I can sometimes have a grim view of humanity. Not of individual people, mind - I maintain that many if not most people are basically good, or at least content to live and let live.
No, it's groups of people that I have little hope for. Reading
this account and analysis of bullying only gives fuel to the suspicion I entertain on my worst days that given the slightest peer pressure, most people will bully or put up with the bullying of others. They do it because they can, because it's an easy way to feel good about themselves, and bystanders will do nothing out of fear of backlash. Which I get, kind of - standing up and standing alone is difficult and scary.
It's not even exclusively a "high school pressure cooker" thing either, though that's where I learned the damn hard lesson that when it mattered, no one would get my back. I think the link makes an excellent point that people never outgrow that need to take the easy and ugly way, and this is reflected in political discourse and lingering discrimination against the out-group du jour.
As an adult I can be more pragmatic, almost to the point of acceptance that This Is How Things Are, whether I like it or not. Not everyone is cut out to be a rebel or hero, they have their own problems, and expecting different is just banging my head against the wall.
Then... I see something like
this (HT
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attack_laurel) and it reminds me that there is generosity, and compassion, and bravery in masses. It heartens me, makes me expect and demand more of people and of myself, as much as it angers me that this seems like such a rare thing.
Despite the gloom/doom lead-in, I'm trying to write a happy post here! Got any examples of human selflessness, bravery, joy? Leave 'em in the comments.
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