What is the purpose of people being so mean?
409468
Well, jerks are everywhere. Being mean is a way for them to feel better about themselves, cause lets face it, would you want to be them. About their last rectal exams, I wouldn't know such personal medical information.
467349
Because theyre uncomfortable with themselves deep down and make up for it by hurting other people and being mean. Its really stupid, but they dont realize it alot of the time.\n\n\n\nPeace
981972
I don't know why, but it seems that there are many people who simply enjoy hurting others.  I suspect it stems from them feeling powerless and insecure, so they get a small charge to their own egos when they can make someone else feel bad. \n\n There are, also, others who simply take advantage of people - they see goodness and kindness as a kind of weakness they can exploit for their own means.\n\nDon't let this turn YOU bitter, though.  Remember to tell yourself that those people, in the end, will suffer for it when they find they lack solid, real and loving friendships in their lives.
177863
For many reasons. Sometimes for revenge, sometimes for spite. Sometimes by accident, and sometimes it can't be helped. (for instance, in a breakup) \n\nSome people hurt others for the pure pleasure of it. It gives them a feeling of power. \n\nThere are many people, though, who truly try not to hurt others.
386274
People tend to be controlling out of fear. Family members can be controlling because they are afraid you won't make what they consider to be the "right" choices. They try to keep things in their realm of understanding and reasoning. \n\nIf they are really being mean then they may be controlling because they are afraid of being inferior in some way. If they keep you under their control then it makes them feel like the superior person.
749536
That sucks. Some people are just mean and have nothing better to do than report others for silly things. I think it makes them feel superior. Sorry they took out their frustrated lives on you.
870856
People are cruel to others because they're insecure and jealous. The being mean (jealousy or not) makes them feel as if they're better but at the end of the day, we can all see through that.
807901
Only behaviour can be labelled as these things, not people. Human beings are capable of great generosity and kindness, bravery and self-lessness but also great cruelty and meanness as well as anti-social behaviour over a wide spectrum.  Most people who behave in these ways are damaged and alienated from their own society.  They are most likely to need help but do not lose sight of the fact that they are, until they get the help they need, potentially dangerous.  The harm they can do may seem small but can have massive repercussions for victims of their behaviour.
611917
People are rude for different reasons. Some are just having a bad day, some are just uncultured. Its better not to let them get to you, and just ignore them
952864
that's what i'd like to know. \n\n\n They are basically not happy, thats why they want to vent it out on other people
512051
Most people are just stupid I think. That about covers it. They like to assume stuff cuz they like to be upset. But sometimes the questions people ask in that area come really close to being disrespectfull themselves. So it's easy to see how people can get pissed off and say stuff about the asker. Some people aren't smart enough to put their answeres into words that make the asker look like the totall idiot they are, without directly insulting them. So they just insult them instead.  The mere knowledge next to idiocy exposes it for what it is, but not everyone has that.
1178630
people are rude & cruel and seem to have the mentality of the Gladiators....it is also a way for ignorant people to take the notice off their own ignorance and direct it to others hwo do know what they  are talking about.\n Ever notice how a person who is clueless seems to always call you a fool,just becasue they don't know about something ??
731696
why is everyone being so mean? \n\nyour nice :)
174961
Because people don't get to choose what they look like. Why are you so mean...you do make a choice to be mean!
334603
Being cruel in return only perpetuates the problem.  Just ignore them and be the better person!
893493
Start with the fact that really front edge bright and well-educated people don't do this. Nice uneducated ones don't either. Take those two groups away, and what you have is the base of yahoo answers political boards.\n\nThe reason some people do it, the mean ones, is to feel better. It's release to call someone an idiot on a big loudspeaker from behind a curtain where you'll never be seen or called to account for your comments. It's exactly like prank calls or vandalism. Messing with people by remote control.\n\nThe reason a lot of other people do it -- call them middle brow users -- is because once you pigeonhole and demonize a group with a stereotype, they are in a tidy box, and you don't have to bother with trying to see things from their point of view anymore.  Instead, you just kneejerk "oh, it's the Nabobs", and you're done with it. It's intellectual laziness. But sometimes the way a middlebrow goes about it is superficially clever, and indicative of the fact they aren't 100% dummies, at very least. They have some sort of language skills and ability to entertain, if not great insight. If you think about it, that's what a lot of radio talk """pundits""" have too: superficial verbal agility, with no real insight.\n\nBut whoever does it, it's not useful, and ultimately damaging to the public dialog on issues.
308077
people want to be grumpy for some reason\nit makes some people feel superior than others\nit also gives others the attention they really want.