Why does everyone seem to hate everyone else?
A truly saddening and maddening time.
Modernity can be very wearing. On top of our daily tasks, we are frequently bombarded with negativity, the like of which…the world has never seen the like of which. I personally find it rather exhausting, and despite being repeatedly told to “not care what people think”, I still care deeply for the direction of humanity and it pains me so. The hate feels endless and doesn’t seem like it’s slowing down anytime soon. It never used to be this bad.
It really does make me quite sad. I’m so fed up with it all – I’ve been cool, calm and collected for years on so many things, but I’m rapidly running out of patience. I’m not one to scream or rant, however, I’m mighty close. I can’t seem to turn it off like others can; it bothers me a great deal and it wears on me. The amount of energy I see wasted with so many needless arguments, insults etc. is staggering and the collective negative impact emotionally and psychologically is astronomical.
I maintain that nothing will be solved on social media – merely amplified. It rewards (and encourages) narcissism, it induces highly emotional and impulsive responses based on language and images/videos used, and facilitates obnoxious behaviour and incivility, so much so, that we should invent an “Insufferable-o-meter” for these accounts.
We see it everywhere – Men and Women, Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine, anything to do with America, British colonialism vs Indigenous populations, varying ideologies – fascism, communism, feminism, Tradition vs Modernity, and on and on… Even less contentious subjects such as interests (for me personally in cars or video gaming). Can I not just try to enjoy life a bit please?
“Everything I say and do has somebody waiting to tell me why I’m the most horrible human being on earth and I deserve to die.”
Is this an only on the internet problem? While the majority of people in real life seem friendly enough on the surface, the internet is seeping back through into the physical world. However, it is not just that. In general, erratic, uncivilised, anti-social behaviour is more prevalent.
So, as a counter we see “good vibes only”, which is not the answer. Forcing positivity, suppressing emotions, shaming negative states, and generally avoiding root causes is never a good long-term strategy. It’s like when someone knows something is not right with them or lives, but they get reinforced that they are fine just the way they are – it never works, if anything, it usually compounds the problem.
“Legitimate criticism is necessary yet is regularly conflated with hate and it shouldn’t be.”
So, what does it come down to: A lack of emotional regulation? A reward for impulsive and emotional language? Does no one want to tolerate anyone different? Are our levels of entitlement and narcissism beyond reasonable? Have we become too sensitive and easily offended? Or are we all justifiably enraged at the current situations befalling society?
So many people seem to be playing the game of “if I just shout louder and longer then I’m right.” Minor indiscretions get turned into big problems. We have a conundrum where simultaneously every individual’s concerns are now a problem for society to fix, and societal-level issues are asked to be overcome at the level of the individual. It’s impossible to manage.
Society was never meant to be this large nor this connected, and it’s having a massive effect on us all. I know many of us are frustrated, struggling, suffering, exhausted, and without necessary levels of emotional and psychological support, but I implore you not to debase yourself, descend to your baser instincts – and hate is a very low-quality characteristic. Less hubris, more humility. Less anger, more compassion. Less doubling and tripling down, more oh, I might have overlooked something.
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