The Ugly of Evolution (the Egret and the toad)

I love birds, like the Florida egrets. I love frogs and toads, always have since early childhood. But to watch an egret impale a toad like I just did minutes ago, see it walk off, then drop the poor amphibian to stab it again and again, just... I know, if the bird didn't do that daily, with toads, lizards, frogs and who knows what else, it would starve and die. A terrible death. But so is being carried off and stabbed to death by a large monster.

That's the part of evolution I've always hated. Adaptations to changes in the environment, adaptations in predator-prey relationships is not about life it's about death. On individual levels it's often random. That toad may have been more capable at evading prey than its siblings, either by speed or by hiding, yet they'll live to reproduce instead of it. The egret may have been slower physically or neurologically than its siblings, yet it caught its food while while the others may starve, or are killed some other way. But the accumulation of several generations is not random. Those more likely to survive will spread their allels throughout the population precisely because those even slightly less well-adapted have died. And when evolution does not happen, it is because there is pressure to stay the same instead of adapting. That too is a process of death more than life, as those individuals that are slightly different are either less able to survive or are less likely to be chosen as mates. Or both.

Evolution is an amazing phenomenon when I see what its results are. I can understand why many have a need to believe that a creator-god exists to make it all happen. After all, plants and animals look so well designed! And many of them are spectacularly beautiful. They had to have been designed by someone, or by someones, such I used to believe (angels, working under the direction of Michael, Jehovah's firstborn son. The same mind cannot have designed both butterflies and wasps). But the truth is, as best as we can determine, is that they were designed from the bottom up, from individual groups and species by blind, impersonal  forces of selection, instead of top-down, by master architects.

I also love mice. And I have great affection for cats.
*groan*

I'd post more if I wrote more

I've realized yet another reason why it sucks to rush out the door in the morning. Aside from skipping the expected playtime with my cats. Morning, especially soon after I wake up is when Ihave the most brilliant thoughts. Brilliant comedy, brilliant solutions, brilliant ideas covering many subjects. Usually at random. This morning I hadto laugh because of a brilliant comedic solution that popped into my head. But now I have no idea what it was. Playtime with my Easter and her 3 grown children shouldn't be optional. It does me a lot of good, keeps my mind and heart healthy, and it's great for them too. But writing should not be optional either. Neither should drawing at night. I need all that and more.

Empathy default setting: ON

To have hate for LGBTQs to the extent of expressing approval of the Orlando massacre requires justification, it seems. Scriptures are often cited by haters, but not by those expressing grief and by people, organizations that contribute to help the survivors. Not that there aren't biblical passages that extol & mandate such compassion. It's just not necessary to acknowledge and act upon the belief that the killings were immoral. Empathy needs no justification, whereas hate does.

I'm reminded of the antisemitism of the Nazis. Their propaganda needed to offer so-called 'facts' about Jewish people that would shut down empathy. Individuals that risked their lives to save Jews, others need no justification for their morality.

My conclusion is that empathy doesn't need rationalizations to become active because its default setting is On. Shutting it off requires bad information, psychological duress, biochemical imbalance or some other factor. Only then is it possible to regard other humans (and nonhuman animals as well) as "other," as inferior, and as deserving of harm.

What do you think? Do you agree? Comments are welcome.

Empathy default setting: ON

To have hate for LGBTQs to the extent of expressing approval of the Orlando massacre requires justification, it seems. Scriptures are often cited by haters, but not by those expressing grief and by people, organizations that contribute to help the survivors. Not that there aren't biblical passages that extol & mandate such compassion. It's just not necessary to acknowledge and act upon the belief that the killings were immoral. Empathy needs no justification, whereas hate does.

I'm reminded of the antisemitism of the Nazis. Their propaganda needed to offer so-called 'facts' about Jewish people that would shut down empathy. Individuals that risked their lives to save Jews, others need no justification for their morality.

My conclusion is that empathy doesn't need rationalizations to become active because its default setting is On. Shutting it off requires bad information, psychological duress, biochemical imbalance or some other factor. Only then is it possible to regard other humans (and nonhuman animals as well) as "other," as inferior, and as deserving of harm.

What do you think? Do you agree? Comments are welcome.

I had a discussion with others about school bullying and suicide. Something that should concern everyone. That night, and the next day I had several flashbacks. Well, not truly the crippling PTSD ones anymore but my peace of mind was shattered. Because  of what happened to me over thirty years ago. More than three decades in the past, and it still hurts!
Fuck anyone who believes LGBT+ kids don't deserve protection like every other student.

Dinosaur discipline

Is Barney the Dinosaur still on? Don't know, don't care. But anyway, I'm just thinking. He'a a dinosaur. A therapod dinosaur, like the t.rex, allosaur, velociraptor and other killers. In a room full of small children. I'm sure they feed him just before filming for safety reasons. But if PBS wanted to expand its viewing demographic to include a large segment of the adult population then maybe on some days they'll only feed Barney half a meal before starting. The days that casting includes some petulant smart-mouth brat on the set. Can you imagine this, Barney devouring a troublemaker? It'll raise viewership, that's for damn sure. Hell I'd even watch it. And it may even have a positive impact on children's behavior everywhere, so they should try it. Or should have, if it's been cancelled.

Demonically possessed Teletubbies, with evil spirits looking through the squares in their bellies. Hmm. Jerry Falwell was spooked by the purple one, remember? Accused it of being gay? Yeah. Lemme think about this?..
03jun2016.fri

p.s. you know I'm joking, right? Right??