Why is Misanthropy ok but racism taboo?
- Thread starter Chefodeath
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Misanthropes are only a threat when they snap and go postal, real misanthropes that is, not the self styled, internet drama whores.
Racists are a threat to all the social progress we've made as humans and thus are mostly reviled.
That's my take on it anyway.
Racists are a threat to all the social progress we've made as humans and thus are mostly reviled.
That's my take on it anyway.
Two reasons:
1) discrimination, which everyone else has covered to death.
2) hating the entire human race - of which the hater in question is a part - is so obviously ridiculous it's just hard to take them seriously. REAL misanthropes are few and far between. The rest are just manifesting a cynical form of depression and loneliness. You don't hate them-- you pity them.
1) discrimination, which everyone else has covered to death.
2) hating the entire human race - of which the hater in question is a part - is so obviously ridiculous it's just hard to take them seriously. REAL misanthropes are few and far between. The rest are just manifesting a cynical form of depression and loneliness. You don't hate them-- you pity them.
Misanthropy, by its very nature, disallows for organization and cooperation with other misanthropes.
Racism allows for organization, and it's that attitude of potential inclusion that makes it far more threatening to society. Entire political movements have been founded and amplified on racism. Never once, on misanthropy.
One wacko misanthrope can be marginalized and dismissed.
A large group of hateful people, not as much.
Think of it this way: One Serial Killer compared to the KKK.
Racism allows for organization, and it's that attitude of potential inclusion that makes it far more threatening to society. Entire political movements have been founded and amplified on racism. Never once, on misanthropy.
One wacko misanthrope can be marginalized and dismissed.
A large group of hateful people, not as much.
Think of it this way: One Serial Killer compared to the KKK.
so by that logic, if a person was racist (or hateful to a particular ethnic group) because of a logic reason, it would be ok? How about old Chinese people who lived in Nanjing their whole life and had the Rape of Nanjing inflicted upon that persons sister, mother and grandmother? Would it be ok for them to hate Japanese people because of the traumatic experience that happened?AD-Stu said:
Misanthropy is really a nonsensical term unless you're describing a fictional character, people just use the word to market their personality. Like other people are saying, you can't truly hate humanity and still exist among us. I find myself as a quasi-misanthropic; I find it hard to see any good in the majority of people, but still affected by needing the odd bit of attention. Use it on facebook and watch the love roll in.
Most likely popularised by my man, the mac daddy of haterism, Dr House M.D.
Most likely popularised by my man, the mac daddy of haterism, Dr House M.D.
I don't remember ever saying misanthropy was okay. It annoys the hell out of me almost as much as racism does!
Or genocide.lunncal said:
Pretty much. Even if their misanthropy is from a distorted view of humanity (maybe they had a rough time growing up, or abusive parents, or their Significant Other was killed in a senseless mugging, etc) it normally is somewhat rational, given the circumstances.AD-Stu said:
I wouldn't just assume they all had the same motivations and experiences. There's any number of ways people can reach those attitudes.Blablahb said:
Aye, misanthropy is just extreme pessimism carried to its logical end. The belief that everyone will betray you if given half a chance is a way of looking at the world where the misanthrope is usually the only victim... and at least it's fair.
Also, people who just generally hate everyone tend to realize that the title of Universal Overlord is beyond their grasp and thus not actually harm anyone... there's no point, as no amount of fighting or dirty pool will rid them of the scourge of humanity. On the other hand, people who are racist (especially in places where the hated groups are vastly outnumbered) often do take matters into their own hands... whether it be by tying someone to the back of their car or by refusing to hire people of a certain skin color.
Of course, I was raised to believe that what was true is true and will be true, so instead of backpedaling I'm forced to accept that something isn't true anymore then we were obviously wrong about it all along... and therefore everything else we took as infallible isn't. Leaves me a bit adrift at the moment to be honest, but that's a different conversation.
Also, people who just generally hate everyone tend to realize that the title of Universal Overlord is beyond their grasp and thus not actually harm anyone... there's no point, as no amount of fighting or dirty pool will rid them of the scourge of humanity. On the other hand, people who are racist (especially in places where the hated groups are vastly outnumbered) often do take matters into their own hands... whether it be by tying someone to the back of their car or by refusing to hire people of a certain skin color.
Unfortunately, some prejudices are still more common that others, and better supported in religious texts. It's changing, though. The tide is turning, and more and more good Christian people are starting to look at those passages the way mainstream Mulims are looking at those passages about Holy War... with distaste and sincere backpedaling. This is all to the good.Dexiro said:
Of course, I was raised to believe that what was true is true and will be true, so instead of backpedaling I'm forced to accept that something isn't true anymore then we were obviously wrong about it all along... and therefore everything else we took as infallible isn't. Leaves me a bit adrift at the moment to be honest, but that's a different conversation.
Because racism is thinking some people are better than others just because of their genes, misanthropes are just overcautious to the fact that it's possible that everyone is an ass, regardless of their genes.
Picture this; there's two people. One's a racist, the other's a misanthrope. The racist hangs around with a load of people of his race, but scoffs at you because of what race you are, and belittles you for it. The misanthrope sits on his own and keeps his distance from everyone. Which do you hate more? The racist, because he's an ignorant twat.
Edit: In fact the misanthrope part depends on how you define it. To me it just means someone who hates the way people treat the world and everything in it and have a 'sort of' hate for people. I just said that definition up there because it's what I assume you're thinking of.
Picture this; there's two people. One's a racist, the other's a misanthrope. The racist hangs around with a load of people of his race, but scoffs at you because of what race you are, and belittles you for it. The misanthrope sits on his own and keeps his distance from everyone. Which do you hate more? The racist, because he's an ignorant twat.
Edit: In fact the misanthrope part depends on how you define it. To me it just means someone who hates the way people treat the world and everything in it and have a 'sort of' hate for people. I just said that definition up there because it's what I assume you're thinking of.
While racists believe that certain people are better or worse than others due to their 'race', misanthropes hate everyone. They don't hate them due to the color of their skin, their religion, political standings, gender, sexual orientation, or anything else like that. It's an equal opportunity hate they have.
Also, I'm sure 'misanthropy' is the 'cool/edgy' thing to do. And when I say 'misanthropy' I mean 'I saw someone do something stupid/dickish so now I hate the entire human race for being a bunch of ignorant assholes'.
Also, I'm sure 'misanthropy' is the 'cool/edgy' thing to do. And when I say 'misanthropy' I mean 'I saw someone do something stupid/dickish so now I hate the entire human race for being a bunch of ignorant assholes'.
Misanthropes hate humanity's bullshit, an understandable if sometimes prickish view, racists hate a certain group of people for either no reason or for some drastically incorrect stereotype.Chefodeath said:
Basically the guy who beats up the other guy for a reason we can at least understand is better than the guy who kicks a guy in the dick for no reason, the first guy did a worse thing but at least he had a reason other than "I just don't like x people for no good reason."
My two cents.
Well, personally I hate the bastards. I used to be a misanthrope, and I can say, life get's much much better once you set aside your petty grievances and start opening up to the world around them. I am nice to them to a point, but there comes a time when personally I believe they either have to grow up and get over themselves, or just drop them like a bad habit.
Where was I... oh yes, misanthropy vs racism.
Personally, I see it as in most cases misanthropist typically are just whiny little pricks going "oh woe is me, I hate everybody so much, I'm going to remind everybody of this fact as much as possible because it gets me the attention I crave!" whereas racism has genuine hatred behind it.
Where was I... oh yes, misanthropy vs racism.
Personally, I see it as in most cases misanthropist typically are just whiny little pricks going "oh woe is me, I hate everybody so much, I'm going to remind everybody of this fact as much as possible because it gets me the attention I crave!" whereas racism has genuine hatred behind it.
It has to do with how you treat everyone else, particularly if you are in a position of power. A racist will discriminate and go out of their way to harm an individual of a different race. A misanthropist, while they hate everyone, usually realizes they have to at least pretend to like some people to get by.
For example, lets say there is a job opening. Lets say the person doing the hiring is a white supremacist. A black person and a white person both apply for the job. The black person is more qualified than the white person, nevertheless the racist will hire the white person.
Now lets take the same situation and put a misanthropic boss instead of the racist. The same two potential employees are involved. The misanthropist hates them both because they are human. They are alive so they are scum. Unfortunately, he still needs to hire one of them. Since they are both equally despised the only logical factor is their qualifications. Thus, the most qualified person will be hired.
For example, lets say there is a job opening. Lets say the person doing the hiring is a white supremacist. A black person and a white person both apply for the job. The black person is more qualified than the white person, nevertheless the racist will hire the white person.
Now lets take the same situation and put a misanthropic boss instead of the racist. The same two potential employees are involved. The misanthropist hates them both because they are human. They are alive so they are scum. Unfortunately, he still needs to hire one of them. Since they are both equally despised the only logical factor is their qualifications. Thus, the most qualified person will be hired.