It probably won't be. Not for you. You'll whine there just as much you probably whine here.

Some cultures believed exactly that. The Greeks, Romans, Norse, among many others, believed that we all more or less go to the same place - it's not the infinite pain of the Judaeo-Christian-Islamic Hell, but it also isn't a nice place either. More of a dumping ground for the garbage our souls become in the grand scheme of things when we die. Souls in these mythologies were not punished according to how good or evil they were - they were punished according to how little or much they worshipped or offended the gods, and even then it was chaotic. Only really exceptional people, great legendary heroes, many with divine blood, might end up escaping this fate and joining the gods. But all of that, along with any afterlife idea, is mythology. Life is cruel, and the cruelest part is that there is no afterlife afterwards. So live long, and make the best of it, because there's nothing coming afterwards, except in people's wishful thinking.

It may not be different, but hope is eternal, so I hear.

Do you fear death? Do you fear that cold abyss? ;~)

Life is neither cruel nor kind. It is what it is and does not have intent. As for any afterlife - live this one. Any other life is imaginary.

You're assuming there's an afterlife in the first place -- a pretty bold assumption, considering the total lack of evidence in support of that supposition... And I'd argue against your initial premise. Life isn't cruel -- merely indifferent.

Life is cruel, but it's refining. How pleasant or unpleasant life is generally rides on how we view the world. There are obstacles and trials, but if all you see are empty obstacles, then you see pain. If you learn to seek problems because you need the gifts or lessons wrapped inside them, you begin to become strong. Diamonds take great pressure to be created. Steel is forged in fire. There are a dozen cliches, but the truth is the same. Life is filled with joy and pain. If you let the pain carve into your soul, you can then hold even more joy. I believe in an afterlife that is a respite from the learning we do here. A time to reflect and rest before starting another great adventure. There's nothing cruel about that.

MANY would readily agree that selfishness is a key factor in the cruelty in the world today. The seeds sown decades ago by the so-called me generation have produced a society in which the majority are concerned primarily about themselves. Many will do whatever it takes to get their own way, often resulting in cruel acts. This is true not only of individuals but also of entire nations,the lives of fellow humans no longer seem to matter. Some people even enjoy being cruel. They find it entertaining, much like criminals who confess that they harm others just for the thrill of it. Bible prophecies reveal that our times are particularly critical because after God’s Kingdom by Christ Jesus was established in heavn , and Satan and his demon hordes were ousted from the heavens. The Bible declares: “Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.”—Revelation 12:5-9, 12. Satan the Devil wields a strong influence over this world, calling him “the god of this system of things.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) He is the most selfish and cruel person in the universe. Jesus well described him as “a manslayer” and “the father of the lie.”—John 8:44 In the near future, God’s Kingdom—a government now established in the heavens with a compassionate Ruler, Christ Jesus—will exercise full authority over the earth. It has already cleansed the heavens of Satan, the source of all cruelty, and his demons. Soon, God’s Kingdom will satisfy the needs of its peace-loving subjects on earth. (Psalm 37:10, 11; Isaiah 11:2-5)

According to Ecclesiastes 9:5,6 the dead

Cause the 'Lama promised me it would all be cool. When he gave my buddy total consciousness on his deathbed, he granted me harmony in the afterlife. Big hitter, the 'Lama. Gunga Galunga.

we wont know until we get there