Have Any of the Events of the Past Year Changed How You Think of Human Nature?

[Quagmire]

Science shows that 94% of people are below average intelligence.

What about the other 15% ?

 

[Rye_P]

Yes, in a negative way.

We have one monstrous pandemic and people here are kinda ignorant, they keep making crowd. And some of them insist that Covid-19 is a huge scale government conspiracy.

So maybe human stupidity are limitless?

 

[Sunstone]

So maybe human stupidity are limitless?

To paraphrase Einstein, "I only know of two things that are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I'm not so sure about the universe."

 

[Dawnofhope]

Have any of the events of 2020 changed your views or beliefs about human nature? If so, how?




As for me, I realized at some point during the year that I have always assumed the greater majority of people possess a pragmatic and abiding respect for truth. I thought that profound and more or less generalized disrespect for truth was largely confined to isolated individuals and to comparatively small groups like the anti-vaxxer movement, the creationist movement, the flat earth movement, and so forth. And that, while all of us now and then disregard the truth of some or another matter, most of us do not do it so often that we might be considered fundamentally dishonest.

Well, I can see now those assumptions were at the least superficial and most likely largely false. I haven't figured out to my satisfaction yet a better model of how most of us humans regard or value truths (I think the model, if I can figure one out, is going to be a complex one), but I think it's safe to say my old notions were grossly inaccurate.

What about you? Have any of the events of the past year changed how you see human nature?

Through my participation in RF I’ve learnt there are a huge number of biblical literalists in the USA. In the twenty first century where scientific knowledge is so advanced, I find the phenomenon of such widespread religious beliefs mystifying. Then when confronted with COVID 19 it is many of those same people who appear to deny the relevant medical science. Unlike biblical literalism denial of medical science has much more serious consequences as we have seen. I’m really astounded where America finds itself currently.

 

[Heyo]

Yes it is my own work, but I'm embarrassed to say it's just a digital scribble I made using my finger on an app on my phone called Paper.

Embarrassed? Being able to work with minimal equipment is considered a special form of mastership.

 

[Samael_Khan]

Have any of the events of 2020 changed your views or beliefs about human nature? If so, how?




As for me, I realized at some point during the year that I have always assumed the greater majority of people possess a pragmatic and abiding respect for truth. I thought that profound and more or less generalized disrespect for truth was largely confined to isolated individuals and to comparatively small groups like the anti-vaxxer movement, the creationist movement, the flat earth movement, and so forth. And that, while all of us now and then disregard the truth of some or another matter, most of us do not do it so often that we might be considered fundamentally dishonest.

Well, I can see now those assumptions were at the least superficial and most likely largely false. I haven't figured out to my satisfaction yet a better model of how most of us humans regard or value truths (I think the model, if I can figure one out, is going to be a complex one), but I think it's safe to say my old notions were grossly inaccurate.

What about you? Have any of the events of the past year changed how you see human nature?

For me, the events just confirmed what I have learnt through history that humans do not care that much about truth, hence why so many people are religious. Humans in general operate under a cult mentality which is tribalistic, and they follow charismatic leaders and favour the beliefs of their tribes over truth.

I am surprised though that how accurate humanities reaction to pandemics has been portrayed by zombie apocalypse stories. I always thought that at least in those cases humans would listen to medical authorities, but much like those stories the majority of humans will not believe that the warnings are true until it is too late or when they themselves get infected.

If you want to study how humans value truth, study why people are religious and why individuals join cults. It is all about indoctrination.

 

[Samael_Khan]

No change from me either. I was gob-smacked when Trump got in and when the EU referendum happened. The two together pretty much finalised my view. Nothing could top those two events.

I was also shocked that Trump won. I think many people took him as a joke. But then the meaning of his election revealed a harsh reality, that there are bigots in the underbelly of society waiting to strike. His election gave confidence to unsavoury people to confidently share their beliefs and now it has caused a domino effect throughout the world.

 

[Samael_Khan]

I was reminded that I live in a bubble of mostly reasonable people that skews my perception of people in general.

You are so lucky

 

[Rye_P]

To paraphrase Einstein, "I only know of two things that are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I'm not so sure about the universe."

He's a genius in a lot of way.

 

[Secret Chief]

Yes it is my own work, but I'm embarrassed to say it's just a digital scribble I made using my finger on an app on my phone called Paper.

Hello!

No, it's not "just" anything ! It's your art.

I use an app on my iPad and have had pieces displayed at a local exhibition.

 

[SalixIncendium]

What about you? Have any of the events of the past year changed how you see human nature?

Not really. People, despite the events of the last year, in my experiences, have followed the same behavioral patterns as in any other year.

 

[Revoltingest]

What about the other 15% ?

They're the smart ones who become physicists, mathematicians, & landlords.

 

[ChristineM]

No change from me either. I was gob-smacked when Trump got in and when the EU referendum happened. The two together pretty much finalised my view. Nothing could top those two events.

^^^ this ^^^​

I see a more an attitude that is uncaring to others with the anti-maskers, this surprised me and lowered me estimation of human compassion still further.

 

[Secret Chief]

^^^ this ^^^​

I see a more an attitude that is uncaring to others with the anti-maskers, this surprised me and lowered me estimation of human compassion still further.

Events seemed to have stripped away veneers and revealed truer selves, such as the spike in racist abuse immediately after the referendum result.

 

[ChristineM]

Events seemed to have stripped away veneers and revealed truer selves, such as the spike in racist abuse immediately after the referendum result.

Its all mounting up to a sad picture of humanity

 

[exchemist]

Have any of the events of 2020 changed your views or beliefs about human nature? If so, how?




As for me, I realized at some point during the year that I have always assumed the greater majority of people possess a pragmatic and abiding respect for truth. I thought that profound and more or less generalized disrespect for truth was largely confined to isolated individuals and to comparatively small groups like the anti-vaxxer movement, the creationist movement, the flat earth movement, and so forth. And that, while all of us now and then disregard the truth of some or another matter, most of us do not do it so often that we might be considered fundamentally dishonest.

Well, I can see now those assumptions were at the least superficial and most likely largely false. I haven't figured out to my satisfaction yet a better model of how most of us humans regard or value truths (I think the model, if I can figure one out, is going to be a complex one), but I think it's safe to say my old notions were grossly inaccurate.

What about you? Have any of the events of the past year changed how you see human nature?

American politics has reminded me of how little we have moved beyond tribalism, while the British public's response to the virus has reminded me how much people like to help each other, given the right political climate. So, as so often, "it's a game of two halves, Brian".

 

[bobhikes]

Have any of the events of 2020 changed your views or beliefs about human nature? If so, how?




As for me, I realized at some point during the year that I have always assumed the greater majority of people possess a pragmatic and abiding respect for truth. I thought that profound and more or less generalized disrespect for truth was largely confined to isolated individuals and to comparatively small groups like the anti-vaxxer movement, the creationist movement, the flat earth movement, and so forth. And that, while all of us now and then disregard the truth of some or another matter, most of us do not do it so often that we might be considered fundamentally dishonest.

Well, I can see now those assumptions were at the least superficial and most likely largely false. I haven't figured out to my satisfaction yet a better model of how most of us humans regard or value truths (I think the model, if I can figure one out, is going to be a complex one), but I think it's safe to say my old notions were grossly inaccurate.

What about you? Have any of the events of the past year changed how you see human nature?

Not so much the last year but the last 4 years even though I had low expectations, I thought we passed the point where Nazism was still possible. I am glad it lost out this time but it doesn't seem like the world has really change much from the past.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Been studying human nature for far too long. No change for me...it is as I expected it to be.

Me neither. Hopefully I've seen everything.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

In "my world" the last year comes as a depressing surprise. I suspect that within communities of color it serves as infuriating confirmation. I have long realized that American exceptionalism is, more than anything else, a convenient myth. I just hate having it rubbed in my face.

 

[PureX]

I have been surprised to realize the depth and extent to which humanity is still completely torn between a "me" vs "us" conceptual paradigm. And that because our lives and our memories are so short, we can never seem to rise above our selfishness.