What are the WORST aspects about Human Beings, in your opinion?
Hardpan
I was going to ask that we limit the opinions to three aspects of
human behaviors or conditions that you despise, but perhaps 1 to 10
would be a better limit.
Since this is my idea, I will go first, of course:
The number #1 aspect that I despise about human beings is Hypocrisy.
In my humble opinion, this one aspect of human behavior leads
to many other undesirable aspects of human beings. I absolutely
hate hypocrites and the planet of chock full of these awful people.
OK, that's my number one beef about Homo Sapiens; so what's yours?
BTW, I am posting this query to both alt.misanthropy and
alt.philosophy, as the first NG is very low in the number of posters
and also many humans posting on alt.philosophy seem to be
misanthropes or semi-misanthropes, to one degree or another.
Immortalist
...innate censors and motivators exist in the brain that deeply and
unconsciously affect our ethical premises; from these roots, morality
evolved as instinct...
...That oracle resides in the deep emotional centers of the brain,
most probably within the limbic system, a complex array of neurons and
hormone-secreting cells located just beneath the "thinking" portion of
the cerebral cortex. Human emotional responses and the more general
ethical practices based on them have been programmed to a substantial
degree by natural selection over thousands of generations.
...Which of the censors and motivators should be obeyed and which ones
might better be curtailed or sublimated? These guides are the very
core of our humanity.
...At some time in the future we will have to decide how human we wish
to remain-in this ultimate, biological sense-because we must
consciously choose among the alternative emotional guides we have
inherited. To chart our destiny means that we must shift from
automatic control based on our biological properties to precise
steering based on biological knowledge.
On Human Nature - Edward O. Wilson 1978
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/067463442X/qid=1036537594/
But until then a nasty part of this human zoo is that these intuitions
have the force of conviction, even if wrong and superstitious.
Mike
>
> I was going to ask that we limit the opinions to three aspects of
> human behaviors or conditions that you despise, but perhaps 1 to 10
> would be a better limit.
>
> Since this is my idea, I will go first, of course:
>
> The number #1 aspect that I despise about human beings is Hypocrisy.
>
> In my humble opinion, this one aspect of human behavior leads
> to many other undesirable aspects of human beings. I absolutely
> hate hypocrites and the planet of chock full of these awful people.
If I smoke cigarettes and tell you that you shouldn't, the fact that I
smoke is irrelevant to the question of whether you should. I believe
concern about hypocrisy is a fallacy of relevance.
> OK, that's my number one beef about Homo Sapiens; so what's yours?
Irrationality.
> BTW, I am posting this query to both alt.misanthropy and
> alt.philosophy, as the first NG is very low in the number of posters
> and also many humans posting on alt.philosophy seem to be
> misanthropes or semi-misanthropes, to one degree or another.
Any particular reason we shouldn't be?
Shrik...@gmail.com
>
> I was going to ask that we limit the opinions to three aspects of
> human behaviors or conditions that you despise, but perhaps 1 to 10
> would be a better limit.
>
> Since this is my idea, I will go first, of course:
>
> The number #1 aspect that I despise about human beings is Hypocrisy.
>
> In my humble opinion, this one aspect of human behavior leads
> to many other undesirable aspects of human beings. I absolutely
> hate hypocrites and the planet of chock full of these awful people.
In what way is hypocrisy threatening? I find it difficult
to despise something in my opponents that works to
my advantage-- such as hypocrisy. Just as atheists
love it when televangelists are caught screwing hookers
or bellboys, I love it when my enemies are inconsistent.
This gives me a weapon to use against them.
> OK, that's my number one beef about Homo Sapiens; so what's yours?
The above paragraph points to what I despise the most
in humanity-- authoritarian nanny-goat control freakery.
Hardpan
wrote:
>On Dec 19, 11:34 pm, Hardpan <hardpan_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> What are the WORST aspects about Human Beings, in your opinion?
>>
>> I was going to ask that we limit the opinions to three aspects of
>> human behaviors or conditions that you despise, but perhaps 1 to 10
>> would be a better limit.
>>
>> Since this is my idea, I will go first, of course:
>>
>> The number #1 aspect that I despise about human beings is Hypocrisy.
>>
>> In my humble opinion, this one aspect of human behavior leads
>> to many other undesirable aspects of human beings. I absolutely
>> hate hypocrites and the planet of chock full of these awful people.
>
>If I smoke cigarettes and tell you that you shouldn't, the fact that I
>smoke is irrelevant to the question of whether you should. I believe
>concern about hypocrisy is a fallacy of relevance.
>
>> OK, that's my number one beef about Homo Sapiens; so what's yours?
>
>Irrationality.
That would be on my list too, but to my mind irrationality is
connected to hypocrisy, in many cases.
>> BTW, I am posting this query to both alt.misanthropy and
>> alt.philosophy, as the first NG is very low in the number of posters
>> and also many humans posting on alt.philosophy seem to be
>> misanthropes or semi-misanthropes, to one degree or another.
>
>Any particular reason we shouldn't be?
Nope.
I am a misanthrope, who doesn't think humankind is anything "special,
myself.
Hardpan
>On Dec 19, 11:34 pm, Hardpan <hardpan_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> What are the WORST aspects about Human Beings, in your opinion?
>>
>> I was going to ask that we limit the opinions to three aspects of
>> human behaviors or conditions that you despise, but perhaps 1 to 10
>> would be a better limit.
>>
>> Since this is my idea, I will go first, of course:
>>
>> The number #1 aspect that I despise about human beings is Hypocrisy.
>>
>> In my humble opinion, this one aspect of human behavior leads
>> to many other undesirable aspects of human beings. I absolutely
>> hate hypocrites and the planet of chock full of these awful people.
>
>In what way is hypocrisy threatening? I find it difficult
>to despise something in my opponents that works to
>my advantage-- such as hypocrisy. Just as atheists
>love it when televangelists are caught screwing hookers
>or bellboys, I love it when my enemies are inconsistent.
>This gives me a weapon to use against them.
>
>> OK, that's my number one beef about Homo Sapiens; so what's yours?
>
>The above paragraph points to what I despise the most
>in humanity-- authoritarian nanny-goat control freakery.
I am not an "authoritarian nanny-goat control freak". I don't like
hypocritical freaks, which is most of mankind.
Napoleon
wrote:
>What are the WORST aspects about Human Beings, in your opinion?
Stupidity. Most homo sapiens cannot add up 2 and 2 and get 4. For all
our "supposed brain power" we're no smarter than the cockroach, and
the cockroach is probably smarter.
-N
Sir Frederick
And not near as much deceit.
The human condition is based on deceit.
The cockroach condition, probably not.
Mike
> On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:46:31 -0800 (PST), Mike <sacsca...@aol.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >On Dec 19, 11:34 pm, Hardpan <hardpan_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> What are the WORST aspects about Human Beings, in your opinion?
>
> >> I was going to ask that we limit the opinions to three aspects of
> >> human behaviors or conditions that you despise, but perhaps 1 to 10
> >> would be a better limit.
>
> >> Since this is my idea, I will go first, of course:
>
> >> The number #1 aspect that I despise about human beings is Hypocrisy.
>
> >> In my humble opinion, this one aspect of human behavior leads
> >> to many other undesirable aspects of human beings. I absolutely
> >> hate hypocrites and the planet of chock full of these awful people.
>
> >If I smoke cigarettes and tell you that you shouldn't, the fact that I
> >smoke is irrelevant to the question of whether you should. I believe
> >concern about hypocrisy is a fallacy of relevance.
>
> >> OK, that's my number one beef about Homo Sapiens; so what's yours?
>
> >Irrationality.
>
> That would be on my list too, but to my mind irrationality is
> connected to hypocrisy, in many cases.
The hypocrate is irrational and contradictory but that should be
irrelevant to your rationality
> >> BTW, I am posting this query to both alt.misanthropy and
> >> alt.philosophy, as the first NG is very low in the number of posters
> >> and also many humans posting on alt.philosophy seem to be
> >> misanthropes or semi-misanthropes, to one degree or another.
>
> >Any particular reason we shouldn't be?
>
> Nope.
>
> I am a misanthrope, who doesn't think humankind is anything "special,
> myself.-
Yourself included?
Robert Cohen
re: why I bash 'em
Psychology indicates that what one abhors & despises in oneself is
projected upon others
Such babble may be simplistic, while it contains enough wisdom for a
critic to be aware of
his own negative behaviors & limitations as a flawed human
It takes one to know one
Scott H
> What are the WORST aspects about Human Beings, in your opinion?
Cruelty. The ability of one human being to deceive or find recreational joy
in hurting another. Their ability to look at others and say, "I don't care
how you feel." How anyone, *including myself*, can do these things.
> I was going to ask that we limit the opinions to three aspects of
> human behaviors or conditions that you despise, but perhaps 1 to 10
> would be a better limit.
>
> Since this is my idea, I will go first, of course:
>
> The number #1 aspect that I despise about human beings is Hypocrisy.
>
> In my humble opinion, this one aspect of human behavior leads
> to many other undesirable aspects of human beings. I absolutely
> hate hypocrites and the planet of chock full of these awful people.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines 'hypocrisy' as, 'the practice of
professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess;
falseness.'
What about a man who professes the virtue of wanting to benefit mankind, and
even does good deeds, but who, due to circumstances perhaps beyond his
control, is generally despised?
How do you tell whether someone actually holds such a virtue?
Why would people hate him? Perhaps because of his physical appearance or a
peculiarity in his speech. We may suppose that when treated in a hurtful
way, at times he even loses his temper, and that partly due to his
dissatisfaction with his life at present, he behaves recklessly, as if his
life did not matter.
Let's suppose for a minute that all this is possible, although I hope it
would be extremely unlikely.
In that case, would you call this man, who professes a desire to bring
pleasure but brings mostly pain, a hypocrite? If so, then is there anything
you could advise for him, or should he just be thrown into a lake of fire?
Mike
Indeed, I've noticed this in myself and others and it's kind of fun
pointing it out to those that don't realize it. That's why I enjoy the
objectivist news group so much.
Shrik...@gmail.com
I wasn't accusing you. Heh. I just see hypocrisy as
non-threatening. If someone wants to preach one thing
and do another, it's not my problem.
Scott H
> I wasn't accusing you. Heh. I just see hypocrisy as
> non-threatening. If someone wants to preach one thing
> and do another, it's not my problem.
And what if you preach that you yourself are exempt from what you want
everyone else to practice?
Shrik...@gmail.com
I wouldn't care what they preach about themselves,
if they have any potential for forcing a practice on
me, that is the threat. It's just as hideous if they
want to force me to practice what they actually do
practice.
At least if they are inconsistent, you have a fifth
column to use against them.
Shrik...@gmail.com
> Hardpan wrote:
> > What are the WORST aspects about Human Beings, in your opinion?
>
> Cruelty. The ability of one human being to deceive or find recreational joy
> in hurting another. Their ability to look at others and say, "I don't care
> how you feel." How anyone, *including myself*, can do these things.
Yeah. That's a good one to despise.
Michael Gordge
> I am a misanthrope, who doesn't think humankind is anything "special,
> myself.
And yet ewe seem to spend a lot of time talking to and wanting
opinions from things ewe dont regard as anything special, ewe queer
khunt!
MG
C3
Cruelty is definitely the worst aspect of humanity but it is rare.
C3
Mike
Where do you live?
Giga
"Hardpan" <hardp...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ss7pk4h11jsteifvl...@4ax.com...
Isn't hipocrisy and aspect of a wider problem, maybe a form of
self-deception or illusion, as most hypocrits are not aware of the fact,
probably as a necessary condition?
Lucille
ho...@yahoo.co> wrote:
> "Hardpan" <hardpan_...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
Yes. I believe that's what Sir Frederick means when he says the human
condition is based upon deceit.
L.
Napoleon
<just(removetheseandaddmatthe end)ho...@yahoo.co> wrote:
>Isn't hipocrisy and aspect of a wider problem, maybe a form of
>self-deception or illusion, as most hypocrits are not aware of the fact,
>probably as a necessary condition?
You are so right. Hypocrites have no clue they are hypocrites (which
comes back to my point that human beings are stupid). Every time I
have pointed out to a hypocrite that what they just said/done is
hypocritical they stare at me with the dull blank look of a cow (with
apologies to the cow).
Are other animals/life forms hypocrites? Is it possible? Is hypocracy
only possible with a life form that is stupid? I think so.
-N
Giga
"Napoleon" <ana...@666yes.net> wrote in message
news:12rsk450dbi860itu...@4ax.com...
Possibly though this need to hide our hypocrisy from even ourselves shows
something good about human nature, deep down. I know the few times I have
caught myself out in such I have either had a really good laugh at my own
expense, for a minor thing, or felt deep embarassment and even shame for a
more major one. So deep down we are not comfortable with our own hypocrisy,
which is why we hide it.
Mike
How can you trust yourself if you lie to yourself? You seem to be
saying we are irrational because we are irrational.
Sir Frederick
A non zombie model based deceit is probably ubiquitous with
all intelligent structures in this crappy universe. Hubris R us all.
Giga
"Mike" <sacs...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:9fc3b205-512b-45a2...@r36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
I'm surprised you use the word 'if' in this sentence rather than 'when'! I
get the impression you do not lie to yourself? Perhaps you have just never
caught yourself out.
I suppose I trust myself to tell the truth eventually.
You seem to be
saying we are irrational because we are irrational.
We are not entirely rational, or even largely so.
Mike
ho...@yahoo.co> wrote:
> "Mike" <sacsca...@aol.com> wrote in message
I stand corrected.
> You seem to be
> saying we are irrational because we are irrational.
>
> We are not entirely rational, or even largely so
Too true, the figure seems to be around five to ten percent. But I
think it's a good idea to try to be rational.
Sir Frederick
Any intelligence, can be too much from an evolutionary
point of view. Humans seem to have got in under the wire
(so to speak), by indirection, kind of like the peacocks tail.
It served sexual processes. The dinosaurs were around for
about 150 million years and never saw fit to breed intelligence.
Human intelligence, as it is, is quite problematic. We have a
lot of work-a-rounds in our stories. And we haven't been
around all that long.
Mike
Now why be so pessimistic Fred, there are advantages genetic diversity.
Mike
Please excuse me, I need to do better proof reading:
Now why be so pessimistic Fred, there are advantages to genetic
divesity.
Mike
Never mind.
Sir Frederick
That's where the thread came in, truth is pessimistic, not my doing.
What are the advantages? More often than not they lead to extinction
of the variations. Homo sapiens as a variation have only been around for
about 100,000 years. Not long at all. Humans are precarious, capricious,
and superfluous, in any evolutionary and existential sense. The few 'geniuses'
are considered by the stupid masses as anathema, but then the situation
seems even beyond the 'geniuses'.
This may be onto why alt.misanthropy is so unpopular. People in general
have sneaky awareness of their on falseness, so need to keep pumping
up the hubris and meaning giving stories. Deceit is at the core
of the 'human' condition. That is truly problematic.
Mike
The advantage lies in survival and that survival includes competition,
competition with other species and with our own. Hubris is just a way
of justifiying our actions.