Introduction of sg1008

[ZEGH8578]

A Japanese historian commenting on WW2 said something interesting (and quite obvious) about human psychology: We are so much more prone to sadism and cruelty against someone who appears pitiful.

Easy targets....

Although, I thinks its an aspect of the abuse cycle...when you're caught in it, its easiest, and safest, to let your rage out on the dog (so to speak). There are cultures that do not exhibit the same bullying feature of the human psyche we are all too familiar with...they simply know how to respect others and share what they have.

Yes, it is something I often have to remind myself, and I find it interesting you brought it up. Humans are very adaptable, and not at all as locked in patterns as we often claim to be.
Like I said, societies reflect individuals. Some societies are indeed much more prone to peace and compassion.

[skyblue1]

Are you going to upload an avatar? You're encroaching on Calavera's uniqueness.

Well, since I've had such an awesome welcoming here, I'll upload something...

thats because you are the first noob in a while that hasnt been up to something

[sg1008]

A Japanese historian commenting on WW2 said something interesting (and quite obvious) about human psychology: We are so much more prone to sadism and cruelty against someone who appears pitiful.

Easy targets....

Although, I thinks its an aspect of the abuse cycle...when you're caught in it, its easiest, and safest, to let your rage out on the dog (so to speak). There are cultures that do not exhibit the same bullying feature of the human psyche we are all too familiar with...they simply know how to respect others and share what they have.

Yes, it is something I often have to remind myself, and I find it interesting you brought it up. Humans are very adaptable, and not at all as locked in patterns as we often claim to be.
Like I said, societies reflect individuals. Some societies are indeed much more prone to peace and compassion.

The human psyche can orchestrate several different realities, and all societies (on avg) are prone to each reality equally. We have control over what we make of ourselves its just a matter of knowing how to affect that reality....it also comes down to what our priorities (as a community) are. If we agree on certain things and can go about bringing it into reality. Usually it only takes a generation or two when everyone agrees on something.

Now, zooming out into the world of philosophy, if people were more united in their vision for life and the future, we could bring about really good things. But we have to be wise about it, and not short change ourselves for quick results...take the who global warming fiasco...we will have to change a lot, including our attitude about life, diversity, nature, and human expansion. Otherwise we won't live to see our realities of space travel, peace, and health come to light.

[sg1008]

Are you going to upload an avatar? You're encroaching on Calavera's uniqueness.

Well, since I've had such an awesome welcoming here, I'll upload something...

thats because you are the first noob in a while that hasnt been up to something

Hi skyblue1, are you the same skyblue1 from AFF?

[ZEGH8578]

Now, zooming out into the world of philosophy, if people were more united in their vision for life and the future, we could bring about really good things. But we have to be wise about it, and not short change ourselves for quick results...take the who global warming fiasco...we will have to change a lot, including our attitude about life, diversity, nature, and human expansion. Otherwise we won't live to see our realities of space travel, peace, and health come to light.

I find myself very pessimistic about such prospects, as I believe continued population growth will only fragment peoples more and more. Unity is often associated with conquest and opression, and will inevitably create minorities - simply from the fact that some populations are bigger than others.
If the EU was a country, it would consist of Germans as the most populous nation - while everyone else would technically be minorities and would inevitably begin to yearn for independence.

As I often tell people - humanity is "untested", we do not know what we get ourselves into. Take the internet generation for example. It is often joked about, but I find it no joking matter Are researchers 100 years from now, going to abide by the standards of "I fucking love science"?
Humanity is risky, and our civilization has only existed for a short moment in a biological timescale. We need to really snap the hell out of our lull, if we plan to exist for a truly considerable time, and not just be a "moment" in the lifespan of our planet :I

Awesome avatar btw, I love birds - and dinosaurs - and eagles fighting just evoke "raptors" like nothing else. In evolution there is no "border" between species, and technically living birds are living dinosaurs, and I love to relish in that fact: Eagles fighting are living, breathing dinosaurs. That is what they look like, in case anybody wonders! And that is how they fight At least - that kind of dinosaur. The cuddly little passerine dinosaurs have other methods

[skyblue1]

Are you going to upload an avatar? You're encroaching on Calavera's uniqueness.

Well, since I've had such an awesome welcoming here, I'll upload something...

thats because you are the first noob in a while that hasnt been up to something

Hi skyblue1, are you the same skyblue1 from AFF?

yep, I hope there is not another one

[sg1008]

Awesome avatar btw, I love birds - and dinosaurs - and eagles fighting just evoke "raptors" like nothing else. In evolution there is no "border" between species, and technically living birds are living dinosaurs, and I love to relish in that fact: Eagles fighting are living, breathing dinosaurs. That is what they look like, in case anybody wonders! And that is how they fight At least - that kind of dinosaur. The cuddly little passerine dinosaurs have other methods

I plan to reply to your other statement at a later time. Maybe a different thread.

As for the avatar: it is a picture of an adult bald eagle stealing a fish from a juvenile bald eagle. I also like it because eagles tend to hang out in pairs, and when they "play" they will zoom across the sky towards each other, then at the last moment link talons and whirl around in the air before letting go.

You may find this interesting (its only about 8 min):

Ah in the video the photographer call it cart-wheeling when they lock talons and spin around.

[ZEGH8578]

Nice vid. I liked the close-up of that photogenic eagle
A reason I like eagles is that they also help break the "fragile" image people have of birds (usually due to their feathers), birds are just as tough as any mammal, even tougher because of the way their torso is structured (as a solid box).
Allready when I was little, I was fascinated with a big color panel in a nature book my grandpa had, showing a big Norwegian "sea-eagle" (technically the same as the bald eagle, only with a less bright head) ripping open and eating a fox. I loved the notion that birds could "pwn" mammals, just as easily as any kind of predator that knows what its doing

[sg1008]

Nice vid. I liked the close-up of that photogenic eagle
A reason I like eagles is that they also help break the "fragile" image people have of birds (usually due to their feathers), birds are just as tough as any mammal, even tougher because of the way their torso is structured (as a solid box).
Allready when I was little, I was fascinated with a big color panel in a nature book my grandpa had, showing a big Norwegian "sea-eagle" (technically the same as the bald eagle, only with a less bright head) ripping open and eating a fox. I loved the notion that birds could "pwn" mammals, just as easily as any kind of predator that knows what its doing

This is one of my favourite vids, as the eagle owl comes closer (and into focus) check out its talons:

[sg1008]

I made a new thread for such videos:
http://www.intensitysquared.com/index.php/topic,20510.0.html

[ZEGH8578]

Nice vid. I liked the close-up of that photogenic eagle
A reason I like eagles is that they also help break the "fragile" image people have of birds (usually due to their feathers), birds are just as tough as any mammal, even tougher because of the way their torso is structured (as a solid box).
Allready when I was little, I was fascinated with a big color panel in a nature book my grandpa had, showing a big Norwegian "sea-eagle" (technically the same as the bald eagle, only with a less bright head) ripping open and eating a fox. I loved the notion that birds could "pwn" mammals, just as easily as any kind of predator that knows what its doing

This is one of my favourite vids, as the eagle owl comes closer (and into focus) check out its talons:

When I restore dinosaurs, birds are an obvious source of inspiration. Many artists take it far, and make dinosaurs into existing birds, to make some point, but I am refering more to the texture of the skin on its feet, the flexibility of the toes, the function of the talons, etc.
Harpy eagles are able to squeeze their talons clean through protective gloves, into someones flesh, and scrape bone.
Cute birdies

[Jack]

Are you going to upload an avatar? You're encroaching on Calavera's uniqueness.

Well, since I've had such an awesome welcoming here, I'll upload something...

Much more gooder.

[odeon]

Are you going to upload an avatar? You're encroaching on Calavera's uniqueness.

Well, since I've had such an awesome welcoming here, I'll upload something...

thats because you are the first noob in a while that hasnt been up to something

El Presidente is another, actually. Arguably he won't suffer fools easily, but I think it safe to assume he isn't here to troll.

[Scrapheap]

Do you have an opinion of the Chumash Indians??

No. But if you have any information you'd like to share about them, I would be interested Are you Chumash?

No, I just live in (former) Chumash territory.

Did you know that the name/word Malibu is Chumash? Present day Malibu is at the southern end of their territory, San Luis Obispo is at their northern border.

[Al Swearegen]

 

Are you going to upload an avatar? You're encroaching on Calavera's uniqueness.

Well, since I've had such an awesome welcoming here, I'll upload something...

thats because you are the first noob in a while that hasnt been up to something

El Presidente is another, actually. Arguably he won't suffer fools easily, but I think it safe to assume he isn't here to troll.

Yup. I agree with your assessment