Is misanthrope just a fancy word for a miserable asshole? How can you tell when your intellectual disgust for the current human situation has jumped from your mind to the physical world? Is it better to be ignorant, well liked and happy than informed, despised and grumpy?  Is it possible to be both aware of what’s happening and jolly?

I’ve always considered myself a bleeding heart misanthrope. I have endless empathy for humans. I truly want to save the world.  But, at the same time, you could power a small city with the amount of hate that exists in me on a normal day. The horrible and mindless behavior, whether from the lowliest underclass bum to highest apex of the ruling class, vaporizes my well being. I’m concerned that what I think inside is leaking out, and that it makes me seem like an asshole to those I love and as arrogant to others. If you’ve been concerned too, here are five ways to tell if collapse is turning you into a miserable asshole.

You find yourself rooting for collapse in order to punish the masses- If you no longer find yourself studying the history of or otherwise preparing yourself for the collapse, and you only root for it’s arrival because you see it as some sort of cleansing you’re probably becoming a miserable asshole. Think about it. Can you really be considered anything else if you fantasize about swaths of your fellow citizens being forced into poverty? If you find yourself thinking anything along these lines you should probably do some soul searching because it’s unlikely you’re able to both be enjoyable to be around and wish for mass starvation.

The depressing news you read spills over to real life- I’ve had a hard time with this one myself over the years. I read a lot, and pretty much everything I read is horribly depressing. One night I spent two hours reading the last words of people who received the death penalty in Texas (super interesting by the way). It’s difficult to not let this stuff affect you in real life, but it’s important that you’re aware that it can. I have a two year son, if I’m not able to give him my all because I spent the last half hour reading about the Syrian civil war I am coming up short as a father. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be aware of the realities around the world, but it does mean that you can’t let it interfere with how your treat people closer to home. If reading depressing things is making you depressed it may be time to give it a break.

You show contempt instead of concern for the unaware- This is somewhat related to the”collapse as a cleansing” desire above, but more focused on the people than the event.  We all encounter those who are unaware of, well, everything, but you have to remember you yourself were unaware once as well. Some people are beyond saving, but you should never cast anyone aside. You came around and it’s possible they might too. I, of course, think the best way to reach people is by presenting yourself as an improved unit. We’re all in this thing together, and you know what awaits, use your knowledge to try and reach as many people as possible instead of scorning them. Only an asshole does not show concern for those around him.

You think your life will become better after the shit hits the fan- If you think that when society collapses you’ll somehow be catapulted to the top of what remains, you’re probably currently coming off like an asshole to a lot of people. This type of attitude usually reeks of self pity that you’re not in a place you feel you deserve. Frankly, if you’re waiting until the world is burning to make your move you’ve got bigger problems than what people think of you. It’s possible that if you’re properly prepared your may be able to maintain a somewhat comparable life, but it’s highly unlikely your standard of living is going to increase.

You are unable to enjoy anything because of what might happen- When I’m running errands I often wonder what a place like the grocery store will look like after a collapse, or what downtown will become after the economy grinds to a halt, but when I’m out for a good time I can usually blocks those thoughts out and enjoy myself. If you’re out for a nice dinner with friends or on a date and all you can think to yourself is “when the industrial food supply collapses none of this will exist anymore” it’s probably time to cut back on the doomsday stuff. Don’t block out reality, whether it’s good or bad.