I'm arrogant. I try not to be, but I am. And it's a bad, bad flaw.
I also take absolutely no effort to maintain friendships. I make no effort to keep in contact with people. As a result, while I have acquaintances and colleagues, I have no personal friends except for close family members.
I value science and technology and mathematics as the most important things in the entire world. As a result, I tend to look down on civilizations that have not achieved as much in those realms. It's racist, and it's wrong - we can't judge people based on what their ancestors did or did not do. Also, there is more to the human experience than science and mathematics. But I still have this slightly condescending attitude towards some cultural groups who never even got around to figuring out how to write. I am one of those people who believe in progress and change, but that leads me to look down on groups that don't change or want to change or haven't progressed according to my very strict (and some would say very narrow) view on progress.
I'm trying to get rid of this attitude, but its difficult. I strongly believe that if our species was incapable of science or mathematics, then it wouldn't be worth saving.
I will say that I am not a biological racist - I'm mixed race myself (Chinese/English). I strongly hold the view that all people all around the world are people. I've met smart white people, smart asian people, smart black people, smart indigenous australian people, smart arabic people, smart indian people, smart every-type of people. I strongly believe that biologically, we're pretty much on a level playing field.
But I still can't bring myself to think the same of cultures. I know I should. I know I shouldn't look down on other people's cultures... but still.... when a culture didn't even learn how to WRITE.... um....err.... I can't think anything more than "WOW! You guys didn't even learn to WRITE?! Ooohh... Um. Well. That's.... pretty sad." No writing = no philosophy = no science = no advanced technology. And without technology or the strive to become something greater than what we are, what is humanity?
I know, I know - it's wrong to think this way. It undervalues the other aspects of humanity (kindness, love, art) that are very important. Still.... I have this reflexive bent towards science and technology. I think its turning me into a bad person.