Individuals vs People
Most people are stupid. Everyone is stupid with regard to something. Nobody knows everything, and it's the people who think that they do who make the most trouble for everyone else who is trying to get by understanding that they know nothing.
I like individuals. Individuals are great. It's people that I hate. People fuck everything up. Yes, there is a difference.
Individuals... I can get along with almost anyone on an individual level. At least get along with. Most people I genuinely like. I'm a fairly accepting guy. Things that most people find annoying don't bother me, things that just drive people crazy about some individuals I don't mind. If you've got half a brain in your head and you're not a complete asshole, I'll like you just fine.
It's when these individuals group together and become people that the problems start. Everybody wants something, everyone demands something. We expect other individuals to make us happy, not thinking about the fact that those who we demand happiness from are themselves individuals. Same hopes, same dreams, same problems. We treat each other like shit because everyone is out to get something.
It's worse when you get a group of people together with a common goal. Sometimes the best and the brightest get together, and that's when good shit actually happens. But usually a bunch of half wits end up together. Nice enough people, individually, but when they come together everything changes. They're all out to impress one another, and they're all out to get something. "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in great numbers." It's dangerous. It's these people who deal out the world's problems because they are greedy, they are needy, they are short sited, and they are, largely, stupid.
I love individuals. Give me a person, almost anyone, and I'll sit there and talk to them all day. I'll get to know them, I'll see their life and their problems. I love to do that, just to talk to individuals. Random people on the street. It's great. In this regard, I am a "people person."
But keep me away from "people." The Masses. They act like total asses. Granted, some of them are asses all by themselves, but if you give most people a chance, one on one, they really aren't that bad. And if they are, they're usually just hiding something; it's a defense mechanism. But damn, I hate people.
The world is going to hell, and a blind man can see it crashing down. Give it a few more generations and I really don't think there will be that much left. But there's little I can do about it. Every once in awhile I can get to an individual, I can talk to him, maybe help to change him. I'm good to talk to, I understand a remarkable amount. But I can't do shit with people, and I don't really want to try.
Some people could. MLK did, JFK did, Hitler did, though he swung them all the wrong way. Some people have the absolute charisma it takes to change people. Not me. I can change individuals, if they're open to change, willing to talk, willing to listen. Most individuals I find. Most people are actually begging for someone to talk to, someone who will listen. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but sometimes I find just listening helps someone to straighten everything out for themselves. It's amazing like that.
I'd be a shrink if I didn't like to write so much. I always kinda wanted that job. Always said Chrissie would be good at that, because for all her problems and all the lies she told, she was good at listening to people. Every once in awhile she'd say something that actually made a lot of sense.
But I don't want to go to med school, that's for sure, and as much as I don't mind every once in awhile, I think listening to other people's problems every day would depress me, and then I'd have to write my own prescriptions.
I'm done ranting now. I don't know what brought this on, so don't ask. I'm bored, and this is what was in my head.
I like individuals. Individuals are great. It's people that I hate. People fuck everything up. Yes, there is a difference.
Individuals... I can get along with almost anyone on an individual level. At least get along with. Most people I genuinely like. I'm a fairly accepting guy. Things that most people find annoying don't bother me, things that just drive people crazy about some individuals I don't mind. If you've got half a brain in your head and you're not a complete asshole, I'll like you just fine.
It's when these individuals group together and become people that the problems start. Everybody wants something, everyone demands something. We expect other individuals to make us happy, not thinking about the fact that those who we demand happiness from are themselves individuals. Same hopes, same dreams, same problems. We treat each other like shit because everyone is out to get something.
It's worse when you get a group of people together with a common goal. Sometimes the best and the brightest get together, and that's when good shit actually happens. But usually a bunch of half wits end up together. Nice enough people, individually, but when they come together everything changes. They're all out to impress one another, and they're all out to get something. "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in great numbers." It's dangerous. It's these people who deal out the world's problems because they are greedy, they are needy, they are short sited, and they are, largely, stupid.
I love individuals. Give me a person, almost anyone, and I'll sit there and talk to them all day. I'll get to know them, I'll see their life and their problems. I love to do that, just to talk to individuals. Random people on the street. It's great. In this regard, I am a "people person."
But keep me away from "people." The Masses. They act like total asses. Granted, some of them are asses all by themselves, but if you give most people a chance, one on one, they really aren't that bad. And if they are, they're usually just hiding something; it's a defense mechanism. But damn, I hate people.
The world is going to hell, and a blind man can see it crashing down. Give it a few more generations and I really don't think there will be that much left. But there's little I can do about it. Every once in awhile I can get to an individual, I can talk to him, maybe help to change him. I'm good to talk to, I understand a remarkable amount. But I can't do shit with people, and I don't really want to try.
Some people could. MLK did, JFK did, Hitler did, though he swung them all the wrong way. Some people have the absolute charisma it takes to change people. Not me. I can change individuals, if they're open to change, willing to talk, willing to listen. Most individuals I find. Most people are actually begging for someone to talk to, someone who will listen. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but sometimes I find just listening helps someone to straighten everything out for themselves. It's amazing like that.
I'd be a shrink if I didn't like to write so much. I always kinda wanted that job. Always said Chrissie would be good at that, because for all her problems and all the lies she told, she was good at listening to people. Every once in awhile she'd say something that actually made a lot of sense.
But I don't want to go to med school, that's for sure, and as much as I don't mind every once in awhile, I think listening to other people's problems every day would depress me, and then I'd have to write my own prescriptions.
I'm done ranting now. I don't know what brought this on, so don't ask. I'm bored, and this is what was in my head.