How do you view humanity?

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

What do you think of people, of humanity?

I confess when thinking of people as a collective, as an abstract thing, I have to conclude that they are mostly trash. Never set a low bar for them to clear, for they will never hesitate to find inventive ways of sinking under it.

There's another pole to this, though. When I think about the people I encounter in my day-to-day existence, most of whom I don't know, a more positive picture emerges. If you're carrying packages, people will hold the door open for you, even though they don't know you. They might engage in pleasant conversation, or just generally act kind to strangers, even if they might not have very much in common. There's something to the way people will look out for people they don't even know that I find very encouraging. Perhaps, it might save us. There is a better side to our nature as well, even if I never see it in the news.

 

[ygolo]

I am still largely optimistic about individual humans and humanity as a whole.

Nothing lasts forever. The only constant is change. That isn't to say it isn't within a person's right to fight like hell to stay alive.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs has some bearing. I think people are fighting so hard right now because of threats to their own existence.

We can still try our best to stay ethical. But there are no good options, and you have to make the best you can among options.

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

Civilization may need a reboot

 

[The Cat]

Most of the time, Children. Easily Distracted, stubborn children. Other times as disappointing Art Projects. Stewards who have forgotten the face of their Father, are disrespectful to their Mother, and have been lost to their purpose for so long most have forgotten that they even had one in the first place or have allowed it to become corrupted by spirits of greed and lust for the illusion of power. Prodigal.

 

[The Cat]

Ever locked in an eternal tug of war like dance between defiance, surrender and outright and often endearing madness...

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I am still largely optimistic about individual humans and humanity as a whole.

Nothing lasts forever. The only constant is change. That isn't to say it isn't within a person's right to fight like hell to stay alive.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs has some bearing. I think people are fighting so hard right now because of threats to their own existence.

We can still try our best to stay ethical. But there are no good options, and you have to make the best you can among options.

Regarding no good options:

The problem is really the system is dedicated to sustaining itself as it already exists, and there is no mechanism for real adaptation or change beyond the forces of the human-generated market. Laws that supersede the laws of the market (or the laws of government) exist, and unfortunately neither the market or the U.S. government would be well equipped to deal with the potential consequences of those laws.

I think Maslow's Hierarchy of needs is viable. The problem is that we have a society that is uninterested in caring for those at the bottom. I worry about what will happen if those numbers grow. I think fascism is a natural consequence of not meeting those needs. (I wish I knew more about the interwar period in Europe to be able to back this up better.) For instance, I met a woman once who had multiple abortions and would brag about it ("borts" she would apparently call them) and voted for Trump at least once and is probably doing so again. I don't believe she was doing terribly well economically. There are lots of stories like this. I had other issues with this person as well but I will keep this on topic.

The social structures of government and economy are simply disinterested in doing what is needed to survive, and that is troubling.

Regarding humanity: The most troubling and damning thing about it for me is that it never learns a lesson, ever. It is one thing to have a World War with massive casualties. It is another thing to do it again, not all that much later (enough that the politicians were alive to remember WWI), with much larger casualties. People tell me that we have learned enough that we're all too sensible to let these current conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East escalate. I, however, would not place money on that.

Voters gravitiate towards politicians who nurture and feed off of the worst aspects of the nature. Even when they don't do this, it seems like there's not a lot of thinking on display. They're hoping for someone who makes them feel a certain away, and that's it. That's fine for lovers, music, and the arts, but I think more people should be interested in policies, or at least real visions of the future (not vague slogans).

People also routinely despise people for no other reason than they are different. It's not an exception; it's the norm. Most groups define themselves against an outgroup. This is why American flags became much more common after 9/11, even though that was supposed to be a totally benign phenomenon I shouldn't worry about. People were salivating at the prospect of another war starting, maybe even a world war. It seemed to turn a hell of a lot of people on.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Most of the time, Children. Easily Distracted, stubborn children. Other times as disappointing Art Projects. Stewards who have forgotten the face of their Father, are disrespectful to their Mother, and have been lost to their purpose for so long most have forgotten that they even had one in the first place or have allowed it to become corrupted by spirits of greed and lust for the illusion of power. Prodigal.

What purpose do you think people have? Love? I hope that doesn't come off as sarcastic. When people grow closer, I think that is a good thing. Too often we think that love has to be romantic love, but there are so many other forms of it.

 

[Lark]

What do you think of people, of humanity?

I confess when thinking of people as a collective, as an abstract thing, I have to conclude that they are mostly trash. Never set a low bar for them to clear, for they will never hesitate to find inventive ways of sinking under it.

There's another pole to this, though. When I think about the people I encounter in my day-to-day existence, most of whom I don't know, a more positive picture emerges. If you're carrying packages, people will hold the door open for you, even though they don't know you. They might engage in pleasant conversation, or just generally act kind to strangers, even if they might not have very much in common. There's something to the way people will look out for people they don't even know that I find very encouraging. Perhaps, it might save us. There is a better side to our nature as well, even if I never see it in the news.

I tend to find it easier to love humanity in the abstract, or the general, than in the everyday reality, or the particular, I dont for an instant think that humanity itself is trash but I do tend to see a lot of people who behave that way, sometimes I see it trending, in the day to day rather than online or in the news but also in those respects too.

No matter what role the media or other levers play in that I cant deny certain things are or do trend which to me seem despicable. I'm not just talking opinions, I hear a lot of people voice a thing but it never shows in how they actually act, but I mean behaviour.

Even with respect of opinions, I have to constantly remind myself that people dont think things over as I do and a lot of the time are far quicker and far more easily satisfied with the answers they have arrived at than I would be personally. I used to feel more strongly about challenging that than I do these days. The loudest protesters about "echo chambers" etc. are frequently the best architects of the same thing and dont recognize the micro-societies or scenes they evolve or are part of operate precisely along the lines they would call disagreeable.

The world is far, far from the mannerly, honorific and mindful state I'd prefer it to be in, though that is conceptualized well, even with a close eye to the contradictions or problematic aspects involved. The fact that something a lot better can be conceived of by humanity (in general, abstractly) even if its not readily practiced by humanity (particularly, specifically) means something.

 

[The Cat]

What purpose do you think people have? Love? I hope that doesn't come off as sarcastic. When people grow closer, I think that is a good thing. Too often we think that love has to be romantic love, but there are so many other forms of it.

Stewardship is defined as “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.” Stewardship in a "spiritual" context often refers to caring for the people, animals, land, and other resources that "God" has created. In other words, it's caring for something on "God's behalf" because the act of caring enriches our lives.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

View attachment 31580​

Stewardship is defined as “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.” Stewardship in a "spiritual" context often refers to caring for the people, animals, land, and other resources that "God" has created. In other words, it's caring for something on "God's behalf" because the act of caring enriches our lives.

Interesting. I'm famiiliar with this concept.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Even with respect of opinions, I have to constantly remind myself that people dont think things over as I do and a lot of the time are far quicker and far more easily satisfied with the answers they have arrived at than I would be personally. I used to feel more strongly about challenging that than I do these days. The loudest protesters about "echo chambers" etc. are frequently the best architects of the same thing and dont recognize the micro-societies or scenes they evolve or are part of operate precisely along the lines they would call disagreeable.

I've noticed this.

The world is far, far from the mannerly, honorific and mindful state I'd prefer it to be in, though that is conceptualized well, even with a close eye to the contradictions or problematic aspects involved. The fact that something a lot better can be conceived of by humanity (in general, abstractly) even if its not readily practiced by humanity (particularly, specifically) means something.

I find it hard to imagine it, although I have not spent much effort.

 

[ygolo]

People derive meaning from work (many do, at least). However, they'll have trouble deriving meaning from "make-work."

For some, keeping what's possible from happening for "make-work" reasons will trigger the same alienation.

There are enough problems and needs in the world that forcing a system of "make-work" leaves a lot of needs (and wants) unmet.

There's plenty of work for people to do.

"Generation toolbelt," if allowed to speak to people, and discover real needs for themselves could actually be the generation that solves the most problems for humanity and have the most robust skills for the future.

I, however, find meaning in technical work. The narrative around it needs to change. Advertising is what's draining the energy and attention from humanity, not technology.

Chess has never been more popular, even though machines have been a lot better than people for a long time.

Boardgames generally are becoming more and popular.

We want computing out of our faces and out of our way. But we still want the convenience and efficiency to get what we want. That future is possible.

"Engagement" by digital technology is not the goal. Mindfulness and support of individual personal goals is.

 

[Vinniebob]

 

[ygolo]

Was that spam or how you view humanity?

 

[arnoldopenz]

humsnity has never changed. despite human rights or similar legal constructs, peolep aren't that different to what we were in the Paleolithic, Copper, Bronze, Iron, ancient, medieval and early modern periods.

Our nature was set once we became behaivourally modern. Just bipedal primates that can abstract mentally, develop technology, use advanced language, and manipulate our environment around us in group situations.

 

[CeCee]

What do you think of people, of humanity?

I confess when thinking of people as a collective, as an abstract thing, I have to conclude that they are mostly trash. Never set a low bar for them to clear, for they will never hesitate to find inventive ways of sinking under it.

There's another pole to this, though. When I think about the people I encounter in my day-to-day existence, most of whom I don't know, a more positive picture emerges. If you're carrying packages, people will hold the door open for you, even though they don't know you. They might engage in pleasant conversation, or just generally act kind to strangers, even if they might not have very much in common. There's something to the way people will look out for people they don't even know that I find very encouraging. Perhaps, it might save us. There is a better side to our nature as well, even if I never see it in the news.

I have only one thing to say about humanity: Disappointed, not surprised.
We haven't progressed much apart from science - wars around the Globe, child abuse, rapes, terrible, cruel things that even animals rarely do to their own species. Apparently, being highly intelligent doesn't make you 'good', doesn't help you progress on that level, can't really define what level I'm talking about - maybe a spiritual one. Like the f-ing dolphins I have adored all my life and recently found out pracice infanticide and kill other species for no obvious reason but fun (and to imrove their killing skills) Anyway not go off topic - humans are an awful species too that doesn't know how to put their intelligence to good use.

 

[CeCee]

humsnity has never changed. despite human rights or similar legal constructs, peolep aren't that different to what we were in the Paleolithic, Copper, Bronze, Iron, ancient, medieval and early modern periods.

Our nature was set once we became behaivourally modern. Just bipedal primates that can abstract mentally, develop technology, use advanced language, and manipulate our environment around us in group situations.

Absolutely, that's my view too with maybe just a little footnote - that we are actually capable of something more, no...something different (cause I don't think that in the bigger scheme of things we are neccessarily "more" or better than the other species) Yeah, how ENFJ is that, I truly believe in that potential but I don't know if it's ever going to be realized. I think mankind should diminish drastically, like billions of people should die for any changes to be possible.

 

[tinker683]