What Kind of Misanthrope Are YOU?

Nasty Mr. Punch in Worthing, West Sussex. Image Janet Cameron

I think there must be many varieties and degrees of misanthrope. Maybe, much of the time, it's a perfectly natural take on life, to acknowledge and accept that sometimes people are a total pain; unreasonable, unfathomable, irrational or just plain bloody-minded. (No doubt some people think that about me, perish the thought!)

So I thought I'd start this blog to let off steam and see how others responded.

Sometimes, it's just gratuitous jobsworth-type frustration, but sometimes it's more serious and actually affects human wellbeing in a vital way. I hope to post a bit of both on this blog, but no Farage or Trump - not because those issues are unimportant but because they already get sufficient coverage everywhere else. Also, nothing too distressing, the extreme violence and disaster that appears on the front pages of the newspapers are best dealt with by the experts, with adequate opportunities for public comment.

And - definitely - I will not rant. If I stray into ranting territory please shout and I will stop.

So, what kind of misanthrope are you? Like many quizzes the answers are obvious, so I have not insulted your intelligence by mixing up the levels. It's up to you to be honest - remember, if you are a true misanthrope, dishonesty is probably one of the reasons.

Also, this quiz is just for fun and for the purpose of debate.

WHAT KIND OF MISANTHROPE ARE YOU?

Someone plagiarises your writing or steals your photo copyright. How do you respond?

A. You take out a DMCA against them (or if you don't know how to do that, you google to find out.) Then you carry on writing and try to forget about the infraction while you wait for a response.

B. You take out a DMCA against them, but you're so furious it puts you off writing, or posting graphics, for several weeks. Why should you share your material when everyone else is out to exploit it?

C. You shrug, feel bad for a while, but then get on with writing something else. You could drive yourself mad searching out multiple copyright thefts. Best to move on.

A friend betrays you by discussing something personal and confidential with another party. You...

A. Tackle them about it and see what they have to say. Maybe they do not realise the implications of their action. Then let it go.

B. Cut them dead and never speak to them again.

C. Do nothing and carry on as before, although you will never feel the same about them.

Your bus pulls away when you are just a few steps away from the bus stop. You...

Your bus is pulls away just as you reach the bus stop.

A. Swear angrily to yourself. Stupid driver! he must have seen you coming in his wing mirror.

B. Have trouble controlling your fury as you take a note of the numberplate for the angry letter you will be writing to the bus company.

C. Reason with yourself, perhaps the driver had already started indicating and it would be too dangerous to wait for you.

A shop assistant is rude to you, and you don't think you deserved it. You...

A. Make your indignation known firmly. This should normally elicit an apology which you can gracefully accept after a reasonable amount of grovelling.

B. Wipe the floor with him/her (metaphorically, of course.)  Take it up with the manager.

C. Make allowances, assuming the rudeness is fairly mild. Everyone gets tired and riled from time to time.

You are eating out, and your meal is below par. You...

A. Call the waiter and have it replaced.

B. Ask for the manager and make sure everyone else in the restaurant is aware of the problem.

C. Eat what is edible and leave the rest, but feel annoyed you are not getting your money's worth.

ANSWERS:

Mostly As: You have justifiable misanthropic feelings when mistreated, but you try to keep them in perspective. You are an "occasional" misanthrope.

Mostly Bs:  You have strong misanthropic feelings. You don't take any prisoners either.

Mostly Cs:  Yeah, you get riled, but you conceal it well.  Everyone has misanthropic feelings but you hide yours most of the time. Sometimes that may not helpful for your emotional wellbeing.

So - how did you do?