-- Posted by bstodge at 9:43 pm on June 7, 2009 In the last book I read, Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz. It's about a 20 year old guy named Odd Thomas, he can see dead people, Enough said. I reached a point in the story where the main character (Odd) said something like "I fear humankind the most, for they can be so very cruel to one another." Those aren't the exact words but something like that. Are you afraid of humankind? If so, why? If not, why not? Feel free to message me about the book too if you want. I love talking about the things I've read. -- Posted by 420mike at 9:44 pm on June 7, 2009 We have the highest ability to do harm, besides nature, but thats not frequent or global. *Meaning hurricanes and tsunamis and such -- Posted by SpM at 9:49 pm on June 7, 2009 No. Assuming the character is an outcast due to his ability, I could understand a resulting hostility to those who shunned him. The average human being is surrounded by friends and family, and fears death and loneliness while gravitating towards people. We are social and socially reliant animals, and those who claim to despise or be indifferent to humans are very rarely psychopaths and very commonly idiots searching for something profound to say. edit: I'm talking here about a fear or dislike of humans and humanity in general, not a fear or dislike of certain destructive tendencies in the human psyche. -- Posted by bstodge at 9:50 pm on June 7, 2009 Quote: from 420Mike at 11:44 pm on June 7, 2009 We have the highest ability to do harm, besides nature, but thats not frequent or global. *Meaning hurricanes and tsunamis and such So is that a yes or a no? -- Posted by 420mike at 9:52 pm on June 7, 2009 Quote: from bstodge at 12:50 am on June 8, 2009 Quote: from 420Mike at 11:44 pm on June 7, 2009 We have the highest ability to do harm, besides nature, but thats not frequent or global.    *Meaning hurricanes and tsunamis and such So is that a yes or a no? All I mean by that is dolphins or monkeys can't and don't cause harm to mankind or me or you as frequent as man causes harm to man.  So yes. -- Posted by blackbandaid at 3:46 am on June 8, 2009 I would definitely believe that. The future scares me, not because of natural disaster, or being eaten by a shark, but because I don't trust humans. They act irrationally and violently. -- Posted by The Anarchyst at 11:40 am on June 13, 2009 I'm not afraid of humankind- I'm afraid of what humankind can become. -- Posted by imatwirp at 10:36 pm on June 24, 2009 As the first post said, "We have the highest ability to do harm." We also have the ability to destroy ourselves on a whim. We create guns, knives, bombs, etc. Plus, we are the only species that gets a thrill from danger. Skydiving, fast cars, pain, etc. We are well enough developed that we have a higher brain power, thus we can do much more with that power. Thus we have every reason to fear ourselves. -- Posted by Bacon at 12:28 am on June 26, 2009 I'm afraid of what humanity has the capability of doing, but I am probably more afraid of the capabilities of nature.   Not only are the laws of the Universe strict and encompassing, but they can also be unabashedly destructive. And there is no remorse in nature for remorse is a thoroughly human construct. I think I am most afraid of indifference. Emotionless destruction caused by chance happenings that we humans - even with all our resources, intelligence and technology - are essentially powerless to stop. The Universe does not care because it simply cannot. And it is probably just as well - human-like intelligence in something as grand and powerful as nature would be something that fear itself is made of. -- Posted by tell me again at 9:26 pm on July 1, 2009 No. But i really dislike this topic. I'm succint, not verbose -- Posted by MoonLoveBaby at 11:13 pm on Sep. 12, 2009 There are certain people that I genuinely fear yes. There are things about people that cause me to experience fear. People as a whole, do not scare me, no. We all have our days, our ups and downs. Some people choose to take it out differently, as terrifying as that is. I choose to walk through life and people's paths hoping to leave the best impression possible. Should shit happen.. shit happens.