To feel quite depressed and despairing of the human race

[bagpuss90]

I know there’s lots of nice decent people out there and I like to think most people fall into that category. But reading stories about cops tasering an elderly man with dementia, monkey torture rings, a gang seriously assaulting a father and son in their own home , makes me despair and almost dislike the human race . Those stories are just what’s in the news today. I just don’t know what goes through some peoples heads - I really don’t. Am I being dramatic tho ?

You just didn’t hear about them. Try reading some history - you’ll soon find that humans have been evil and violent forever… and actually we’re living in perhaps the least violent time in history (especially in the West).

It feels like we are heading towards a hunger games type scenario. The common people faun over ridiculous celebrities, they watch stupid tv shows because celebrities are on them. They copy them. Ordinary women are injecting themselves with chemicals to look like some kind of plastic doll. Human beings deserve to become extinct.

YANBU to feel down and despairing. I often feel the same. I think many people are just awful and wouldnt think twice about doing harm. But, I do know people who are good and kind. They would help in an instant, as would I.

It's difficult not to dwell on the negatives, especially when you think that at this moment in time, someone and something is experiencing trauma at the hands of a human being

There are always been stupid gullible women who put a man before their children. In the past they had to go out to work in factories etc to pay for those children. Now they can stay at home and make more. We are breeding ourselves stupid as a race. Only stupid people can afford to have lots of children. The stupid on benefits and the really rich. But there are more stupid than rich so it’s not looking good.

I feel like this every time I get on a bus with someone blasting something from their phone without headphones, let alone the examples you've cited. I feel most people in my city are inherently deeply selfish.

It is precisely because these horrific stories are so rare that they make the news. Sometimes it
does seem that they stack up but nobody would be reporting them if they were the norm.

Posters who feel that civilisation is breaking down need to understand history a little better.
Humanity is amazing and under rated. It is what we make it. Instead of despairing, take action to accelerate our progress.

The human race is exactly the same as it has been for centuries, in fact for millennia. Most people don't do any of the things you mention but, obviously, they don't make the news.
My DM always says when she was growing up (1950's) everyone knew their local pervert, now we all hear about every pervert in the world.

The seeds of our success as a species, our aggression, our short term desires, our selfishness, our intelligence- these are also the parts of us that will destroy us. We've always been like this, we always will be, this is us.
The only answer is to just concentrate on your own loved ones and enjoy your own life.

Say something ! Every single time! Don’t put up with this bullshit. I’ve always asked people to either turn it right down , turn it off or use headphones. Last time it was a few weeks ago in A nd E with my sick husband. They both complied and only the drunk man gave me lip. I’d do it again. I carry deep heat. I’m ready for him.
We need to take back control and demand common decency in shared spaces. Children need to be told off even by strangers if they are messing or running around. Embarrass them and embarrass their crappy parents. If they argue back don’t engage. Enough of shitty parents making our lives intolerable.

Absolutely and not a day goes past when someone dosent have their car or bike stolen there's so much thieving going on and CCTV dusent stop them?
People are skulking around at night as well trying car door handles to see if anyone's left their car doors unlocked

Aren't they embarrassed, how exhausting to have to keep stealing everyday and being a nuisance to everyone.
Get a job and pay for your own things or stop your nasty little drug habit.
Disgusting human beings. Cut their hands off they won't do it again.

The Middle East do some things right. Maybe just finger for a first offence. 😂

I know what you mean OP. I read a horrendous story in the paper a couple of weeks ago about people going into parks at night and killing and maiming small animals and birds with catapults for fun and if they didn't kill them just leaving them to suffer and die in agony from their injuries. What kind of twisted cunts do that? There are some horrible people in the world.

Q: What kind of people do that?
A: men and/or boys

Yes you're right 😠

The news is horrendous but most of my daily interactions are lovely. I meet people who go out of their way to be nice, help others, volunteer their time to help their community. In reality I find more good than bad.

I think we've never lived in a better or safer time. Especially as women in the west. Just imagine having no control over when you have a baby!

Of course terrible things happen and some people's lives are entirely dreadful and there are some people I think are truly evil. I had a horribly abusive childhood including SA, and married a man who tunred out to have no heart.

But statistically overall we're in the best part of history so far.

The world does seem heavy atm I agree Op but we need to be really careful about the news stories we read.

Even the mainstream media is out to manipulate and spread fear and division. It’s all about the money. Peace and understanding just doesn’t feed the bottom line in the same way as discord, fear and hate.

Whether from the left or right, narratives are spun to shape the truth.

Of course there are evil people bent on destruction but most of humanity share the same basically decent objectives of trying to live in the world and not do harm to others.

I think of late we have lost our way a little in of how we raise children to fulfil their own potential whilst virtually ignoring their responsibility to others. Religion used to fulfil that role and of course had it own issues but imho we haven’t really replaced it with anything satisfactory other than vague guilt and a sense of having little agency.

YANBU but if you’re feeling that way it’s time to log off and go for an autumn walk.

And/or find an organisation that is working meaningfully for change and get involved.

To many youths and young people with time on their hands today. At least they can't vandalise phone boxes anymore.

When National Service was on people didn't have the time, weren't wandering around like they are now . Their minds were occupied.

Freedom is not always a good thing Often see on people's ring door bells people trying car doors at night and skulking around in the dark being a nuisance.

Bless them. their parents must be so proud.

What news sites are you looking at?

Sadly I don't either.

There is far more good in the world than there is evil

Yes or one hand. Soon stop it.