It’s hard to feel this way, and I’m sorry you’re going through this. I hope you feel better soon; perhaps it helps to remember that this is not the most productive emotion, and that you may think about this in other ways. The people you know loathe… their opinions can’t touch you, unless you allow it; they probably do not hate you especifically—they don’t know you, and they are probably confused about things, which is hardly their fault. So there’s not very much you can gain by blaming them.
And sorry if I dare to pretend to preach or give you advice, but I hope you forgive an old fool who can’t resist an opportunity to cite Marcus Aurelius.
Also, many of them would perhaps agree with you about reciprocity-based ethics, and there’s a lot to be said about this approach to moral philosophy—especially if you enlarge the scope of your relations to include counterfactual Rawlsian compacts, or large communities (in the limit, Stoic philosophers talked about the Cosmopolis, which encompasses all sentient beings).
But if you want to remain attached to this specific community… well, we are effective altruists, and our projects and goals aim to make the world a better place for all; we don’t use this forum or go to events because it’s fun for us, but because it aims to that end. If you truly want to cooperate with us, to reciprocate whatever happiness we might bring to you, I’m afraid you ultimately have to help benefit others, including those who might be now disturbing you.
It’s hard to feel this way, and I’m sorry you’re going through this. I hope you feel better soon; perhaps it helps to remember that this is not the most productive emotion, and that you may think about this in other ways. The people you know loathe… their opinions can’t touch you, unless you allow it; they probably do not hate you especifically—they don’t know you, and they are probably confused about things, which is hardly their fault. So there’s not very much you can gain by blaming them. And sorry if I dare to pretend to preach or give you advice, but I hope you forgive an old fool who can’t resist an opportunity to cite Marcus Aurelius. Also, many of them would perhaps agree with you about reciprocity-based ethics, and there’s a lot to be said about this approach to moral philosophy—especially if you enlarge the scope of your relations to include counterfactual Rawlsian compacts, or large communities (in the limit, Stoic philosophers talked about the Cosmopolis, which encompasses all sentient beings). But if you want to remain attached to this specific community… well, we are effective altruists, and our projects and goals aim to make the world a better place for all; we don’t use this forum or go to events because it’s fun for us, but because it aims to that end. If you truly want to cooperate with us, to reciprocate whatever happiness we might bring to you, I’m afraid you ultimately have to help benefit others, including those who might be now disturbing you.