4 ms·

"commonly-held idea that killing is an 'unnatural' act for humans" Say what? It may be one of the most natural acts for humans as far as history shows

systemswizard 2y ago
It’s a natural act for pretty much all animals on this planet
- pyfon 2y ago
  What is an unnatural act?
  - laurent_du 2y ago
    Doomscrolling
- mmooss 2y ago
  Perhaps you mean only for predators?
  - esseph 2y ago
    A horse or squirrel will kill and eat a bird if hungry and given a chance. Sounds pretty violent to me.
    - mmooss 2y ago
      Why do you mention violence? I've never seen or heard of what you describe. Horses are herbivores; can they digest meat? Can they chew it? Squirrels reputedly eat nuts.
      - esseph 2y ago
        You have the whole internet in front of you, find some links. If you're still having trouble in 3 minutes, come back and I will provide some. There are tons.
kamikazeturtles 2y ago
I don't think killing is a natural act. Most people throughout history died from disease, not war. In the past, if you killed someone, like in a battle, there is a good chance you're going to die in the next battle of the military campaign. Few soldiers survived the military campaigns of the past. Maybe that's why we don't hear much about PTSD among past soldiers.
- sandspar 2y ago
  Huh? Rome had career soldiers. Don't quote me on the numbers, but a Roman soldier might see 2-5 major battles and dozens of dustups and minor skirmishes. They served for 25 years. Overall death rate was 25-40% but most of that was due to disease or accidents - due to spending 25 years walking around in the woods - not combat. And European medieval wars were fought by part-time soldiers whose main job was making money for their lord. If "few" people survived ancient military campaigns, why would medieval lords fight wars at all? Surely fighting a war isn't worthwhile if at the end of it you have merely a "few" employees left.
- tbrownaw 2y ago
  > natural act Most actions do or don't suit circumstances, rather than this being something inherent. I might take lots of pictures outside at a festival or go pee inside a bathroom, but probably not the reverse. (See also, the fundamental attribution error.)
mmooss 2y ago
Repetition doesn't make it natural. As I said elsewhere, famine also is common but not eating is not natural.

systemswizard 2y ago

It’s a natural act for pretty much all animals on this planet

pyfon 2y ago
What is an unnatural act?
- laurent_du 2y ago
  Doomscrolling
mmooss 2y ago
Perhaps you mean only for predators?
- esseph 2y ago
  A horse or squirrel will kill and eat a bird if hungry and given a chance. Sounds pretty violent to me.
  - mmooss 2y ago
    Why do you mention violence? I've never seen or heard of what you describe. Horses are herbivores; can they digest meat? Can they chew it? Squirrels reputedly eat nuts.
    - esseph 2y ago
      You have the whole internet in front of you, find some links. If you're still having trouble in 3 minutes, come back and I will provide some. There are tons.

kamikazeturtles 2y ago

I don't think killing is a natural act. Most people throughout history died from disease, not war. In the past, if you killed someone, like in a battle, there is a good chance you're going to die in the next battle of the military campaign. Few soldiers survived the military campaigns of the past. Maybe that's why we don't hear much about PTSD among past soldiers.

sandspar 2y ago
Huh? Rome had career soldiers. Don't quote me on the numbers, but a Roman soldier might see 2-5 major battles and dozens of dustups and minor skirmishes. They served for 25 years. Overall death rate was 25-40% but most of that was due to disease or accidents - due to spending 25 years walking around in the woods - not combat. And European medieval wars were fought by part-time soldiers whose main job was making money for their lord. If "few" people survived ancient military campaigns, why would medieval lords fight wars at all? Surely fighting a war isn't worthwhile if at the end of it you have merely a "few" employees left.
tbrownaw 2y ago
> natural act Most actions do or don't suit circumstances, rather than this being something inherent. I might take lots of pictures outside at a festival or go pee inside a bathroom, but probably not the reverse. (See also, the fundamental attribution error.)

mmooss 2y ago

Repetition doesn't make it natural. As I said elsewhere, famine also is common but not eating is not natural.