This is an exercise I do from time to time in my head, and I figured I’d write a couple down. The idea is, I start with a statement or question which I answer briefly, and then I keep asking myself “Why?” until I can’t come up with a succinct answer. I also call this the “Virtual 3-year-old” game.
I have to move to the south.
Why?
My wife got a job as a professor at a university there.
Why?
She worked very hard for years, studying people.
Why?
I guess she’s just kind of nosey, and has to know everything.
Why?
For her, it’s not enough to just pretend you know what you’re talking about.
Why?
Probably because she’s not a Republican.
Why?
She doesn’t loathe women’s rights, gay people, or foreigners.
Why?
She’s not a complete prick.
Why?
Her parents may have been mean at times, but they did a decent job of making her tolerant.
Why?
I bet it comes from being raised Jewish.
Why?
Jewish people are technically outsiders, even though I know people claim this is a “Judeo-Christian” culture.
Why?
Apparently accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior is a big deal to Americans.
Why?
Maybe because Americans are so fat and unhealthy, they’ve given up on their bodies and are trying to save their souls.
Why?
It’s miserable to have nothing going for you, so I’m sure imagining one’s spiritual self as apart from this filthy, sweaty, smelly, leathery bag of meat that we trudge through life with is appealing.
Why?
We’d all like to believe there’s something more to us.
Why?
Most of us aren’t that impressive.
Why?
Probably a combination of people being difficult to please and the sheer number of us means we have some interesting abnormalities with which to compare ourselves.
Why?
Never being happy with what you have is evolutionarily beneficial, as it drives us to improve.
Why?
Those who are content will not change, while those who are discontent are apt to innovate.
Why?
Those who are happy have no interest in changing things, while those who are unhappy have something to gain and nothing to lose by trying new things.
Why?
People like to be happy, but they don’t like to be unhappy.
Why?
Most people are pleasure seekers, not masochists.
Why?
Honestly… I have no idea. I know I prefer pleasure over pain, but I can’t exactly say why.
Why?
ReplyDeleteBecause pain is an indication something is harmful and pain hurts like hell! Therefore , all biological creatures attempt to avoid it.
Unlike the animals, however, humans, with their rationality, can make choices based on objective criteria of good and bad, right and wrong, by the use of reason, going far beyond the simple pleasure/pain principle. And as Freud himself taught, the reality principle overrides the basic desire of immediate gratification.
Yeah... we even get pleasure from things like watching others fail. Explain that biologically...
ReplyDelete"Pain is weakness leaving the body." -Anonymous Marine drill sergeant.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I think that some people get pleasure from watching others fail because of a biological need to out-compete others when food or other resources are scarce, or simply in the case of low self-esteem. My hypothesis. You read it here first.
"Yeah... we even get pleasure from things like watching others fail. Explain that biologically..."
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's pleasure as much as it's a type of "rubber necking". Check out the book "The Ape in the Corner Office" sometime if you haven't already. I think many here would find that book interesting.
"Seriously, I think that some people get pleasure from watching others fail because of a biological need to out-compete others when food or other resources are scarce, or simply in the case of low self-esteem. My hypothesis. You read it here first."
You're Lordship . . . you might be on to something. How will you test this hypothesis of yours? Don't you hate it when a hypothesis doesn't have the means to be tested just yet?
Interesting post Ginx; keep playing that game, it will keep your brain young... even when you're so old that you'll crap in your pants like when you were a 3-yo.
ReplyDeleteI thought about it more, and here's my dilemma regarding pain:
ReplyDeleteWe say we avoid pain and displeasure, but there are many things we do (or should do) that are painful or unpleasant. From exercise to preparing for the future to education to eating healthy, there are all kinds of things people do that they find unpleasant.
Meanwhile, the things we hate are so varied. I love to shower. I love to feel the water run over me and the feeling when I'm clean afterwards. Other people I know hate showers. Why? The things we find painful or unpleasant are so varied, and I know this affects our decision making... but how much does it really, and more importantly, how much should it?