Are you a cynical bastard?

Post by **Jackal** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:40 pm

I'm finding that I am really becoming more and more cynical as I get a bit older (not that I'm old by any stretch). For example, if I'm sitting in a coffee shop or something and I hear people talking about their opinions on any given subject that I care enough to have an opinion about more often than not my first thought is, "This person is a complete fucking retard."

Actually the most salient example I think I can come up with is when I'm sitting in a movie theater. Before they play the previews in our theatres they run this constant barrage of advertisements for upcoming movies. Frequently little quizzes come up on screen that focus in on the subject matter of whatever movie was just being talked about. The quizzes are ALWAYS retarded questions such as "Johnny Depp, the swashbuckling hero from PotC found a great deal of stardom as the scissor-fingered tragic hero of what Tim Burton movie from the 90s?".

Everybody sitting in the fucking theatre knows the god damn answer but people always feel the need to respond! WHY?! My gf does it sometimes and I've found myself actually getting angry at her for it.

The other movie example I can think of is when they show a trailer for a movie and everyone has to guess what the fucking thing is, "OOOOOOO this is the new Die Hard movie, *nudge nudge*"

Guess what? No fucking kidding it's the new Die Hard movie! Do you want a metal for guessing the obvious answer half a second before every other moron said the same thing?!

Honestly, 4-5 years ago I wouldn't have thought like this. I couldn't care less to be honest. More and more however my blood boils when listening to my fellow man. Do you think this is just a product of the times (ie: everyone having access to information and thus generating opinions) or is it something else?

Post by **menkent** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:42 pm

that's not cynical, that's misanthropic.

Post by **Jackal** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:44 pm

menkent wrote:that's not cynical, that's misanthropic.

You're right. I hate you.

Post by **Mat Linnett** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:59 pm

I heard a couple of middle-aged women nattering on the train yesterday about how they were surprised there wasn't a terrorist attack during the Concert for Diana.
Fecking sheeple.

Dunno if it's cynical, rather that the quotient of sensationalist media-fed morons is reaching saturation point.

Post by **seremtan** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:01 pm

Jackal wrote:Do you think this is just a product of the times (ie: everyone having access to information and thus generating opinions)

ding ding

the opinions in question being lifted from that morning's guardian/NYT

very few people make the time or effort to put any work into their opinions, yet feel compelled to have them because their milieu demands it of them so that they may be 'socially included'

also, low tolerance for other people's chatter is perhaps a product of being subjected to Too Much Fucking Information all day every day, and needing to screen it out for some mental quiet

Post by **Massive Quasars** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:01 pm

I'm not this way, most of the time.

You talk of your career and academic successes, Jackal. Do you think that has changed your attitude toward others when they don't match your perceived intelligence, persistence, or skill level?

Post by **Grudge** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:02 pm

I'd say it's hard to not be a misanthrope considering that 95% of all people are so stupid.

Post by **seremtan** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:03 pm

Mat Linnett wrote:I heard a couple of middle-aged women nattering on the train yesterday about how they were surprised there wasn't a terrorist attack during the Concert for Diana.

i remember getting a book by chomsky out of the local library and the librarian wondering out loud to me why he hadn't been assassinated yet

dumbocracy is everywhere

Post by **Tsakali_** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:04 pm

antisocial maybe?

don't take people too seriously whne in public...for all you know they are just making silly conversation on silly things to keep things active.

Would you rather them just sit there and say nothing to eachother?

I caught myself critisize others conversations, yet I catch myself having to do the same around a group... mostly it's all in good fun IMO.

Post by **Massive Quasars** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:08 pm

I see the thread's consensus of sentiment leans in favor of misanthropy. I guess I just can't spare the will to hate with a passion, as I'm too occupied with my own thoughts while on public transit or in a theater.

I'll spew vitriol here from time to time, but mainly for my own entertainment.

Post by **menkent** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:31 pm

this just in: people in the webosphere don't like human contact!

Post by **Grudge** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:38 pm

Hate is a pretty strong emotion. I reserve that for people I know, I don't hate strangers.

Post by **Hannibal** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:39 pm

@menkent

Post by **Transient** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:40 pm

seremtan wrote: very few people make the time or effort to put any work into their opinions, yet feel compelled to have them because their milieu demands it of them so that they may be 'socially included'

Couldn't have said it better myself. :icon14:

Post by **i think i am** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:43 pm

I feel the same way. I was at a party last night and I heard two people talking about the war in Iraq. One of them asked the other "don't you think if we weren't fighting them (al-queda) in Iraq we'd be fighting them in NYC, Boston, etc?"
I had to leave the room i was so angry.

But i REALLY love the people who laugh hysterically for 5 minutes after seeing the preview for Who's Your Caddy? I hate being around the great unwashed.

Post by **o'dium** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:44 pm

I think its just because you are a cunt.

In my opinion, of course.

Post by **MaCaBr3** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:52 pm

You're just a bitter old man.

Post by **Massive Quasars** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:55 pm

Grudge wrote:Hate is a pretty strong emotion. I reserve that for people I know, I don't hate strangers.

Yes, there was too much emphasis in that particular part of my statement. A distinct dislike might be more appropriate.

Strangely though, the odiums of the internet can annoy me at times. Oh yes, and instadouchbags with their own political blogs.

Other than that....

Post by **Nightshade** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:39 pm

Looks like Jackal has discovered that a GREAT deal of the population is extremely fucking stupid and, unfortunately, still allowed to speak.

Post by **seremtan** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:40 pm

Massive Quasars wrote:instadouchbags with their own political blogs.

http://www.nicedoggie.net/2007/

scared?..

Post by **shadd_** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:03 pm

Massive Quasars wrote:I'm not this way, most of the time.

You talk of your career and academic successes, Jackal. Do you think that has changed your attitude toward others when they don't match your perceived intelligence, persistence, or skill level?

bam!

ego.

he may grow out of it, he may not.

Post by **Nightshade** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:06 pm

riddla wrote:
Nightshade wrote:Looks like Jackal has discovered that a GREAT deal of the population is extremely fucking stupid and, unfortunately, still allowed to speak.
yet every other post you're the one spitting out redneck colloquialisms

Show me a single one.

Post by **Kracis** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:18 pm

You? Noooooooo..... That's like water realizing it's wet.

Post by **sliver** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:24 pm

I've been known as the class cynic/skeptic/misanthropist/pessimist since about grade 10. (i use the word class because I'm still in university.)

If I go any farther in that direction I will probably end up shooting people.

Post by **R00k** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:06 pm

Honestly? I find that I am doing it less often these days, instead of more (which is what I would expect).

I think this is because I have seen other people close to me - friends and coworkers and such - get angry about stuff like that, and it made me realize that it seems kinda petty to get worked up about.

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