Dear Misanthropes,

[Queen Kat]

Trying not to hate someone, makes you hate them even more. At least, that's what our Social Psychology teacher told us yesterday. I don't know if I can believe him, he said some more things that didn't make sense.

 

[Qlip]

Tried and true hate alchemy:

Hatred * Understanding = Pity
Pity - Condescension = Compassion

 

[LeafAndSky]

Tried and true hate alchemy:

Hatred * Understanding = Pity
Pity - Condescension = Compassion

I can see how the first equation might happen. Understanding could come through education: learning about others' situations, their experiences.

How might the second equation happen? How could someone subtract condescension?

 

[Qlip]

I can see how the first equation might happen. Understanding could come through education: learning about others' situations, their experiences.

How might the second equation happen? How could someone subtract condescension?

By not using the percieved flaw or disadvantage of the person as proof to your ego that you're a better human being than them. I don't know, it's just something that I do when I want to get past hate.

 

[Aquarelle]

Tried and true hate alchemy:

Hatred * Understanding = Pity
Pity - Condescension = Compassion

Good suggestions.

 

[LeafAndSky]

By not using the percieved flaw or disadvantage of the person as proof to your ego that you're a better human being than them. I don't know, it's just something that I do when I want to get past hate.

Helpful. Thank you.

 

[LeafAndSky]

I'm talking about the majority. I know it's wrong to make generalizations, but most people are dumb, boring and unreliable pieces of garbage that destroy your life whenever they might gain any benefit from it.

Thank you. Your belief is very strong.

 

[Antimony]

Why do you insist on believing that humanity is composed of spineless, brainless, grotesque germs who routinely consume their own body weight in excrement?

I do not agree with the second part.

I think that they consume twice their body weight in excrement, routinely.

I try to love people, but they gotta give me a good reason...and being alive doesn't count as a very good reason.

 

[Queen Kat]

Thank you. Your belief is very strong.

I'd like to change it if I could. Misanthropy is not an easy thing to live with, you know. It just became a part of me, over the years.

 

[LeafAndSky]

I'd like to change it if I could. Misanthropy is not an easy thing to live with, you know. It just became a part of me, over the years.

I understand. I found a belief of my own a few days ago that startled me. It's not misanthropy, but it definitely has caused me trouble, and I'd like to change it. Although, I'm not sure how to do that, yet.

You said, "I'd like to change it if I could." A thought: Do you happen to have any kind of belief, something along these lines: that everyone is equal?

Like, we are all star dust. Or, we were all born as vulnerable babies, but we were all heavily influenced by experiences, and not all of those were helpful experiences.

Maybe strengthening (exploring) a belief like one of those would lessen misanthropy.

I'm thinking I could do that kind of thing with the belief that's causing me trouble. Maybe it would work.

 

[Queen Kat]

I understand. I found a belief of my own a few days ago that startled me. It's not misanthropy, but it definitely has caused me trouble, and I'd like to change it. Although, I'm not sure how to do that, yet.

You said, "I'd like to change it if I could." A thought: Do you happen to have any kind of belief, something along these lines: that everyone is equal?

Like, we are all star dust. Or, we were all born as vulnerable babies, but we were all heavily influenced by experiences, and not all of those were helpful experiences.

Maybe strengthening (exploring) a belief like one of those would lessen misanthropy.

I'm thinking I could do that kind of thing with the belief that's causing me trouble. Maybe it would work.

In that case my misanthropy would get even worse. The only way to release me from my misanthropy would be by erasing a long episode of my life and as we all know the past can't be changed. I used to be normal and philanthropic, you know.

 

[lane777]

In some ways feeling bad is safer than not knowing what to expect.

+1

 

[Jonny]

Because fantasy>reality, and it can be hard to reconcile the stark contrasts between human potential and the current state of humanity.

 

[Bamboo]

Have you guys ever considered that this might actually be utopia?

Cue: "oh god, listen to this guy, where's the exit, what do you mean there's no exit?"

Nice party you guys got here. Is there bean dip?

wink

 

[Giggly]

A most fascinating topic. I am quite interested in the psychology of misanthropes, misogynists and misandrists.

 

[Asterion]

The people who aren't bad are just faking it to get sex.

You'd be surprised how attitudes suddenly become golden when the opposite sex nearby. One young woman changed my brother from being somewhat selfish and hostile to being generous and nice, I never thought it was possible.

 

[ReflecTcelfeR]

Is misanthropy useful in other ways than being a defense mechanism?

I think simply accepting the reality of the situation is enough; why have a hatred that could lead to hopelessness?

 

[murkrow]

Deep, inspiring hatred ranks up there with sexual pleasure.

It takes the ugly, boring superficial form of the despised and makes something intricate and mesmerizing.

If I didn't have my hateful thoughts, my far more interesting but all too accurate reimaginings of the utterly bland "human race", I'd have no choice but to blindly flail my arms in violent discontent.

 

[InvisibleJim]

Why do you insist on believing that humanity is composed of spineless, brainless, grotesque germs who routinely consume their own body weight in excrement?

Have you met humanity?

 

[You]

Actually, Jim wakes up a human everyday. Trust him. He'd know.