Examples of Human Species Flaws
RE:
https://www.permanent.com/human-species-flaws.html
Government leadership is important in guiding us, but try to win an election based on environmentalism or some form of responsibility for this planet. You may get a few percent of the vote. The winner with the majority will be the person who says they will bring lower gasoline prices, grow the economy into even more unbridled consumption, and give you more wanton consumption.
People will say that they care about the environment, but talk is easy. When given a choice, the vast majority will selfishly not practice what they preach, and rationalize it away.
When faced with the prospect of biotechnology extinction and space colonization as a solution, the vast majority will:
- Rather not deal with the issue, because it is not fun for them, or doesn't make them feel happy, or doesn't make them money
- Rationalize why it's not true, so there's no need to worry, and many will actually ridicule the concept
Wait until it becomes mainstream thinking before they accept it
It is a challenge to get these two issues into mainstream thinking, biotechnology extinction and self-sufficient space colonies.
- It is even more of a challenge to get people to do anything about it.
After all, we know there is a mass extinction of many species already happening, loss of wildlife habitats, global warming already occurring (except many people and right wing politicians are still in denial and rationalization because they don't want to believe it, most often out of selfish desire for expanded wanton consumption and votes...), and so on ... but what are we, as a species, doing about it?
Little things here and there, but overall not nearly significant enough.
It is possible for a species on a planet to see the logic and take responsibility to cooperate to implement solutions.
But the human species on Earth? The proof is already here. Just look around. Responsible for the Greater Good does not describe our species.
Humans' instinct is to do what feels good, not think about things which do not feel good. Humans live in their own individualistic world. We still live and behave like a small tribe of cave men who had limited impact. The problem is, we are no longer cave men, and our impact is now globally.
There are other species on this planet which are more community-first oriented, even sacrificing their individual lives for the greater good of their community, albeit this describes only a small minority of species on this planet. However, it's possible that a particular species may evolve a higher intelligence because of these advantageous traits and someday come after us. If it's possible, then it has surely happened somewhere in this universe or another universe. It doesn't exist here on Earth, that's for sure!
So, what if life from Earth just doesn't make it? So what. There are billions of other galaxies, each with billions of other solar systems. Probably trillions. We're just one.
As regards Earth, there is no species on this planet which takes responsibility for other species or life on the planet itself. That requires intelligence overriding instinct. Humans are short on thoughtful intelligence and long on instinctual feelings.
Sure, there are many individuals in this world with this intelligence, moral upbringing, genetic offshoot leadership ability, and self-discipline to face and deal with unpleasant matters, and who strive to develop the Greater Good. However, they are a very small percentage, and overwhelmed by the vast majority.
The vast majority are the feeling, not thinking, wanton selfish consumers.
Even look at business. I am an employer, and most interviewees I find unsuitable for hiring, plus many I must let go of or else put into limited roles most of the remainder. Those who truly work for the best interests of the customer and/or the organization are a precious small minority (and have often been the reason I continued to pursue some projects -- for those people and their dependents, not because the project was exceptionally good).
One thing I learned early in personal life as well as business is that you don't go by what people say, you go by what people do.
People often talk in lofty terms. Look at all our hypocrite politicians, preachers, and associates.
When somebody says "we should save the environment" or "we should create self-sufficient space colonies", I ask them "what have you actually done to help out"? Talk is easy, but have you ever tried to walk the walk?
Likewise, in hiring, by far the best thing to go on is track record. (Sometimes there are exceptions, and it's good to keep an open mind, but it has to be a very strongly exceptional presentation to be comparable in weight to track record. Most people who I gave a chance to did not get far, and many stole or were careless to customers and other staff ... though there are some big exceptions.)
So, after people read all of this, I must ask: Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?
Out of all geologic time, we are in a very special generation, where we are wreaking unprecedented damage to our environment, and facing potential species wide extinction. Whether we want to accept it or not, the responsibility is on us.
If you want to be part of the solution, on the side of the Greater Good, then you need to start to create your track record.