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As I was reading the article, I couldn't help wondering: Why doesn't everyone have the same traits that the special forces people do? Unless there was some hug

by jcl 18y ago

As I was reading the article, I couldn't help wondering: Why doesn't everyone have the same traits that the special forces people do? Unless there was some huge downside, I'd expect evolutionary pressure to select for them. But it wasn't until the end of the article that it gives a hint of a disadvantage: Unfortunately, this metronomic effect is usually associated with early heart disease and even sudden death. Morgan wonders whether the same thing that makes you really good at surviving under high stress may not translate into excellent heart health when you're 50.

skmurphy 18y ago
From an evolutionary standpoint, anything that manifests above 40 has little impact if it gives you better survivability younger. For most of human history you will have already had your children and raised them to independence .
- defen 18y ago
  Let's not forget the advantage of having a large number of established elder relatives - they can help raise more kids, share resources, etc.
- reeses 18y ago
  That argument would mean that non-reproducing people, particularly homosexuality (if you believe the "genetics" argument), would have been eliminated by now.
  - skmurphy 18y ago
    Not if they contribute meaningfully to their siblings children's survival. Your argument also assumes that homosexuality is primarily determined by genetics and/or that they didn't father or bear children in spite of their orientation.
    - reeses 18y ago
      The part where I said "non-reproducing people" and "(if you believe the "genetics" argument)" cover what you said. You refute your original argument with your first sentence.
      - skmurphy 18y ago
        To contribute meaningfully to their siblings children's survival would normally take place before they are 40.
- jcl 18y ago
  Good point. Which makes me wonder if there are further disadvantages beyond the one mentioned in the article. Perhaps panic-suppression is actually a disadvantage in most life-or-death situations? Or that it's such a desirable trait in high-risk professions that people with it tend to enter these professions and die young?
  - gaius 18y ago
    Perhaps panic-suppression is actually a disadvantage in most life-or-death situations? I've done offshore survival training, dive training and worked as a lifeguard and one thing that's very obvious is that what usually kills people who get themselves into a situation (that on paper they're equipped to deal with) is panicking and/or refusal to accept the reality of that situation. Basically I cannot think of a case in which a trained person would benefit from losing control like that.

by jcl 18y ago

skmurphy 18y ago

From an evolutionary standpoint, anything that manifests above 40 has little impact if it gives you better survivability younger. For most of human history you will have already had your children and raised them to independence .

defen 18y ago
Let's not forget the advantage of having a large number of established elder relatives - they can help raise more kids, share resources, etc.
reeses 18y ago
That argument would mean that non-reproducing people, particularly homosexuality (if you believe the "genetics" argument), would have been eliminated by now.
- skmurphy 18y ago
  Not if they contribute meaningfully to their siblings children's survival. Your argument also assumes that homosexuality is primarily determined by genetics and/or that they didn't father or bear children in spite of their orientation.
  - reeses 18y ago
    The part where I said "non-reproducing people" and "(if you believe the "genetics" argument)" cover what you said. You refute your original argument with your first sentence.
    - skmurphy 18y ago
      To contribute meaningfully to their siblings children's survival would normally take place before they are 40.
jcl 18y ago
Good point. Which makes me wonder if there are further disadvantages beyond the one mentioned in the article. Perhaps panic-suppression is actually a disadvantage in most life-or-death situations? Or that it's such a desirable trait in high-risk professions that people with it tend to enter these professions and die young?
- gaius 18y ago
  Perhaps panic-suppression is actually a disadvantage in most life-or-death situations? I've done offshore survival training, dive training and worked as a lifeguard and one thing that's very obvious is that what usually kills people who get themselves into a situation (that on paper they're equipped to deal with) is panicking and/or refusal to accept the reality of that situation. Basically I cannot think of a case in which a trained person would benefit from losing control like that.