Marc2b
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Joined: 8/7/2006
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quote:
"cavemen" theories are all very cute at trying to explain human beings, but the fact of the matter is that we operate on a different level than mere biology. We're beyond our "instincts" - unless we're on planet Gor
With all due respect, this is foolish. Human beings are animals. We evolved with a set of instincts and those instincts permeate all aspects of our lives and our society. If you don’t believe this then ask yourself: why do we keep repeating the same patterns over and over again? You are partially correct in that humans are not only instinct. In fact, I would argue that what separates us from the other animals is that we posses the ability to override our instincts (no animal ever laid down it’s life for an idea). Having this ability, however, does not mean we always use it. We are no where near to being beyond our instincts.
Question: Why does a group of otherwise descent people turn into a mob capable of killing others?
Answer: Because the group, a pseudo-tribe, has perceived a threat against itself.
Question: Why does a man who has achieved success, a good home, a loving wife, healthy children, risk it all by cheating on his wife?
Answer: Because there are two strategies for men to pursue when it comes to passing on their genes. The first is to impregnate as many women as he can, then leave them to their own devices hoping that at least some of the offspring will reach adulthood. The second is to impregnate one woman and the stick around to help here rear the offspring and thus ensuring that the offspring make it to adulthood. The second seems to be the preferred method of the human race but by engaging in both methods the man can have the best of both worlds.
Question: Why would a woman who has achieved success risk it all by cheating on her husband.
Answer: She is gene shopping. The man’s essential responsibility (after providing the sperm, that is) is to build, supply, and defend, the "nest." In the caveman days, this meant Mister Muscles was the best qualified and so women developed an attraction to him. Today, Mister Muscles is not necessarily the best candidate for a nest builder, Mister Brains can do just as well, if not better (in many ways, civilization is a triumph of the nerds). But she still feels a strong attraction to Mister Muscles because her instincts tell her that he is the better man (i.e. the better set of genes).
It is important to understand that these instincts operate, mostly, on a subconscious level. The woman who tells her husband she is going to visit her sister when in fact she is going to meet her lover is not thinking to herself, "I’m going gene shopping." Indeed, they will probably use birth control. No, she (and he) will have all sorts of rationalizations for their behavior, but deep down their instincts are ruling them.
quote:
Hilariously, Marc started off by saying that men were at a reproductive disadvantage, only to argue a minute later that men got the better "end of the deal". Is contradiction becoming a manly characteristic too?
No contradiction. When it come to being certain that the kid she’s pushing out is ours, men are at a disadvantage, but that is just one aspect of the whole reproduction cornucopia.
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Do you know what the most awesome thing about being an Atheist is? You're not required to hate anybody!
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Sex BC ~ The Origins of Marriage ? - 
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- especially with what we know of the female libido 
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