Mean people suck(and haven't we all?)

Are humans just genetically predisposed towards cruelty? Is it just something which comes out as soon as we realize that there is someone in the world weaker than ourselves? I just finished watching Mean Girls(a comedy centered upon the cruel politics of high school cliques) with Kris, and was reminded of some of the less shining moments in my life.

( I have not always treated others as I might wish to be treated. )

I certainly hope that my actions didn't contribute to any lasting harm, but it makes me wonder how many times in my life I've done something either inadvertently, or deliberately caused someone harm, and whether that has in turn led them in their pain to mistreat others. Is it any wonder that the world is the mess that it is? When do we stop thinking of ourselves as individuals acting in our own self interests, and start thinking about ourselves as an interconnected community. When we hurt another we only further damage the community which is our collective self. Or maybe I've just gotten overly empathic all of a sudden. sigh....