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Hope is an incredibly powerful tool. It can help humans persevere through the most painful experiences, and it keeps many of us going at the end of the day. Even if nothing went your way this week, you can hold onto the hope that everything will turn around next week. None of us can predict the future, so for all you know, something amazing will happen!
But being optimistic can be exhausting at times. And some people have decided that they have to give up on views and ideas that just aren’t realistic. Redditors have recently been discussing things that they just can't believe in anymore, so we’ve gathered some of their brutally honest replies below. We realize that this isn’t the most uplifting topic, but we hope it inspires you to finally let go of anything that’s no longer serving you.
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#1
American's intelligence
Edit: as a German just f**k you. You still look at Germany and point your finger at us. Asking us how WWII happened. Now look into the f*****g mirror. THIS is how it happened. If he pushes his project 2025 through then you will have THE EXACT same thing but on a MUCH larger scale.
Freya the Wanderer 1 year ago
Often times the leader of a country reflects its character. By electing the Orange Ogre, a convicted felon and horrible businessman, as our POTUS, the voting public - as a whole - have said loud and clear that the USA is racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, horrifically ignorant, and dumber than a sack of potatoes.
Crissy Brandt 1 year ago
Yup, and I hope they realize they are on the wrong side of history sooner than later.
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Linda Riebel 1 year ago
Sorry to say you're right. We're terrified over here. The sane ones, that is.
Tim Wiegand 1 year ago
The sane ones on tiktok saying they wish harm onto Trump supporters?
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Bill 1 year ago
As an American with a Dad who was stationed in Germany in the Army in the 60"s I have to say my faamily bears no animosity at all. When someone says Germany I think of a good Lager and a Brat :) not the guy with the toothbrush moustache. We get it here too dude. Ppl point at us and think slavery is still our fault and I was born in 1966 man. I thought the big hair and those big a*s combs were cool lol. Racism is still rampant here though and that breaks my heart. I love my country but I am embarrassed for condition we are in now. You can curse at me but still got nothing but love. We are all human, skeletons all look the same, rich, poor, idiot, genius.
Waldie 1 year ago
As a german I really appreciate to not get blame finally (in the end it wasn´t up to me since I didn´t live there so I don´t feel shame or anything towards that, still nice to see) So I don´t think you should feel bad how USA is now. It isn´t just up to you - you do what you can do and the rest is also up to others.
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Nimitz 1 year ago
As a Canadian who's always paid attention, watching the slide from Reagan to Bush Sr. to Bush Jr to Trump has been insane. Every year they get a little bit worse. Every year they cut more education and ban more books.
Georgy 1 year ago (edited)
The country is sliding into authoritarianism followed by chaos followed by implosion followed by irrelevance.
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Gunný Petersen 1 year ago (edited)
Ignorance is not a blessing! This is why í will never go to the US. Nothing is right there. How can a convicted fellon rapist á traitor child molester a tax fraud and the most stupid person on the planet and so many other bad things get to be a president? There is something seriously wrong with more than half of the US population! Just WOW!! Go be a fascisist country if you really want it so much but leave the rest of us alone!!
Emie N. 1 year ago
The rest of us Americans who never wanted him are scared. The sane of us don't want to be a fascist country. We're going to fight against it the best that we can.
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Tim Wiegand 1 year ago
He was president before and guess what? None of the things people feared about him doing happened
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penguino (they/them) 1 year ago
As an American OP is 100% correct lolol - we have a prison fruit for a leader so…
Tim Wiegand 1 year ago
As part of the majority of American's, this is not 100% true. You got to look at issues from both sides and not just listen to randos on the internet saying baseless things
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keyboardtek 1 year ago
If one looks at tech industry, a huge percentage of the smart workers come from Asia: India, Chinese, Korea. White men in America with intelligence are becoming fewer and fewer. So I wonder if trump plans to deport all the high tech Asian workers?
Robin Roper 1 year ago
For the past week, I've had a hard time being among others. I know so many people voted for the rapist and sexual abuser. It's appalling.
StrangeOne 1 year ago
At least their presidents are so old they can't last in power for too long.
primeline31 1 year ago
But the man he chose for vice president is also bad...
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Sven Horlemann 1 year ago
I would have phrased it more diplomatic, but I share the sentiment. I really fear for freedom in the US.
WinterLady 1 year ago
I officially lost the small amount of respect that I still had for Americans
Lee Henderson 1 year ago
I don't think many Americans still blame all Germans for what Hitler did. I was born in1960 (15 years after the war ended) and, as a child, the only people hating Germans were old soldiers and old Jews. But make the most of your indignation.
Geoffrey Scott 1 year ago
Not to say it wouldn't happen, but we do have enough checks and balances in place to seriously muck up any visions of grandeur. There are SO many who are watching very closely to try to prevent the idol worship from becoming something more nefarious.
Pferdchen 1 year ago
I envy you your optimism. As for checks and balances... Look out for recess appointments, as opposed to Senate confirmation hearings. Not that it matters, congressional Republicans are all in, so no resistance there. Beware the reclassification of federal jobs, making them political appointments; makes it easy to get rid of anyone and replace them with "yes" men. The Supreme Court is already in the tank. I fear that the military may be deployed on American soil to implement the deportations. If I could get out of the country, I would.
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Nikole 1 year ago
What are you talking about? It was created by the Heritage Foundation! You know what… never mind. There’s really no point in responding.
Load More Replies... 
RELATED:
#2
The intelligence and compassion of my fellow humans.
It turns out that decades of catering to the lowest common denominator has reduced our species to selfish, brutish animals who avoid thinking at any cost.
The world is literally on fire, but too many people would rather have someone else do all of the hard thinking for them and then complain about the consequences later.
Edit:
I can no longer hold empathy or patience for the willfully ignorant.
I'm tired of living in a world where people willingly avoid any form of critical thinking by having someone else make the "big decisions" for them - only to then whine about the consequences for their actions.
I'm tired of living in a world where people are mocked for being learned. Where literacy is considered a niche interest. Where people deride artists, but demand the fruits of their labor.
I'm tired of being in a world where someone's worth is centered around how much money they have.
I'm tired of people stepping over their neighbors in order to get ahead.
I'm tired of people demanding the benefits of living in a society, while complaining about having to contribute to it.
I'm just done with people in general.
It turns out that actual intelligence is such a rare quality in humans that it's practically a rounding error at this point.
#3
Karma. Bad people do bad things and get away with it.
Lucifer 1 year ago (edited)
Technically(according to the teachings), karma doesn't follow our timeline. A lot of people get the concept of karma worng. The westernised version is not what it is. To have Karma enact "justice" according to our calendar so that we have some semblance of normalcy is not how it works.
#5
That hard work alone ensures success. I've seen too many cases when the appropriate timing and connectivity are required.
#6
Right now? On election night? I've stopped believing in America. The dream that was America that was drilled into me as a child of the 70s and 80s. That all people actually had an equal voice. That justice ruled the land. That we were a UNITED States.
Thats all gone.
Its every man for himself and "f**k you, I've got mine".
Maybe my blinders are finally off. Maybe its always been that way.
In any case, my belief in the "Shining City on the hill" is dead.
Its all over, and I will mourn its loss.
Lucifer 1 year ago (edited)
United States always had the disinformation problem. From the American Exceptionalism myth to the shining city on the hill to the greatest country in the world, is propaganda. Instead of dealing with the problems head on, there was this delusion created to keep the masses dis/misinformed and vote against their interests. George Carlin and other comedians and philosophers have spotted it and tried to inform.
#7
I no longer believe the United States will remain a democracy.
Lucifer 1 year ago
"A demagogue who is elected POTUS after fomenting fear and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and "traditional" values. After his election, " "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." -- From It can't happen here by Sinclair Lewis in 1935
#8
Faith in my fellow human beings. LMAO what a joke. I thought we were better than this but here are.
#9
I no longer believe that integrity matters, or that laws have meaning, or that the truth is important.
detective miller's hat 1 year ago
"laws" are just rules that the rich may break and the poor may not
#10
I no longer believe in the idea that 'everything happens for a reason.' Sometimes, things just happen—random, unplanned, and without deeper meaning. I've found it more comforting to focus on making the best of what life throws my way rather than trying to search for some cosmic justification behind every tough moment. Sometimes, life is chaotic and unpredictable, and that’s okay. It’s what we do with it that matters most.
#11
The Mormon church. I was a member for 21 years. I hated it. I hated what I had to believe. I hated the kind of person I had to be. I hated everything about the church. But I believed it was 100 percent true. So I lived it for 21 years. The day I let myself accept it wasn't true was one of the most freeing feeling I've ever experienced.
#12
That I was supposed to know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life at 18.
The Big Bad 1 year ago
Maybe you'll never figure it out. Just be open to learning new things. Enjoy the scenic route.
#13
People, Justice, and Common sense.
#14
The decency of my neighbors. Trump won this round decisively, the American people have spoken and they want... *That*.
Geoffrey Scott 1 year ago
Yes, but...he says he has a mandate, but just north of 50% does not a mandate make.
#15
I dunno. I don't really believe in anything anymore. Life in general is an empty, meaningless slog. I admire those who can enjoy it because it's impossible for me.
Katarzyna Drozd 1 year ago
If you are not able to feel happiness anymore, please go check for depression/ anhedonia. I wish I would go for treatment much earlier instead of listening to my mother claiming praying is answer for everything. Praying is not gonna treat a sickness. Doctors will.
#16
That most Americans are not stupid.
Lucifer 1 year ago (edited)
They are not. But they have lost the ability to think critically & analytically. That's by design. Defunding education will let you keep the low informed even less informed or push a lot of disinformation, they'll listen to simplest story. And they'll do it again by getting rid of DOE.
#17
I no longer believe in 'finding the right time'. If you wait for something to happen, you can always find an excuse not to start it.
#18
The future of our Constitutional Republic. Clearly this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause.
Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago
Clearly some people here don't get the Star Wars reference. Amidala's words have made me shiver then and now
#19
Democracy. I no longer see republicans as people.
Nancy Bania 1 year ago
When one person can do all the horrible, inhumane, illegal, cruel, hateful, despicable, repugnant things, get away with them AND people love him for it, that's a Republican. Those people that can say democrats do those things are liars, fools and cultists.
#20
the fallacy that one can function with less than eight hours of sleep. People, coffee can only do so much.
#21
That facts matter. narrative is more important.
Sven Horlemann 1 year ago
Upcoming liar-in-chief just proofed this. Or let's say, he did proof he is a great sales man.
#22
The idea that humans are basically good (in the sense of morality) and intelligent (in the sense of wisdom).
Historically, and as events over the last couple years have continued to highlight, culminating with the election results in the US...humans are simply a more advanced form of primate. We are - in general - tribal, selfish, and greedy. And emotionally stupid.
Contrary to our religious aspirational ideals, our complex philosophical navel-gazing or our grandiose self assumptions, humans as a whole contain no inherent or ingrained virtue beyond that of any other animal. And in certain areas of our behavior, such as with our wars of political expediency and the choices demonstrated in the USA election, we are abjectly f*****g pathetic.
#23
The decency and intelligence and sense of ethics of the vast majority of humans.
Most people are not bad, but indifferent to evil and they refuse to learn, to understand the world around them, to understand cause and effect and to have at least the basic empathy.
Most people are not bad, but they want bad people to govern and they don't care about evil unless evil and bad policies affect them directly. And I mean directly them, not their family their friends, their community. Them.
Nikole 1 year ago
First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me.
#24
The survival of the human race in the face of climate change.
Freya the Wanderer 1 year ago
Humans are tough critters, and some of us will survive. I doubt that the rich hogs (my apologies to pigs) will, though. Even if they get to their bug-out bunkers, they'll have to come out eventually - and they have zero survival skills.
#25
Remember when we were all little kids and it was drilled into our heads how we were the best nation in the world? Welp.
#26
That humans are good by default. This election result was the final nail in the coffin.
#27
That adults have everything figured out and their life is a smooth journey on a fixed path.
keyboardtek 1 year ago
My wife had her life planed since she was a teen. I was just along for the ride.
#28
Humanity.
Lucifer 1 year ago (edited)
“I frankly don’t give a f**k how it all turns out in this country—or anywhere else, for that matter. I think the human game was up a long time ago (when the high priests and traders took over), and now we’re just playing out the string. And that is, of course, precisely what I find so amusing: the slow circling of the drain by a once promising species.” - George Carlin. The sad part is that a lot of selfish, greedy humans will also cause the extinction of other species.
#30
The belief that people can influence others. I've learnt that people must want to improve themselves, you cannot do it for them.
#31
When people say they care about you. Love you. Will always be there for you. F*****g liars.
#32
That apathy won't prevail. 81M people came out to vote for Biden in 2020. At the time of writing this, only 64M voted for Harris and Trump is a mere three seats away from the presidency, despite everything we know about him by now.
Even Trump didn't reach his 2020 high of 74M though: at present, he's sitting at 69M. So even when you account for voters who switched sides, or Republicans who abstained, or whatever other scenarios might exist whereby people aren't just blindly choosing red or blue, 22M-odd people chose *not* to vote this time - most of them, in all likelihood, would-be Democrats.
Whatever their reasons, that's their prerogative. But for all of us outside of America, we're scratching our heads wondering why the turn-out was so weak considering the stakes. It's not like Trump increased his turn-out either; so the only answer is that, ultimately, a shitload of Americans are OK with it. They might not have voted for it, but they didn't vote against it either.
Y'all need compulsory voting, or at least forcing people to rock up and tick their names off. And change the voting date to a weekend. F**k your historical reasons for it being on a Tuesday. Fight apathy by forcing people to at least show up. If that still means Trump won, then so be it - but at least it'll be a group decision, and not merely the will of a quarter of you.
#34
Anything the media says.
fly on the wall 1 year ago
No. Do not give up. Somewhere there are young idealists starting a fact based information dissemination service. You/we have to find it, and support it. The stakes are too high to give up. The first steps are teach our kids: "what do I believe, and why do I believe it".
#35
That Humanity will survive to see 2080.
#37
I don't believe in perfection any more. Chasing it just left me fatigued, so I'm now settling for 'good enough', which has been much healthier!
Geoffrey Scott 1 year ago
Good enough usually is, while perfection is a pain in the a*s and generally is not rewarded by the extra effort.
#40
Democracy.
#42
Everything occurs for a reason." Sometimes things just happen, and trying to make sense of it all can drive you insane.
#43
People's ability to find common ground. I want the best for my fellow humans and if they feel the same then we can move forward.
What do you think ?
Trisec Tebeakesse 1 year ago
“the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” No, no it doesn't. That arc is straightened out and heading away from the truth at an alarming rate.
Pamacious 1 year ago
Sick of people privileged enough to complain about political talk.
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Ben Stubbs 1 year ago
So mostly, this thread is about America (<5% of the our planets population), it's perception of it's own values. Still, it will have a new President in January x
Georgy 1 year ago
The US began to emerge as a globally significant country in the C19th century. It became a superpower after WWII. Its slide downwards became apparent with the credit crunch, with its acceleration to decline and collapse just starting. Asia's rise will continue. The World is changing ; as it always does. Nothing is constant.
Cathy Roberts 1 year ago
Please don’t abandon those of us who try every day to fight against this. We need your support. :(
Kristal 1 year ago
I understand the bleak outlook of the future and humanity based upon the events in the US. However, I caution all that don't believe: apathy will let things get worse. I'm not saying have hope, I'm saying don't let people with dangerous passion (of hatred and greed) beat you and keep you down. Find your own passion to make yourself, and perhaps others, believe again.
Anony Mouse 1 year ago
How many different ways do you have to say America is garbage? We get it. You hate us. You hate us more than Russia, North Korea, and Afghanistan combined. We are the literal worst. Can we please go back to celebrating art, humor, and cute animals?
Georgy 1 year ago
Please link to a comment or post about hating the US more than Russia, North Korea and Afghanistan.
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StrangeOne 1 year ago
I'm going a different route. Residual hauntings being from actual spirits trapped in their past lives, and doppelgangers being evil demons. Doppelgangers are probably the most common reports of the paranormal. I don't believe they are bad omens. I believe they are tied more to residual hauntings than demons. I don't believe residual hauntings are necessarily spirit related. There is a theory I have been expanding on in regards to environmental materials, like granite, limestone and marble, and water, can hold energetic vibrations and frequencies, such as sounds, smells and visuals, just like a camera, or tape recorder. When the environmental conditions are just right, repeated from when these events were captured in the same conditions, you'll see, hear and smell them again. People have reported seeing "apparitions" of those still living. Living people have seen their doppelgangers. We call it paranormal, demonic because we don't know how to explain it.
HolyDiver 1 year ago
The amount of overhyped emotional drama about an election is unreal. The world is not going to end, 51% of the American population are not unintelligent Nazi's. Life decisions are not black and white. the President of the USA is NOT that powerful and people who scream the the shy is falling every time they don't get their way seriously need therapy.
Cathy Roberts 1 year ago
Soooo does that include people who put on their Nazi gear and their proud boys gear and their confederate gear and go storm in the capital building? Just asking for a friend. Also, you realize he’s got the house and senate too, correct? Thirdly, pardon us for being upset that some of us are going to lose rights. two women just died in texas last week because they couldn’t get anyone to help with their miscarriages. Call call me crazy but the idea of having to drive a loved one around from clinic to clinic hoping someone will help them while they’re hemorrhaging is a little upsetting. Your hypocrisy is astounding. How about this… Take down your blue lives matter flag because you just voted for a felon. Take down your American flag because you clearly don’t believe in liberty and Justice for all. And you can take your cross off too because let me tell you Jesus Christ would not have been a fan of Donald Trump. No, 51% of the country are not Nazis, but 51% of the country are OK voting for the same guy as the Nazis and the clan a voted for and I happen to think that’s worth making noise about. (Note….still not storming the capital so maybe settle down with your remark about people being overly dramatic)
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Trisec Tebeakesse 1 year ago
“the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” No, no it doesn't. That arc is straightened out and heading away from the truth at an alarming rate.
Pamacious 1 year ago
Sick of people privileged enough to complain about political talk.
Load More Replies... Ben Stubbs 1 year ago
So mostly, this thread is about America (<5% of the our planets population), it's perception of it's own values. Still, it will have a new President in January x
Georgy 1 year ago
The US began to emerge as a globally significant country in the C19th century. It became a superpower after WWII. Its slide downwards became apparent with the credit crunch, with its acceleration to decline and collapse just starting. Asia's rise will continue. The World is changing ; as it always does. Nothing is constant.
Cathy Roberts 1 year ago
Please don’t abandon those of us who try every day to fight against this. We need your support. :(
Kristal 1 year ago
I understand the bleak outlook of the future and humanity based upon the events in the US. However, I caution all that don't believe: apathy will let things get worse. I'm not saying have hope, I'm saying don't let people with dangerous passion (of hatred and greed) beat you and keep you down. Find your own passion to make yourself, and perhaps others, believe again.
Anony Mouse 1 year ago
How many different ways do you have to say America is garbage? We get it. You hate us. You hate us more than Russia, North Korea, and Afghanistan combined. We are the literal worst. Can we please go back to celebrating art, humor, and cute animals?
Georgy 1 year ago
Please link to a comment or post about hating the US more than Russia, North Korea and Afghanistan.
Load More Replies... StrangeOne 1 year ago
I'm going a different route. Residual hauntings being from actual spirits trapped in their past lives, and doppelgangers being evil demons. Doppelgangers are probably the most common reports of the paranormal. I don't believe they are bad omens. I believe they are tied more to residual hauntings than demons. I don't believe residual hauntings are necessarily spirit related. There is a theory I have been expanding on in regards to environmental materials, like granite, limestone and marble, and water, can hold energetic vibrations and frequencies, such as sounds, smells and visuals, just like a camera, or tape recorder. When the environmental conditions are just right, repeated from when these events were captured in the same conditions, you'll see, hear and smell them again. People have reported seeing "apparitions" of those still living. Living people have seen their doppelgangers. We call it paranormal, demonic because we don't know how to explain it.
HolyDiver 1 year ago
The amount of overhyped emotional drama about an election is unreal. The world is not going to end, 51% of the American population are not unintelligent Nazi's. Life decisions are not black and white. the President of the USA is NOT that powerful and people who scream the the shy is falling every time they don't get their way seriously need therapy.
Cathy Roberts 1 year ago
Soooo does that include people who put on their Nazi gear and their proud boys gear and their confederate gear and go storm in the capital building? Just asking for a friend. Also, you realize he’s got the house and senate too, correct? Thirdly, pardon us for being upset that some of us are going to lose rights. two women just died in texas last week because they couldn’t get anyone to help with their miscarriages. Call call me crazy but the idea of having to drive a loved one around from clinic to clinic hoping someone will help them while they’re hemorrhaging is a little upsetting. Your hypocrisy is astounding. How about this… Take down your blue lives matter flag because you just voted for a felon. Take down your American flag because you clearly don’t believe in liberty and Justice for all. And you can take your cross off too because let me tell you Jesus Christ would not have been a fan of Donald Trump. No, 51% of the country are not Nazis, but 51% of the country are OK voting for the same guy as the Nazis and the clan a voted for and I happen to think that’s worth making noise about. (Note….still not storming the capital so maybe settle down with your remark about people being overly dramatic)
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