Are humans hardwired to hurt?

[Daistallia 2104]

To prevent a further threadjack of this, I'm opening this here.

Are humans innately violent or altruistic or do we as a species socialize these behaviours?

Edit: Thanks Kat. Reposting poll too.

[Sarkhaan]

We are both innately altruistic and hurtful.

We are altruistic towards those that are related to us (usually...there are exceptions here) and those whom we consider allies. We are hurtful to those we are indifferent to or consider to be enemies.

[Sarkhaan]

DP...so here's a dancing squirrel.

[Maurepas]

We are both innately altruistic and hurtful.

We are altruistic towards those that are related to us (usually...there are exceptions here) and those whom we consider allies. We are hurtful to those we are indifferent to or consider to be enemies.

This^^^ Mostly...

[United Marktoria]

We are naturally selfish and violent. But everyone has the possibility of becomeing altruistic and reasonable.

[KiloMikeAlpha]

Human nature is brutal. When times are good (as they are in most parts of the US) people repress the brutality in them. When times get rough (inner cities, poverty, famines) people turn inward and devolve into basic animals. Animals kill to survive, mate, or protect. Humans kill for fun.

[Brutland and Norden]

(Out of topic: This thread appears to have no title. )

[New Kereptica]

(Out of topic: This thread appears to have no title. )

I've noticed that myself. Rather strange, isn't it?

[Sarkhaan]

(Out of topic: This thread appears to have no title. )

I think I might have gotten the first timewarp thread of the new NSG...


I'd like to thank all the little people that made this possible....

[Maurepas]

(Out of topic: This thread appears to have no title. )

I've noticed that myself. Rather strange, isn't it?

I was wondering when someone would mention it, I was afraid it was just me,

[Arumdaum]

(Out of topic: This thread appears to have no title. )

I've noticed that myself. Rather strange, isn't it?

I was wondering when someone would mention it, I was afraid it was just me,

Me too.

[Niur]

What is (7)? This is the thread whose link I followed.

[United Dependencies]

Only that which is different.

[New Kereptica]

What is (7)? This is the thread whose link I followed.

A rather outdated postcount, it looks like.

[KiloMikeAlpha]

Nice bit of derailing a thread that was supposed to stop a derailment. Meh. People dont care about the facts. They just want to argue.

Argue on compadres.

[DaWoad]

well . . .this is interesting.

On topic, my opinion would be that Humans are ,at our most basic level, simply animals. Thidoesn't necessarily mean violent but simply that a person, when brought to that most basic level, will do anything that they have to in order to survive. Most of us are lucky enough not to have devolved to that level of simple survivalism but personnally I think its there in all of us.

[Niur]

Um, this thread really needs a title.

[KiloMikeAlpha]

well . . .this is interesting.

On topic, my opinion would be that Humans are ,at our most basic level, simply animals. Thidoesn't necessarily mean violent but simply that a person, when brought to that most basic level, will do anything that they have to in order to survive. Most of us are lucky enough not to have devolved to that level of simple survivalism but personnally I think its there in all of us.

My sentiments exactly.
Example:
You have a family with 5 kids and they were starving and were on the virge of death. Your neighbor just came home with an SUV filled with food. You ask him for some food so you can last another few days and he shoves you to the ground and tells you to beat it.

Would you devolve into the animal that is inside you and try to kill him to take it, or would you peacefully do die in a corner?

[Sarkhaan]

Um, this thread really needs a title.

It has one. It isn't appearing on the main page and the thread creator is listed wrong due to some kind of glitch. Nothing any of us can do about it.

[Ryadn]

Gotta go with my boy de Waal on this and say we are innately altruistic.

[Ryadn]

Human nature is brutal. When times are good (as they are in most parts of the US) people repress the brutality in them. When times get rough (inner cities, poverty, famines) people turn inward and devolve into basic animals. Animals kill to survive, mate, or protect. Humans kill for fun.

Why is brutality considered an 'animal' trait, but not altruism, when both are evident in many animals?

Of the many humans who have committed homicide, I doubt the majority of them did it for 'fun'.

[Ryadn]

well . . .this is interesting.

On topic, my opinion would be that Humans are ,at our most basic level, simply animals. Thidoesn't necessarily mean violent but simply that a person, when brought to that most basic level, will do anything that they have to in order to survive. Most of us are lucky enough not to have devolved to that level of simple survivalism but personnally I think its there in all of us.

My sentiments exactly.
Example:
You have a family with 5 kids and they were starving and were on the virge of death. Your neighbor just came home with an SUV filled with food. You ask him for some food so you can last another few days and he shoves you to the ground and tells you to beat it.

Would you devolve into the animal that is inside you and try to kill him to take it, or would you peacefully do die in a corner?

You're portraying the decision to kill him though as unempathic and brutal. The decision to not share food is unempathic---the decision to risk one's own safety to provide for children who cannot provide for themselves DOES show empathy, simply in conflict.

[KiloMikeAlpha]

Gotta go with my boy de Waal on this and say we are innately altruistic.

If, then, we are altruistic, then a Republican form of very limited Government is best, right? The only reason to have large government nanny states like we have now is to keep people in line.

[Maurepas]

Gotta go with my boy de Waal on this and say we are innately altruistic.

If, then, we are altruistic, then a Republican form of very limited Government is best, right? The only reason to have large government nanny states like we have now is to keep people in line.

I see people use that word, Republican, I dont think it means what they think it means...

[Dyakovo]

(Out of topic: This thread appears to have no title. )

I've noticed that myself. Rather strange, isn't it?

I was wondering when someone would mention it, I was afraid it was just me,

It's not just you, but it is your fault...