Comments on: They Are the Herd http://micahtillman.com/2007/11/25/they-are-the-herd/ Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Etc. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:04:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Daniel Eltey http://micahtillman.com/2007/11/25/they-are-the-herd/#comment-2268 Daniel Eltey Sat, 10 May 2008 12:57:17 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2007/11/25/they-are-the-herd/#comment-2268 Gawking is my viewing of someone elses misfortune or embarassment to make me feel higher up on the evolutionary chain. It also presents my selfish side which is antiheroic. Rather than staring for entertainment, I should go to the rescue or use words of comfort. Otherwise I am participating in a spectator sport which is frightfully akin to an ancient citizen of Rome watching people being tortured and killed in the ring below. Gawking is my viewing of someone elses misfortune or embarassment to make me feel higher up on the evolutionary chain. It also presents my selfish side which is antiheroic. Rather than staring for entertainment, I should go to the rescue or use words of comfort. Otherwise I am participating in a spectator sport which is frightfully akin to an ancient citizen of Rome watching people being tortured and killed in the ring below.

]]> By: Micah Tillman http://micahtillman.com/2007/11/25/they-are-the-herd/#comment-899 Micah Tillman Thu, 29 Nov 2007 02:33:55 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2007/11/25/they-are-the-herd/#comment-899 I have no doubt that there's a survival value to it. But I can't get over the fact that rubber-necking in all its forms makes people look like idiots. *grin* I have no doubt that there’s a survival value to it.

But I can’t get over the fact that rubber-necking in all its forms makes people look like idiots.

*grin*

]]> By: Andrew Stevens http://micahtillman.com/2007/11/25/they-are-the-herd/#comment-870 Andrew Stevens Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:24:20 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2007/11/25/they-are-the-herd/#comment-870 There's nothing wrong with being an animal. I'm quite proud to be an animal. Those instincts that we have are quite important; they could save your life one day. Reason is more important, of course, but the existence of instincts doesn't preclude reason. Moreover, a lot of what you appear to be complaining about is simple curiosity. Curiosity is a good thing; it's how we learn. There’s nothing wrong with being an animal. I’m quite proud to be an animal. Those instincts that we have are quite important; they could save your life one day. Reason is more important, of course, but the existence of instincts doesn’t preclude reason. Moreover, a lot of what you appear to be complaining about is simple curiosity. Curiosity is a good thing; it’s how we learn.

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