Current Events > I fundamentally don't understand people who enjoy being cruel

(+) Yeah! (+)

There are far too many people online who seem to genuinely savor making others angry or emotionally distressed, and I really fundamentally do not understand this. Do they think it makes them look impressive? Because anybody who takes pride in recreational cruelty seems to be spotlighting their own massive character flaws. And this seems counterproductive towards what I'd assume their aim is.

Even as a child I never found the kid who would knock over other kid's legos to be "cool" or impressive in any way.

So why do people act this way? Do they not appreciate how it makes them look? Is it a sunk cost thing where they choose to believe that being rude is cool because otherwise they'd have to face the truth that they've just often been a dick for no reason?

It's not cruelty to point out that your posts are heinous.

They don't do it to look impressive to others, but to see people suffer and because it's humorous to them. Seeing others suffer gives them that same kind of feeling that a normal person would have after hearing a funny joke

Are you referring to your closed topic, TC?

BurmesePenguin posted...

It's not cruelty to point out that your posts are heinous.

Damn, havent seen such a second post roasting like this in a while.

Joe numbers topic

It's also cruel to think discrimination is ok but whatever.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. If your topics always draw this behavior, it's a you problem, regardless how many times you deflect that fact. That's the most civil way I can point that out to you.

...he says, without even a hint of self-reflection.

MrFingers07 posted...

They don't do it to look impressive to others, but to see people suffer and because it's humorous to them. Seeing others suffer gives them that same kind of feeling that a normal person would have after hearing a funny joke

Interesting.

Is there some internal narrative they use to explain it, you think? Because despite all the people online who I see like this, I doubt they all would enjoy watching close friends suffer. So is it just the abstraction of the internet? Or maybe many of these people would also secretly enjoy watching their friends suffer?

So is it like "oh that's funny because that person online is suffering, and I don't think they are a real person"?
Or just a general "oh it's funny when anybody who isn't me is suffering"?

And if it's the latter, what's the possible logic? That it's a zero-sum world?

Medussa posted...

...he says, without even a hint of self-reflection.

I am never cruel. I explicitly denounce any interpretation of anything I've said that is perceived as cruel, and go out of my way to acknowledge that even towards those with whom I strongly disagree: I respect their opinions, their feelings, and their basic humanity.

Being cruel makes no sense to me.

telling trans people that we're being too emotional about the fucking republican campaign of annihilation they've been on is literally the definition of cruel, you absolute fucking monster. there is no universe where you get to walk that last topic back. none. fucking. none.

Triggering folks can be great

Truly the scratch & sniff of social interaction

Medussa posted...

telling trans people that we're being too emotional about the fucking republican campaign of annihilation they've been on is literally the definition of cruel, you absolute fucking monster. there is no universe where you get to walk that last topic back. none. fucking. none.

I'm very sorry you feel that way. That was not what I was claiming or expressing in that topic. As I expressed before and in that topic, IMO you are allowed your thoughts and feelings, they are valid, and I would not try to take them away from you or anybody.

I would prefer you not call me a "fucking monster" though. I feel that is quite unwarranted.

HANGtheDJ_86 posted...

Triggering folks can be great

Why would you think this?

Do you not recognize their basic humanity? What possible good comes to you from their distress?

Don't get me wrong, some challenging scenarios can cause emotional distress, and working through and overcoming those scenarios has its utility and benefit. But acknowledging that is different than endorsing any suggestion that recreationally inflicting emotional distress on others has any benefit. Because yeah, I don't believe it does.

Gonna need some context here. I see some people calling TC transphobic ITT but what actually happened. If he called trans people "emotional" over what the republicans are doing, then yeah theres no level of shit that can't be dropped on TC unjustified

Because the world is inherently evil
And most people are brainwashed

Medussa posted...

telling trans people that we're being too emotional about the fucking republican campaign of annihilation they've been on is literally the definition of cruel, you absolute fucking monster. there is no universe where you get to walk that last topic back. none. fucking. none.

F***ing oof

Uhh

To answer TCs question some people also like being a factor or having some control. Some people just think its funny, like an extreme version of laughing at videos of people hurting themselves.

Theres a few reasons. However..

Medussa posted...

telling trans people that we're being too emotional about the fucking republican campaign of annihilation they've been on is literally the definition of cruel, you absolute fucking monster. there is no universe where you get to walk that last topic back. none. fucking. none.

This seems hard to ignore. What happened?

Big_Nabendu posted...

Because the world is inherently evil
And most people are brainwashed

I personally do not believe the former.

As far as the latter, IMO lots of people do live in ideological bubbles/tribes. So they might have very little empathy for those outside of their bubbles/tribes. That's not exactly what you were saying, but it is related.

I don't think cruelty is unique to people online

Maze_ posted...

I don't think cruelty is unique to people online

idk, it's been my experience that people are just waaay more kind and decent IRL than on the internet.

Am I unique in thinking this kind of behavior comes out a lot more online?

Maybe

I guess there's a level of anonymity online that there isn't face to face.

The internet essentially creates a barrier for morons to avoid getting punched in the face, thus they act the way they do to people. There's no true or real consequence of action online, outside of maybe having a main account scrubbed from a platform. People committed to being morons will continue to do so with various fresh accounts on whatever platform they are on.

I do not witness the level of stupidity, cruelty, rudeness and straight up toxicity found online anywhere near as much in real life.

That doesn't mean people are always friendly in real life, no, that'd be a naive take, but the internet gives people a degree of anonymity and safety they lack in real life.