It simply isn't true that life forms have no choice but
to fall into predator/prey relationships. Survival of the fittest
is far more complicated. Smallpox viruses kill humans, and
cold viruses almost never do. The result is that smallpox is
all but extinct (preserved in a lab while scientists debate the
merits of wiping it out), and cold viruses are ubiquitous. An
apple tree's goal, if I may use anthropomorphic shorthand,
is to produce a lot more apple trees. In order to do this, it
encourages animals (including humans) to eat part of its
body. Predator/prey seems like a woefully inadequate model
for the relationship here. For that matter, sheep are doing a
lot better these days than tigers, even though tigers are a lot
fiercer. Humans are social animals, and it seems (we'll have
a better idea in another million years) that the most successful
are those that are best at working together.
Vicki
rosenzweig@acm.org
----------
From: owner-virus
To: virus
Subject: Re: virus: Selfishness
Date: Monday, July 22, 1996 5:51PM
At 06:37 PM 7/22/96 -0500, you wrote:
>Tristan wrote something which seemed to be a criticism of Richard Brodie's
>agenda. S/he mentioned Lazarus Long, lawyers, and Rush. The tone came
>through loud and clear, but the specifics of the criticism were lost on me.
>Could you sum up your complaint as plainly and susscinctly as you can for
>me and others who might be similiarly confused? Thanks. -KMO
>
>Resistance is futile.
>http://missouri.edu/~c538128/
>
>
>Did not mean to confuse anyone.
Once again, from the top...
Brenda is my WIFE.
Tristan is the coven name given to me by ( NOYB ).
I was merely expounding on his philosophy.
My point is only that Brodies' way of thinking could get one killed.
WE THE PEOPLE are life forms.
Life forms have NO CHIOCE but to form 'predator/prey' Natural Law
competition.
WE THE PEOPLE have formed a society that has given birth to predator/prey
among ourselves.
To think any different would be suicide.
All this stems from my impression that Mr. Brodie is a pacifist.
My impression of Mr.Brodie stems from Mr.Brodie ( what and how he writes ).
I plead insanity if I erred in my prejudgement of Mr.Brodie.
Post script:
In case no one noticed, I quote the IDEA more than the
person,story,event,scarcastic joke,whatever,etc.,I.E.> "When the sword of
rebellion is drawn, the sheath should be thrown away." English Proverb.
So you see, (said the blind man), it is the idea behind the proverb, not the
English themselves that I TRY to get across to 'some peoples' kids'.
Tristan