Psychology NOT religion

[Phoenix-D]

"Speaking of weird things under rocks, where did the phrase "open a can of worms" originate?"

Probably those joke things where you open a can and a bunch of fake worms fly out in your face.

Phoenix-D

[mlmbd]

President Elect Shang,

I never read it that way mlmbd. I never even thought along those lines. Most likely since I lack an ego (that was Freud's little pearl of ignorance) I view everyone as equals till they prove themselves different.

Fair enough!

Did I mention Freud was a quack? Well that’s a whole debate in itself and I don’t want to go there right now.

Yes, that an entirely different "can of worms".

Do you think that humans are xenophibic toward the concept of extraterrstrials?

This President Elect Shang is an interesting question. You did mean "xenophobic" and "extraterrestrials", correct? May I inquire as the particular "concept" we are talking about? OK, OK, I will assume (I am going to pay for this. Assuming, that is) that you are talking about "concept" in it's generally accepted terminology.

Since a concept is something we "CONCEIVE". In the abstract I would have to say humans in general are very xenophobic about extraterrestrials.

capnq,

Speaking of weird things under rocks, where did the phrase "open a can of worms" originate?

I can see that smerk on your face, capnq. I really don't have any idea!

mlmbd

[Kamog]

Yes, I agree that humans are xenophobic toward the concept of extraterrestrials. In general, humans tend to fear the unknown. In fact, the fear of the unknown can be a stronger emotion than the fear towards a known danger. Since we know nothing about extraterrestrials, not even if they exist or not, it is natural that people feel fear about the idea.

[DirectorTsaarx]

Originally posted by capnq:
Speaking of weird things under rocks, where did the phrase "open a can of worms" originate?

Ever go fishing with live bait (aka "a can of worms")? Once you open that can & take out the first victim (er, worm) to put on your hook, the rest of the worms crawl all over & it's merry heck trying to get the lid back on without squishing some of them. Hence "open a can of worms" generally means starting any topic that could be difficult to control. At least that's how it was explained to me as a young boy learning how to fish at Grandpa's summer cottage on good old Waneta Lake in western New York state... oh wait, I'm not old enough to get lost in reminiscing...

[QuarianRex]

Are humans xenophobic? Hell yeah! It has only been in the Last couple hundred years that we have even considered other races of man to be "human". We are the meanest, most aggressive, most bloodthirsty race on the planet. If we weren't we never would have made it this far.

Xenophobia (on a species wide level) is an instinctive evolutionary adaptation that promotes the survival of your own genepool. It ensures that you won't waste valuable resources on the preservation of someone (or something) elses genetics.

However, the other trait that seems to be distinctly human (besides being ornery bastards) is our capacity to over-ride instinct. This is especially true when the motivating force behind the instinct has been tamed, in the case it would be survival. For the most part we no longer need to worry about day-to-day survival and so we afford ourselves the luxury of equality.

When I say equality I don't just mean among humans. Animal rights activists, greenpeace, and vegitarians are all products of our self-assured survival.

This would apply to extra-terrestrial contact as well. So long as said contact was peaceful (ie. did not threaten our survival) our species wide benevolence would continue. If, however, our survival were to be called into question we would have no difficulty in reverting to the efficient engines of destruction that two billion years of evolution has shaped us to be.

[Krsqk]

Are humans xenophobic? Not according to this thread.

[President_Elect_Shang]

Originally posted by QuarianRex:
Are humans xenophobic? Hell yeah! It has only been in the Last couple hundred years that we have even considered other races of man to be "human". We are the meanest, most aggressive, most bloodthirsty race on the planet. If we weren't we never would have made it this far.

I think that has more to do with religion denying the idea of other Homonids than it does with xenophobia.

Xenophobia (on a species wide level) is an instinctive evolutionary adaptation that promotes the survival of your own genepool. It ensures that you won't waste valuable resources on the preservation of someone (or something) elses genetics.

I am majoring in Psychology and what you are speaking of has more to do with the gene conservation theory. Xenophobia is not even a factor. Xenophobia is mainly a nominal fallacy and not an evolutionary trait.

However, the other trait that seems to be distinctly human (besides being ornery bastards) is our capacity to over-ride instinct. This is especially true when the motivating force behind the instinct has been tamed, in the case it would be survival. For the most part we no longer need to worry about day-to-day survival and so we afford ourselves the luxury of equality.

I won’t even touch that. Needless to say you are WAY off. Sorry don’t take it personally it’s only a thread. If you would like me to e-mail you with what’s wrong in that statement than let me know? Long story short is that it would take about a page to show you. Once again what you are speaking of has more to do with the structure and use of English than anything in psychology.

When I say equality I don't just mean among humans. Animal rights activists, greenpeace, and vegitarians are all products of our self-assured survival.

This would apply to extra-terrestrial contact as well. So long as said contact was peaceful (ie. did not threaten our survival) our species wide benevolence would continue. If, however, our survival were to be called into question we would have no difficulty in reverting to the efficient engines of destruction that two billion years of evolution has shaped us to be.

I feel faint, sorry my friend, I truly feel bad because I most whole heartedly promise I am NOT attacking you or attempting to provoke a defense response from you, but you are way, way, way off. Sounds good in English but it just don’t hold up.

Also, there ENTIRE Hominid line has only been around for about 4 to 5 million years. I believe that 2 BILLION would put you in the age of dinosaurs.

[ December 07, 2002, 01:35: Message edited by: President Elect Shang ]

[Phoenix-D]

"I feel faint, sorry my friend, I truly feel bad because I most whole heartedly promise I am NOT attacking you or attempting to provoke a defense response from you, but you are way, way, way off. Sounds good in English but it just don’t hold up."

It sounds more like attacking than an explanation would frankly. "You are wrong" doesn't get us very far.

"Also, there ENTIRE Hominid line has only been around for about 4 to 5 million years. I believe that 2 BILLION would put you in the age of dinosaurs."

Eh-eh. Last dinosaur dropped dead around 65 million years ago. 248 million years ago is around when they first appeared.

I think what he's refering to with 2 billion years of evolution is every single organism between him and the first early life. Looks to be about the right time scale.

Phoenix-D

[Kamog]

This would apply to extra-terrestrial contact as well. So long as said contact was peaceful (ie. did not threaten our survival) our species wide benevolence would continue. If, however, our survival were to be called into question we would have no difficulty in reverting to the efficient engines of destruction that two billion years of evolution has shaped us to be

I agree with this statement. For example, think of how a parent reacts when a child is threatened in any way. Thoughts of peace and benevolance go out the window really quickly. We are quite willing to kill in order to protect ourselves and our children.

[President_Elect_Shang]

Phenix-D: I’m not sure about the time scale, you sound about right though. If you read his post again it seems clear (to me) that he is referring to the Hominid line only. Drawing the [starting] line for life is just too difficult to mention in any thread of this type.

It sounds as if I have offended you, I apologize and if this is the direction the thread is turning than we should all let it just slip into the oblivion at the bottom.

As far as what I was referring to I could not agree more with your point that:
“It sounds more like attacking than an explanation would frankly. "You are wrong" doesn't get us very far.”
That is why I was careful to point out:
“If you would like me to e-mail you with what’s wrong in that statement than let me know? Long story short is that it would take about a page to show you.”
Since it would take so much I skipped it and left the option open. Thank you for pointing that out though, if you missed it than someone else may also.