Cynicism

[shaftmonkey]

Is it just me, or is it common to get more cynical as the years go by? Idk what exactly it is but just society is just so messed up these days. I mean government is corrupt, horrible shit is going on everywhere, but few people actually try to do something about it. Maybe im just really cynical but human nature seems to be degrading more each day.

[Merlock]

Being cynical often means lacking an objective view and wisdom to an extent. The way I see it, it's a much more beneficial stance to be open-minded to each encounter and not think about what "human nature" is becoming or what "humanity" is turning into in such a wide sense. After all, each of us live our own lives and encounter different people, one by one. I don't see much of a reason to be cynical as long as I know and interact with people that aren't part of a "degrading society".

[♥Mark]

The way I see it, not being cynical means lacking an objective view and wisdom to a great extent. If you aren't cynical, then you just haven't been paying enough attention to realize just how bad things really are.

[Replicon]

I think most cynicism is more relative than anything else. I mean, it's just wisdom from experience, as opposed to the newbie who says "oh, I'm sure [THINGGER] will work out fine"

[Neruo]

Depends. If you grow smarter, wiser, more observant of your environment and the world you live in, you are bound to get more cynical at first. Once you stop being a stupid kid that laughs at his McDonalds-happy-meal toy, thinks hobos are stupid and aren't really people, and just stop generally knows nothing about the world, at first, you probably get cynical (as I have, I guess). However, once you stop gaining now information about how fucked up the world is, or at least, when the new news doesn't surprise you any more, you'll just get used to it, and can be a rational, world-wise person that can also enjoy life's good side, and thus, will stop being a cynical asshole. I think I one day will stop being a cynical asshole. I just hope I don't turn stupid because of it.

[Never]

I doubt you would. You can become complacent in a manner of speaking. I managed to do this after meditating for a few years and getting good at controlling my thoughts, but in the end I prefer to wallow in reality for what it is, and yes, this makes me a very angry person almost all of time. If I am not seeking answers (which leads to cold truths and pain) I may as well be dead.

[shaftmonkey]

i guess its kinda normal then. I guess it is a matter of becoming more aware about everything around you. Thanks, glad to see im not being over critical of everything.

[Tornado Joe]

Idk what exactly it is but just society is just so messed up these days. I mean government is corrupt, horrible shit is going on everywhere, but few people actually try to do something about it. Actually, this has all been going on throughout history as we know it. You're just experiencing and starting to understanding it in this particular generation so it seems 'new' to you. Ask your parents about what was news to them (Cuban missle crisis, Vietnam, Korea, segregation...). Ask your grandparents (World War I and II, the great depression). Maybe im just really cynical but human nature seems to be degrading more each day. Nope again. Back before television, people relied on radio for their information. If a tsunami hit indonesia one day, you'd probably not hear about it for a week (Imagine the time before radio!). Today, news is instantaneous - you can literally observe tragic and historic moments as they're happening (9/11, Hurricanes, etc). This instant feedback gives you the illusion that the world is coming to an end and things are getting worse. But MOST importantly, because the media plays off of humanitie's primal insticts (fear, sex, violence) for ratings - you're left being exposed to all the bad in the world, and not those who uncelebrated heroes of everyday life that try to make things better. The only true danger that's different these days are the inventions of even more lethal weapons with the growing ease of delivering them.

[Neruo]

I doubt you would. You can become complacent in a manner of speaking. I managed to do this after meditating for a few years and getting good at controlling my thoughts, but in the end I prefer to wallow in reality for what it is, and yes, this makes me a very angry person almost all of time. If I am not seeking answers (which leads to cold truths and pain) I may as well be dead. Good post. I agree.

[cygnus]

I'm pretty optimistic, but I still think our society is tainting a lot of positive human potential. I question my government's way of doing things a lot, but I believe that's a very healthy thing to do. When people turn patriotism into blind loyalty and submission, then you've got a problem. The only true loyalty you can have is to other human beings, not an imaginary division between them. Maybe cynicism is just choosing not to eat the bs that's fed to you.