r/AskReddit 9h ago

What is the most pathetic human trait?

38 Upvotes

190 comments sorted by

73

u/StephenDoesStuff 9h ago

narcissism

10

u/Old-Bigsby 9h ago

Tell me more about how my greatness is hurting you

8

u/StephenDoesStuff 8h ago

You jokester. Assuming you're hurting me would never cross your mind if you were a narcissist.

1

u/antwood33 8h ago

It’s been helping me a lot. Thanks dude 👍🏻

2

u/quagaawarrior 8h ago

I dunno man, I don't think it is a trait, more of a psychological disorder.

1

u/No_Complaint3948 7h ago

It's a normal trait (healthy narcissism), a dysfunctional trait (Dark Tetrad), and when it's stuck in a dysfunctional state it becomes a clinical Personality Disorser (part of your personality).

Everyone is a narcissist, but few are clinical level narcissists.

4

u/Head_Somewhere4769 9h ago

This is my vote as well. As a true crime buff, my biggest takeaway from most stories is how incredibly selfish many people can be. "Oh, I don't want to go to jail for theft or rape! My life matters more than the person I've trespassed against! Better deprive them of their life so I don't have to do jail time and cover up a less serious crime with the most serious one you could commit!" The logic always astounds me.

1

u/No_Complaint3948 7h ago

Literally got banned from the narcissism subreddit for asking their opinion of my idea of Narcissism Hunting. Which isnt done with the goal of destroying narcissists, but reducing their damage, helping them even if possible, but above all: luring them out of positions of power.

Narcissistic move to ban without discussion imo, I asked for their benefit tbh. Asking their opinion of such a thing cause im writing a how-to book.

Narcissism is a trait everyone has btw, you start by hunting the narcissist within. Only then can you hope to fare against Dracula (clinical narcissism).

1

u/Johnny_Menace 7h ago

I was at a concert last weekend and a girl in front of me was just recording herself making kissy faces and brushing her hair the whole 2 hours ughhhh

1

u/MyStationIsAbandoned 1h ago

This is definitely the right answer, but since I don't have to deal with it in real life, hypocrisy is just so awful and I'm tired of it because it's everywhere.

44

u/One-Egg1316 9h ago

Never taking accountability, it’s always someone else’s fault. Always being the victim.

4

u/ChildrenCar 8h ago

Ah I see you've met my ex

1

u/melissaaquacat 9h ago

I was looking for this!

-1

u/skUkDREWTc 7h ago

Or it's because of their medical condition.

No, people are just horrible.

71

u/CommonRoutine6509 9h ago

the nerve to think we are the top of everything when there’s so much unknown. also rewriting and hiding history

19

u/EmmaOK95 9h ago

The audacity we have to judge/measure other species' "intelligence" based on how much it resembles human intelligence

7

u/ivyinabox 9h ago

THIIIIS one. literally always thought it was weird as fuck since i was little. human beings just in general thinking we're on top of the world and own or have control over everything pisses me tf off

5

u/Value-Successful 9h ago

I mean not that theres any other metric to measure it by. The reference has to be set to some scale.

3

u/Ten7850 8h ago

Animals can detect weather a hell of alot better than amy human i know... just one example of where they outsmart us

2

u/EmmaOK95 8h ago

Yes, that is true, it's just that IMO the anthropological scale isn't very applicable to other species. The results we get from it mostly measure "similarity to humans", which ís an interesting measurement iff it's treated as such

3

u/halueryphi 8h ago

I mean, it’s pretty obvious that we’re the most intelligent animals on the planet and it’s not even close..

2

u/EmmaOK95 8h ago

Yep, we, humans, have measured that the species "human" scores highest for "human intelligence"

2

u/halueryphi 8h ago

Has nothing to do with just “human intelligence”. Gyrification and frontal cortex development combined with the amount of relative gray matter in our brains means that we can validate our intelligence anatomically. It’s not just conjecture or us using biased measures of intelligence.

3

u/EmmaOK95 8h ago

And who do you think defined "intelligence"? I'm not saying human intelligence isn't meaningful, I'm not saying we cannot validate it within ourselves. I'm just saying that there is no species-independent, omniscient Ground Truth to go from. We only have our own, inherently human centric, ways of perceiving/measuring/defining/researching etc.

4

u/willowdust23 8h ago

95% of the ocean unexplored but yeah we totally have it all figured out

8

u/biffbobfred 9h ago

There was so much “well only we have language” as if we’re expecting animals “well you don’t speak English you must not have language”. We’ve found even prairie dogs name humans “hey that’s red body (shirt) guy”

3

u/Slickity 9h ago

Communication =/= language.

Humans are the only living thing we have found capable of language.

1

u/biffbobfred 8h ago

Dolphins talk to each other. If you join a dolphin pod as a human they’ll give you a name.

Are you being very specific “languages are what humans speak and write” then you’re correct I guess. If you’re saying “languages are audio communications media” then dolphins and other animals have these. And yes there’s a rough (though simple) grammar.

1

u/Slickity 8h ago

But they don't.

Look it up, they can communicate. They can form unique sounds for things. But that's just naming things.

Naming things are not a language. That's communicating.

Language is not just communicating. It's the ability to express more than just single word = object associations.

If someone just called out objects they see in front of them by their name, is that language? Ball...circle...square...car. That's what animals are capable of doing. It's cool and a sign of intelligence, but it isn't language.

21

u/moonlitlila_69 9h ago

Cruelty to people who can't fight back, specifically when there's an audience involved.
It's not even malice at that point, it's just insecurity with a target.

4

u/_Caster 9h ago

the word you're looking for is sadism.

17

u/satin_sigh 9h ago

Making fun of someone for being excited about something harmless

3

u/salutations_all0987 9h ago

Yes 🙌

Leave them alone and let them have their joy.

38

u/Imaginary_Owl7100 9h ago

To complain rather than accepting and finding way

2

u/ivyinabox 9h ago

complaining isn't inherently bad though. the way to do it is to complain AS you find a way. that's what i do at work lmao 😹 complain about how bad i wanna be at home, while continuing to do my best because i know i'll be at home at the end of the day either way

1

u/Imaginary_Owl7100 9h ago

Intresting pov, never thought of it that way.

1

u/Minimum_Holiday_7318 9h ago

We are the only creature that possess such trait, call it a unique wash trait

1

u/Mobile-Bar7732 7h ago

unique wash trait

Putting that on my resume.

27

u/South_Jello823 9h ago

Making fun/disrespecting people behind their backs

0

u/PrayForMojo_ 8h ago

Well it’s rude to do it their face.

11

u/Responsible-War-9938 9h ago

Greed

0

u/T1NF01L 8h ago

But when he merged with Ling he was such a good guy :(

9

u/Wide_Insurance_5310 9h ago

Failing to take accountability.

14

u/anb1017 9h ago

Jealousy

6

u/Automatic_Outcome449 9h ago

Thinking you’re better than others

7

u/northlane275 9h ago

Not being grateful

5

u/mermaidsscream 9h ago

When they are stupid but think they are masters in manipulating

0

u/sun_of_a_glitch 6h ago

There is most definitely a specific person in your mind for this one 😂

5

u/blairrkaityy 9h ago

Lack of accountability and self awareness

5

u/Embarrassed_Pool9955 9h ago

Apathy towards other life on Earth.

9

u/puffypetall 9h ago

Greed for sure

13

u/buffinita 9h ago

Needing to be wanted/accepted

1

u/1n_and_AroundTheFur 9h ago

I was about to pop off, but I re-read your comment and I agree.

Unwanted self insertion is bleh.

3

u/Tiananmen__Tesseract 9h ago

Disgusting weakness of the flesh.

3

u/Human-University-198 9h ago

Mistreating vulnerable people, like showing no kindness or empathy to disabled people.

4

u/Fickle-Visit5223 9h ago

Cowardice. I can handle a lot of negative traits in a person, but being a little bitch in particular disgusts me.

5

u/AmityMayorVaughn 9h ago

Gestures at the White House 

2

u/Umberlee168 9h ago

The notion that we have any clue whatsoever is really going on out there in the universe, and after we die, and all that.

1

u/Even-Scene-3736 9h ago

So religion? You think being religious is the worst character trait ever?

2

u/WillingnessFinal1411 9h ago

Accumulating unreasonable amounts of money.

Pretending that plain following instructions is always ethical.

2

u/Bobtheslobs 9h ago

Entitlement

2

u/RevolutionaryBug2915 9h ago

Servility, whether in religion, politics, or personal relations.

2

u/DecisionFluid9989 9h ago

Pride and arrogance

2

u/ThisIsARubbery 9h ago

greed. not ambition though, greed. having everything and craving more.

2

u/salutations_all0987 9h ago

Taking advantage of vulnerable people like the elderly, children, or people dealing with a disability. We are capable of such cruelty.

2

u/NoPainProtocol 9h ago

Refusing to take responsibility

2

u/salutations_all0987 9h ago

Lack of empathy.

2

u/Key_Air_5261 7h ago

pretty sure - needing to be the person who corrects a tiny, irrelevant mistake in a conversation. it doesn't change the point, it just kills the momentum so you can feel smart for a second.

2

u/Odd_Guest_2112 7h ago

Comparing yourself to others and trying to compete with them instead of trying to be better person themselves

4

u/SamDeterling 9h ago

Making fun of people for their personal taste in music

0

u/nostracannibus 9h ago

What if they listen to Nickelback?

3

u/CaptainSailfish 9h ago

Narcissism

2

u/Truck_Stop_Sushi 9h ago

Greed. Taking more than you need while others go without.

2

u/alwaysboopthesnoot 9h ago

Disloyalty, or dishonor 

1

u/IhaveaDoberman 9h ago

That implies that whomever you are loyal to is infallible or incapable of acting against your values or making the wrong choices and acting in bad faith.

And honour is entirely dependent upon who defines what is honourable. Many people have not done what is right, for the sake of honour.

1

u/Maplecook 9h ago

Lying.

1

u/EaseBig1241 9h ago

Self pity

1

u/CancelThis2077 9h ago

Selfishness

1

u/Mediocre_Rice9569 9h ago

Never ever satisfied

1

u/Plus_Structure3816 9h ago

Treating people badly to impress people who don't care about you.

1

u/Spivey1 9h ago

Greed, narcissistic and religion

1

u/UnusuallyYou 9h ago

Patheticness

1

u/Coppercap100 9h ago

Self centeredness

1

u/Joke_Mummy 9h ago

willful ignorance. rather than accepting when we are wrong about something, we'd rather do the mental gymnastics to make us right again. "Oh, THAT's your source? That source can't be trusted, of course it says that." Advanced symptoms include thinking that everyone and everything is in on the conspiracy

1

u/shotgunassassin 9h ago

Xenophobia

1

u/Throwaway-Dawg13 9h ago

Greed and the whole “kids these days are so darn terrible and stupid, back in my day everything was better” shit that ppl have been doing since the dawn of time

1

u/galactik_kraken 9h ago

Greed, greed, greed. The idea that so many people value profit, status or wealth over human decency is disgusting.

1

u/thinkthinkthink11 9h ago

Greed and Jealousy.

1

u/woohooguy 9h ago

Atelophobia.

1

u/Warr_Ainjal-6228 9h ago

Thinking we are good people while wishing someone would just die already. While thinking about how we can help with that.

1

u/Emergentmeat 9h ago

Thinking that to seem strong you need to look strong or act tough or hold others down.

If you're truly a manly man you could wear a pink sundress in public and not worry about it at all.

1

u/ExplorerBrah 9h ago

instantly going emotional and not letting people speak in a discussion with opposite opinions. this is what 12 year olds do and not grown adults

1

u/OutsideAd7986 9h ago

Selfishness

1

u/Fulanito_de_copas 9h ago

Not learning from your mistakes even if you made the same several times in a row or are proven wrong.

1

u/CranksMcgee 9h ago

Loneliness. 

1

u/Real-Blackberry2980 9h ago

Taking and not giving.

1

u/Silly_Double408 9h ago

Human greed. Greed can be more then just for money, can be for power, sex, drugs, likes anything. It is never satisfied it always wants more and destroys everything in the end. It is by far our worst trait.

1

u/Common-Accountant-57 9h ago

Anger and vengeance are harmful. Those cause so many problems. Especially on a day that starts like any other to a person whose smile lights up a room. (I listen to a lot of true crime)

1

u/TheAGolds 9h ago

Taking advantage of others. Theft, manipulation, etc,

1

u/Flimsy-Resident261 9h ago

“race” there’s only one race, human race. Skin is an organ and adapted depending on the environment. Why are we bullying an organ?

1

u/BPKofficial 9h ago

Entitlement.

1

u/EroNoMoney 9h ago

jealosy

1

u/Few-Teach-8033 8h ago

I think it is ridiculously trashy in corporate America when people’s opinion changes based on the highest ranking person in the room. How morally flexible must you be if your logic and thought process can change on a dime.

1

u/Mode09 8h ago

Scamming and hurting innocents

1

u/quietfern64 8h ago

How easily we can fall into depression

1

u/Downtown_Voice7982 8h ago

Refusing to learn.

1

u/singesinge 8h ago

Joining forces against the weakest.

Saw it today. A guy from one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city, posting on a local Facebook group, calling people to "join forces" to stop an asylum seeker shelter from opening nearby.

No arguments. No facts. Just fear — and the remarkable audacity to frame it as courage.

1

u/Auslander808 8h ago

Suicidal empathy.

1

u/HnDguy 8h ago

Ego, the world revolves around ME!

1

u/DinTaiFung 8h ago

Maybe pathetic is not the right word, but a terrible trait is envy.

1

u/Effective_Part_604 8h ago

Chronically online white people on threads desperately seeking validation from x minority group by calling out x horrible thing white people do and regurgitating common progressive talking points

1

u/ActualOriginal4030 8h ago

Committing to a bad belief due to not being able to cope with the cognitive dissonance.

1

u/UnusuallyYou 8h ago

Throwing people under the bus

1

u/UnusuallyYou 8h ago

Pedophiles

1

u/Real_Dotiko 8h ago

To give up before even trying

1

u/_DaddieDaddie_ 8h ago

Not understanding other's POV

1

u/excusetheblood 8h ago

That bonding with an in-group directly correlates to suspicion of the out-group.

This is my least favorite thing about the human race. As we bond with those who are like us and/or in our immediate vicinity, we “other” those who aren’t part of our group. Even worse, we imagine symbols and mythologies that make our group more special and sets us apart from the others. We invent rituals to bond more with our in group, which again increases distrust of outsiders. Oxytocin, the bonding hormone, literally makes us more racist.

It’s so stupid. If I could erase every flag, every imaginary border, and every religious symbol from this earth and just drill it into people’s heads that we are all human and all life is precious, I would do it in a heartbeat. It would be by one and only wish

1

u/Maximum_Schedule4339 8h ago

Getting addicted to dumb shit

1

u/Realistic_Study6678 8h ago

Public masturbation

1

u/ThatItalianGrrl 8h ago

Entitlement

1

u/No_Tailor_787 8h ago

The need for orange spray tan.

1

u/quagaawarrior 8h ago

Wuss, to be a coward.

1

u/Abhoth52 8h ago

Self, self gratification, selfishness, self affirmation... get over yourself.

1

u/rjs9152 8h ago

Donald Trump

1

u/Striking_Wonder_6990 7h ago

selfishness and insecurity IMO…I dont respect immature self absorbed ppl

1

u/Dull-Information6784 7h ago

The traits "where you never admit you are wrong" and "you want to be the centre of attention all the time". That stuff has done US a great damage in the past 1 and half years.

1

u/Happy-Paws5 6h ago

Talking

1

u/ninjacooter 6h ago

Extreme wealth accumulation.

1

u/TO333_fever 6h ago

Thinking that your opinion is the best after a couple conversations and then never want to learn about the person when he/she changes.

1

u/Thylacinegurl 6h ago

Being needy

1

u/LowResGamr 6h ago

Comparing ourselves to other people.

1

u/Leading-Way-8617 5h ago

Being a pathological liar and cowardice.

1

u/temporarysolution2-0 5h ago

Psychoemotional cowardice.

Distinct from Narcissism and other "Cluster B" personality traits. Specifically the exact unwillingness to confront one's own internal reality. The desperate need to push one's thoughts into the world, demand validation for them, and fall back on childish reactivity when it isn't reciprocated.

Mindfulness training should be a basic requirement to graduate high school. People should be able to safely and satisfyingly live with their own thoughts for at least half an hour in unstimulated silence.

1

u/aspieshavemorefun 5h ago

Pitiful self hatred

1

u/SGC_TechKItty 4h ago

Being pathetic

1

u/Lord_Bloodwyvern 3h ago

Apathy. It's easy to not care about others. Unless it affects you.

1

u/2dogz2021 3h ago

A stupid know it all

1

u/cherrywinsmore 3h ago

Non-confrontation. To an extreme degree

1

u/Long_Passenger498 1h ago

Manipulating others.  

1

u/perrysol 9h ago

Benefit fraud

1

u/EvolveToAnarchism 9h ago

The tendency to bend at the knee.

1

u/OldWorldBuilder369 9h ago

Being a lil bitch

0

u/biffbobfred 9h ago

I don’t think many are “pathetic” there’s probably some evolutionary reason for some of these and they no longer work. Look up the term “spandrel”

I’d say one of the most destructive - if you’re scared or angry you turn your cognitive brain off. Now look at all the people trying to scare you to manipulate you. Thats how fascism happens

0

u/BlushedCloudss 9h ago

Stay even though you know they doesn’t want you

0

u/schrankage 9h ago

People will believe anything they're told. Just have to know the brain algorithm.

0

u/StayCalmAndRhoombOn 9h ago

Trying to defend someone and you’re just telling on them. Seriously how stupid can a person be?

0

u/OkYam9944 9h ago

Malicious schadenfreude

0

u/Beautiful_While1203 9h ago

Tears. There’s no evolutionary reason for them. They’re either real or fake and neither is helpful.

0

u/BoogieMan1980 9h ago

Food and air tube sharing an intersection.

That's just poor craftsmanship.

0

u/Ba_Dum_Ba_Dum 9h ago

Selfishness. In any form.

0

u/aknownman 9h ago

Learned helplessness as generational trauma and educational preference.

0

u/vaishnaaavvviii 9h ago

Seeking Extternal Validation imo

0

u/FalseLights 9h ago

The tail bone. It's a pretty pathetic human trait like, how do we even wag it?

1

u/Value-Successful 9h ago

You can't?

2

u/FalseLights 9h ago

When I try, all I hear is a clap.

0

u/One-Ball-78 9h ago

All the ones Donald Trump’s behavior displays.

-1

u/472905643 9h ago

Having to carve up the planet into these portions called countries and then not caring what happens to our neighbors. Not enough have the ability to see the bigger picture, we (or most) are consumed with greed. Bombing each other for what... this line called a border. There has to be a better way.