We humans, we are monstrous.
We kill spiders, moths, ants, and other minibeasts without remorse.
We shoot birds for sport. (And boars and bears and tigers and elephants and other animals, too.)
We raise chickens only so we can twist their necks and roast them and devour them. (To say nothing of cattle, sheep, and pigs.)
We pluck roses and tulips and other flowers just so we can smell them for a second and then we forsake them in a vase, leaving them to wither.
We overeat and throw food we don’t like away, while in Africa children starve. We don’t care about their cemeteries of ribs.
We sit in the comfort of our homes reading books and blogs and writing fiction instead of becoming volunteers and helping to solve problems out there on the streets.
We consume huge amounts of natural resources and then pollute streams and rivers and fill wide areas with our trash.
We throw plastics into the sea. (Birds die because of this, to say nothing of the fish.)
We pick and choose the most beautiful animals from the world and lock them into cages only so that our children can laugh and roar and stare and cry, ‘Look, daddy, look! It’s a zebra! It has stripes!’ (‘Mommy, mommy, why is the zebra so sad?’)
We use atomic bombs to make peace.
We cut trees to print Fifty Shades of Grey.
We speak insolently to our mothers, we disrespect our fathers, we slap our children, we cheat our partners.
We choose lovers based on appearances alone and then when they dump us we bemoan our tragic fate and call ourselves unfortunate and hopeless while there are people in the world who have real problems. Like cancer.
We don’t weep when our grandmothers or fathers die.
We do the dirty deed of darkness almost every night and then use copious amounts of shower water to wash our filthy bodies. In Africa more than 2,500 children are dying each day of thirst.
We socialize on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other social networks with people who live continents away, and yet when we meet a homeless person on the street we don’t even say hello. We look the other way.
In conclusion,
We humans do monstrous things every day.
We are monstrous the way were are.
We don’t need to purchase witch/mummy/vampire costumes.
Let’s donate the money to charity instead.
Dear reader, aren’t you monstrous too, at least a little?
PS: The author of this post is a person of a cheerful, hopeful disposition. He is not angry with the world, for, being himself a tiny part of it, admits he is guilty of most of the above. During the writing of this post he tried hard to weep or at least to feel sad, but, alas, he failed.
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boy with a hat 
Yes, man is a bastard and his women are bitches. Go against him or her and get drama and he or she will laugh as you die the slow death of life.
Well said, sir professor!
I have no intention whatsoever to go against my brothers and sisters. As I’ve said, I’m monstrous myself.
It’s just stating, the obvious, as I often do.
The obvious is like an enigma in a puzzle of life. Often hidden in the overt painting.
I’ve spent the last 6 years trying to escape the monster I used to be.
And yet the monster always comes back
At least women are pretty monsters. Women tend to be on the whole a little less monstrous than men.
I hope this comforts you.
You’re right about that. My monster can’t be half as bad as the ones who caused it.
A human monster, yes, 365 days a year. Some day’s I’m more monstrous than others. But I try. Loved this piece.
Monstrous Melissa!
Chuckle, chuckle. But, I wonder, is it that funny?
If only we had evolved so that we photosynthesized instead of having to eat…
Ah, the girl with the peculiar name!
Couldn’t have said it better myself… mankind has doomed both itself and the world! Happy Halloween! 🙂
What costume will you wear this Halloween, Irish Daniel?
Your words are undeniable. Man is a voracious monster, selfish and insatiable. One may try but cannot erase past horrors he/she has caused. But it’s important to at least try, no?
There’s nothing else to do but try. Isn’t life a big try at existing?
That it is.
Yes, we are. We are terrible. I deplore the state of mankind every day. And then I bury myself in another book made of trees to try to forget it.
Yay! Jessica survived her marathon!
Hip hip hooray!
*Tosses hat into the air. Hat falls back properly on the head, with a little tilt toward Jessica. Hopes Jessica is impressed.*
She is indeed! Very much so. 😉
Reblogged this on The Excellence Asylum and commented:
Here lie naked words, nudity that reveals a truth that no modest soul dare no shy away from.
Please excuse the bad grammar *groans*
All is well!
Love this interpretation. Mind if I steal it? I will tell that to people when they ask me why am I dressed as a flapper girl, which is obviously not scary 😀
There’s nothing more monstrous in this world than flapper girls!
Ha ha ha… You are so mean!! 😀
Boo.
I am affrightened, Harry Potter’s sister!
Be afraid ._. xD
Interesting take on the shenanigans that has become Halloween.
Kudos! What a neat way of thninikg about it.
Haha. I woke up down today. You’ve cheered me up!
You’ve really captured all the essentials in this subject area, haven’t you?
This is the best Halloween post there ever was or ever will be. Did I ever tell you I love the way you call the creepy crawlies “minibeasts”? You are my favourite minibeast 😉
Freshly Pressed, aunt. Second time this year. 😀
There is still hope for Oliver!
Awesome!! I’m so glad this was FP’d. There is much hope for Oliver – he is a treasure! 🙂
I just noticed the link! Thanks for sharing, nephew 😉
Yet, if you read history, there is no denying we are not such violent brutes as once we were – from paleolithic, mesolithic, neolithic, bronze age, iron age, the atrocities committed in the name of Christianity, the witch hunts, the torture chambers. We began to smarten up a couple of centuries ago, and still we’re improving. Don’t believe me? Your post with its comments is all the evidence you need..
I have to wonder if you know anything of your 20th century history; or if you read world news. Only with your head firmly buried in the sand could you really believe we are not still a race of violent brutes, whitewashed by lattes to delude ourselves that we’re really all basically “good.”
The question is: is there anything that can be done about it?
I have no wish for heavy dispute. Yet if you knew world history from the very beginnings of before before civilisation, if you knew the atrocities that were commonplace e.g. in medieval period, you would be able to see there has indeed been improvement. May I direct you to a book recently published, by Steven Pinker, ‘The Better Angels of our Nature’. It is unexpectedly enlightening.
Ah, the monstrosity of life among madmen in an entropic, finite universe. You have put it well! I prefer not to dwell too heavily on the monstrous, but you are right that we should not sugar-coat it with funny costumes.
(Thought I’d finally cease lurking like a monster on your blog and make a comment. You do fantastic stuff here, hat-wearer! Thank you.)
I tip my hat to you!
Great surname.
Thank you! Yours isn’t too shoddy either 😀
What an awesome way to explain this-now I know evnityhreg!
Interesting post, Vincent. I laughed at some parts because it’s all true. In a way, it’s almost nice to know these universal truths won’t change. All we can do is change ourselves.
Where I live there’s a yoghurt company that has a name similar to your first name. Every time I eat yoghurt it reminds me of you. Just so you know.
And I think of you when I eat a Mars bar.
Don’t ear Mars bars. Chocolate mars the tooth. 🙂
Haha!
Very well, Vincent! Very well… You’re right. We all are monstrous. So am I. And I wish it wasn’t so, so I step aside more and more of those simple everyday monstrous behaviors to live in better harmony. But it takes a lot of strength and a big journey…
We should all help and support one another to be more “human”.
Or…now when I think about it, perhaps less “human”…
Julie! Julie!
Fancy architecture in Lyon isn’t it?
Less human indeed…
Truth be told, I don’t think you’re that monstrous. Not monstrous at all. 😉
Yes, fancy. And I like fancy.
You’re very kind, Vincent…
Kudos on getting freshly pressed. You are a breath of fresh air in a world of words that tend to pollute and not give a hoot.
I tip my hat to you sir professor! 🙂
that’s pretty cool mate you are 100% true about that
Nice story, but people are not monsters because we kill ant eat animals, that’s part of life, and it is how God created us, and that is how it is meant to be. But I get what you where trying to do.
profound!
So true. I know I’ve been a monster but I have to fight a monster at work every day and believe me this is the most monstrous beast ever born. Sorry didn’t mean to be so irate but you truly defined it.
Cheers to monstrous you!
Hey there,
Great assessment of humanity! And that’s coming from an actual alien, so perhaps that means something. Been going through your site. I love how you combine intelligence with humor and daring introspective analysis…in other words: I’m a fan!
I have always had an interest in aliens, ever since I was 5 or so. I hope to meet one at some point. 🙂
Odds are you aren’t into rap, but here’s a rap-ish look into imperialism. This was composed prior to the enjoyment of your article. a pure 16
…
vodka and juice, got these bitches actin loose
im writin this by request from some on the wordpress
im gettin head like a moose, i got the reddest hands too
im caught with the blood, like swahili, zulu
who you finna shoot? i got [drones] on your roof
and i got tigers as pets, wolves in the backyard behind electrical fence
those bitches talked shit, past tense
i put em in their place, like thought reform
totalism is ideal, if my personality is the norm
im easy in the storm, my bitches are in porn
i got no reason as to why i am scorned
they hate because , roses have thorns
im outgrowing all that does one harm
until you grow out of archaic notion, love as deep as the ocean
will not be yours, no matter how much that you are hopin
because if you want it, come grab it, then undying love on earth, you can have it
im timeless
Rap’s fine.
I, too, will become a bad boy someday.
First though I must grow a proper beard.
I agree with a lot of the points you make. However, aren’t you technically complaining about yourself when you’re writing a blog? Or do you regularly volunteer to help others while also writing a blog about helping others?
I think the author’s PS answers your questions. 😉
I see.
Reblogged this on deejayiwan.
A little disturbing but true.
Reblogged this on hawkeye.
We’ll said. I love all the brilliant thoughts you provoked.
Yes, but compare today’s monsters to the middle ages without education, murder at will, life expectancy 35, massive wars just about every other year, and disease. Hey, we are improving, aren’t we? Can’t have everything. Good piece, enjoyed it.
Of course we are improving.
But then let’s think of Roman times. In many of the history books I’ve read the Middle Ages, or better put the Dark Ages, are considered a period of decline after the civilizations of the Greeks and Romans. So rise, decline, rise again. Maybe another decline is coming?
I wouldn’t worry too much, though. We’ll die in a few decades anyway.
Ha, Ha, you got that right. Check out my blog:
http://roncostello.org/
Humans are bad? What do the Africans do? They humans too! Don’t they have Halloween?
Bummer, I guess I didn’t have to buy that pirate outfit…
At least you didn’t get a witch costume. Many women get that, and some wear it even when it’s not Halloween. 😀
Wow! I totally agree! Something definitely to consider more than once a year!
Amazing piece! Though provoking as always…
Trèsors De Luxe
{ http://www.tresorsdeluxe.com }
Reblogged this on ahladin and commented:
The brutal truth
Reblogged this on Cosmical Traverse.
Reblogged this on Jordan Ongwech.
You pulled quite a punch… I enjoyed your post. All I can say is that if only I got to do the ‘dirty deed of darkness almost every night’ I would be monstrously happy 😉
I blush. I am shy when it comes to such things.
I have heard abstinence is good for the disposition. I think Hamlet said so to his mother.
I’m so glad that the inretnet allows free info like this!
Vincent, I saw you on freshly pressed this morning! Great Halloween post 🙂
A nice way of thinking, fellow monster. Truly, human beings are monstrous (based on this post of yours which says that humans are monstrous based on the things they do), so does it also mean that all other creatures who act the same way are also monsters? For example, a bird. A bird needs food to live, so it flies down to the ground and murders an innocent worm. But in the end, I still agree with this post. Human beings are in fact dangerous, but not entirely demonic to the point where in they would just stab and eat other people not because of insanity but because of fun. Usually, it depends on the situation and on the person. It’s not like everyone doesn’t weep when their grandparents die. Some human beings happen to have different ways of thinking while others are just common. Anyways, I enjoyed your post.
Sorry for babbling too much.
Reblogged this on PERSPECTIVE and commented:
This is cool. Human beings need to be true to themselves at some point in time, I guess.
There are no exceptions
Reblogged this on ajmaciver75.
I remember, reading somewhere that man is at the top of the food chain because we are the top predator in all of nature. Or, something along those lines? but your words summarizes it perfectly. 😀
Baffled and swept away.
We all know this. There’s nothing new.
“We use atomic bombs to make peace”. Oh the irony, great post.
Human will be monstrous if it kneel to itself
Perfect Ode to Halloween. I love it and hope you make it an annual post.
Somebody had to say this. I laugh and cried while reading this. So good.
I loved this piece.
High
Very thought provoking!!
well put dude, and although it’s a sad world we reside on, one must be the change we wish to see in the world no matter what the cost, so long as that change is positive of course
amiright?
This is such an amazing piece! I am indeed monstrous, but I make myself a little less so via philanthropy and donations to good causes. 🙂
Indeed. This reminds us that we really need to change!.. 🙂
Reblogged this on Redodiculous and commented:
Thought this blog makes the most sense of all the articles I have read about halloween ! Extra brownies for this writer.
I can’t believe you monsters are people. Where is ‘e. He should be here, commenting. I like your blog, boy with hat. Hat with boy. Sorry – I drunk is. Good shit. People are fuckin’ weird. Monsters. If I were a monster, I’d put a human mask on.
Cute post … I am happy to say I am vegetarian and am against zoos… may be guilty of some of the other monstrous acts though!! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed 🙂
Cheers Dawn!
Haven’t seen you around for some time. 🙂
Your eating habits are responsible for the killing of millions of animals each year. (Source)
All those free range, poor animals just going about their life and then their bodies tossed aside with no respect. Bitch about the steak or venison tacos I’m eating, but stay silent about your responsibility for the death of all those rabbits, skunks, snakes, squirrels, and other animals.
Wheat is murder!
Love this! Does the fact that I read Fifty Shades on my Kindle help a tiny bit?
Birds, boars, and other animals are FOOD. Stop with the human hate and the bleeding hearts: It’ll kill you.
I wish Halloween was still scary and not a day in which sluts pretend to be wearing costumes…
The truth (as always) is bitter.
Agreed, we humans want the world to change – when we fail to notice that the first step is to change ourselves.
Your post made me feel equally guilty as I think you may have felt while typing it out.
Anyways, good work 🙂
Yes we all Are……..
Reblogged this on Emma Kate.
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Reblogged this on Nab_habits.
And I, too, admit that I am monstrous. I stalk your great posts. 🙂
Monstrous Ms. Auby!
Reblogged this on Life and Love at Her Fingertips and commented:
Speechless. This is amazing.
Reblogged this on beachangel68 and commented:
Because it’s good material
But doesn’t, I wonder, not being angry with the world mean being somewhat complacent with what’s going on?
And I wonder whether anged with the world isn’t only misdirected anger, whether it’s easier to be angry than to do good, not on a global scale, for that is beyond anyone’s power, but on a personal level.
It is easier to be angry and cynical. It hurts less. And the global scale matter is very much interrelated with personal matters.
Reblogged this on boy with a hat and commented:
It’s Halloween again! But don’t worry, you don’t need a costume. Here’s why.
Iffy, but I do agree about Fifty Shades…everything about it is a waste.
You kill mosquitoes without remorse, no doubt.
And any bug that crosses me…in my own home…where I sleep and eat…yeah, pretty much.
You know, nowadays there are mosquitos that will kill you without remorse. I know they have instincts while we get to make a choice, but still…in the universal balance…I am a priority for myself.
I let them bite me and buzz in my ears. I have a soft heart. Everyone knows pianists are wicked, no need to explain. 🙂
:))) oh, you know me too well! 😉
But you don’t know the story of why mosquitoes buzz about the ear.
No.
Well, let me tell it to you…
‘Mosquito, she had said, had asked Ear to marry him, whereupon Ear fell on the floor in uncontrollable laughter. “How much longer do you think you will live?” she asked. “You are already a skeleton.” Mosquito went away humiliated, and any time he passed her way he told Ear that he was still alive.’
:)) Cute. Annoying, but cute!
We are monsters, tis true men are in general more monstrous than women, I suppose it is the nurturing gene and yet some kill their young. It has become necessary here to kill without mercy as many are carrying the Zika virus. It’s not their fault, perhaps biological warfare, who knows, we are monsters.
to kill mosquitoes, they are the ones carrying the virus, not man.