I don’t believe people are good by nature. Most act kindly when it benefits them or when it aligns with their group’s expectations. Having a social life is easy if you fit in, if you say what’s expected, if you don’t cause discomfort. But if you step outside the mold, if you have a mental illness or anything that challenges the norm, you quickly see what hides behind many smiles. Exclusion isn’t a flaw in the system, it’s part of how it works.

Just look at how societies are structured. Hierarchies, contempt for those who are different, racism, sexism, and the environmental destruction we all contribute to. The comfort of some is built on the sacrifice of others. There’s no real kindness when it depends on ignoring the harm you cause while protecting your comfort. The human species behaves like a sarcoma, a threat to itself and to the planet.