On cynicism towards the human spirit

[Greni]

As of late I have noticed a growing cynicism towards humanity, people losing faith in it and so on and so forth. Not just on the escapist, but quite a lot. On the internet, constantly, we have all seen it.

Now I would call myself a cynic in many aspects but I've grown to acknowledge the 'humanity' in humans lately. I go about my business in my daily life and notice that nobody is being maimed or killed around me, no beatings, rapes or robberies in the daily fog of the routine activity called modern life. Just people like me doing stuff and going about their business, as I go about mine.

So I wondered: Where does it all comes from, this rising belief that humanity is the bastard offspring of hate, greed and Uwe Boll?
Sure there are people being hurt on a daily basis: Hunger, diseases, poverty, dehydration and all that nasty stuff is always happening to someone, but we are not surrounded by it every day.

But we are. These nasties I listed up there describe two things: Horrible living conditions and the selling points of a media outlet. The media is riddled with precisely these things. I recon it has partially consumed us, giving off this vibe wherever we go. A gnawing feeling at the back of our necks when we feel everything's a-ok that it really isn't.

So I feel that humans on the whole are actually doing pretty fine. Sure there are some things that could go better and we need to address those problems, but shutting it all off saying "humanity is completely fucked" is just giving up without a fight. That attitude isn't helping anyone, and certainly not the individual that holds that view.

Rant over. Discuss...

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I used to be a hardcore cynic, then I grew up and realized that attitude is really counterintuitive, and is the exact opposite of the human spirit is and intended to be. It does no one any favors.

Yes, there are horrible things out in the world, but you know what? No one promised anyone a rose garden. The best anyone can do is just try and make the best of it, and if you let it get to you, then that's on you.

I'm still a cynic, but not as bad as I used to be, but I will say I've become jaded to the whole cynic thing. This may sound terrible, but the more cynical someone is the less likely I will pay attention to them since they're not helping.

 

[Bishop99999999]

I hate cynicism. Sure, it's often justified, but I still hate it. We don't have any modern day heroes because we spend every ounce of energy we have examining them for the barest sign of hypocrisy. Our great figures from history are torn apart and belittled, and the heroes we have now are only heroes because they protested against other cynics (i.e. their existence is a constant reminder of the potential for human weakness).

Yes, it's certainly an improvement from the "Leave it to Beaver" days of the 50s, but I think the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction. We aren't willing to accept the idea that great men and women exist beyond the realm of social issues.

 

[Biosophilogical]

Would you like me to answer this from my highly limited psychology pool, my highly limited anthropology pool, or my infinite nonsensical internet wisdom?

Psych: People may be using heuristics (I think that is the appropriate term) so that because all this bullshit-nonsense crap is the most public information out there, whenever a person thinks of a social group they don't belong to (and therefore don't have more numerous experiences with), they identify them by the publicised events (the horrible events that make people proclaim a loss of faith in humanity), and seeing as people tend to identify as only a few groups, the millions of other groups out there all seem horrible and evil.

Anthro: The improvement of resource production tools was a huge mistake. By improving resource production, you create surplus, which creates wealth distribution (if everyone has been fed, what do you do with the spare? You hoard it! And that gives you power). Surplus also increases population potential, which further drives resource production, which requires more skilled labour and technology, which forces specialisation and further stratification. All the while, the population is booming, putting more pressure onto the other issues, making everything worse. Not only that, but the requirement to produce surplus and provide for an ever-increasing society increases the work load of the masses (think 40 hour weeks, as opposed to 12-19 hour weeks). And then, added to that, you make it almost impossible to adapt to natural disasters because you can't just up and move, and the requirement of more resource-potential forces your land-control to expand, creating conflict with the indigenous groups. Eventually it spirals out of control, and you can't stop it without causing billions of people to starve.

Infinite Nonsensical Internet Wisdom: Persons can be brilliant, but people are daft as bricks.

 

[alik44]

I have a long long long long list as why i should be Cynical towards humanity but for some reason im not cynical.

 

[Saint of M]

As a general rule, while I still remain optimistic, I am constantly having to ask why I road the short bus when I see all the "normal" people doing things that make even my autistic brain go "That was dumb."

 

[JesterRaiin]

As of late I have noticed a growing cynicism towards humanity, people losing faith in it and so on and so forth. Not just on the escapist, but quite a lot. On the internet, constantly, we have all seen it.

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Losing hope and cynicism were trendy even in times of great Deluge and still are popular shield against reality.

I guess that only thing that changed is flow of information. We have both more sources and places to whine. That's all.

As for losing hope... Humanity will prevail. Always. We aren't marching to fields of peace and happiness, that's granted, however i don't think that we should count on nuclear holocaust either.

At any given time someone, somewhere may introduce something that will change lifestyle on global scale. For better and forever. That's what i'm counting on.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

It's my usual favourite topic, but I'd suggest the media has a lot to do it.

Over here in the UK, there's a constant barrage of 'the immigrants are taking your tax money, oh and the welfare claimants, they're all cheating the system, and on top of that they're all having fifteen kids on your money, and Europe's banning anything fun, and while that's going on, anyone under 45 is a rioting piece of scum, and the BBC is trying to turn this country into a socialist state and and and...'

Essentially, every day in the newspapers is 'We're all going to die and the world's going to hell!' and then I look out of the window, and hear the birds singing and see the rolling green fields all the way to the horizon ( tho if I look out of my FRONT window, I see derelict council estates and graffiti, I admit ), and I wonder just where all this shit is happening.

Honestly, if I was a doctor, the first thing I'd prescribe to anyone thinking they were depressed is stop reading or watching the news. It's just terribly bad for your mind and your soul.

From actual experience, most people will stop to help if someone falls over, drops their shopping or other such things. Most people will hold a door open and the like. It's just that the rude minority get all the attention, there's not sales in headlines like 'BRITAIN - QUITE NICE REALLY'

 

[ultrachicken]

I see a few major factors in this "I've lost faith in humanity" bullshit.

For one, the news filters out good news because that doesn't get good ratings.

There's also the idea that it's cool to be a cynic. But, more than that, the brand of misanthropy that elevates yourself rather than dragging you down with everyone else you've judged, feels quite good to indulge in.

 

[Greni]

Honestly, if I was a doctor, the first thing I'd prescribe to anyone thinking they were depressed is stop reading or watching the news. It's just terribly bad for your mind and your soul.

Oh, God Almighty in Eternal Blissful Ignorant heaven, this! It would turn the world upside down if every cringing soul on this Earth would stop watching/reading the spirit crusher that is traditional media and look out the window or take a walk in the countryside every once and a while. It's killing the human spirit.

 

[crudus]

As of late I have noticed a growing cynicism towards humanity, people losing faith in it and so on and so forth. Not just on the escapist, but quite a lot. On the internet, constantly, we have all seen it.

Now I would call myself a cynic in many aspects but I've grown to acknowledge the 'humanity' in humans lately. I go about my business in my daily life and notice that nobody is being maimed or killed around me, no beatings, rapes or robberies in the daily fog of the routine activity called modern life. Just people like me doing stuff and going about their business, as I go about mine.

I think you are confusing some terms.

Spoiler: cynic/cynicism

a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view.
(<a href=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cynic>dictionary.com)

Spoiler: misanthrope

a hater of humankind.
(<a href=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/misanthrope>dictionary.com)

You are directing this topic at misanthropes. Yes, there can be/is (slight) overlap in the two and one could lead to the other, but they aren't the same thing. I am a cynic because of my personal exposure to people. At this point in my life, I wish I was a cynic sooner. It would have made my life easier, and I would be much better off. Though for the most part, I am not a misanthrope. Sure there are some real bastards out there, but they are on the far edge of the bell curve. I don't go into a meeting someone hating them just because they are human. I don't trust them and question their motives when they ask me certain questions, but I don't hate them.

I used to be a hardcore cynic, then I grew up and realized that attitude is really counterintuitive, and is the exact opposite of the human spirit is and intended to be. It does no one any favors.

Really now? Can you elaborate on that?

 

[Vault101]

I think Red Dead Redemption said it for me

"....and you, are a Romantic who desperatly wants to be a cynic"
-the gay mexican army guy

I can be cynical about things but...It hasnt completly taken over me, a posative emotion is better than a negative one

and also we focus on the bad more than the good..in the news and everything (and every fucking movie about robots has to involve them try to kill us..WHY?)

 

[Vault101]

I used to be a hardcore cynic, then I grew up and realized that attitude is really counterintuitive, and is the exact opposite of the human spirit is and intended to be. It does no one any favors.

Really now? Can you elaborate on that?

well your attitude can be very important...if your absolutly convinced everything is shit...then it will more likley be shit

 

[Kopikatsu]

I used to be a hardcore cynic, then I grew up and realized that attitude is really counterintuitive, and is the exact opposite of the human spirit is and intended to be. It does no one any favors.

Really now? Can you elaborate on that?

well your attitude can be very important...if your absolutly convinced everything is shit...then it will more likley be shit

This is more of a case of preparing for the worst because you're always expecting the worst, and coming out okay for it because of that preparation.

Sure, being suspicious of everyone's motives all the time doesn't win you any brownie points, but neither does getting cheated out of your livelihood because you decided to trust someone who ought not to have been trusted.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Dude, we've put this monster into orbit. I don't see how anyone cou be cynical about that.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Dude, we've put this monster into orbit. I don't see how anyone cou be cynical about that.

Nearly all orbits decay. That satellite will eventually come crashing back to Earth if left alone.

Goodbye, New Mexico! We never really liked you anyway.

 

[Vault101]

I used to be a hardcore cynic, then I grew up and realized that attitude is really counterintuitive, and is the exact opposite of the human spirit is and intended to be. It does no one any favors.

Really now? Can you elaborate on that?

well your attitude can be very important...if your absolutly convinced everything is shit...then it will more likley be shit

This is more of a case of preparing for the worst because you're always expecting the worst, and coming out okay for it because of that preparation.

Sure, being suspicious of everyone's motives all the time doesn't win you any brownie points, but neither does getting cheated out of your livelihood because you decided to trust someone who ought not to have been trusted.

getting cheated out of your livelihood doesnt automatically mean you were happy/posative

it could mean you were niave/stupid/unlucky