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Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by willravel
Okay, speaking to the human condition:
We all have in us the ability to take a life in cold blood. This is one of those things you learn in psych 101. It's a really sad fact, but it's something to bear in mind because it's really important in understanding the way the human mind works. Here's the thing: not everyone does take a life. As a matter of fact, on the whole very few people take a life. It's about consciously making the decision whether or not to take a life. This may come as a surprise, but if I can help it I will never take a life. I don't think I have the right to take the life of anyone but myself. I know it's difficult to imagine that kind of decision being made on a massive scale, but doing so gives me hope.
I'm not talking about removing conflict, I'm talking about removing war. I suspect that conflict may always be with humanity. War, on the other hand, is the biggest and worst form of conflict (besides maybe genocide, which can result from war). Yes, there may be no way to ever end fights, but to escalate to war.... don't you think that may be a different story?
They are a part of the human psyche, sort of, but it's how we respond to these things that count. As you said, pride can be a great motivator or reward for good.
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That's for you to not want to be willing to take another life. I crossed that line long ago when I picked up my first firearm. I knew at that moment I was able to quickly and decisively wipe another life off the planet in one second flat. I accepted that responsibility with the next shot I squeezed off.
I will protect me and mine, and if that means you don't get to live another day, that is my choice and decision. It does not mean I will sleep well at night, but it does mean I will sleep while the other individual is dead.
But you are making this not about conflict but about war. What is the definition of war? Crompsin seems to have been within the "conflict" but cannot locate the war. At what point does a conflict change and become war? And why is then a conflict acceptable for carnage and death?
As far as some small examples, how does the gangs in your neck of the woods operate? In my world from the gangs of Los Angeles to the crime families in NYC. They sometimes have skirmishes or conflicts, but sometimes they have all out wars.
Again, I have to say that the human condition creates the conflict, the human condition expands it to war.
People kill others for any reason, so far in the 16 years I have lived in the NY area, people have been killed for $.25, sneakers, leather jacket, ipod, looked at them the wrong way, no reason but being in the same subway car, bestf friend jealousy over a girl, complaining about the noise as someone was working.
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