I used to believe that humans were inherently good. Being cruel or mean, or being a liar and a thief was a matter of childhood construction.
The perfect little children were treated badly somewhere and then somehow (justly so) became angry and mean.
I never gave DNA much credit for behaviors, thinking and character. I thought that the world crafted each child based on the environment of the child and the environment that parents live in. I still believe that all of this is relevant information, but oh, was I wrong about DNA.
There is a cruelty gene, there is a selfish gene, just as there is a loving gene and a kindness gene. Socialization forces us to behavior and that behavior hides our true self. For some of us, that means that our loving character is quiet, for some of us that means our feral nature is crouching and waiting to lash out.
I wish that I would have known this sooner. I would not have tried so hard to have relationships with some people; I would not have tried so hard to help others. I would have developed a discerning eye that could assist me with determining the difference between a cruel person and a good person lashing out because of pain.
This is another observation that I have noted with the selfish and mean that are among us. They understand that they must justify their meanness from time to time. They devise elaborate victim stories with sketchy details and even sketchier outcomes. These victim stories are nothing more than tools to gain access to a good person’s psyche. The cruel and mean are seldom suffering, rather they are planning ways for others to suffer.
It is a shame that so many people are selfish and mean. It is a blessing that so many people are loving and kind.
Which one are you. No question, only statement.
