Temat: Five for Friday 10.07.2009
Steve Jones:
Thanks to Marek Kardysz for these questions!
I wonder how many of the 1500 plus members of Anglosphere will bother answering...
Good questions ;)
Let's try it out.
Here we go!
1. Is war an inherent feature of man? Is the human world capable of existing without war?
It may sound stupid, but on an abstract level I see wars as something of a 'natural phenomenon' which can be compared to epidemic or even pandemic. In both cases it is brutal and takes innocent victims, but it can have a cleansing effect and stimulate new generations to thrive and prosper. Until they get bored and the testosterone level in the male population of the society starts brimming and then the volcano erupts again.
And I liked what Keith said about the generation of hooligans who are only there because they don't have the real enemy to fight - just like people develop allergies and autoaggresive responses when their bodies don't have germs to tackle.
I believe the best war deterrent for people is good management. Societies should have responsible and uncorrupt governments which take interest in their people and help them increase their quality of life, especially by stimulating economy, providing education and fair welfare system and giving good example. And promoting alternative ways of venting frustration and aggression, giving plenty of room for creativity, not letting people get bored.
Sounds pretty utopian but there are countries where this is pretty close to reality. On the other hand, our world changes so quickly and a trigger can come like a bolt from the blue. Just like we couldn't predict the current crisis, we may not be able to predict the next war. It's a bit like the butterfly effect. The situation gets hotter and hotter but people carry on living hoping that everything will be fine until they surreptitiously reach the point of no return. They're lucky if they can recognise it on time but in many cases they don't.
2. Why is a human being able to commit suicide? Do you know any other creature capable of doing so?
According to a couple of articles that I found on the Internet, it's mostly a human ability because animals operate largely by meanis of instinct. Since there's nothing like 'suicide instinct' (unlike survival instinct), an animal is unlikely to commit a suicide as such. In other words, a conscious mind and higher intelligence is needed for that (especially the awareness of death in general and the fact that it may result from your actions). This doesn't mean however, that animals can't suffer from depression. They can also do things such as refuse to eat and eventually die of hunger.
3. Have you ever heard about the 2012 year prophecy? What's your opinion about it?
Ha ha, that's my favourite one! There's a full thread about it on GL Astronomia group and according to some speculations, the Earth will slowly stop rotating around its axis, then it will stay put for a few days and then it will suddenly flip over, thus (physically!) reversing the poles so that the North becomes South, etc. And this manouvre will be completed within around an hour, so it will produce hurricanes, earthquakes, erruptions, tsunami and all other possible disasters. And now here's the best bit: apparently various governments have started building shelters for themselves and a chosen few and keep it quiet from unsuspecting public! That's the greatest conspiracy theory I've ever heard, I suggest the new Star Trek should be based on it ;)
http://www.geocities.com/earth2003/Ascension/ascen_cha...
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message484584...
4. Do you think cruelty depicted in some computer games and movies negatively affects people's behaviour in the real world?
Yes.
5. Have you ever dreamed about a journey around the world?
Oh yeah. At least I'd like to set my foot on each continent (well, maybe I'll spare the polar areas ;))
Sylwia Łubkowska edytował(a) ten post dnia 11.07.09 o godzinie 15:37
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