Why is Misanthropy ok but racism taboo?

[dyre]

I think we can all agree that there are few attitudes as taboo in the modern age as racism. Nothing will lead quicker to total social ostricization than to let loose a few racist comments and slurs. We all hate those ignorant, hate filled fucks. My question is why doesn't this attitude carry over to misanthropes, those folks who hate all of humanity instead of just some particular segment? Misanthropes enjoy a much warmer cultural reception. He can be seen as charming and sympathetic, someone fed up with the bullshit of his species. Even at his worst, the general misanthrope is received better than a racist.

Why is this? Shouldn't it logically follow that misanthropes are worse people than racists if they do the racist's job and then some?

All the "misanthropes" you hear from over the internet are faking it. Always. They wouldn't hurt a fly. They're all just miserable or trying to sound cool and edgy.

Real Misanthropes, i.e. murderers, are usually dealt with pretty harshly through jail time, so I don't see how you got the idea that society thinks they're charming or sympathetic.

Pretty much this. Although I suspect some real misanthropes are just socially inept outcasts. Not that those are particularly charming or sympathetic.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Misanthrops hate everyone equally. That doesnt have prejudice connected to it. Also you can just say they're a-holes and move on, where as racist comments are hurtful to some people.

Pretty much that. Also I believe this is another thread wherein people are going to confuse being misanthropic with being a fully fledged misanthrope, but I really don't care enough to get into the semantics, so I'm going to let the people have their 'doing it to seem edgy' platitudes.

 

[Darkmantle]

I think we can all agree that there are few attitudes as taboo in the modern age as racism. Nothing will lead quicker to total social ostricization than to let loose a few racist comments and slurs. We all hate those ignorant, hate filled fucks. My question is why doesn't this attitude carry over to misanthropes, those folks who hate all of humanity instead of just some particular segment? Misanthropes enjoy a much warmer cultural reception. He can be seen as charming and sympathetic, someone fed up with the bullshit of his species. Even at his worst, the general misanthrope is received better than a racist.

Why is this? Shouldn't it logically follow that misanthropes are worse people than racists if they do the racist's job and then some?

Well at least the misanthrope hates everyone EQUALLY.

I guess.

maybe?

 

[Peteron]

Because picking on one group of people or a few because they are different looks worse. There is is no prejudice in Misanthropy.

 

[xvbones]

I think we can all agree that there are few attitudes as taboo in the modern age as racism. Nothing will lead quicker to total social ostricization than to let loose a few racist comments and slurs. We all hate those ignorant, hate filled fucks. My question is why doesn't this attitude carry over to misanthropes, those folks who hate all of humanity instead of just some particular segment? Misanthropes enjoy a much warmer cultural reception. He can be seen as charming and sympathetic, someone fed up with the bullshit of his species. Even at his worst, the general misanthrope is received better than a racist.

Why is this? Shouldn't it logically follow that misanthropes are worse people than racists if they do the racist's job and then some?

Weeeellllll, see, a misanthrope (assuming you mean the definition that indicates "all mankind" rather than "male gender") generally hates everyone equally.

Therein lies the rub.

Equally.

 

[thiosk]

Its the hipster thing to do!

Example:

"What we need to do is engage in mining operations around the solar system-- mars, asteroids, etcetera."

"Ugnnnghnn so we can MESS UP another planet just as bad as this one? UGNNNNGHNNNGHN."

...

 

[Phlakes]

Racism isn't hate, it's believing another race is inferior. Misanthropy isn't like that.

"UGNNNNGHNNNGHN."

That's a surprisingly accurate representation of hipsters.

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

I think we can all agree that there are few attitudes as taboo in the modern age as racism. Nothing will lead quicker to total social ostricization than to let loose a few racist comments and slurs. We all hate those ignorant, hate filled fucks. My question is why doesn't this attitude carry over to misanthropes, those folks who hate all of humanity instead of just some particular segment? Misanthropes enjoy a much warmer cultural reception. He can be seen as charming and sympathetic, someone fed up with the bullshit of his species. Even at his worst, the general misanthrope is received better than a racist.

Why is this? Shouldn't it logically follow that misanthropes are worse people than racists if they do the racist's job and then some?

Good argument, I would have to say it is because of the self-loathing factor which eliminates the prosecution element from the equation.

With racists, we can see a definite victim being targeted unfairly. This could stem from some irrational hatred or be because of a justified reason to distrust a whole group of people, it does not really matter the reasons. There is a victim we can relate to, and that increases the emotional response for us. The fact that most racists attack their victims from a position of strength, be it as a group or only when they are armed and their target is not, only makes them more despicable to us as we view these actions as cowardly on top of the disgust.

The misanthropes on the other hand are attacking themselves just as much, if not more so, then the rest of society. As the target has gone from a definite victim with clear perimeters to some wide spread criteria that includes the attacker themselves, we have lost the emotional response as we no longer have a victim to pity. These people also seem less of a threat as they do not often lash out at others physically, most just want the kids to get off the damn lawn and shake a stick. When one of these Emo-want-to-be's do something physical they are likely to do so on even or poor footing, so you can kick their arse and justify their complex that society sucks.

Though hate to tell you this: Their right... humans are disgusting a race.

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

All the "misanthropes" you hear from over the internet are faking it. Always. They wouldn't hurt a fly. They're all just miserable or trying to sound cool and edgy.

Real Misanthropes, i.e. murderers, are usually dealt with pretty harshly through jail time, so I don't see how you got the idea that society thinks they're charming or sympathetic.

I don't think the vast majority of murders out there are Misanthropes. They just hated that one person they killed very, very, very much. Those that kill with indiscriminate passion have always been proven to be mentally unstable, not misanthrope but down right voice in the head insane. I have a hard time fathoming one sane person who killed a whole bunch of people based on the theory that they just hated humanity.

Most murders do so for personal gain, be it emotional satisfaction, power or financial... they have reasons that do not involve a hatred of Humanity.

 

[BX3]

It's just society. It's what's hot and hip at the time.

For example, sexism used to be bigger, but now people don't care as much. Now it's all about sexual preference. And racism of course.

The culture war rages on. Sooner or later, they'll think of some way for my type (white, heterosexual male) to be victims too. I wonder how that'll feel to have automatic moral high ground because of identity?

It's surprisingly annoying to be honest. Both when the idiots repping you ***** about everything you're victimized by AND when the "victimizers" ***** about the "victims" claiming to be "victimized". It's no better from either side is what I'm saying

All the "misanthropes" you hear from over the internet are faking it. Always. They wouldn't hurt a fly. They're all just miserable or trying to sound cool and edgy.

Real Misanthropes, i.e. murderers, are usually dealt with pretty harshly through jail time, so I don't see how you got the idea that society thinks they're charming or sympathetic.

Pretty much this. The self proclaimed "misanthropes" are just the types of people that keep a constant air of anger around them to seem like the rational few. Just egos at work. As for the ones on TV, they're just dicks for sake of comic relief.

 

[Saltyk]

I'd say racist are just seen as ignorant backwards idiots. You hate them for their attitude and beliefs. For the way they treat other people based on nothing but skin color.

A misanthrope hates everyone. Now, the ones that aren't currently serving life sentences or on death row are just dicks and probably miserable. You meet dick heads all the time. But letting them affect you is stupid. Better just to ignore them.

Plus racism has that sexy history to it. It's hard to ignore that mystique.
[small]Please note that I don't actually find racism sexy.[/small]

 

[Dexiro]

I think a better question would be why aren't all prejudices treated equally.

It's not ok to be sexist or racist but it is ok to be homophobic? Not cool brah.

 

[Tipatap]

My best bet is that the misanthrope doesn't discriminate, that the average misanthrope has lost hope, or faith, or perseverance in regards to humanity, and sees the rest of us humans, themselves included, as not worthwhile instead of just a select few for whatever reason.

It makes more sense because you don't "Hate the Asians" or "Hate the Blacks" because they don't really care what you look like, where you're from, what gender you are. I'd say they're more into equality than us, well for lack of a better word, 'normal' people.

EDIT:
Misanthropes; Am I correct here, or is there something I'm missing? I'd like to know, if you wouldn't mind. This is an opportunity to see how people of different ideological mindsets think, and...yeah. Curiosity is my fatal flaw.

 

[Loonyyy]

Why is this? Shouldn't it logically follow that misanthropes are worse people than racists if they do the racist's job and then some?

Because at least the misanthrope treats everyone with equality. The problem with racism is it's preferential treatment of specific persons, or unfair treatment of others, based on an entirely random phenomenon. Whilst misanthropy is at least treating everyone the same. But the thing is, Misanthropy doesn't have a cultural effect. It doesn't stop certain people from getting jobs, it doesn't involve discrimination. It's basically nobody's business if your a misanthrope or not.

 

[Risingblade]

Does anybody actually believe those guys? They come out more as whiny than hateful

 

[Thaluikhain]

I think a better question would be why aren't all prejudices treated equally.

It's not ok to be sexist or racist but it is ok to be homophobic? Not cool brah.

Well, prejudice is about being unequal, you'd nto expect it to be be doled out into equal shares.

Mind you, it's not so much that it's not ok to to be sexist or racist, it's not ok to admit to it. People say "I'm not racist, but..." for a reason, for some reason many people think it erases any possible racism, for example.

 

[Thistlehart]

For something like this, I like to fall back on my old buddy, The Dictionary.

rac·ist [rey-sist]
noun
1. a person who believes in racism, the doctrine that a certain human race is superior to any or all others.
adjective
2. of or like racists or racism: racist policies; racist attitudes.

mis·an·thrope [mis-uhn-throhp, miz-]
noun
a person who dislikes or distrusts other people or mankind in general.

I believe that, if you take the time to reflect on these definitions, you will realize why misanthropy and racism are looked upon differently. To whit; one is a person that proscribes to a philosophy of superiority based on race while the other is a distrustful or belligerent person.

 

[CODE-D]

Your speaking of me then.....you compare my grand hatred to that of an ignorant fool......this is why I hate you and humanity.

 

[Savryc]

Misanthropes are only a threat when they snap and go postal, real misanthropes that is, not the self styled, internet drama whores.

Racists are a threat to all the social progress we've made as humans and thus are mostly reviled.

That's my take on it anyway.

 

[DarkRyter]

None of them are considered in particularly good taste.