Humans: Good or bad?

[Sean K]

I've been following this remarkable story in Canada where a guy was stabbed to death in a bus and then had his head cut off. The hacker then apparantly started chopping bits of the other bloke off, and eating him.

Almost as unbelievable is that when the guy started stabbing the soon to be headless, there were 47 people in the bus. Instead of assisting the unfortunate man, they ran out of the bus and just watched.

I am almost lost for words.


It got me thinking however; are we naturally a compassionate beast, or are we bad to the bone.

Having witnessed some terrible things in my life I'm leaning to bad.

I'm thinking along the lines of the ever inciteful Agent Smith:

"I’d like to share a revelation that I’ve had, during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species and I realized that you aren’t actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with its surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply, and multiply until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You are a plague, and we... are the cure."


Maybe it's all because Eve ate that bloody apple?

 

[wayneL]

Humans are a paradox.

One person does good, another person does bad.

Confusing.

 

[Sean K]

There is certainly a lot of 'good' out there, but geeesh, sometimes I just think we're just a pack of wild animals fighting for our own survival.

This is probable linked to Julia's discussion on altruism and contribution to community.

Perhaps it's yin and yang and in the end there is a balance between good and evil.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all just get along and love one another. Maybe we need to spike the worlds drinking water with some MDMA...

 

[prawn_86]

I would also say there is a mix of good or bad, but like Kennas i would lean towards bad. My reasons:

(ok im going to generalise here, but who doesnt)...

Look at all the 'lower class' people, drug dealers, theifs etc etc. Unfortunately there seems to be more of the 'plebs' than of anyone else, and a lot of them seem to have no respect for rules and laws of our society. (What has caused this is a different discussion).

You just need to look at the outer suburbs of most cities to see what goes on....

 

[CAB SAV]

Month ago caught a late night train from city after a good night out with my wife. 3 Sudanese guys were giving some young commuters a hard time for absolutly no reason other than to stir. Security guards were useless, didn't want to get involved.Couldn't help myself, went over to them & asked what was their #@^*ing problem. All quite till I went back to my seat. In hindsight, not very clever as I since found out a lot of these guys carry knives cause they can't fight.
Sick to death of cowards like these guys.
Won't do it again though.

 

[Julia]

Kennas, in the incident you describe, I have to admit I'd be amongst the 47 people who did nothing to help. Fairly obviously any intervention would have incurred the same fate for the 'helper', and not too many people are going to put their hands up for that.

To overpower the attacker would have taken someone from the 47 to assume leadership of the group, for them to have made a plan as to how to intervene etc., and that just wouldn't happen when everyone was panicking.

It's a fairly extreme example of lack of altruism, isn't it, when to attempt to save someone you would lose your own life?

What would you have done had you been there?

On the question of are people good or bad, I don't know, but on the whole adopt the attitude that most people are OK until they demonstrate otherwise.

 

[sam76]

I once did a PolSci subject on whether humans are born inherently good or evil.

I'll try and dig up some references.

You should add a poll to this, Kennas.

Yes
No
Indifferent (it's society that influences our behaviour)

 

[MRC & Co]

Those 47 were probably shi*ting their pants! That story is insane, but if the man is already dead, no need to risk your life just so he doesn't get cut up and eaten.

I believe most people are inherently good, to those they are close too.

Then there are just the mentally insane who would harm anybody at any time regardless.

Interesting thread though.

Might really just come down to that bloody apple! he he

 

[kgee]

Humans - good
Psychopaths - bad

 

[IFocus]

Kennas remember that Army cadet (I think) who shot a heap of people (Melbourne was it)

I remember that most of those shot were going to the aid of others already shot.

Are people good or bad, just wonder what would happen if there were no rules, regulations, police etc would it end up being one big orgy is that good or bad...

 

[juw177]

Many agree that good / bad is directly attributed to a person's capacity for empathy.

Unfortunately in a capitalist society, empathy will not help you get ahead in the accumulation of other people's disposable income. The rich and powerful don't get that way by feeling for other people.

 

[jonojpsg]

I would also say there is a mix of good or bad, but like Kennas i would lean towards bad. My reasons:

(ok im going to generalise here, but who doesnt)...

Look at all the 'lower class' people, drug dealers, theifs etc etc. Unfortunately there seems to be more of the 'plebs' than of anyone else, and a lot of them seem to have no respect for rules and laws of our society. (What has caused this is a different discussion).

You just need to look at the outer suburbs of most cities to see what goes on....

One would assume then Prawn that you are not a "lower class" person or a "pleb"? Need to be careful with your use of terms like that IMO (especially when you can't spell thief )

Agree with MRC & Co though, why would you risk yourself if the guy is already dead?

IMO humans are bad and it's only God that keeps everything from going pear shaped

 

[bassmanpete]

Are people good or bad, just wonder what would happen if there were no rules, regulations, police etc would it end up being one big orgy is that good or bad...

Check out what happened when the police went on strike in Melbourne in 1923:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Victorian_Police_strike

I doubt it would much different if they went on strike today

 

[zolow]

I like the idea that everone has the capacity to do good and evil within them and it is our choices or paths we choose that make us good or evil.

Thus murderers are capable of saving people from burning houses

and kind preists are capable of molesting young children

I suppose I am an idealist

 

[prawn_86]

One would assume then Prawn that you are not a "lower class" person or a "pleb"? Need to be careful with your use of terms like that IMO (especially when you can't spell thief )

Agree with MRC & Co though, why would you risk yourself if the guy is already dead?

IMO humans are bad and it's only God that keeps everything from going pear shaped

While defining classes is always difficult, i look at motivation. My definition of 'lower class' is those who complain about life, but are not willing/motivated to do anything to improve it (within the laws of our society).

 

[Wysiwyg]

It`s the words kennas, the words.

 

[white_goodman]

humans are inherently human, neither good nor bad as a whole... we are what we are and we do what we do to exist and meet the basic needs and wants that drive our emotions

 

[white_goodman]

While defining classes is always difficult, i look at motivation. My definition of 'lower class' is those who complain about life, but are not willing/motivated to do anything to improve it (within the laws of our society).

hear hear agree 100%

 

[Sean K]

Yes, Julia and MRC, those people were crappin their pants and were just trying to save their own @rses. What would I have done? Who knows. Probably have crapped myself as well.

This are just examples of people being bad. Firstly, the guy for chopping the other blokes head off for no reason, and people not intervening early in the struggle which may have save him, and it just got me thinking of the horrible things we do to each other, for whatever reason.

I suppose all those 'bad' things can be linked back to a reason for action, or non action. The same as 'good' things.

 

[2020hindsight]

While defining classes is always difficult.....

pretty hard to find someone in a lower class when you left school at first form - unless of course someone left at kindergarten I guess