I’ve seen people lose their shit. I’ve worked in customer service. Most of it stems from the stress of living under capitalism and the pressures of a hierarchical state.
There’s a lot to unpack here, but I’d urge you to read Mutual Aid by Peter Kropotkin. Even just the first chapter or two, I think would change your opinion about human nature. I’ve experienced many setbacks, but I’ve seldom been so cynical to think that human nature is inherently selfish and greedy. TL;DR of that book, our ability to evolve relies more on mutual aid than on power and control. This applies even to other animals, when you start to look at it. The book cites multiple examples.
If you’re not up to reading that, then AudibleAnarchist has been uploading an audiobook:
This is tangential and anecdotal, but I’ve been beaten, abused, stolen from, manipulated, raped, humiliated, bullied, jailed … and I still don’t believe this crap is human nature. The kind of society I (and many others) envision can be a reality. I know it can.
That last paragraph is horrible. I mean that in the most supportive and sympathetic ways possible and I am sorry anyone has had to go through that. If I could hug you now, I would hug you now.
Unfortunately, I believe some people are just assholes. Same as you, I have been stolen from, bullied and abused as well. Even our combined experiences would be a cakewalk for some other more unfortunare people. In some ways, I am actually sympathetic to the people who feel the need to do those things to others.
Again, people are capable of great things! However, my experiences have not left me with fear or hate but rather, an abundance of caution. My opinions are just the summation of my experiences, after all. There are very few people that gave a shit when I was in my darkest of places, excluding some family. Quite honestly, other people have their own issues to deal with and my problems are not their concern.
There are very few people that gave a shit when I was in my darkest of places, excluding some family
I feel this to the core.
Maybe my own optimism is just a coping mechanism, but I simply can’t believe so many people are just selfish and bad. That just doesn’t compute for me, no matter my experiences.
If you feel so inclined, give the first chapter of that book a listen – don’t really need to read the whole thing because he just expands on details and supplies examples after that.
Hopefully things get better for people, no matter what it takes to get there.
Even our combined experiences would be a cakewalk for some other more unfortunare people
Yeah, when my husband talks about his life in Mexico that left him with PTSD … and many people have it worse yet. A lot of us are walking around half broken, I think.
Believe me when I say I was a serious alcoholic for a number of years just trying to cope with life. Like you said, the pressures of capitalism were partially to blame for my stress and anxiety as it’s a very real thing for a lot of people.
Over the years, good things have happened. My life has improved and I have stopped doing the stupid things that put me in dangerous situations. Some people helped lift me up and I have done the same for others as time went on.
It seems that the universe, to me, is based on balance. “Good” and “evil” are complimentary and one cannot exist without the other. To be the best we can be, we have to at least understand and acknowledge the worst of the worst.
When we manage to change the world for the better, I’ll be right there with you. (I just have a tendency to also look behind me to see who has the knife pointed at my back.)
If that sounds stupid, that is OK! People cope. It’s something else we are really good at.
I’ve seen people lose their shit. I’ve worked in customer service. Most of it stems from the stress of living under capitalism and the pressures of a hierarchical state.
There’s a lot to unpack here, but I’d urge you to read Mutual Aid by Peter Kropotkin. Even just the first chapter or two, I think would change your opinion about human nature. I’ve experienced many setbacks, but I’ve seldom been so cynical to think that human nature is inherently selfish and greedy. TL;DR of that book, our ability to evolve relies more on mutual aid than on power and control. This applies even to other animals, when you start to look at it. The book cites multiple examples.
If you’re not up to reading that, then AudibleAnarchist has been uploading an audiobook:
YouTube link
Piped link
This is tangential and anecdotal, but I’ve been beaten, abused, stolen from, manipulated, raped, humiliated, bullied, jailed … and I still don’t believe this crap is human nature. The kind of society I (and many others) envision can be a reality. I know it can.
That last paragraph is horrible. I mean that in the most supportive and sympathetic ways possible and I am sorry anyone has had to go through that. If I could hug you now, I would hug you now.
Unfortunately, I believe some people are just assholes. Same as you, I have been stolen from, bullied and abused as well. Even our combined experiences would be a cakewalk for some other more unfortunare people. In some ways, I am actually sympathetic to the people who feel the need to do those things to others.
Again, people are capable of great things! However, my experiences have not left me with fear or hate but rather, an abundance of caution. My opinions are just the summation of my experiences, after all. There are very few people that gave a shit when I was in my darkest of places, excluding some family. Quite honestly, other people have their own issues to deal with and my problems are not their concern.
I feel this to the core.
Maybe my own optimism is just a coping mechanism, but I simply can’t believe so many people are just selfish and bad. That just doesn’t compute for me, no matter my experiences.
If you feel so inclined, give the first chapter of that book a listen – don’t really need to read the whole thing because he just expands on details and supplies examples after that.
Hopefully things get better for people, no matter what it takes to get there.
Yeah, when my husband talks about his life in Mexico that left him with PTSD … and many people have it worse yet. A lot of us are walking around half broken, I think.
Hoping for a better world.
Believe me when I say I was a serious alcoholic for a number of years just trying to cope with life. Like you said, the pressures of capitalism were partially to blame for my stress and anxiety as it’s a very real thing for a lot of people.
Over the years, good things have happened. My life has improved and I have stopped doing the stupid things that put me in dangerous situations. Some people helped lift me up and I have done the same for others as time went on.
It seems that the universe, to me, is based on balance. “Good” and “evil” are complimentary and one cannot exist without the other. To be the best we can be, we have to at least understand and acknowledge the worst of the worst.
When we manage to change the world for the better, I’ll be right there with you. (I just have a tendency to also look behind me to see who has the knife pointed at my back.)
If that sounds stupid, that is OK! People cope. It’s something else we are really good at.