Misanthropism

[Fourka]

What is it actually that makes some people call themselves misanthropes? Is the behaviours that one sees on other people, which of course makes him a "human being" that does not has those behaviours? Is this what a misanthrope is? An ideal person without any traits?

Or is it when one hates himself as well, since he is a human and shares these behaviours no matter what? And if so, would that person be one of the few strong people that accept the awful truth about themselves without trying to hide behind their one selves? Or is it a psychological problem that needs to be treated like all the others (depression, schizophrenia etc)?

Is a misanthrope depressed allready? Or does depression come after the realisation of what "human beings really are"?

Does a misanthrope see on other people himself? In other words is the misanthropic "scale" of a person according to his (bad) behaviour? Or one does not necessarily have to have felt like one other person in order to call this person an idiot (thus, making the one - the subject - a misanthrope in this case)?

 

[no country for old wainds]

Going by the simple definition "hatred for mankind":

Hate is generally a way of dealing with frustration, envy and other such emotions. Such emotions are likely to be caused by said misanthrope having been shunned due to their social incompatibility with mankind. It's a self-esteem booster, to be able to feel a part of a group of "misanthropes" who look down upon the masses, or even just to be able to shock/upset them by saying you are one. This is the childish, and probably most common form.

Or is it when one hates himself as well, since he is a human and shares these behaviours no matter what? And if so, would that person be one of the few strong people that accept the awful truth about themselves without trying to hide behind their one selves? Or is it a psychological problem that needs to be treated like all the others (depression, schizophrenia etc)?

There's certainly nothing intrinsically "bad" about human nature, so one can't suggest that the few who feel disgusted by an element of it are professing the "truth", nor are they in any way stronger. In fact, self-hate defeats the self and is the opposite of strength. Thus, anyone who can't get over their disgust for a characteristic integral to human nature in any way other than by hating mankind certainly has a psychological problem (though the definition of "psychological problem" has always been a bit sketchy in my view - one could also call Christianity and numerous other things a "psychological problem").

I imagine though that most "misanthropes" are disgusted with (or envious of, etc) a characteristic typical of mankind which they themselves don't share.

 

[Kenneth R.]

one could also call Christianity and numerous other things a "psychological problem"

I imagine though that most "misanthropes" are disgusted with (or envious of, etc) a characteristic typical of mankind which they themselves don't share.

going by the definitions above, i would say they are a sort of people who wish they were something other than human. that's too bad because there's nothing to be done about that. i'd say they need to get over themselves and move on.

as for the quote above... again Gallantry, you amaze me with your misinterpretation of Christianity despite how many times myself and others have presented it in what seems (to me at least) as a very clear and concise manner. not everyone "gets it" though so, ah well.

 

[Fourka]

There's certainly nothing intrinsically "bad" about human nature, so one can't suggest that the few who feel disgusted by an element of it are professing the "truth", nor are they in any way stronger.

Sorry my bad, when I say the "truth" I always mean "the truth according to them" which tends to be a not so nice "truth". And when I say "strong" I mean that it is much easier to accept that you are a supercool person rather than accept that you are an invisible (universe size speaking) being like the virus on the cell (earth size speaking) that thinks that is supercool, or in other words that you are an idiot. Of course, I'm not saying that this is the truth. Each one of us has different references as to what a human being is. An example, one might believe that the universe is made such that it can accomodate the human species. But, some other one, might believe that it's just a coincidense that humans exist. And furthermore, one might believe that it is all "God's" fault.

I imagine though that most "misanthropes" are disgusted with (or envious of, etc) a characteristic typical of mankind which they themselves don't share.

Hmm, so you imply that according to a misanthrope, he is an ideal person? Unless you are still speaking about the childish kind.

 

[milkman]

Sorry my bad, when I say the "truth" I always mean "the truth according to them" which tends to be a not so nice "truth". And when I say "strong" I mean that it is much easier to accept that you are a supercool person rather than accept that you are an invisible (universe size speaking) being like the virus on the cell (earth size speaking) that thinks that is supercool, or in other words that you are an idiot. Of course, I'm not saying that this is the truth. Each one of us has different references as to what a human being is. An example, one might believe that the universe is made such that it can accomodate the human species. But, some other one, might believe that it's just a coincidense that humans exist. And furthermore, one might believe that it is all "God's" fault.


Hmm, so you imply that according to a misanthrope, he is an ideal person? Unless you are still speaking about the childish kind.

I'm having a really hard time following whatever you're trying to say - anyways... hate is an outward manifestation of one's own insecurities.
Therefore misanthropes have problems with themselves whether they're aware of it or not (though I believe that most probably are aware and, like stated above, would rather not be human).

 

[Demiurge]

I'm having a really hard time following whatever you're trying to say - anyways... hate is an outward manifestation of one's own insecurities.

That's something everyone's mother tells them, but it's not necessarily true.

 

[anonymousnick2001]

It makes one wonder why mothers tell it, then.

 

[MasterOLightning]

Fourka, English isn't your first language, is it? I'm having a hard time figuring out what you're trying to say here. I would say that there are certain traits found in a majority of people that invoke a repulsive reaction, which I guess leads to a total hatred of humanity. This a really poor and unbalanced way to look at things. I can't see how anyone can seriously be a total misanthrope.

 

[cthulufhtagn]

I think a lot of people who would call themselves "misanthropes" are not actually such, perhaps they have a lot of anger and hatred towards certain groups or people in general, but to be a total misanthrope requires a certain (high) degree of self-hatred.

 

[Intoxicator]

I think you can be a misanthrope and not hate every human for simply being human. Misanthropes may just hate the way society works.

 

[no country for old wainds]

In that case I'm one. *forms a suicidal black metal band*

 

[Fourka]

Fourka, English isn't your first language, is it?

No, it's not..

I think you can be a misanthrope and not hate every human for simply being human. Misanthropes may just hate the way society works.

Well, surely you can't hate humans just because they are humans. You have to explain yourself. I think misanthropes hate the behaviour that is shared by everyone. Human is just an animal like all the others that is characterized by certain behaviours. Some hate cats but love dogs and so on. However, what you say may as well be right. That is, that the way society works makes humans have that certain behaviour that will make some of us misanthropes. It's not clear to me whether these behaviours (that a misanthope hates) are part of the human nature or they are the results of the way that society works.

but to be a total misanthrope

Who do you define as a total misanthrope? Be more specific?

So, do you ever people try to see yourself from the eyes of another person? Almost everyone critisize other people for doing certain things and having a certain behaviour. But, do you actually see yourself as a person that is doing/trying to be perfect? Don't you ever see yourself as a person that has a role in a movie? Haven't you ever realised that some behaviour that you dislike, are also behaviours that you allready have?

Note: I won't call a "misanthrope" someone who sais that dislike a certain behaviour on others, so feel free..

My point is that when I realise certain things about myself (like the ones I mentioned above), I hate it, I hate me, I hate....well, I am not sure what I hate, but I have a feeling of disgust about...something/someone. And that's what bothers me. Is it me that is the idiot and should try to become a "better" person and stop critisize other people? So, everyone else are mostly perfect and it's easy for them to critisize and deal with their ownselves? Or is it that most people think that they are cool and nice and that all the rest are the ones that are worth of pointing at? Or does everyone has this fight with their own selves? I hope you understood my question. In other words: who or what is to blame?

 

[cthulufhtagn]

Who do you define as a total misanthrope? Be more specific?

So, do you ever people try to see yourself from the eyes of another person? Almost everyone critisize other people for doing certain things and having a certain behaviour. But, do you actually see yourself as a person that is doing/trying to be perfect? Don't you ever see yourself as a person that has a role in a movie? Haven't you ever realised that some behaviour that you dislike, are also behaviours that you allready have?

Note: I won't call a "misanthrope" someone who sais that dislike a certain behaviour on others, so feel free..

My point is that when I realise certain things about myself (like the ones I mentioned above), I hate it, I hate me, I hate....well, I am not sure what I hate, but I have a feeling of disgust about...something/someone. And that's what bothers me. Is it me that is the idiot and should try to become a "better" person and stop critisize other people? So, everyone else are mostly perfect and it's easy for them to critisize and deal with their ownselves? Or is it that most people think that they are cool and nice and that all the rest are the ones that are worth of pointing at? Or does everyone has this fight with their own selves? I hope you understood my question. In other words: who or what is to blame?

Well I would call a misanthrope a person who hates all people, though not being one myself I can only speculate on the rationale--perhaps because of their beliefs in the inherent nature of humankind.
The rest of your post seems to open a different point, but I understand what you meant I think...and I think that's a question that a lot of metal bands specifically grapple with in their music, the struggle within oneself. I certainly grapple with it as well; you're not alone. I think everyone has this internal struggle, some more than others. To return to the original point of the origin of a misanthropic worldview I might again suggest that people have aspects of themselves that they are uncomfortable with, or find even find loathsome, and see them reflected in other people and thus project their self-loathing onto others. We're delving into psychology here and due to my limited expertise in the field I have to add a disclaimer that I'm talking out of my ass . But it makes some sense to me, hope you could figure out what I'm trying to say.

@masterolightning: this thread + your avatar = "some gooood, some baaaad, opinion dangerous!"

 

[Silver Incubus]

could the misanthrope hate the sheepish nature in which people follow, and not being a follower, they dispise the fact that the other people are, in a sense, enslaved to thier choices without seeking alternatives?

which he/she would precieve as something to be dispised

 

[Thanatopsis123]

I won't deem this thread with a proper response explaining our position because I'm a misanthrope. Therefore, fuck you.

I'm just kidding.

Or am I?


Mystery Post!

 

[Alwin]

here are some words from an insider on the issue

I think misanthropism in the way it is often used, does not mean "not liking humanity" but rather "not liking some aspects of human nature". In the satanic context, which is common in black metal for example, the aspects of human nature which are disliked mostly have to do with "weakness" in the sense of a human being who is not a "strong" individual, but submits him/herself to socially desirable behavior. The latter behavior is believed to be caused by a lack of desire to express oneself or by restraining that desire. A William Blake quote fits here: "those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained". Of course, christianity can be considered as a restrainer of desire.

In general, this kind of misanthropism rejects a substantial part of human nature. Since human beings tend to socialise with other human beings and feel rather lonely when they do not have this opportunity, the question is whether misanthropic people can live up to their ideal.

Another question is: how does a person become misanthropic? It seems (s)he is protecting him/herself from something. Some "weak" emotions are not allowed. These may have been discouraged from an early age. If this is the case, then misanthropic people may be less human after all. Hurray for them!

 

[infoterror]

Is a misanthrope depressed allready? Or does depression come after the realisation of what "human beings really are"?

The solution is to realize that not all humans have the same abilities and character dispositions. Then one becomes a selective misanthrope, or eugenicists, if you prefer.

 

[Nyrlathotep]

Misanthropy, the way I understand it, is best described as a hatred of society and people in general which manifests itself in desire for solitude or antisocial behaviour.

 

[infoterror]

What is it actually that makes some people call themselves misanthropes?

I don't hate mankind. I detest stupidity in positions of power. Thus, I selectively hate stupid people who need power, and would murder them and thus bestow upon the earth a better order. You don't call that misanthropy, though; you call it perhaps elitism, or perhaps, simply, practicality.

Evolution is real. There are too many mediocre humans. Killing them will free us all.

 

[speed]

I don't hate mankind. I detest stupidity in positions of power. Thus, I selectively hate stupid people who need power, and would murder them and thus bestow upon the earth a better order. You don't call that misanthropy, though; you call it perhaps elitism, or perhaps, simply, practicality.

Evolution is real. There are too many mediocre humans. Killing them will free us all.

Thats a little extreme. Its sounds as if you are quite the idealist. Why are you threatened by those that you should be indifferent to? I understand many of these idiots have become managers, CEO's, presidents etc, but that is a result of our social structure. Its the structure of society that needs to be changed, not the death of all idiots. And it wil change eventually; will it be better though? who knows?