Humanity is basically...

[TDAS04]

What do you think?

[RFayette]

Evil

[Antonio the Sixth]

Neither.  Since human thoughts and emotions are the only available basis for a secular definition of good and evil, defining humanity as good or evil a priori would render the concept tautological.

[Georg Ebner]

"The AntiChrist will very likely have been mankind." (GOMEZ DAVILA)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Trapped by its own cognitive categories.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Evil

[DC Al Fine]

Evil

[RINO Tom]

Good

[Del Tachi]

Evil

[TDAS04]

For me, this was a pretty easy vote for neither.  Humans are clearly capable of unspeakable evil, as anyone with a basic knowledge of history would understand, so viewing humanity as basically good is naive.

On the other hand, people are also capable of great good.  Dwelling on our bad side can make the notion of an evil humanity something of self-fulfilling prophecy.  Throughout history, people have used the supposed evil nature of their fellow humans as justification to oppress them, and--ironically--through such oppression, do a pretty good job at proving themselves correct.

I don't understand why the human potential for evil would necessarily be a reason for conservative policies, such as strong and strict authority.  Why should any human be trusted with so much power?  Authority is a necessary evil, but should primarily be used to protect us from each other.

[Deleted User #4049]

Neither. Every person faces their own struggle between good and evil.

[Beet]

Conservatives who are saying evil are basically trying their hardest to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. But since they are not all people, I am forced to choose Neither.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I would say that humanity is basically good. Everyone values good, and at least wants others to do good. If you accuse someone else of doing wrong, you don't expect that person to turn around and say "yes, and what of it". Even the worst villains have some rant that justifies their actions as being good, because we all understand that it is better to be good than it is to be evil.

     As for why people often do evil if our nature is fundamentally good, Virgil wrote "The gates of hell are open night and day; / Smooth the descent, and easy is the way". While he is speaking of literally entering Hades here, this phrase also applies metaphorically. Doing the right thing is hard and doing wrong is easy. All things being equal people would rather be good, but it is never equal between the respective paths of virtue and perdition.

[dead0man]

The vast majority of the many thousands of people I've met have been good animals that care about the young, the weak and the elderly.  Humans regularly travel thousands of miles to help other humans (and sometimes non-humans) lead better lives.  Humans, in my experience, have been >85% "good".

Cats, on the other hand, have not done any of those things.  I don't know if every cat with the ability catch a mouse tortures them, but certainly every one I've ever known has.  Cats are evil.

[dead0man]

also, it's interesting how even the results are (except for the moderate hero Dems).

[Ban my account ffs!]

The vast majority of the many thousands of people I've met have been good animals that care about the young, the weak and the elderly.  Humans regularly travel thousands of miles to help other humans (and sometimes non-humans) lead better lives.  Humans, in my experience, have been >85% "good".

Cats, on the other hand, have not done any of those things.  I don't know if every cat with the ability catch a mouse tortures them, but certainly every one I've ever known has.  Cats are evil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRhV8YoEUqA

if you watch this closely ..Tara (the cat) comes off the porch..throws her weight against the dog..kicks out with her back feet to push the dog away..when she lands she puts herself between the boy and the dog , once she sees the dog moving away Tara goes after the dog to chase it away. As soon as she feels the dog is far enough away she turns and runs right back to check on the boy, then keeps herself between the boy and the dog till he gets in the house ..that my friends is clear intent to protect the boy..so amazing to watch
(first comment on the video)

[TJ in Oregon]

Good. Humanity was created in the image and likeness of God. We are fallen, but still fundamentally good at our core. My experience in interacting with others has largely born this out: we may have a lot of baggage but somewhere deep down in everyone is a desire for the good, however submerged it might be.

[afleitch]

Good.

Our evolutionary inheritance makes us bonders, socialisers and nurturers. If we were more bad than good we'd have never made it.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Ah yes, once again... post edited for pointing out people who get away with homophobic posts on the forum.  Maybe I should just point them out in my signature or something.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Ah yes, once again... post edited for pointing out people who get away with homophobic posts on the forum.  Maybe I should just point them out in my signature or something.

How is RFayette "better" than DC? How is TJ, an "optimist", exempt? What does this thread have to do with any of that?

[Ban my account ffs!]

Ah yes, once again... post edited for pointing out people who get away with homophobic posts on the forum.  Maybe I should just point them out in my signature or something.

How is RFayette "better" than DC? How is TJ, an "optimist", exempt? What does this thread have to do with any of that?

So it was reported because I implied RFayette was better than other posters?  It was moderated because I didn't call TJ a homophobe?

It was an observation I had... that three of the posters in this thread that voted "evil" have a history of saying homophobic things on the forum.  And one gets his undies all in a bundle when you call him out for it.

So I like to call them out for it whenever and whereever I can.

The offense that they feel by me calling them homophobes is infinitesimally small compared to the offense and distress they cause me by their words, beliefs, and actions.

One of them was lamenting how awful it would be to be rejected by your family for being a Christian in another thread... oh the HORROR!  It's not like a particular group of people isn't used to being rejected by friends, family, Christianity, society for something they actually have no ability to change.

But please... carry on.  Edit my posts.  Delete them.  Consider the term "homophobe" excessive hyperbole if you would like. 

It continues the trend of the mod team not at all reflecting the demographics of the forum at large and that will only lead to more clashes.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Ah yes, once again... post edited for pointing out people who get away with homophobic posts on the forum.  Maybe I should just point them out in my signature or something.

How is RFayette "better" than DC? How is TJ, an "optimist", exempt? What does this thread have to do with any of that?

So it was reported because I implied RFayette was better than other posters?  It was moderated because I didn't call TJ a homophobe?

It was an observation I had... that three of the posters in this thread that voted "evil" have a history of saying homophobic things on the forum.  And one gets his undies all in a bundle when you call him out for it.

So I like to call them out for it whenever and whereever I can.

The offense that they feel by me calling them homophobes is infinitesimally small compared to the offense and distress they cause me by their words, beliefs, and actions.

One of them was lamenting how awful it would be to be rejected by your family for being a Christian in another thread... oh the HORROR!  It's not like a particular group of people isn't used to being rejected by friends, family, Christianity, society for something they actually have no ability to change.

But please... carry on.  Edit my posts.  Delete them.  Consider the term "homophobe" excessive hyperbole if you would like. 

It continues the trend of the mod team not at all reflecting the demographics of the forum at large and that will only lead to more clashes.

Oh no, I was just asking.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Your questions were meant to trivialize my accusations, justify your moderating action, and dismiss my strong feelings about those posters religion based homophobia by claiming I'm going off topic.

And your classification of my post as excessive hyperbole is insulting.  It says something personal about your opinion of me.  I guess I should just act detached and apathetic and quietly nihilistic and I can work my way up to modship and protect the forum gays the way the Christian mods cater to their ilk.

[afleitch]

Your questions were meant to trivialize my accusations, justify your moderating action, and dismiss my strong feelings about those posters religion based homophobia by claiming I'm going off topic.

And your classification of my post as excessive hyperbole is insulting.  It says something personal about your opinion of me.  I guess I should just act detached and apathetic and quietly nihilistic and I can work my way up to modship and protect the forum gays the way the Christian mods cater to their ilk.

You're not wrong.

[Kingpoleon]

Ah yes, once again... post edited for pointing out people who get away with homophobic posts on the forum.  Maybe I should just point them out in my signature or something.

How is RFayette "better" than DC? How is TJ, an "optimist", exempt? What does this thread have to do with any of that?

So it was reported because I implied RFayette was better than other posters?  It was moderated because I didn't call TJ a homophobe?

It was an observation I had... that three of the posters in this thread that voted "evil" have a history of saying homophobic things on the forum.  And one gets his undies all in a bundle when you call him out for it.

So I like to call them out for it whenever and whereever I can.

The offense that they feel by me calling them homophobes is infinitesimally small compared to the offense and distress they cause me by their words, beliefs, and actions.

One of them was lamenting how awful it would be to be rejected by your family for being a Christian in another thread... oh the HORROR!  It's not like a particular group of people isn't used to being rejected by friends, family, Christianity, society for something they actually have no ability to change.

But please... carry on.  Edit my posts.  Delete them.  Consider the term "homophobe" excessive hyperbole if you would like. 

It continues the trend of the mod team not at all reflecting the demographics of the forum at large and that will only lead to more clashes.

RFayette is not a homophobe, and I certainly hope you never claimed such a thing.

Evil - mankind falters in the face of injustice, and there is not one whose motives and actions are constantly good, whose words and deeds are constantly for the benefit of others.