Discussion Misanthropy

[chocosyrup]

ive always felt that humanity, as a whole, are selfish, cruel, hateful and wasteful, and has always been a species more destructive than meaningful.
this is something that many people also feel, and makes many feel disillusioned and even disgusted with humanity
Is it wrong to feel this way, or is it just a natural reaction to how messy and flawed the world can be? i'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

[TheHolySword]

I think people are capable of great things. Good and bad. It's understandable to hate humanity, to despise the world it's created. Sometimes it's disgusting to look at. But there is purity, beauty, peace to be found in us as well. I used to think the world was evil and without redemption, that humans were inherently greedy. I've since changed my tune. I think as social creatures we are inherently good and want good, but we are not without limitations nor are we immune to propaganda. The world and humanity are not black and white, and I struggle to generalize or blanket as such. It's a strangely optimistic view for being on this site but my misery is my own. I have lost hope in myself, not in humanity.

 

[Forever Sleep]

It's an opinion likely born out of bad experiences so, I'm not sure it's wrong as such. Just, tragic really. But, it's not like you're trying to get everyone to agree with you. That's the 'wrong' part in my opinion. Trying to force our ideas and opinions on others I don't think is great- either way. Either that it's all rainbows or, all horse shit.

I suppose, I go one stage further. I feel like: I think a lot of this world is corrupt. I think it's unwise to entirely trust anyone. I've no vested interest in the future of this world but, I can well see it turning even more dystopian.

But ultimately, it really doesn't matter what I think. I'm simply a candle in the wind. My opinions aren't going to make a great deal of difference to anything. Other people's opinions likely won't either. It's our actions that count. There are some things we can do to relieve some of the suffering. So- be conscious of how our own actions affect others.

I think we're perfectly capable of holding misanthropic ideas and yet, being polite and courteous to people ourselves. I think that's more important- what we do rather than what we think. People can pretend to care about others and then do things that cause them misery. I'd much prefer a friendly acting pessimist personally.

 

[banger12]

I think it's worse to ignore the habitual shortcomings of people driven by our shared human nature than to be upset over it. The feeling isn't wrong at all and I think it's a sign that someone has morally developed themselves and critically thinks about the world around them.

Us humans hurt each other constantly, many without remorse, and destroy and consume for nothing more than increasingly mundane bullshit. And we lie to ourselves about it. And this occurs on many levels. Individual, interpersonal, collective etc etc

 

[bipolar22]

While there are genuinely well meaning people, humanity as a whole is pretty awful. We are destroying our host planet and that alone proves that this species isn't meant to live in harmony and peace in the first place. Unlike animals we are not even capable of living peacefully together without laws forcing us.
There is no hope and never was. Which makes sense when considering life has no meaning and basically exists because of a wet fart of the universe.

 

[dontwakemeup]

I agree with everything you wrote! I expect nothing from individuals.

 

[FuneralCry]

I understand, personally I'd never wish to exist in this horrific world where there is all this endless cruelty and suffering, the human species truly is an abomination to me that just causes harm, human existence really is the most terrible, tragic mistake to me. I'd never wish to be conscious of any of this at all rather I just hope for non-existence, I'd never wish to suffer in this existence and I just see human existence as unnecessary, pointless suffering with no limit as to how much agony one can feel just to decay and die anyway.