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Are you more cynical about life today than yesterday?

What has changed?

atheist 8 Dec 27
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Level 8

I kind of doubt if Humans have ever had it nice and easy. The problems we have today might be somewhat different, but people have always had difficulties. I just read "The Better Angels of Our Nature" by Steven Pinker. He makes the point that the rate of violence has gone down, giving verifiable stats. The murder rate in Europe was thirty times today's rate about 200-300 years ago. We think the rate is higher, but because of high tech, we see world wide news right away and that skews our view a bit. But Human life has never been a picnic.

SKH78 Level 8 Dec 28, 2017
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Level 9

No. It wouldn't be consistent with current scientific knowledge to assume humans have no redeeming qualities. We have some crap qualities, but altruism is also a part of our biological nature (in addition to some other species).

skado Level 9 Dec 27, 2017
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I'm not really trying to sell it. It's just what I understand to be true. I'm open to evidence to the contrary. @atheist

@atheist Yes it's often limited to family and friends. The point is that it's an adaptive trait, just like aggression and competitiveness, etc. We're sometimes even kind to strangers, and stray dogs.

@atheist My response was too. : )
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Level 8

Yes, life does suck. Im a part of the toxic political environment. I can't tolerate Trump supporters.

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Level 8

Yes. MUCH more cynical given the current state of the US government. I honestly don't know that any politician can commit a travesty horrible enough to cost him (or her) re-election. We seem to have lost our principles as human beings.

Zster Level 8 Dec 27, 2017
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Level 8

you bet or as I like to call it aware.

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Level 5

About equal

@atheist I'd be going some to get more cynical, I've oft considered changing my name by deed poll to 'Cynical But' due to the amount of times I come out with it preceded by the words 'call me...'
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Level 6

I've been cynical about life since I was 13. .___.

me too question everything
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Level 8

I wonder what Diogenes's answer would be to such a question? That he had some peculiar habits would seem odd even in today's world...🙂

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Level 8

No

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