War is ingrained in the human psyche. Humans are nothing more extremely violent animals with just enough intelligence to paint a pretty picture of civility and decency. As long as the power of the narrow mind expands, the hand of humanity dooms itself.

(March 8, 2020 at 2:20 am)no one Wrote: War is ingrained in the human psyche. Humans are nothing more extremely violent animals with just enough intelligence to paint a pretty picture of civility and decency. As long as the power of the narrow mind expands, the hand of humanity dooms itself.

In the past nearly seventy years I've come to think that there is a layer of combative people lain over the larger body of humans. Kill anybody who starts a fight and the weeding-out would begin.

Then again, one could make the argument that war is actually a net positive, and has been one of the driving forces of civilization.

Boru

(March 8, 2020 at 5:53 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Then again, one could make the argument that war is actually a net positive, and has been one of the driving forces of civilization.

Boru

Rather along the lines of removing an appendix without anesthetic.

(March 8, 2020 at 6:10 am)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote:

(March 8, 2020 at 5:53 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Then again, one could make the argument that war is actually a net positive, and has been one of the driving forces of civilization.

Boru

Rather along the lines of removing an appendix without anesthetic.

Well, sort of, yes. War is painful and horrid and costs huge amounts of lives and treasure and is certainly no fun for the people on the ground. 

On the other hand, war stimulates economies and technological innovations and promotes democracy and increases living standards.

It would be nice if the above could be accomplished without resorting to war, but since people are going to go to war anyway, it's important to recognize that it's not all bad.

Boru

So what we need is a way to stimulate the economies and promote technological innovations without killing shit loads of people.

That would be ideal, yes.  I'm not promoting war, just pointing out that - on the grand scale - it isn't ALL bad (but bad enough that I'd be happy if it went away forever).

Boru

(March 8, 2020 at 6:56 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: That would be ideal, yes.  I'm not promoting war, just pointing out that - on the grand scale - it isn't ALL bad (but bad enough that I'd be happy if it went away forever).

Boru

The most fun I ever had out of bed was in combat zones. But I was overall happier when I didn't have to fight for my life. (Mostly. Helga was ... NVM.)

People say war drives technology. That a bit of tunnel vision. Technology does surge during war, but it progresses nicely without war, perhaps more successfully.

(March 8, 2020 at 7:25 am)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote:

(March 8, 2020 at 6:56 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: That would be ideal, yes.  I'm not promoting war, just pointing out that - on the grand scale - it isn't ALL bad (but bad enough that I'd be happy if it went away forever).

Boru

The most fun I ever had out of bed was in combat zones. But I was overall happier when I didn't have to fight for my life. (Mostly. Helga was ... NVM.)

People say war drives technology. That a bit of tunnel vision. Technology does surge during war, but it progresses nicely without war, perhaps more successfully.

The historical record disagrees.

Boru

The historical record as compiled by people with an agenda.