Cynicism and Apathy

[MrCrawford]

Cynicism breeds apathy, and both of them are terrible things indeed. An old saying is that "All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Cynics adopt the counter-axiom of "evil triumphs", and by consequence add to the number of apathetics currently in the world.

These people who do not act, who either do not care about the car bombing in some remote part of the world or are just so desensitized to hearing it on the news that they perceive it as an inevitability, are the worst contributors to these awful events.

Granted, an evil person must be at the root of it. An apathetic person or a cynic isn't morally evil, at least not consciously. But through inaction, whether from lack of care or cynical thought, they deafen the ears of us all and drag them into their abysmal pit.

The answer to helping the world is to start giving a damn. A government does nothing without people, so why not harness that power? Even if it is counter government policy, so long as these groups were to band together peacefully and show their distaste in an issue, then the potential of change becomes light again.

No one but the truly heartless wish pain upon others. Such is their way. But people who lack care have the potential to change what they see, no matter what level of cyncism they maintain.

[Lockout]

You have a very optimistic view. Do you not feel that some people can only see dread and fear and must ignore such issues because it if anything scares them?

[SolInvictus]

evil does not triumph, stupidity triumphs.

[MortifiedPenguins]

It's not me, It's not my country, it's not my family.

Cynicalism is the prime motivator for isolationism, a theory that I like and support.

Let the world take care of itself, it's not our problem.

[Nagneto]

Averice Is Death

Apathy is worse than death because at least the dead feed the insects that creep along the ground

Ignorance is a growing trend in the U.S. (as is hypocracy IE: Atheists whine about Christans being christan, but don't say anything about other religions at all)

Unless we as a society can just stop bickering over one another's idealisms, this country is going to fall just like the Soviet Union did.

[SolInvictus]

At 3/22/07 05:08 PM, Nagneto wrote: Averice Is Death

too bad you're unable to spell it right.

[MrCrawford]

At 3/22/07 04:47 PM, MortifiedPenguins wrote: It's not me, It's not my country, it's not my family.

Cynicalism is the prime motivator for isolationism, a theory that I like and support.

Let the world take care of itself, it's not our problem.

And then what happens when the same thing happening around the world find itself at your doorstep, which will inevitably happen? Will you stand by your ideas of isolationism and cynicism and martyr yourself to conviction, or will you label yourself a hypocrite and ask for help?

[satanclause666]

i just wonder what the right course of action is.
It doesnt really seem to be a problem, getting motivated that is, for the new generation (at least in my experience). But i just dont want to see people act, only to mess it up in the end.

The end doesnt always justify the means.

[MortifiedPenguins]

At 3/22/07 09:12 PM, MrCrawford wrote:

At 3/22/07 04:47 PM, MortifiedPenguins wrote:

And then what happens when the same thing happening around the world find itself at your doorstep, which will inevitably happen? Will you stand by your ideas of isolationism and cynicism and martyr yourself to conviction, or will you label yourself a hypocrite and ask for help?

Then I will deal with it accordingly in my own country, since it is now my problem and a threat to our interests.

My reason for disliking WW1 and my reason for favoring WW2.

America followed an Isolationist view for long periods of time, basically untill Mckinley came into office. It worked for us then, it can work again.

[Begoner]

Cynicism is simply the logical viewpoint at which one arrives after studying political events. It is clear that one individual cannot do anything to alter the course of world events, even in a minuscule way (if he does not wield any power, which applies to a very large majority of people). Thus, by extension, if one were to attempt to do something to alter world events, it would be futile; the most rational path to take would be one which does not involve wasting one's energies. This would perfectly describe apathy. Remember the prisoners' dilemma; you are grouping all apathetic people as a single entity, which they most certainly are not.

True, a large group of people, if their efforts are coordinated, can accomplish a grand goal. However, that group is composed of a number of distinct individuals, none of whom contribute to the functioning of the group in any way. Is a protest going to be any more effective if 143,543,342 people partake in it rather than 143,543,341? No. Thus, no one person would have any incentive whatsoever for going, as such an action would be pointless. If everyone abode by the same logic, then nobody would go to the protest, maintaining the status quo. Although you might consider such apathy as bordering on evil, it is in essence only logic.

[MrCrawford]

At 3/22/07 09:48 PM, MortifiedPenguins wrote:

Then I will deal with it accordingly in my own country, since it is now my problem and a threat to our interests.

And if you couldn't deal with it? If you fell and you needed aid, you would not take someone's aid? You would die for your conviction to apathy?

[MortifiedPenguins]

At 3/27/07 08:55 PM, MrCrawford wrote:

At 3/22/07 09:48 PM, MortifiedPenguins wrote:

And if you couldn't deal with it? If you fell and you needed aid, you would not take someone's aid? You would die for your conviction to apathy?

Course I would take the aid.

If someone is stupid enough to offer me aid from somewhere from across the globe, I'm going to take it.

I'm not agains the recieving of the aid, man's nature is one of rational self interest. I'm against the giving of it.

[TwO-FaCeD-PaRaNoID]

I'm a cynist. Being sarcastical and making fun of pain is a joy to me. Too many times someone helped his own life going to shit, do i need to worry about it?
Do i have to feel sorry for him?
Do i need to help him out?
Do i need to think it is anothers fault?

[ironzealot]

why should i care about the welfare of others?
Others aren't me!

[RedSkunk]

Have any suggestions on how to combat cynicism and apathy? I feel like most people become apathetic after they come to the assumption that they cannot change things. So the first step in combatting apathy is empowering people by showing them how they can make a difference in the world. Eh?