migh try be something else), BUT due to the way I strive towards being something "more" or something "better" than "just human" in ways that doesn't live up to stereotypical aspects I despise, I derive a whole lot of happiness from it.

After all, if I hate mankind as much as I do, then knowing that the only true crime im guilty of, is the one of simply sharing the same DNA as other humans (and not anything else), thath should make me quite happy, shouldn't it?

And yes, it actually does make me happy to know that I don't share any other disgusting human characteristics with other humans than DNA, if you must know...

 

[The Code]

I guess I could be classified as a misanthrope. People these days are greedy, backstabbing morons that care more about themselves and self-gratification than they do about virtually everything else. I could get into a rant about religion and stupidity, but that's a whole different argument I won't get into. Mostly, I'm paranoid and mistrusting of everyone, including friends, and ESPECIALLY family. If you knew mine, you'd understand. I just don't like that fact that 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you' has become 'screw over others before you would have them screw over you'.

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Woo! About time!