You aren't crazy, Mary-Kate and Ashley did a Parent Trap-style movie called "It Takes Two", they run into one another at summer camp.

@arthurpendragon1879

2 ай бұрын

Came to the comments to mention this, but you beat me to it! 😁

This episode was missing a very crucial issue. Why was Jamie Loftus in Grand Rapids Michigan?!

@zachariusB

Ай бұрын

seen walking out of a hardware store with a hammer, no less...

The ox story. Right away i was like "oh.. they're just taking the piss, thats what theyre doing lol"

@kingofsting19

2 ай бұрын

I remember hearing that story in high school sociology class, and the most common guess as to their motives before the teacher revealed the explanation was some variation of: "They're messing with him in a friendly way, because that's their show of appreciation for a gift/how they let him know he's a 'bro' now."

I love this podcast. Finally, an evolutionary justification for perhaps the favourite of all my vices, sarcasm.

I would argue that that study supports anarchism. As an ideology it deals with those who are an authority on a subject, this being perfectly natural. "In the matter of boots, I refer to the authority of the bootmaker; concerning houses, canals, or railroads, I consult that of the architect or the engineer. For such or such special knowledge I apply to such or such a savant. But I allow neither the bootmaker nor the architect nor savant to impose his authority upon me. I listen to them freely and with all the respect merited by their intelligence, their character, their knowledge, reserving always my incontestable right of criticism and censure. I do not content myself with consulting a single authority in any special branch; I consult several; I compare their opinions, and choose that which seems to me the soundest. But I recognise no infallible authority, even in special questions; consequently, whatever respect I may have for the honesty and the sincerity of such or such individual, I have no absolute faith in any person." - Mikhail Bakunin. Something that Bakunin missed, which I think is pretty obvious, is that I'll ask the bootmaker about boots but the bootmaker has no authority on when and where I wear boots.

Fantastic episode. Just to throw in my two cents FWIW as a cell biologist... The analogy of authoritarian tendencies as a virus is quite apt. In fact, I would say it is like a lentivirus integrated in our psychological and cultural genome that has at this point become active. To add on to this analogy, it is also like one of those viruses that can lead to cancer. Cancer is unchecked growth, and I think our species is behaving as if it has cancer, in this case an unchecked growth of authoritarian, extractive power structures (*cough* capitalism *cough*). Cancer on its own never really stops until the host is dead or it is extracted. Here's to hoping we can eradicate this cancer before we kill ourselves off. The thing about fascism as cancer is also apt. It tends to not stop until it flames out. Though, there have been fascist dictatorships, like Spain, that managed to survive without doing so. Perhaps those are more like cancers that go into remission? :P And "Judgy Bitch Cortex" needs to be a band.

@Virjunior01

Ай бұрын

I'm not a science guy, but I've thought something similar when it comes to people who transition or same-sex preferences. You can think whatever you want, be it mental illness (which should actually set dysphoria as a disease), but we don't KNOW anything, nor does it matter. I've thought it's possible that homosexuality may be a natural mechanism for humanity to keep its numbers in check while allowing for orphaned or foster children to still have parents.

1:30 apollo with the gift of prophecy

I'm not sure what I can add to this other than that I have found that I am less of a count to others if I feel like i can assuredly contribute something that is at least mildly valued. I find that I can then overlook others flaws and failings and see the good side of what they are trying to to do. When I feel insecure about myself, it's like all I can see are their failings. It's instinct, I'm sure, because I sure as hell don't feel good about these automatic feelings even if they do seem like they would preserve ones status in a mindless yet evolutionarily beneficial way. Insecurity comes from not respecting the self, that thing in us that has preferences and can choose, and it can come from feeling unvalued by others, especially if ones self respect is not high. Bullies seem to have very high regard for themselves and high life satisfaction, so this isn't going to solve everything, but by cultivating a sense of self love and certain behaviors that would lead us to living meaningful, valued lives I think that would cut down on a lot of self perpetuating asshole behavior or looking down on flawed people. So it begins with love for the normies, but this doesn't explain how to deal with the natural pricks. The native Americans had a solution for those who cause chaos; rebellious types would be put to certain challenges, and if they succeed then they can rise in status, up to becoming the warchief. If they fail, they're out of the tribe. It's an odd one, and it didn't quite work out in the end...

This episode needed a neuroscientist guest.

my hypothesis is that humans were never designed to live in arificial mega collectives like nations. back when we lived in small tribes we still had wars and still traded but the problems were proportionately smaller. a larger imaginary collective like a nation just confuses loyalties and frustrates people and harms those who might need a little extra help

For years I've been saying that after a presidential term the president should go to jail for twice as long as they were president

@PMickeyDee

9 ай бұрын

I mean, if we go by chomsky, every postwar US president should be hanged based on Nuremberg laws

People often forget "Natural" is not the same as good or kind. It was natural to either leave a crippled baby out in the wilderness or smash it's head with a rock in early human society as the group couldn't provide for the child. That's natural but it certainty isn't good or kind in modern society where we have the luxury of caring for members of our society in that position.

@kombatwombat6579

6 ай бұрын

It is natural for a human to die naturally at 30. I'm absolutely happy to see my parents live graciously to be 80. I totally agree with you. Edit: Robert didn't have to throw shade on this stance like that. XD

@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, all of the people trying to compare the neurochemistry of primates and lobsters to that of humans are just engaging in anthropomorphism of the highest degree. It’s not good science.

@nickscurvy8635

Ай бұрын

No what you are claiming is not necessarily natural and could be said to be very unnatural for humans.

@nickscurvy8635

Ай бұрын

​​@@kombatwombat6579dying at 30 is likely not natural. The existence of menopause for women highly suggests the natural lifespan for humans is much higher than 30. The problem is that people equate civilized and sedentary living with "natural human lifestyle". An average lifespan of 30 is a product of civilization and agriculture. Lifespans dropped tremendously as humans gave up the hunt in favor of the plow.

@iank472

Ай бұрын

@@nickscurvy8635 first I wish to clarify that when I used the word natural in my comment I meant socially acceptable. It was entirely reasonable and accepted by early tribes to not care for severely physically disabled babies. In regards to your other comment that was the case until modern medical practices were developed. Now the average modern human lifespan far exceeds early hunter/gatherers.

The shaming thing feels... counter productive? It seems like that would just breed resentment in people, which is just as toxic and problematic as normal arrogance

@jalioswilinghart

9 ай бұрын

In Scandinavia we have a simmilar cultural concept. Called "Jantes Law". Its a set of social rules, but the most quoted one is this. "Dont think you are better than the crowd". The idea was to socially punish arrogance, flaunting of wealth, talking down to folks, etc. Even if it sometimes gets boiled down to "he has a nice car... must be compensating a lot" type thing. Being mean, to humble those who try to put themselves above the rest.

@iank472

9 ай бұрын

An important counter to this is showing thanks for the meat at the feast itself. There's a huge difference between light hearted jabs followed by gratefulness and just mocking someone relentlessly. Unfortunately the anthropologist wasn't aware of the social norm and that's what caused some of the anger there.

@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick

2 ай бұрын

@@iank472Yeah, I was about to say, they’ve gotta let up about it SOMETIME, right?

I wish I could go back in time and tell you guys that, naw, Trump doesn't suck any less without Twitter.

Wow, younger people really have no idea how memetics works. Meme = virus has been known since the 1970s.

my hypothesis is that humans were never designed to live in arificial mega collectives like nations. back when we lived in small tribes we still had wars and still traded but the problems were proportionately smaller. a larger imaginary collective like a nation just confuses loyalties and frustrates people and harms those who might need a little extra help

@user-ez9ng2rw9c

Ай бұрын

Design in and of itself is a bad term because it provides agency to evolution which as far as we know it simply lacks. It's arguable that we were designed for any situation we find ourselves in.