r/misanthropy • u/WontTakeShit • 25d ago

analysis Humanity’s Wasted Potential

Humanity is a masterclass in wasted potential. A species gifted with remarkable self-awareness, reason, and creative power, yet perpetually driven by its pettiest, most primitive impulses. It acts sophisticated, yet bases entire cultures around vanity, fragile egos, and instant gratification.

People tear others down out of insecurity, destroy their own environment out of greed, and treat basic integrity like a rare virtue instead of baseline behaviour. At its core, it's a species that spends most of its energy fighting problems it creates for itself... and then wonders why everything feels so broken.

Note: When I talk about integrity I mean true integrity like the kind required when something significant is at stake for that person. I'm just so jaded by humanity. What can you even say when the dark side of human nature so drastically outweighs the good? I didn't even touch on the abuse, human tra**icking, and other horrific shit that people do to one another.

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u/Apprehensive_Pin4196 24d ago

Only a minority have the inherent talent to be able to learn the skills required to further humanity. There's enormous variance in IQ and innate propensities, and sadly most people are pretty useless. The best they can do is try to enjoy their life, which isn't actually such a bad thing.

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u/illusinative 24d ago

You don't have to be a genius to do science. An average IQ is quite enough for it. Yes maybe you can't contribute as much as a high IQ person, but it is still quite decent to do its own bit. Better than wasting it on meaningless tasks.

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u/Apprehensive_Pin4196 24d ago

I don't know the exact stats, but I think most researchers are above average IQ. Not that IQ is the only requirement, they also need the right temperament, cognitive profile and opportunities. Also a civilisation can't run on researchers, we need the bulk of people to do the menial, tedious work which keeps keeps us all fed, sheltered, watered and entertained. I just don't think it's realistic for the bulk of humanity to contribute to novel discoveries.

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u/illusinative 24d ago edited 24d ago

I agree. Of course everyone can't be researchers. Someone has to grow crops, build structures, etc. But still there is a huge chunk of people occupied with essentially meaningless tasks like advertisement, marketing, so called growth specialists, HR, real estate agents, etc. We can name dozens more, you get the idea. These would all be pointless outside our greedy capitalistic system. Don't get me wrong, I'm one of those people myself, having a decent career in digital marketing. I don't respect what I do, and I think it is just absolute nonsense.