The World is Mostly Assholes

The World is Mostly Assholes

I have to admit it is difficult for me to write the above title, but I’m starting to believe it. I have always been someone that believes people are inherently good, not inherently evil. Recently however, I’ve questioned my own beliefs on that stance and am wondering if I have been naïve. I’m starting to believe the world may, in fact, be mostly filled with assholes.

A few months back, something happened that changed my whole world for a little bit. Someone created a derogatory post on Social Media aimed at hurting me and a friend of mine. I was accused of cheating on my wife. This particular post was put on the local community’s “vent page,” and it instantly exploded.

The community jumped on the post. People I had never met started recounting situations of me with other women, asking for sexual favors, receiving sexual favors, and sleeping with multiple women across the community. Women from the community were commenting, retelling their stories of their time with me. Men in the community did the same toward my friend, saying they, or someone they knew, had slept with the other subject of this particular post.

The originator of the post grew to a level of local “celebritism (new word)," few in our world can hope to attain. My friend and I however, suffered the consequences of this particular post. Some good, but mostly unwanted attention. It became difficult to go into the local grocer or gas stations, because living in a small community means everyone knows who you are. Alleged scandals can’t be escaped. Work even got involved and had some pointed questions for me. 

Still today, I can’t have lunch with a co-worker of the opposite sex without someone calling or messaging my ex to inform her of my whereabouts or the company I’m in. My friend gets calls to let her know the same. 

The truth is, I never met any of the women that made allegations against me. I have no idea who they are or why they thought it was ok to make accusations against me. The same is true for my friend. She doesn’t know the men claiming to have intimate relationships with her. And I don’t go out to eat lunch anymore, I eat alone. Though I don’t have a problem going out to eat with any of my co-workers or female friends, I’m tired of this community “telling on me.” I’m completely disheartened by the actions of the community. I am saddened by humanity.

I had to do some thinking about the overall situation, but I came to the conclusion stated in the title for this week’s post. People are mostly assholes. History tells the same story.

Throughout time, like sharks, people flock to the scent of blood, prey on the weak like wolves, and circle the dying like vultures. Coliseums were built based on human desire to see people bleed and die. People used to get dressed in their Sunday Bests to attend beheading, hangings, and to watch “witches” get burned at the stake. People would accuse others of being witches just so they could watch them die.

Today is no different. I know you want to believe people are different now, but I know first hand that isn’t true. People will do or say anything just to watch others suffer. You know it’s true too. You have seen videos online of people getting hit, ran over by cars, and shot. Most of the time, the recording is done by a person that thought first to pull out their cell phone and record the action rather than try to help someone in need. And you can see in the video there are others also recording. More than likely, nobody will go to help the person in need. The truth is, nobody will come to help you either.

You will want to believe I am tainted by my personal experience. In reality, I am not tainted, I’m enlightened. I now know exactly what to expect from people. I also know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of humanities thirst for blood. I’m now more likely to stand up for others, because I know they people inciting the riots, causing the harm, recording all of it, probably don’t even realize they’re being an asshole. But, they should probably read some of my earlier posts.

Watch your back. Be a better person. Grow.

The world is mostly assholes.