To have no time for ‘anti-human’ people?

[Myfavouritepenguin]

I’ve seen it quite a lot recently- mostly on here rather than in real life admittedly. I’m referring to both the ‘I don’t like children people; I much prefer animals’ contingent as well as the ‘wouldn’t it be better if humans just died out’ approach.

I’ve been trying to pinpoint what it is that irks me, and I think it’s that this attitude seems like a slightly different version of “I’m not like other girls.” - an attempt to separate and elevate and basically look down on everyone else in your category.

The thing is, we are all human. Unless you are literally living off grid with wolves or whatever, you have not opted out of humanity. Whatever makes a human, that is what you are, and you are to some degree or other not only invested in but contributing to the whole operation, children and climate change included.

The answer to humanity’s ills and issues is not to reject everyone else who somehow isn’t as special and above humanity as these people seem to imagine they are!

I think I’ve already addressed the ‘irony’ point - but just to be clear, I’m not saying everyone has to love every individual person and cherish all sorts of specific groups.

I’m saying that I’m really not a fan of the somewhat sneery ‘Urggh I hate ALL people’ stance, whether that’s in reference to their environmental impact or the noise they make or any other facet of human behaviour. It’s the implied superiority in this statement- that all people are loathsome to them. I extended this to the subcategory of hating children because, frankly, it’s just as sweeping and hateful- and it’s often said by people with children too! The implication is that the speaker and their children are exempt, but all other people/children (delete as appropriate) are intolerable.

I know humans are a blight on the planet!! That’s obvious. It’s the implied opting out of that collective responsibility that grates. It’s like people who fume about the traffic jam on the way to the coast without stopping to consider that they are part of the reason it’s there!

I don't hate all of humanity. I like/love/admire a lot of individual people and groups of people. But I think as a species were despicable. We've damaged the planet and I think it'll be a better place when we're extinct, which is probably inevitable at some point.

I'm more baffled by the people who think humans are special. We're not. We're no more special than any other species that has existed. Each species has it's day, then it goes extinct. It was ever thus. At least it was until we started fucking things up and making species extinct due to our selfishness.

All this wittering on about climate change and fossil fuels. If there was less folk it would be less of a problem. It's sustaining the numbers of ever increasing population that is the core of the problem. But folk merrily go on having more and more babies. Who want more and more cars and more and more trips. In the words of Private Fraser. We're doomed.

With respect, I think you’ve read something into my post that wasn’t there. I am not suggesting on any level that people who don’t want children should have the anyway!

Unless you’re someone who regularly declares contempt for the whole of humanity, you’re really not in the group of people I was describing. You sound like you love and respect many people.

It’s really not. And the childfree posters who constantly saying that anything which is in discussion on having children is somehow “anti childfree” or an attack on them is really boring

Its a parenting site, that’s what the majority of the conversation is going to be on

I don't hate people, but I do hate loud inconsiderate people. On the flip side some people would probably hate me because I vape and I don't like dogs.

We all despise someone!

🤣🤣. Well observed.

‘Cos it is.

It's quite the pivot to begin with "I don't like children, I prefer animals" and say in fact you meant some plonker who hates all humans, or hates children. Maybe you didn't articulate yourself well in your OP but there's quite a difference there.

"Pick Me" also feels like the latest version of female approved misogyny. Think about why you don't apply it to men, and why you've went with "don't like kids" as your first example and I think it will make more sense as to why this thread has gotten some people's back up and generated the replies it has.

Yeah, I would agree with this.

I think you can make good arguments that population is an issue, (though I would like it if people saying this would also deal realistically with the problems population decline presents.)

And some people are not people-persons. I think that's ok too.

But we all rely on other people, and frankly, I think we have larger social obligations to people. There is something weird about understanding claims of obligation to the planet, or animals, but not other people.

I also tend to think, if someone is bleating on about how awful humans are for the planet, that not many really put their money where there mouth is about it, and remove themselves. And actually, I wouldn't want them to - but that does seem to be the most obvious action to take if that is your belief.

Because you're overly paranoid? I don't for a second believe childfree people hate children! I can see why they would prefer their own pet or on the whole be an animal lover. The op is on about people who bizarrely don't like children just for being children.

It really isn’t. As I’ve said, some parents come out with this bullshit too. Their own children are understood to be exempt.

I’ve never met a person who says they hate kids. I’ve seen some who say they don’t like them. Is that OK, OP? It’s just that you’re saying that we don’t have to love all members of a group but it feels like we have to at least like them all, to pass your test of not being a pick me girl?

I think my attitude to humans can be summed up by Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins - though I adore some individually, as a collective they’re rather stupid. We’re not the be all and the end all. The planet will live on without us and that’s OK. We haven’t done what we need to do to live in harmony with our resources so if we vanish then that’s on us.

I think deciding not to contribute more humans but instead funding the medical treatment and education of everyone else’s through taxation is the opposite of misanthropy.

I think you’re taking other peoples opinions too personally. I think humans are the worst thing to happen to the planet, doesn’t in any way mean I think I’m better, I’m trash just like all humankind!! It’s an objective point of view, unemotional, not putting our own wants and desires first. From a personal point of view, of course I feel differently, I know loads of great people. Can you not understand how someone can simply be objective on that topic?

I can empathise with the "don't like children" attitude.
Most of us choose to not work with them. We like the ones we made, and we tend to like the ones our loved ones made. And we learn to like the ones ours insist on hanging out with. But generally adults don't go out to make their own child friends because kids are just so awesome.

However the "I am a female, I don't like any females I've ever met, I'm told I'm too beautiful to ever have female friends, why are females so awful" odd along with "everyone on the planet should die to save the planet"

I used to to think I felt like that but after some soul searching and, frankly, growing up, I realised that it was coming from a really negative space I was in due to shitty mental health. Expecting my first child now, still love my dogs but am so much more tolerant and accepting of people and how they are in the world.

I also tend to think, if someone is bleating on about how awful humans are for the planet, that not many really put their money where there mouth is about it, and remove themselves. And actually, I wouldn't want them to - but that does seem to be the most obvious action to take if that is your belief.

If painless voluntary euthanasia existed for those without medical conditions, I’d happily use it. But it doesn’t. Putting your money where your mouth is isn’t easy when so many methods are unreliable, painful and not guaranteed. Plus, you know, incredibly distressing for those left behind.

It’s apparently got your back up but I think some people can see what I mean 🤷‍♀️

I don’t think there’s been any sort of ‘pivot’. Some people seemed to be saying that I couldn’t dislike any human behaviour, and it was somehow ironic that I had started a thread about an attitude I didn’t like. I then had to clarify that I was referring to this universal rejection of humanity, not basic discernment or preferences. A pp was the one who brought in the word ‘hate’, hence my subsequent use of it.

And I do class hating children as a blanket rejection of humanity for the simple and blindingly obvious reason that all humanity behinds as children! It’s normal not to enjoy other people’s unruly children, but the blanket rejection of the whole concept of children is bizarre.

4 million years?

YANBU. The whole "I hate other people" thing is so tedious. I always think somebody who can't seem to get along with anyone is likely to be the problem themselves.

I agree OP. I especially dislike the posters that argue their dog/cat ( but usually dog) is more important than other people's children.
Without children we would have no doctors teachers, carers, workers of any kind for the future. They are necessary for the human race. Dogs aren't.

@Optionyougot

"Pick Me" also feels like the latest version of female approved misogyny.

No, I think you’ve misunderstood. I didn’t use the phrase ‘pick me’; I referred to the way some women who have deeply ingrained internalised misogyny (since you’re going there) attempt to throw all other women under the bus by separating and elevating themselves from other women. That’s where the misogyny lies.

I then had to clarify that I was referring to this universal rejection of humanity, not basic discernment or preferences.

That would be because the example you used was "I don't like children people, I much prefer animals", when in fact you meant people who hate children. You've clarified it now, but a number of responses on this thread clearly picked up on the same theme from your OP.

Admittedly it did get my back up. Pick Me is a shitty, sexist term and yet another thing to beat women with. It reeks of misogyny and judgement. It gets my back up whenever I see it.

It’s misogyny if some women don’t think the human race is all that great?! That’s one hell of a leap.

I'm a 'hate people' person. I especially hate children as they are always always dirty, noisy, sick (gross kid cough or snot), obnoxious, spoilt, ill behaved or some combination of the above. I hate most adults for much the same reasons. I do not like animals either though, I mean the ones outside in nature where they belong are fine but I don't like animals near me really. I'm not afraid of dogs or spiders or anything I just don't see a point in them.

Unfortunately I'm stereotypically attractive and young, blonde with a kind face (which doesn't suit me obviously!)and people are always trying bother me in some way. I avoid people I know, but even strangers try to talk to me. I've had a couple leave a baby with me in the airport (they didn't ask just smiled at me then parked their buggy by my table and wondered off to the toilets. I absolutely hate it. Also I'm quite warm (surprising I know) with people I do like, so I'll be seen laughing and joking with a friend and people assume I then must be that warm and accommodating to everybody. I find most people feckless spineless and boring. It's just my nature, it's not right or wrong.