Human Nature

[Alan V]

I suppose this question falls under the heading of psychology: What do other atheists think about human nature in general?

In the last decade or two, because of ongoing brutal wars, the election and reelection of Donald Trump, the repeatedly absurd rationalizations of theists, and our continued neglect of climate change among other reasons, my opinions of human nature have become much darker and more misanthropic.  I don't really know whether I am becoming more realistic or just worn out with old age.

I assume other atheists will be much more reasonable than most people would be about such a question.

[arewethereyet]

It seems to me that people have been given a type of permission to let their negative sides show...thanks in large part to Trump not only saying the quiet things out loud but also by encouraging it.

What seems to be dying is civility. There was a time, not that long ago, that other than the most hateful among us knew to tone it down. Now, the bigger bigot you are the louder you can scream it from the rooftops.

I have lived from the free love times to the hate is the answer time...and I don't like it one little bit.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

A man searching for enlightenment heard of a guru, reputed to be the wisest man in the world. The man quit his job, left his family, and sold all of his possession. Searching the world for years, he found that the guru lived on a mountaintop in India. He found and climbed the mountain and found the wise man living in a small, spare hut at the very peak. Worn, exhausted, and aged beyond his years, the man approached the guru, related his history and then asked, ‘I implore you, wisest of men, tell me - what is it all about? What is the meaning of life?’ The guru gazed into the distance for a long moment and said, ‘Ya know… there’s a lot of bastards out there.’

Pretty well sums it up for me.

Boru

[Angrboda]

If you don't have any expectations, then you'll never be disappointed.

[AFTT47]

I'm optimistic by nature but my faith in humanity has certainly taken a hit since 2016.

Most people are empathic by nature but also tribal. Its a battle of instincts and of late unfortunately, the tribal instinct seems to be dominant. It's depressing.

[Alan V]

If you don't have any expectations, then you'll never be disappointed.

Expectations are built up by experience, so I find that position hard to understand.

[Alan V]

I'm optimistic by nature but my faith in humanity has certainly taken a hit since 2016.

Most people are empathetic by nature but also tribal. Its a battle of instincts and of late unfortunately, the tribal instinct seems to be dominant. It's depressing.

I try to be realistic, but am uncertain about how realistic I am right now.

Is the world just getting too crowded?

[Alan V]

It seems to me that people have been given a type of permission to let their negative sides show...thanks in large part to Trump not only saying the quiet things out loud but also by encouraging it.

What seems to be dying is civility.  There was a time, not that long ago, that other than the most hateful among us knew to tone it down.  Now, the bigger bigot you are the louder you can scream it from the rooftops.

I have lived from the free love times to the hate is the answer time...and I don't like it one little bit.

My wife recently sent me this link, about how our leaders affect us:

[Article: https://neurosciencenews.com/dark-triad-...ion-28648/ ]

This supports your perspective, and many of our intuitions about the situation we face.

I would not have thought that large numbers of people would be so easy to manipulate, but I apparently over-estimated people's understanding of their own psychology.

[Thumpalumpacus]

The more I get to know people, the more I love my dog.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

It seems to me that people have been given a type of permission to let their negative sides show...thanks in large part to Trump not only saying the quiet things out loud but also by encouraging it.

What seems to be dying is civility.  There was a time, not that long ago, that other than the most hateful among us knew to tone it down.  Now, the bigger bigot you are the louder you can scream it from the rooftops.

I have lived from the free love times to the hate is the answer time...and I don't like it one little bit.

I weep for the death of civility. In my own small way, I fight it - I call out public rudeness whenever I see it. People who scream at cashier, or are rude to the wait staff, or don’t seem to understand how act in public generally get a lesson in basic behaviour.

Sadly, I can’t recommend that everyone do this. Fortunately, I’m big enough and menacing-looking enough to get away with it.

Boru