Alright. I know I am being a debbie-downer, but I am going to rant.
I am so disappointed at the way things are. My misanthropy is firing like crazy. One of my childhood hero (anti-hero) was Captain Nemo. I just don't have his intelligence, will and money to leave the rest of the humanity behind. I see so many examples of fundamental selfishness and pettiness, fear and distrust, and insecurity and self-loathing (yours truly not excluded), I am beginning to think that we deserve the--ever that happens to us. We are stupid, deluded, self-centered and cowardly. Perhaps the universe is better off without us.
Whatever happens to us, may be ... Karma? Not necessarily instant in our time scale, but in the time scale of the universe, pretty much.....
I wish I can say that I am better than that. But I am not. Hence, the confession. We may be doomed and that may be a good thing.
When someone unontentionally makes a mistake odds are we forgive them. When billions collectively make a mistake thst can be very costly to all....what can anyone do but forgive and adapt?
 MakeItGood
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Oct 20, 2020
                                            
                                                
                                                    MakeItGood
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Oct 20, 2020                                            
                                        Today I had a premonition almost, a feeling of impending doom, then a friend told me Rush Limbaugh has terminal lung cancer and now I feel great.  
 Willow_Wisp
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Oct 20, 2020
                                            
                                                
                                                    Willow_Wisp
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Oct 20, 2020                                            
                                        Captain Nemo said "okay"
Then I raised my hand and waved
Captain Nemo went away
 p-nullifidian
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Oct 20, 2020
                                            
                                                
                                                    p-nullifidian
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Oct 20, 2020                                            
                                        I hear you. There is a lot of that going around. It is understandable and normal. I'm convinced it is also temporary, brought on by the circumstances we find ourselves in because I know people who have none of the qualities you mentioned: people who know that others are just as important as they are, people who truly care about others even those they don't know, people who genuinely wish to share the wealth for the benefit of all, people committed to fundamental fairness. Just because our elected leader is stupid, deluded, self-centered and cowardly does not mean we have to follow his lead. We can and will be better than that. We have to be.
 LovinLarge
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Oct 20, 2020
                                            
                                                
                                                    LovinLarge
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Oct 20, 2020                                            
                                        Sure. I know such people around me. It's just that they are far out-numbered by ... those that are not like them.
But even if we were to consider those with that level of empathy, they appear to be powerless against the onslaught of stupidity masquerading as truth and certainty.
@AtheistReader I agree that it appears that way. Let's call them "The Deplorables" to avoid what I would really like to call them. And I concede my view of The Deplorables is theoretical but it is informed by much regrettable but relevant experience.
The problem for The Deplorables is that their negligent approach to their relationship with the community is that it only serves them in the short term. Ultimately, we are social beings, interdependent with others to a certain extent and their selfishness will work against them in the end whereas those who selflessly invest in their community will benefit over the long term from that very community. I can't prove it to you but I will say that sometimes it is wise to at least consider available theories when all else seems lost. I can tell you that there are some days when this theory is all that gets me out of bed in the morning.
"Drive your Karma, curb your Dogma"  -- Swami Beyondananda  
 FearlessFly
                                                
                                                Level 9
                                                Oct 20, 2020
                                            
                                                
                                                    FearlessFly
                                                
                                                Level 9
                                                Oct 20, 2020