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

[Sunstone]

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?

 

[Revoltingest]

No change for me at all.
People continue to rise to meet my expectations.
(A secret to happiness is keeping them low.)

 

[Secret Chief]

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.

 

[McBell]

This past year has confirmed what my father has said since as long as I remember:

People Are Stupid​

 

[JustGeorge]

A little bit.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I thought people's best natures showed through. As it went on, it seemed those 'natures' got uglier, and uglier, and uglier.

Its now at a point for me that, when the recommendations on social distancing are lifted, I have no desire to come out of quarantine. If that's what 'civil society' is, leave me out of it. And I'm somewhat blessed that I have that option...

 

[Revoltingest]

This past year has confirmed what my father has said since as long as I remember:

People Are Stupid​

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

 

[sun rise]

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

My answer is fundamentally there has been no change. I've believed and continue to believe that we're just entering a new stage of humanity. And I know how resistant to change people are.

I did think we were further along and that the resistance was not as strong as it proved to be, but that change in my viewpoint is not a change in how I view human nature but rather a deeper understanding of how hard it is for people to truly see what is going on and learn.

 

[Trailblazer]

My answer is fundamentally there has been no change. I've believed and continue to believe that we're just entering a new stage of humanity. And I know how resistant to change people are.

Same here.

 

[Trailblazer]

I have no desire to come out of quarantine. If that's what 'civil society' is, leave me out of it. And I'm somewhat blessed that I have that option...

Same here. I only have to go out for groceries or for a cat.

 

[Nakosis]

Naw, I always assume self-interest was a greater motivator than truth.

Most folks like to think that problem lies with someone else.

 

[Heyo]

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

Science is too optimistic.

 

[Revoltingest]

Science is too optimistic.

Well, there is a 9% margin of error.

 

[MNoBody]

no.
not in any encouraging or optimistic way.

 

[Heyo]

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

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

 

[Sunstone]

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

I hear you. It's pretty much the same for me.

 

[anna.]

I had this naive idea that the U.S. as a country was better than it actually is. That we'd come farther than we actually have. That after 4 years of Trump 70 million wouldn't actually say yes please to the idea of another four.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

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

 

[Sunstone]

I had this naive idea that the U.S. as a country was better than it actually is. That we'd come farther than we actually have. That after 4 years of Trump 70 million wouldn't actually say yes please to the idea of another four.

Yeah, me too, Anna. As a people, we seem to fall short in several categories. Morality. Intellectual honesty. Courage. And on and on and on.

I'm curious, Anna, is the watercolor in your Avatar your own work?

 

[crossfire]

I've come to realize just how precarious of a mental position many extraverts are. I feel sorry for the ones who need collective interaction to keep their minds stable and from going insane, instead of taking control of their own sanity.

 

[Aupmanyav]

People do not change. Did WWI or WWII changed them?

And I'm somewhat blessed that I have that option...

What option, JustGeorge? (What is brewing?)