People are Wonderful

[Virgil Showlion]

I suppose misanthropes can claim they're not alone in their beliefs, although they truly couldn't find themselves among worse company.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

You're so clever.

<that's sort of like saying "Aren't you just precious?">

[steff]

I'm happy with how I am & I know MY reasons for being wary of certain people & since no one else is living my life but me, I'll stick with what works for me. There's a difference between being wary of people for certain reasons & being isolated because of those reasons.  I'm not isolated & I have a great circle of those I do trust.  I'm more wary of an aunt that I have who never has good intentions than I am the bank teller or the guy changing the oil.  I'm not scared to put money in the bank, but there's a couple of people I know that I don't go around because of my reasons. 

Again, some folks have very valid reasons for being wary of people.  Doesn't mean they are freaks on a leash who can't be let out in public or they'll freak out, doesn't mean they are lonely souls, it means there are reasons they have that others don't know about for being careful on who they trust. 

[Virgil Showlion]

Jun 18, 2013 22:21:13 GMT -5 steff said:

I'm happy with how I am & I know MY reasons for being wary of certain people & since no one else is living my life but me, I'll stick with what works for me. There's a difference between being wary of people for certain reasons & being isolated because of those reasons.  I'm not isolated & I have a great circle of those I do trust.  I'm more wary of an aunt that I have who never has good intentions than I am the bank teller or the guy changing the oil.  I'm not scared to put money in the bank, but there's a couple of people I know that I don't go around because of my reasons. 

Again, some folks have very valid reasons for being wary of people.  Doesn't mean they are freaks on a leash who can't be let out in public or they'll freak out, doesn't mean they are lonely souls, it means there are reasons they have that others don't know about for being careful on who they trust. 

I get that.

My "rant" in the OP was directed towards the "people suck" attitude I've noticed on the board recently. In the Charlesworth firing thread: people suck. In the Anonymous Note thread: people suck. In the Nacchios insider trading thread: criminals suck, and should be raped in prison. GOP honchos thread: people suck. And then Swamp started a thread today whose only purpose was to point out that people suck.

Yes, people can suck. But they can also be wonderful, and I for one am grateful for my fellow human beings.

If that's rainbows and unicorn farts, then so be it.

[steff]

I'll stick with the cats & the fact that "most" people suck. 

[Virgil Showlion]

What makes animals any better than humans? The fact that their complete lack of charity, compassion, and selflessness is because they're too dumb to know any better?

[Peace Of Mind]

Jun 18, 2013 20:00:36 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Jun 18, 2013 17:27:51 GMT -5 steff said:

Everyone's life experiences are different & for some of us, those experiences scream DO NOT trust people.  All the warm fuzzies in the word aren't going to change that need to keep people at arm's length for self preservation.  Even if outsiders can't see it or don't understand it, sometimes there are reasons for people to be distrustful of others.  It doesn't make them a bad person, it means that their life experiences weren't the same as yours & they have their reasons for it. 

There's a difference between prudence and cynicism. Cynicism can't be considered "extreme prudence" because not all cynical attitudes are prudent. A woman who refuses to marry because she's certain that all men eventually cheat is unreasonably depriving herself of the opportunity to marry. A man who doesn't trust the banks is throwing away a considerable bit of money by stuffing it under his mattress.

I'm convinced that if people stepped back and took an objective look at the statistics, most would concede that at their particular location on the trust/mistrust spectrum they waste more time, suffer more stress, and miss out on more opportunities by mistrusting people than they get back from avoiding liars, parasites, etc.  They justify their cynicism by imagining the only alternative is stupidity, such as people who don't respect fundamental rules like "Never give out a social insurance number or banking info over the phone.", "Never engage in an electronic transaction you didn't initiate."  This is a false dichotomy. In real life, there's a world of options between the two extremes.

Having faith in humanity doesn't mean you have "all the warm fuzzies in the world", or that you don't follow basic rules for self-preservation. It doesn't prevent you from being mistrustful of others, especially when the stakes are high, and it doesn't absolve you of the responsibility to watch for warning flags.

That's how I felt in my 20's too.  Wait a few more years and you'll be ranting and raving with the best of us.

[mmhmm]

Nah, POM.  I'm older'n dirt, and I think the majority of people are great!  I like folks!

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I'm like Virgil - and mmhmm - I couldn't shut myself away from everyone because of a few. I've had my share of nasties in my life over the years (I think we all encounter them at some time), but the good ones far outweigh the bad.

In recent years, I did pretty much close the door on having faith in people, or moving past certain events, but I wasn't happy with myself for it either.

It was much more refreshing to open the doors to new relationships/friendships and having faith in mankind in general.

[wyouser]

Jun 18, 2013 23:54:21 GMT -5 ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ said:

I'm like Virgil - and mmhmm - I couldn't shut myself away from everyone because of a few. I've had my share of nasties in my life over the years (I think we all encounter them at some time), but the good ones far outweigh the bad.

In recent years, I did pretty much close the door on having faith in people, or moving past certain events, but I wasn't happy with myself for it either.

It was much more refreshing to open the doors to new relationships/friendships and having faith in mankind in general.

Ok, Ok, I do like people. I'm self employed and around them all the time.  However, since summer approaches, I have to confess I wish several of them would "rediscover" the joy of soap...of deoderant..of shampoo etc. When some of them leave it is indeed refreshing to open the door...but not necessisarily for the sake of new relationships....LIGHT THE CANDLES>>>GET OUT THE AIR FRESHENER (some folks "overrippen" when it warms up)