Is it normal to think 99%% of people are shallow and self-serving?

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11 Comments

Is it just me, i.e. my psychopathology, that most people live under a thin veneer of honesty and kindness, but rapidly and violently revert to base animal instincts at the slightest threat to their egos?

People seem to occupy this thin stratosphere of their psyche, where they don't engage fully with their conscience or sub-conscience, prefer to react lazily to situations in cliched ways, without even questioning some very simple assumptions, that work and money are our destiny, that wealth is useful, that cool is good, that they are different, that they are an independent thinker, that the opposite sex is some form of enemy, that there is a God...

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84% Normal
Based on 50 votes (42 yes)
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Comments ( 11 )
  • Galezilla
    14 years ago

    What do religious beliefs have anything to do with people being shallow and self serving?

    I think it's normal but I don't think it's reasonable for you to think that.

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  • leahquestions
    14 years ago

    People prefer to live in a reality that they have created that's a comfort zone, keeping blinders on their eyes and seeing only what they want to see to pacify their immediate impulses and self indulgences.Consequently they justify their behavior and attitudes. In doing this, they only see things in their perspective and never worring about how it affects others or if it's even appropriate behavoir. They choose not to change themselves out of the comfort zone , it works for them.

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    • dedcatz
      14 years ago

      It's heartening to know others see things that way, too, tho' I would have to adjust the percentage to be more like 90%%.

      As for presuming the subconscious as lazy, I don't believe that at all, I believe that that is where we do most of our processing.

      However, I definitely agree about the recent evolution of consciousness. I think that the main reason we don't cope well with reality is because we are animals first, and thinkers last.

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  • livethislife
    13 years ago

    I felt like you most of the time. I have a hard time connect to others because they only think on the surface and don't have much deep thoughts.

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  • SamuraiPeeper
    14 years ago

    It's normal, I feel the same way.

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  • dedcatz
    14 years ago

    People don't react so poorly due to belief in an externally significant purpose. Perhaps you would, or do, but most people I know just react.

    As for religious beliefs, while they can improve the behaviour of the individual, there isn't a lot of thought going on. But you wont see what I mean.

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  • id41695
    14 years ago

    The average male in the united states lives to be 75... women live to an average of around 80, i think. In perspective this is not very long at all. So one could devote all there short amount of time on earth questioning the meaning of it all... and there are those who do. But where does it lead... a couple of books and a forgotten name. But all those primal savages out there running in circles and jumping through hoops are just as bad. Just another waste of life. When looking at this it seems that life is pointless and hopeless. It is. The only thing that is real and gives true meaning is an individuals beliefs. Whether it be in there ego/pride, money, religion, ect... They put their all hope in something and spend the rest of there insignificant lives furthering and building up what they believe in. Its the only thing that gives them worth and a reason to live. And consider this, a threat and/or attack to a persons ego [whatever its based on] is a threat and/or attack on all they believe and there reason to live.

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  • crimson_mamba
    14 years ago

    From an evolutionary standpoint, "consciousness" is new to humanity.

    We lived like the animals for millions of years.

    Therefore, we have these innate "animal instincts" dwelling within us, including you.

    However, you have underestimated the unconscious as lazy. It is constantly active, absorbing subliminal messages, and controlling our "choices"

    The advertising industry knows well how to manipulate these desires and shallow ideas.

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    • Alaxett
      14 years ago

      Now that crimson_mamba mention it, isn't that scare if you think about it? Sure as arrgont, young party boy take advanage of his parent by use their house and make so-called friends to come over so they think he is cool without thinking about it?

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  • leahquestions
    14 years ago

    they choose not to acknowledge their wrongs and live in ignorance. they don't want to look in the mirror to themselves as they really are.. to ignore the truth is easier than to face reality.

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  • graceandglory
    14 years ago

    i feel this way too sometimes. just by observing people around me it's obvious that they're self-centered and only want you to pay attention to them when they don't give a sh*t about you. but have faith, if there's other people who understand it, then there's probably people trying to change it.

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