Are Humans Becoming Less Violent?

Post by **Audley Strange** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:57 pm

I doubt we are becoming less violent. If anything we have become better at it and more efficient at producing it since we industrialised and democratised it.

Post by **Ronja** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:36 pm

If that news makes you go "Bah, humbug!" this:

: patience-my-ass.jpg (38.57 KiB) Viewed 2038 times

is available as T-shirt from Cafepress.

Post by **Bella Fortuna** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:50 pm

Re: Are Humans Becoming Less Violent?

Yes, and I'll deck anyone who says otherwise!

Post by **JimC** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 10:08 am

It is possible that realistic opportunities for violence have decreased for the majority, while the average propensity or tendency for violence has remained the same...

Pressure cooker, anyone?

That's why the existence of relatively violent sports such as Aussie rules football are a useful form of social catharsis...

Post by **Audley Strange** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 12:01 pm

I'd say such things are essential, because we are hardwired towards enjoying a bit of violence. This is, I suspect, also evident in our enjoyment of such things as Explosion movies and Mass Murder simulators, all of which we partake in for fun.

Post by **Gawdzilla Sama** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 12:04 pm

Personally, I find violence distressing and I never engage in it.

Post by **Clinton Huxley** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 12:37 pm

Gawdzilla wrote:Personally, I find violence distressing and I never engage in it.

I know, you only stomped Tokyo because there was no youth centre for dinosaurs with too much time on their hands.

Post by **Gawdzilla Sama** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 12:39 pm

Clinton Huxley wrote:
Gawdzilla wrote:Personally, I find violence distressing and I never engage in it.
I know, you only stomped Tokyo because there was no youth centre for dinosaurs with too much time on their hands.

Post by **Berthold** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 2:45 pm

JimC wrote:That's why the existence of relatively violent sports such as Aussie rules football are a useful form of social catharsis...

How does it compare to a really nice lions' feeding at the Colosseum?

Post by **Berthold** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 5:42 pm

Oh, by the way, how sure can Pinker be of body counts with the older wars? We know that such numbers tend to be exaggerated.

Post by **Atheist-Lite** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 6:10 pm

The powers that be are better at controlling the media in warzones these days making the perception of violence less. It is easy to hide the bodies in the desert.

Post by **Jason** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:18 pm

Clinton Huxley wrote:Review of Stephen Pinker's new book - and his proposition that humans are becoming less violent over time. Interesting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/se ... ker-review

That pretentious little SOB with his wacky 'back to the future' hair. I'll kill him!

Post by **Jason** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:19 pm

Gawdzilla wrote:Personally, I find violence distressing and I never engage in it.

What did you do in the navy then? Polish the brass knobs?

Post by **Drewish** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:22 pm

PordFrefect wrote:
Gawdzilla wrote:Personally, I find violence distressing and I never engage in it outside of sexual foreplay.
Is THAT what you did in the navy then? Did you... polish the brass knobs?

Post by **Ian** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:22 pm

rationalia.com