Many people have come to me over the years and asked, "Are human beings inherently cruel?" Of course, by "many people," I probably mean around 3 but that's hardly relevant. You know what IS relevant? That question. Typically, I'd answer with, "No, I don't think so," but I've begun to reevaluate that line of thinking over the course of the past few years. I've come to find that the basis for my usual answer might have possibly stemmed from the fact that I count myself amongst the "people" in question and was not entirely fond of thinking of myself as a cruel person. Upon further inspection, I've noticed that I had significantly less evidence of inherent human kindness than cruelty, which is abundant to say the least.
After all, why is it that any time someone does a random act of kindness (Taylor Swift taking that boy with cancer on a date, that kid who saved his grandpa after a heart attack, some other fluff story no one probably read) it's always noted, always written about? Yet it's only the most horrendous acts of violence and hate that get any mention. Hell, bullying is so commonplace, people have made COMMERCIALS about it. It's not news, it just IS. When you get right down to the core of it, that is what I now believe. Cruelty and unkindness simply is.
Now I've worked in retail and customer service since I was sixteen so I've dealt with a fair number of people. Most of these people, you might imagine, had absolutely no reason to be nice to me. So they weren't. I have been insulted, harassed and even physically injured because people did not give a single fuck about me and likely thought that I could just go right to hell for all they cared.
As we're all aware, everyone likes to think themselves as the exception to most rules. (If you've ever heard anyone tell you, "I'm not like most girls," I will bet my first born that they are EXACTLY like most girls). I've had friends conduct themselves hmm... let's say "crudely" because of some strange mentality that can be summed up by saying "If that person isn't me and has no relationship to me, they don't matter." Am I the exception to the rule? Hardly. I've behaved just as crass as the next customer in line at the bank, justifying it by telling myself that I'd never see these other people again. (And if you claim you've never done something dickish after telling yourself that exact phrase, you're a goddamn liar.)
For further proof, let's take a glimpse into the wacky world of the internet. Yes, my friends, I'm talking about trolls. For those older folks in my reading audience (Hi, dad) trolls can be defined as people posting uncouth things on the internet to incite feelings of anger, frustration and even sadness in others. Why do people troll others? To put it simply: I have no idea. I may have moments where everyone else around me (read: in traffic) is not worthy to breathe my air, but that usually comes from having a bad day. I may curse and cut people off but only because it reduces my level of stress and helps me alleviate frustration I've built throughout my day. Trolls, on the other hand, are simply cruel, merciless, faceless beings with no souls to speak of. They gain nothing measurable by inciting others with their remarks as they are typically anonymous and likely not getting paid to do it. What's scary is that there are probably more trolls on the internet than actual sane individuals with useful things to say. Why is this a scary notion? When people are granted a shield to hide their face and reputation, they are more likely to become complete assholes than do or say anything constructive.
Have you ever asked yourself, "If I could be whomever I wanted, say whatever I wanted, with no repercussions or consequences... what kind of person would I be?" Think hard; you may already have become this person when you post on anonymous message boards. Some might say that the gain in trolling others online is a feeling of control over a complete stranger's emotions. Though a valid answer, it does further prove my point as that happens to be a rather anti-social method of thinking.
I personally do not spend my time trolling others as I see nothing to be gained from it. That fact alone is validating to my self-esteem, as it makes me think that I am not inherently unkind... only circumstantially. I can live with that. It is, however, a little disheartening to come to terms with the state of the world we live in... a world where, if you can get away with it, make as many people unhappy as humanly possible.
