I’m stuck

[u/Hot_Society8823]

Ever since 2021, my viewpoint regarding humanity has been shifting constantly. From 2021 to about the beginning of 2024, I was battling depression. During that time, I grew a hatred for humanity, which I never had before. After beating it, I changed from hating humanity to embracing it. An anime called Vinland Saga helped me much in that regard. However lately, I’ve found myself sinking back into that sea of hatred.

It started again in the summer of 2024. Tension has been rising globally, which has caused people to act in outlandish ways. Not only that, people in general are just getting too comfortable doing wrong things. I couldn’t and still can’t go one day on the internet without someone saying a slur, mentioning rape, incest, etc. I’ve tried to ignore or avoid it, but it’s impossible. Even if I somehow go a day without someone pissing me off on the internet, the real world is just as bad.

Last fall, during my first semester in college, I found myself in between two states of mind. Either I love humanity despite its faults, or I hate them unforgivingly. In my solitude during Christmas break, I felt my disdain for people grow even more as I was alone with my thoughts. I’m still dealing with it now. I can’t tell which one is the real me, or maybe they both are; I just don’t know what to do. One of the reasons I’m feeling stuck is because of the reason why I started to hate people.

I don’t hate people simply because “humans are inherently evil.” I feel this way because people have so much potential. We can do so much good, and we have. However, we waste it more often than not. It’s almost as if we try to do bad without ever thinking of the alternative. I know there are a lot more nuances to people's actions, like their upbringing and environment, but man, it’s frustrating.

I should say I don’t hate everyone. My shifting feelings are a testament to that. When I’m with the few “friends” that I have, I’m usually upbeat and chill and I love my family despite their faults, but when I’m alone, that’s when I start to change, although this doesn’t happen all the time. I'm usually indifferent when I'm alone but something on the internet will piss me off and all of a sudden the hatred is back. Maybe I should try a social media detox or something.

In any case, I guess I just needed to tell someone this and let it out. Recently, I’ve been changing a lot in all aspects of my life, and now I’m wondering which me will prevail: the one who embraces humanity, the one who despises it, or another path I haven’t thought of.

[u/WarmNConvivialHooar]

Humanity is utterly hopeless, however individual people can do good things, however it's also important to remember that people doing good things pretty much requires their basic needs to met AND them choosing to do so. Humans have a human brain stacked on a mammal brain stacked on a reptile brain, and if circumstances aren't right they revert to the next lower level. It's important to remember this and keep your expectations very, very low. There is freedom in accepting reality as it is.

[u/elektriknathan]

I do my best to view humanity as what they are and I try to think pfft whatever about them all. It’s unfortunate that so many people waste their human potential and it’s unfortunate that violence and depravity are part of the human experience. Not every human being is capable of great things because of their own limitations (lower intelligence for example etc). None of this is my problem or your problem

I love the good people who are out there and only them. I hope I find one that isn’t masquerading as a good person just to try to fool me because they’re a narcissist (it’s happened many times)

I just want to know someone who’s prepared to work on themselves and do the best they can and to actually fuckin apologise when they mess up - it’s cool to mess up.. it’s part of being human but alas that’s terrifying for the majority of people imo

I recall a time I was at a public place and a person was caught for contravening the venue rules. There was independent verification of his infraction by CCTV. What did he do? Did he own up and say sorry? No - he kept on saying his version of what happened despite an impartial account via the CCTV and he left the venue whilst having a small tantrum like a child caught stealing from the cookie jar .. he was an adult. Absolutely pathetic and utterly useless

I think we misanthropic people have matured and we see people for what they are and we don’t have the naivety mindset that these immature herd people have where it’s a “everyone is good! Life is great!” and denial is used to prop up that mindset - like a child believing that Santa Claus is real

I’d rather be alone in reality then in a crowd of delusion

[u/No_Trackling]

I'm so often thought of the good that humans are capable of. But it's almost an instinct to try to thwart each other.

[u/Neat_Ad468 → u/No_Trackling]

I feel my hatred for humanity has increased over time. I don't care about good and evil right or wrong, i reject morality and ideological beliefs, they're all extremely limiting, stupid and make people who believe in them stupid. I hate when they try and tell me how I should be while they don't follow their own beliefs to the letter. I hate the hypocrites telling me how i should be, how i should act, how i should live. I hate their holier than though bullshit, that pisses me off. i just want to be left alone, i don't care about people as long as they don't inconvenience me humans are selfish and i am human (i embrace it, why should i be any different?). I don't care about your morals or your idiotic beliefs as long as they don't get in my way, i have no problems tearing down the beliefs of anyone who pisses me off. I actually enjoy tearing them down and taking them down several pegs.

[u/ViperPain770 → u/No_Trackling]

We are animals at the end of the day trying to consolidate more to ourselves at the highest at any cost, often jeopardizing others in the process. But what makes us different from any other intelligent species is that we are conscious of our actions. We know the implications and extensions of our behavior and the effects from it and yet still choose to do it—that or just blatant disillusionment but I’d argue that’s worse.

We definitely have the capability to unite, to take charge of the problems that plague society but we don’t do anything about it because mostly it’s about maintaining power, not relinquishing it for the greater good. That causes a whole other heap of problems that inadvertently solidifies the behavior of iniquity in the first place with more, interconnecting complex problems.

The worst part is, we are aware. We see it, we understand it, and yet, the vast majority either choose apathy or are too entangled in survival to act. Those who do fight are often silenced, co-opted, or turned into symbols rather than catalysts. Because real change, the kind that disrupts entrenched power, is not just inconvenient—it’s threatening. And those who benefit most from the current state of affairs have made sure that for most, the cost of defiance is too high.

So we remain in this loop, watching history repeat itself under different disguises, wondering if humanity will ever be more than just intelligent animals with a penchant for self-destruction.

[u/TumbleWeed75]

Wow, this is so real. You’ve worded my thoughts better than I can.

[u/Revivelhit]

I don't know how reliable my advice is. But I think you'd better stop thinking about humanity and start doing what you like.

For example, a hobby, reading a book, watching movies/TV series/anime, playing games, etc. If your friends and family appreciate and support you sincerely, then spend time with them too.

As you said, you better do a social media detox.

[u/faunaVibrissae]

As depressing as this sub can feel sometimes, DAMN it's so real and validating I'm not the only one trying to figure out what to do to cope. OP, you worded my thoughts better than I can. It's appreciated and I hope you can get unstuck

Edit for additional note: Social media detox helps. I avoid the news now and am better off for it. As sad as it is, naivety truly is bliss. I've known we were headed in a bad direction for a long time but nothing could have prepared me for how bad it actually is. Good luck, friend

[u/BlonglikZombie → u/[deleted]]

Humans Are inherently Evil

I think this is an exaggeration. We are not inherently evil or good. We perform actions because of certain circumstances, upbringing, environment, and internal values and morals. We can say that we are neutral creatures.