The LITTLE-BROWN-JUG Forum

I didn't want to put this in the video section as I felt as though BlueLady's forum of "Here It is" would allow discussions and this topic deserved discussion.

Mizz sent this to me this morning. A young man questioning of why people of the world are the way they are.

I always wonder why many make the statement that mankind is "basically" good. Are they really or are they taught to be good, or even that circumstances teach them to be bad?

I don't think we are born good. Did you ever see a crib with 2 babies in it and they are usually not kissing, they are whacking each other in a short period of time!!

I am sure everyone has an opinion of that and that is mine. That we are not basically good. That we are born with a conscience and as we get older, and can make decisions, we have a choice of following that conscience. I believe if we ignore that to follow what we want to do, and that is opposed to that conscience voice, then the conscience slowly becomes less and less because we become more immune to it each time we don't listen. Just MO.

Declan Galbraith - TELL ME WHY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg_MxONa ... re=related

Good question Shar, we don't really know, but IMO we behave according to genetic predispositions to some extent. Nature or nurture has never been determined, but IMO nature place a large role, with nurturing or our environment playing a smaller role.

Genes can pre-dispose people to certain behaviours, but IMO it's about 60 for nurture and 40 for nature.

The laws of survival prevail, IMO. Our animal instincts are to do whatever is necessary to keep us alive. Babies cry and flail their limbs when they are in pain or even just hungry. Sometimes, particularly at very young ages, we perceive a threat where none exists and lash out as a protection device. Those babies sharing a crib may just be defending their space, protecting themselves from a perceived threat.

Nurture undoutedly plays an important role in the area of instilling in a child the idea that it is loved and will be protected from danger, and its needs will be met. If that role model is not there, a child develops their own coping mechanisms, which are sometimes acted out in whatever ways they find effective - it manifests early as temper tantrums, abuse of pets or siblings. As grownups we are still quite defensive when it comes to our own well being or that of our children. Just like other animals, survival is a very basic instinct.

Anyhow that is my opinion.

It took us millions of years to develop what we needed to survive on this earth. I really don't anticipate the human survival mechanism to change overnight. But we do have a brain and it is very adaptable. There are some very peaceful, intelligent people around. Perhaps it might be a smart idea, to see what parents, schools and society did right in raising them to be this way.

Obviously, the religions have failed.