this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
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A misanthrope is someone who mistrusts or hates humankind.

A racist is... well we all know what a racist is.

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[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Racism is worse, because it's about community - us against them. It provides a focal point for anger and action that doesn't require self reflection or personal growth.

Misanthropy ... Have you met our species? Violent, destructive, shortsighted, tribalistic apes swarming across their only home devouring it resources and destroying their own habitat with careless abandon.

Individual humans - we can be amazing. Humans at moments when we overcome our tribalism and selfishness - wonderful. But humankind? Overall, we suck. Misanthropy just realism.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Misanthropy just realism.

I think this about sums it up... I'm sorry, I really am, I was such an advocate for human kind and had such hope for it, up until about 10 years ago... and then I just gave up... I mean, it can take a long time to fill a cup if you just drip in it, but eventually, it will get full 🀷.

[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Misanthropes usually keep to themselves, whereas racists can gather up other racists to do racist things

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

This was gonna be my answer too. Maybe I'd change my mind if a misanthrope tried to get their hands on the launch codes though.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Fair point πŸ˜†

[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Misanthropy is just a reaction to humans being horrible. Racism is an example of why humans are horrible. So I think the answer is pretty clear.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Racists also use the β€œbut they deserve it” defense.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

But we all really do "deserve it". Humans as a whole really don't deserve to thrive based on how we have historically treated others and our earth. The problem with racists is that they think they're better based on some negligible differences between humans.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'd say a racist is worse. At least a misanthrope treats everyone equally.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Almost exactly what I said.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

A racist is worse. A true misanthrope would just be a recluse and not bother anyone else.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

At least the misanthrope hates everyone equally.

Misanthropes also don't usually hurt other people; they stay the fuck away from them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'm a misanthrope and I hate racists more than most people.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

The old β€œI’m not racist. I hate everyone equally” approach

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

A racist is worse, because they’re capable of being better, but simply choose not to be in some cases.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

A non-human misanthrope would still be less idiotic than a human racist.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can't say that I 100% understand misanthropy, but IMO it's way worse to single out a group and treat them differently than other groups. Whether that takes the form of racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. Generally I think that kind of behavior stems from people thinking that they are better than other people, therefore people "worse" than them deserve to be treated like garbage. And I just despise that mindset.

If someone hates me because of something I have in common with literally every human on the planet it doesn't feel nearly as personal as if they hate me because I'm different from them in ways that I can't control.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

If someone hates me because of something I have in common with literally every human on the planet it doesn’t feel nearly as personal as if they hate me because I’m different from them in ways that I can’t control.

Misanthropes generally don't hate individual people, and can even sometimes enjoy socializing with others. It's not even all that accurate to say misanthropes hate humanity; they're actually more profoundly disappointed in it. This is why they don't engage in mass shootings or other forms of violence, and instead tend to just isolate themselves.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Racists are worse because misanthropes don't have a history of their misanthropy having a widespread negative material impact like racists and their racism do.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well I guess misanthropy is racism against every race.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

It's not though

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Racists are better. At least misanthropes hate everyone equally.

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