What's The Harm?

[The Grand Nudger]

I've always had a giggle at the notion of stupid people offing themselves somehow being a way for nature to winnow out the less than fit. Stupid isn't something that nature commonly selects against, and often enough these idiotic things that people do will hurt others as much as themselves. So, where's the benefit, how is this survival of the fittest? People failing to exercise an ounce of sense is a human problem, which can be solved by human beings, and in no way can be excused by "survival of the fittest".

[NoMoreFaith]

I've always had a giggle at the notion of stupid people offing themselves somehow being a way for nature to winnow out the less than fit. Stupid isn't something that nature commonly selects against, and often enough these idiotic things that people do will hurt others as much as themselves. So, where's the benefit, how is this survival of the fittest?

Hence why biologists do not particularly like the term, fittest in terms of natural selection does not necessarily mean better in any way.

It was not a term used by Darwin to describe the process of natural selection.

In itself its actually meaningless if you consider it, if fittest makes you stronger, or better suited for survival, then the phrase means Survival of those who are likely to survive.
Which is slightly nonsensical.