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Is Civilisation A Pyramid Scheme? | 150 comments (150 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Is Civilisation A Pyramid Scheme? (4.00 / 2)
The core problem is that humans are both exceptionally competitive and extremely talented at modifying their environment. While there is a good deal of variation among the individuals of the species, short term strength always defeats long term planning, which puts a serious damper on attempts to live in a stable and sustainable manner.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Mon Mar 5th, 2007 at 01:08:37 PM EST
Re: Is Civilisation A Pyramid Scheme? (4.00 / 5)
I am not sure that people are necessarily inclined to competition. The problem is, when a few blokes come so aggressively grabbing resources and exploiting everything, you have to adopt. This is similar to violence: people do not have to be violent, but they have to adopt to violence.

The question is: can you adopt to greedy exploitation without becoming more greedy yourself? (Or similarly, can you adopt to violence without escalating the violence?)

My answer is: yes you can, but it is hard. There is no easy solution: you have to upgrade constantly your "half-measures".

In particular, cooperation (or solidarity) must be a key tool in taming over-competative maniacs. That may "limit their freedoms", but you have to be kind to yourself first.

Short term bully and long term sustainability do fight. We may just living in cusp times where short term bully looks unbeatable. But the bully will beat itself badly, before long.

by das monde on Mon Mar 5th, 2007 at 11:19:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Is Civilisation A Pyramid Scheme? (none / 0)
I agree with you excluding your first sentence. In fact I don't think it jibes with the rest of your comment.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Tue Mar 6th, 2007 at 02:09:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Is Civilisation A Pyramid Scheme? (none / 0)
The first two sentences are indeed badly connected. The first sentecne should be read in isolation. Still, the point is, people do not necessarily wish to seek competition, but they have to adopt to other's ambitions. The adoption does not have to be just as destructive, if some effort is applied.
by das monde on Tue Mar 6th, 2007 at 02:53:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Is Civilisation A Pyramid Scheme? (none / 1)
As the descendents of pack hunters, we tend to be cooperative within 'The Group' - however defined/established - and competitive, sometimes viciously so, with 'The Other.'

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre
by ATinNM on Tue Mar 6th, 2007 at 09:12:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Is Civilisation A Pyramid Scheme? | 150 comments (150 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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