Why do people have such faith in humanity?

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Palademon

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FrostyChick said:
Why do I have faith in humanity? Because the little part of it that concerns me is pretty damn good. For those unlucky enough to be in one of the not so nice bits. Allow me to present...
TL:DR Not all of humanity is bad.
The lack of caring you seem to be ok with sours your overall sentiment.
"I care about what's around me, but not what happens anywhere else. Not all of humanity is bad."
It seems for you to be happy you must ignore suffering. You have a valid point which I agree with, but you didn't seem to provide as much evidence as others tried, but you seemed to remind people of my mindset of sadness.

I am somewhat on the side of the OP, but I do know there is good in the world, I'm just annoyed by those who seem to ignore the bad, and am upset in myself that whenever a charity comes to me I seem to not care. Even if that could be argued to be natural or something, that doesn't mean it's as simple as letting it happen or that it's ok.

Woodsey said:
Because most people aren't teenagers crying on the internet.
Why is it that whenever something is depressing we sweep it under the rug?
Lilani said:
Doclector said:
Because if you just up and say we suck and that's the end of the story, it means you've given up in the battle to be better than that. And how the hell is giving up supposed to make anything better?
I believe that is a good response. If you want change, try to be the change.

My fundamental problem of humanity that I can't escape is everyone acting too close of what they think is right or wrong. Even here I see people dismissing others based on deepseated ideas that they are wrong, or we put blanket statements on something. Yeah, someone feeling sad, must be the same as all other angsty teenagers that think they understand things. The only angsty teenagers I don't like are the ones who think their life is really terrible because of a small thing, and even then I give them the benefit of the doubt becuase it actually can be in some cases. But someone complain about everything instead of just their own experience doesn't sound bad to me. Although the OP's figures of how many people are murderers is far exaggerated. Through the OPs sadness they've actually brought up a bigger idea of suffering. Older people with more experience seem to accept this and go along with life. Do they give up? Do they stop caring? I myself do not deny good, but why do others deny bad? Or at least hope to ignore it. Ignoring it would stop someone feeling sad and get on with life, but is that a satisfactory conclusion? But by this I don't mean you can't have faith in humanity, afterall there is good.

This is one of those long posts that I'm probably going to regret as soon as I post, since I expect it to be met with people tearing into me.
 

Togs

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Because the alternative is not, which does nothing but make you miserable.

Also this is about the 3rd thread ive seen from you on this subject, if your feeling that bad get therapy.
 

James Crook

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lobster1077 said:
It's awesome! :D
How did you make this? Flash? Photoshop? I'm thinking about making one like this with the TF2 sniper (when I get the chance)
 

Woodsey

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Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Because most people aren't teenagers crying on the internet.
Why is it that whenever something is depressing we sweep it under the rug?
Oh hey, that's like, so deep.

And because its not depressing. Good things happen, bad things happen. People should grow a pair of balls and stop thinking "woe is me" on a gaming forum.
 

Aprilgold

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Well, where else will all of it go, just into the trash? Basically, yeah, people are selfish, greedy, dirty, stinking, stupid, over reacting, underestimating, piece of shits, pisses of shits and overall terrible, but everyone IS different, all those terms above apply to HUMANS, but doesn't apply to people. Also, faith is something that can change lives, why NOT have it?
 

Palademon

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Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Because most people aren't teenagers crying on the internet.
Why is it that whenever something is depressing we sweep it under the rug?
Oh hey, that's like, so deep.

And because its not depressing. Good things happen, bad things happen. People should grow a pair of balls and stop thinking "woe is me" on a gaming forum.
In the case of humanity it's more like "woe is us" which is more of the problem.
But maybe yes, the key to happiness is to "grow a pair of balls" and not let bad things affect us, because afterall nothing can be that bad right? We obviously all just complain too much.
 

Woodsey

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Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Because most people aren't teenagers crying on the internet.
Why is it that whenever something is depressing we sweep it under the rug?
Oh hey, that's like, so deep.

And because its not depressing. Good things happen, bad things happen. People should grow a pair of balls and stop thinking "woe is me" on a gaming forum.
In the case of humanity it's more like "woe is us" which is more of the problem.
But maybe yes, the key to happiness is to "grow a pair of balls" and not let bad things affect us, because afterall nothing can be that bad right? We obviously all just complain too much.
Again, amazingly deep. You should totally be a philosopher or something.
 

lobster1077

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James Crook said:
lobster1077 said:
It's awesome! :D
How did you make this? Flash? Photoshop? I'm thinking about making one like this with the TF2 sniper (when I get the chance)
I actually drew out the sprite in microsoft paint then edited it in flash. It's not too difficult you just need a truckload or two of patience. =D
 

gdv358

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Nov 11, 2009
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My faith in humanity is born of the fact that the a-holes aren't the majority. I know they look like they are. But if you scour those same history books that make it seem like we spend most history in constant war you always find that somewhere at the head of one of the armies you've got a charismatic a-hole. One a-hole can generate a war, stopping that war is much, much harder. For any war to come to a stop, a LOT of decent people need to get together to put an end to the stuff the charismatic jerk started.

Hard as it is to believe, despite the fact we are very efficient at it, humans are not the most violent animal on the planet. We are the only species capable of eating meat that have members that will intentionally reject the concept of eating meat. Look for any carnivore or omnivore on the planet and see if you can find one that will simply turn its nose up at meat. It wouldn't happen. Sure, it's an anomaly even within our species, but it's one that just wouldn't occur in any other creature on the planet. We've evolved to a point where we can choose to be what we've long defined as "humane".

In fact, humanity has evolved to the point where violence is something we question. Even this thread is something that would be inconceivable by any other creature. If we were the universal dicks that the question would imply...why would anyone even bother asking the question? Why would anyone bother answering? Simply put: they wouldn't. Were people to be as bad as we all believe, the first and only response to this thread would have been "STFU and die already".

And for the final nail in the coffin, I don't think any other creature on the planet would allow Jainism to take root. If you don't know what Jainism is... look it up. Now consider for a minute how long a Jainist would survive in the wild.
 

Palademon

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Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Because most people aren't teenagers crying on the internet.
Why is it that whenever something is depressing we sweep it under the rug?
Oh hey, that's like, so deep.

And because its not depressing. Good things happen, bad things happen. People should grow a pair of balls and stop thinking "woe is me" on a gaming forum.
In the case of humanity it's more like "woe is us" which is more of the problem.
But maybe yes, the key to happiness is to "grow a pair of balls" and not let bad things affect us, because afterall nothing can be that bad right? We obviously all just complain too much.
Again, amazingly deep. You should totally be a philosopher or something.
This is one thing I complained about in my post. People thinking of others opinions as defaultly wrong, and instead of trying to make them realise something they must've missed, something that if the person disagreeing is right must know, they'll just act condescending instead. I'm not tyring to make you feel bad. But you could see me as trying the same thing. Sorry.

Your point of "good things happen, bad things happen" is valid, and reasonable. What is your point of view if we aren't talking about one person's experience, but instead about feeling upset more about the state of suffering for everyone in the world?
 

CWestfall

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Doclector said:
See, I've studied history alot. I've found that we seem to spend 90% of our time on pointless warfare.

-Snip-

Also, it seems 90% of the people I have met in my life have been murderous bastards.
Funny that you used the number 90%, because now Sturgeon's Law applies. "90% of everything is crud." If you keep that basic rule in mind your life will be a lot easier for you. 90% of people are going to be terrible. 90% of the mail you get will be junk mail. 90% of music, you'll hate. 90% of your days will drag on.

The important question is this. Can you ignore the 90 and enjoy the 10?
 

remnant_phoenix

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Doclector said:
Why do so many people have such faith in the "good" in humanity?
Because despite all the inclinations toward mindless, degenerate behavior, there is always hope that things can and should get better.

And the alternative to that hope is a life of misanthropy and nihilism.

As someone who has wallowed in such a life in the past, I can tell you it's not somewhere you want to be. It's better to have hope, regardless of how "unscientific" or "illogical" that hope might seem at times.
 

Woodsey

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Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Because most people aren't teenagers crying on the internet.
Why is it that whenever something is depressing we sweep it under the rug?
Oh hey, that's like, so deep.

And because its not depressing. Good things happen, bad things happen. People should grow a pair of balls and stop thinking "woe is me" on a gaming forum.
In the case of humanity it's more like "woe is us" which is more of the problem.
But maybe yes, the key to happiness is to "grow a pair of balls" and not let bad things affect us, because afterall nothing can be that bad right? We obviously all just complain too much.
Again, amazingly deep. You should totally be a philosopher or something.
This is one thing I complained about in my post. People thinking of others opinions as defaultly wrong, and instead of trying to make them realise something they must've missed, something that if the person disagreeing is right must know, they'll just act condescending instead. I'm not tyring to make you feel bad. But you could see me as trying the same thing. Sorry.

Your point of "good things happen, bad things happen" is valid, and reasonable. What is your point of view if we aren't talking about one person's experience, but instead about feeling upset more about the state of suffering for everyone in the world?
Things are better than ever. If the (likely) middle-class (likely) white guy has such a problem he should go and do something about it, not whinge like an emo tween.
 

Pegghead

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Because why not? I'm sure it stands for something in some circles, but to me this whole "faith in humanity" business either comes off as blissful ignorance or hypothetically burning an orchard because of a few rotten apples. Yes, alot of people in alot of places in the past and even in the present have done and indeed still do stupid stuff. Yes, a utopic society of peace and co-existence Earth certainly isn't, but banging on about your opinion on 6.5 billion itty-bitty people around the world who cover all aspects of life doesn't and will never change that.

Can't I just take people as they come and bring relevance to how my own life is gonna play out (and how I affect the lives of others) rather than worrying about matters that are too far beyond my time or my reach to change? Besides, the concept of having or not having faith in humanity really does lose alot of its steam when so many people seem to "lose it" at the drop of a hat.
 

Palademon

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Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Because most people aren't teenagers crying on the internet.
Why is it that whenever something is depressing we sweep it under the rug?
Oh hey, that's like, so deep.

And because its not depressing. Good things happen, bad things happen. People should grow a pair of balls and stop thinking "woe is me" on a gaming forum.
In the case of humanity it's more like "woe is us" which is more of the problem.
But maybe yes, the key to happiness is to "grow a pair of balls" and not let bad things affect us, because afterall nothing can be that bad right? We obviously all just complain too much.
Again, amazingly deep. You should totally be a philosopher or something.
This is one thing I complained about in my post. People thinking of others opinions as defaultly wrong, and instead of trying to make them realise something they must've missed, something that if the person disagreeing is right must know, they'll just act condescending instead. I'm not tyring to make you feel bad. But you could see me as trying the same thing. Sorry.

Your point of "good things happen, bad things happen" is valid, and reasonable. What is your point of view if we aren't talking about one person's experience, but instead about feeling upset more about the state of suffering for everyone in the world?
Things are better than ever. If the (likely) middle-class (likely) white guy has such a problem he should go and do something about it, not whinge like an emo tween.
That's good advice.
Starting with that would've been good.
I think when people start threads like these it's usually an "Am I the only one" type thing where they want reassurance that someone else cares. Maybe their only way of trying to change things was being one of the many that try to spread this kind of awareness, but it's so obvious to people that they tire of hearing it and get annoyed, so it gives that person a response that just makes them more sad, which makes them feel alone, since everyone else knows, but to them they appear to not care.
 

Woodsey

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Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Palademon said:
Woodsey said:
Because most people aren't teenagers crying on the internet.
Why is it that whenever something is depressing we sweep it under the rug?
Oh hey, that's like, so deep.

And because its not depressing. Good things happen, bad things happen. People should grow a pair of balls and stop thinking "woe is me" on a gaming forum.
In the case of humanity it's more like "woe is us" which is more of the problem.
But maybe yes, the key to happiness is to "grow a pair of balls" and not let bad things affect us, because afterall nothing can be that bad right? We obviously all just complain too much.
Again, amazingly deep. You should totally be a philosopher or something.
This is one thing I complained about in my post. People thinking of others opinions as defaultly wrong, and instead of trying to make them realise something they must've missed, something that if the person disagreeing is right must know, they'll just act condescending instead. I'm not tyring to make you feel bad. But you could see me as trying the same thing. Sorry.

Your point of "good things happen, bad things happen" is valid, and reasonable. What is your point of view if we aren't talking about one person's experience, but instead about feeling upset more about the state of suffering for everyone in the world?
Things are better than ever. If the (likely) middle-class (likely) white guy has such a problem he should go and do something about it, not whinge like an emo tween.
That's good advice.
Starting with that would've been good.
I think when people start threads like these it's usually an "Am I the only one" type thing where they want reassurance that someone else cares. Maybe their only way of trying to change things was being one of the many that try to spread this kind of awareness, but it's so obvious to people that they tire of hearing it and get annoyed, so it gives that person a response that just makes them more sad, which makes them feel alone, since everyone else knows, but to them they appear to not care.
I think I'm going to be sarcastic again now. So yes, how very deep of you.
 

LarenzoAOG

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Doclector said:
Also, it seems 90% of the people I have met in my life have been murderous bastards.
By any chance do you live in a maximum security prison? If not I think you may be lying, and if you're worried about throwing a wrench in human evolution then you have nothing to worry about, love has probably fucked up human evolution more than you ever will.

Honestly though it just sounds like you need a wambulance.
 

Dragunai

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BiscuitTrouser said:
"Evil succeeds when good men do nothing," I am well aware of quotes regarding human morality. 10 minutes on this website alone and you can find massive support for both good and evil. Most of it is condescending attitudes from people talking down to people.

I am well aware that the world has good and evil in it and didn't really need you to say it 4 times in a circle as, if you read your post, you did.

So thank you for talking down to me, thus supporting my point that people are inherently c**ts.

Yes you can find examples of good as easily as I can find bad, google works wonders in that regard, scale however would be different and I do not doubt you would present a kitten saved from a tree when I present Po pot's massacres.

I can tell now that our discussion is simply going to go in a circle because I will keep making my point, you will make yours and it will be very boring in about 4-7 posts.
So I will say Kudos, etc.

Anthony Abney said:
"no part of humanity that I believe in" So you don't believe in yourself?

"support groups like Oxfam are corrupt" You don't need support groups to help those who need it, you just have to find and help them yourself

"when was the last time you saw someone go out of their way to help stranger when nothing was to be gained from it?" When was the last time YOU went out of YOUR way to help a stranger? Don't wait for others to do good things, do them yourself.

MY life motto is: If you don't like the way things are, don't sit there and complain, get up and do something about it.
I see you subscribe to the school of, quote someone, paragraph and reply to it in small manageable pieces.
*yawn* fine let's see what you present.

You're damn right I don't believe in myself, I know enough about myself and what I am to accept and admit that I am corrupt and evil. Human nature is chaos, selfishness and destruction. A brief look at any decade you choose in our history will back that up.

Oxfam claims to feed thousands of starving people in Africa every year. If your self righteous theory is even half true or accurate please show me photos of yourself in Africa feeding the starving out of your own pocket. You wanted to be literal? Lets be literal.

As for me going out of my way to help people? I fail to see why I should. As previously stated. I don't expect much from mankind therefore I don't contribute. Although if you want an example. This weekend just gone was the Munera event at Maelstrom (LARP society) and I provided a tent for 2 girls to sleep in and my friend and I paid for the food on the 1st night without any expectations or demands. You know what we got in return?
They treated us both like shit, ran off to hang out with other guys thus ditching us as part of their team and caused damage to our property we didn't even get a "sorry" for.

Your life motto is nice words but Practical? not even close. How can you end wars in other lands? end starvation and save children from the lives they are in?

Its a physical impossibility because to save humanity from itself you have to take away their free will to stop them killing each other and when you do that you become the bad guy and will subsequently be murdered for your efforts.

Its all an exercise in futility in the end, you get a B- for effort.

Baby Tea said:
Dragunai said:
Hahaha, Humanity is a word that, with every passing day, applies less and less to our species.
Look at the Holocaust, 9/11 and now the Oslo tragedy.
Let's look at the Holocaust: Yes, millions of people were slaughtered by a cruel, ruthless regime.
You know what also happened? Many countries, religions, and ethnicities stood together and beat back that regime. Many people, my grandfather included, hid Jews at great personal risk (Some died for it) because they knew what was happening was horrifically wrong.

Out of one of the world's greatest tragedies, came an unparalleled unity.

Let's look at 9/11: A few radical Muslims crash planes into the World Trade Center towers. over 2,000 people lost their lives.

And American patriotism, unity, and self sacrifice once again came to the surface. Many people died on 9/11 because they were running into the buildings to save people. People risked their lives to help, when they certainly didn't have to. Many people tragically died that day, and it brought New York together in ways never seen before.

You cite horrific events as if there is no 'other side'. People, like myself, have faith in humanity because we see what people do in the event of tragedy, not just what caused it in the first place. You're 100% correct that there have been some horrible things committed by people. I cannot deny that. But what you are totally losing sight of is what did people do because of it. Who stood up? Who fought back? Who lent a hand? People. Humanity.

Cynicism about humanity isn't a 'worldly' worldview.
It's based on half told stories, and half remembered history.

You know, if anything would make me 'lose faith' in humanity, it isn't the violent or horrible actions of the few. It would be the inaction of the many.
Britain joined WW2 because Germany was giving it some dirty looks they didn't approve of. France was pulled into the war as was many others. America joined later because they heard there was a scrap and Christ knows if America isn't fighting someone elses war they aren't existing.

They banded together because they were fighting Russia, a technologically and martially superior Germany and the Japanese. If they didn't unite they would be speaking German as a primary language now.

They may have done it under the flag of freedom and other ideals people spout when trying to save face but it was an alliance of necessity, little more. People helped hide the Jews for legit reasons. I can't deny that when I watched The Pianist I was touched by the story and it did stick with me for a long time.

Doesn't change the reasons for the Governments actions though. They did the same thing every powerful nation does in a war. Tried to put it in someone elses Garden to avoid their own getting dirty.

American patriotism simply turned into the invasions in the Middle east, which subsequently saw mass protests from their homeland and the UK telling them to fuck off. Something like 4000 US and 500 UK soldiers have met their maker in this war to achieve.... well nothing really. Nothing good has come of any of it. A part from a lot of families having to bury their loved ones on both sides.

*sigh* I never claimed my view was worldly and I can assure you I have spent enough time looking at human kind to know my history and information isn't half baked but thank you for talking down to me. I must remember that when I am bringing my opinion up that all the righteous and pure people who are good will automatically become VERY condescending toward me should I dare utter my words that define reality and not some wonderful fantasy to escape into.

Dr Snakeman said:
Dragunai said:
Wow... everything you said was just so incredibly stupid. "Whaaa, some bad stuff happened! That means that people are evil and I hate them all. Except me, of course, because I know that I'm not like that."

I'm not going to take the time to respond to you, because your little emo rant isn't worth it. I just want you to know how wrong you are, and how imperative it is that you reconsider your outlook on life before you graduate high school. If you don't, then you are going to have one sorry existence.
So you're response to my view is to insult me, denigrate my view and talk down to me?
How wonderfully ironic. Of course I would love you to point out where and when I claimed to be above it all. I think someone is only half reading a statement then rushing to hurl insults to look superior. Too bad that backfired and just propped my point up even higher.

I'm not wrong, I'm not emo and frankly I think you need to go somewhere far away with your petty, small minded insults because the adults are trying to have a discussion here.

There's a good chap.