I didn't know that this had happened.

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 14:44:22 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]There must be some advantage to our survival to be influenced this way as it only makes sense for it to be genetic.[/quote]I have no doubt when we'd just come out of the trees it was a useful attribute. However, the adage that too many cooks spoil the broth is true. If we were all leaders we would have torn each other's throats out long ago (a bit like some of us do on here for that matter) and we would not have survived as a species. The problem is that we have not evolved fast enough sociologically to cope with vast population increase, medical, industrial, military and scientific advancement.

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Bob Russell — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 13:49:15 GMT

Humanity can be led by the nose by a very small number of convincing people. When you examine the behaviour of this small number of manipulators it is quite illogical and often pathological.

As a group we seem happy to be directed this way whether under the banner of nationalism or religion. There must be some advantage to our survival to be influenced this way as it only makes sense for it to be genetic. Even quite bright people get caught up in the hysteria and have done throughout history.

Do we really have an argument with Russia? Is radical Islam really going to take over the world? We really are pretty dim as a species IMO!

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 13:36:20 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]Why can't we simply mind our own business?[/quote]

That's exactly what we are doing.

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 12:10:50 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]Why can't we simply mind our own business?[/quote]Who said politics was ever easy? The relationship with Russia in WW2 was hardly straightforward but without them diverting vast Nazi resources to a second front Hitler would undoubtedly have invaded us. It is all about managing expectations and getting what you perceive is the best deal for yourself. Sometimes it is best just to look away, other times dirty deals have to be done and you may have to get blood on our hands.

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 10:53:05 GMT

Two wrongs don't make a right. ISIL sympathirs are the people our politicians seem to be favouring in Syria ( rebels ) even whilst we're fighting against them in Afghanistan. Total lunacy. Why can't we simply mind our own business?

Wynne

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 09:24:22 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]Also dogs ( farm collies and gun dogs ) had explosives strapped to their bodies before being sent to the German trenched. [/quote]So you think that is worse than ISIL using child 'suicide' bombers?

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 18:34:21 GMT

We're hardly squeky clean. In the First World War, not only did many horses die dreadful deaths, but at the conclusion of hostilities some were sold to locals in Egypt, when they could easily have been repatriated. Also dogs ( farm collies and gun dogs ) had explosives strapped to their bodies before being sent to the German trenched. Then there was the suffering to the pigeons. More pigeons received the Dickin medal than any other species. Terrible terrible indictment on humans.

Wynne

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Robin Grimmer — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 18:17:49 GMT

In the Channel Islands in ww2 many people had to abandon or euthanase their pets when they had to flee from the German invasion.

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Dagmar Steele — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 17:09:03 GMT

Malcolm, I never thought about this, but I totally get it. That and the children of course.
Martin, unfortunately I didn't turn off soon enough. The horrific events in our capital Berlin drove me into desperation last night. And of course all the news from all over the world that show all too well that mankind hasn't moved very far (if anywhere) since the holocaust.

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 16:21:12 GMT

Animals don't cause war. It's so unfair that they should suffer because humans can't behave. I'm very worried about the international situation at the moment. The assassination of the Russian ambassador and Putin's response reminds me of the situation in Austro-Hungary in 1914. I'm just hoping that if there is a war, our politicians will have the sense to keep out.

Wynne

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Sarah Keir — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 15:08:45 GMT

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24478532 please read this

RE: I didn't know that this had happened.

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 15:02:33 GMT

And yet the human race seems to have learned not one thing from the horrors of the Holocaust. We still unleash unspeakable misery on each other as in Syria, Yemen and the barbarity of ISIL. Even the short sighted embittered xenophobes in our own country abuse and assault, even murder those they perceive simply as different from themselves. How thin is the veneer of civilisation?

I had to switch the news off and go to bed last night I was so depressed and felt physically sickened by one horrific story after another.