16 September 2012

From Monkeys to Muslims: Excitable Primates

The differences between the minds of monkeys and the minds of men are differences of a graded evolutionary nature. Natural selection follows a forked and winding pathway, diverging and converging unpredictably. The range of primate emotions is remarkably similar from monkeys to humans. All primates -- from monkeys to higher species -- are excitable to a greater or lesser degree.
Monkeys Attacking Automobile

Monkeys are excitable, like all primates. Monkeys experience rage reactions -- like apes and humans -- but they do not typically organise in up close and personal group attacks like common chimps and people are wont to do. When they flock together, it is more likely in search of food or out of curiosity.
Evolving Apes on Rampage

In an evolutionary sense, apes are much closer to humans, and ape behaviour has many more parallels with human behaviour. Apes have been known to carry out sustained genocidal wars against competing groups of apes. The superior size and organisation of the ape brain makes it capable of organising and sustaining rage for longer periods of time on a larger scale.
Excitable Muslims

The human brain is larger yet, and formed in such a way to allow for even more complex levels of societal organisation than is found in ape societies. Human groups have been aroused to violence and warfare for as long as there is recorded history.

Human excitability -- particularly in groups -- can be a serious problem for human societies, and for the ability of humans to get along in non-violent ways. Religious excitability and violence has been a problem ever since disparate human tribes began to assert the superiority and dominance of their particular tribal gods over the gods of rival tribes.

Some forms of relgion - instigated rage appear indistinguishable from caricatures of rage as portrayed in feature films such as "28 Days Later." In that film, a "rage virus" escaped from the lab to infest human populations, leading to cataclysmic violence.

Human rage will often build in normal circumstances -- as in "road rage," "computer rage," and other common situations where other humans may act to frustrate or oppose the wishes of a protagonist (that would be you).

Opinions vary widely, as to what should be done to manage human excitability and rage, to prevent out-of-control violence. Would it be better -- for example -- to release one's anger in a real life "fight club?" Or is it better to salve one's anger in meditation, yoga, or even a "laughter club?"

One interesting suggestion is the creation of "rage clubs," as a means to purge the inevitable anger and rage that tend to build over time.
This is how they would work. People first gather together in a large open space (a barn or warehouse type area – incidentally, no alcohol would be allowed), then several passionate speakers incite the crowd with stories of injustice and exploitation inter-cut with biased news reports (there could even be a standard canon of examples; Bhopal, Gaza, The Crusades, Big tobacco. For ‘light hearted rage’ the subjects could be narrowed down to, poor user interface or badly designed electronic equipment or non existent customer service). The speakers would then lead the crowd into demonstrating their wrath and frustration with screams, tears and rending of shirts (bought specifically for the event from charity shops). A percussion ensemble or rock band will create a throbbing soundtrack of primitive trance like rhythms building in volume. The crowd will simultaneously produce various implements of noise making capability and commence to create a cacophony of sound so powerful it would even make Lemmy from Motorhead stop his ears.

Areas will be set aside where crockery seconds can be hurled furiously at a brick wall. Effigies of slippery political criminals will be stuck on poles and aggrieved victims given fifteen minutes with a baseball bat to put their point across to them (this is contentious I know, but it is meant to be purely symbolic. The signal sent out will be that such behaviour will only be tolerated at the Rage Club but at the same time it will also be a reminder to the authorities and multinationals: “we people know of our power, so don’t screw with us and ignore us at your peril.”)

Ultimately, an energy of pure rage will be created and each individual will experience a catharsis which will lead to exhaustion, reflection and a reasoned course of action to methodically change those things which enrage them. _Rage Club

Would this work? Consider that some of the most spectacular rage displays put on by groups of Muslims often occur immediately after Friday noon prayer at the mosque. Religious clerics often learn to work a crowd into a righteous frenzy. If the group is then released directly onto the streets in the form of a mob, the results can sometimes be quite photogenic.

But what if these excitable primates were steered into a rage club instead? Allowed to vent their rage in a controlled and relatively private manner, such frenzied zealots might gradually ease into a more controlled mental state. Their internal rages may even be satisfied -- at least until next week's Friday noon prayer at the mosque.

It is something to think about.

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7 Comments:

Blogger Edward Peschko said...

god damn it..

will you please, please, please for once show that people of all stripes riot? For example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1HPn1qGIps&feature=player_embedded#t=31s

It is such a bloody cliche that muslims as a whole (or blacks as a whole, or whomever as a whole riot. It is a HUMAN trait above all, and every time you focus solely on one race or another, you basically embarrass yourself and this website.

Frankly, your racism - intentional or unintentional - is exceedingly distasteful here; in your posts on correlation of IQ with race, you neglect to cross-correlate with factors like diet, environment, and upbringing. It is just as important to acknowledge these - and to provide a means to subtract these influences before you can make any conclusions - which is nigh next to impossible. Best thing to do is give equal opportunity to everyone, have everybody develop to the best of their ability.

And - just as frankly, I don't think you know jack about the muslim faith. I work with several people who are devoutly muslim, and who pray 5 times a day, etc. In some ways I wish I had their 'centeredness' - it provides them a LOT of strength that I basically have to get otherwise, and they are exceedingly hard working, not to mention damn smart. You forget the muslim empire was once prosperous, science driven and cosmopolitan; and though I can't speak for them, I don't doubt that almost all muslims are looking on these riots with disgust.

So give it a rest, ok? Or at least be an equal opportunity misanthrope, showing riots of ALL peoples.

I look at these riots in the muslim world and I see ignorance, lack of education, religious fundamentalism and zealotry, and lack of development. I ALSO look at Europe in the 1600's, early 1800's, early 20th century, mid-20th century, etc - and see ignorance, lack of education, religious fundamentalism (either statist or traditional), and lack of development. You realize of course that in the 1600's, about 35% of the population of central Europe was killed in the 30 years war? Its a fundamental human trait, and the fact that you LOVE to only concentrate on the negative impacts of some colors of humanity is distressing.

Anyways, look - this may have been an oversight - I realize that most of the article talked about humanity as a whole, but HELL. Is it too much to ask for ONE picture of white people rioting?

Sunday, 16 September, 2012  
Blogger kurt9 said...

I think this posting's a total hoot!

Sunday, 16 September, 2012  
Blogger Illuninati said...

Peschko said:
"please for once show that people of all stripes riot"

Typical tu quoque argument.

"Frankly, your racism - intentional or unintentional - is exceedingly distasteful here; in your posts on correlation of IQ with race; in your posts on correlation of IQ with race, you neglect to cross-correlate with factors like diet, environment, and upbringing. It is just as important to acknowledge these - and to provide a means to subtract these influences before you can make any conclusions - which is nigh next to impossible”

Is it racist to tell the truth? Your argument that diet, environment, and upbringing can not be controlled in studies about race and IQ is wishful thinking. Obviously each of these need to be taken into consideration, but it is not scientifically impossible.

"Best thing to do is give equal opportunity to everyone, have everybody develop to the best of their ability"

Good point. Truth is not racism, but discrimination is. Discrimination by government based on race is evil. This includes affirmative action.

"And - just as frankly, I don't think you know jack about the muslim faith. I work with several people who are devoutly muslim, and who pray 5 times a day, etc. In some ways I wish I had their 'centeredness' - it provides them a LOT of strength that I basically have to get otherwise, and they are exceedingly hard working, not to mention damn smart"

Just because you know a Muslim does not mean you understand the Muslim faith. If you study the Koran and hadiths, you will learn how ignorant your statement really is. You can not know how your Muslim "friends," who are stranded in our culture, would act in their own environment. Islam is not just a personal relationship with God, it comes with Sharia law, which is the divinely instituted laws which dictate every aspect of a culture, including the blasphemy laws, which the crowds are seeking to impose on us. Their rage is not the usual hooliganism, it is carefully orchestrated, in order to advance a political agenda, to impose Sharia law on the entire world.

Incidentally, Islam is a religion, not a race. Therefore, no one who is opposed to Islam can be a racist, unless, Islam is only embraced by people with a specific genetic composition. Those who accuse people who oppose Islam of racism, are revealing that they themselves view Islam as a religion of superstitious third world people who are not quite up to modern standards. In other words, they are projecting their own racism on other people.

Sunday, 16 September, 2012  
Blogger painlord2k@gmail.com said...

There is no way to channel openly the rage in a fair way.
The best way is the way they domesticated the foxes in Russia:
they killed the aggressive foxes and kept the meeks. After a few generations they had domesticated foxes. Likable pets, playful and funny.

Sunday, 16 September, 2012  
Blogger dlittle731 said...

Islam is mutually exclusive to an open democratic society. Anywhere there are Muslims in large numbers like London and Dearborn, Sharia is practiced. In London, it's open, in Dearborn, it's not.....yet.

Monday, 17 September, 2012  
Blogger Lime Lite said...

Edward Peschko is an example of what Communists like to call a useful idiot. They are usually wiped out first by the ones they seek to protect. Hey Edward, go burn a Koran at work for fun and see what happens. Bet you don't have the guts. On the other hand, you wouldn't think twice to burn a Bible if asked. Good luck seeing with your eyes closed. And I truly hope you find your centeredness.

PS. If you want to see white people rioting, google it.

Wednesday, 19 September, 2012  
Blogger al fin said...

Ed's comment is a good illustration of why it is best to think before you post. It is in fact an example of "computer rage," mentioned in the main article above.

Modern university graduates are typically indoctrinated into one point of view, with all other arguments withheld, or presented only in caricatured form. In that way, university graduates are misled into believing that they are capable of logical thought and argument, when in fact they are only capable of reacting and regurgitating the dogma which they have been taught.

How is this different from how Muslims are indoctrinated into the one true faith? Other than the fist waving, flag and effigy burning, and the howling in the streets, no different at all.

But wait, what about the Occupy protests? I take it back. The fist waving, flag and effigy burning, and howling in the streets are part of the modern green, left, & left anarchist dogmas after all. And white people rioting, too! There you go, Ed.

Wednesday, 19 September, 2012  

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“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act” _George Orwell

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