Can't we all just get along?

Originally posted by Ou Be Low hoo
If that is your 'answer', then my question still remains unresolved...'WHY are some people like this?'. It seems beyond my comprehension that some people simply want destruction and war. If people respect the beliefs of others - and are treated in kind - then I see no need or desire for war and conflict.

Because once people achieve a certain amount of success, it is quite easy to lose sight of "right" and "wrong" and make decisions only to benefit one's self. It's not that they want destruction and war, it's that destruction and war sometimes benefit a handful of people in a usually material way. Many people are of the persuasion that as humans it is their responsibility to care for their fellow humans... Others aren't, for whatever reason. That's where this turns into psychology more than philosophy 😬

[i]

I respect your insight, but I don't agree with your conclusions. My life is not determined by my death...My love is not balanced with the same amount of hate...I don't see the need to kill in order to save...These are ideas promoted by the media, governments and other ideologues. Individual people are not bound to them, unless they accept them.

I agree with your remarks about appreciation being dependent on comparison. However, I think the history of the world is littered with enough examples of attrocities committed by man that we could do without adding to the back-catelogue...shouldn't evolution be about enhancing our minds aswell as our bodies? [/B]

Our history should infact be enough to learn from. The fact that we as a whole have not yet learned, tell's us that we as humans are not yet ready for peace. I believe that we all should strive for a controlled evolution of the minds. Unfortunately, everyone else believes this, they believe it in their own way, and our perspectives conflict on how this happens. Which leaves us all soley as individuals in a united goal. Untill we can come together and put power and vanity aside we will continue on in a cycle of devastating conflict. History always repeats itself, even the present tells us that. Untill we all learn from mistakes peace is just an idea. Learning from the past isnt that easy though, i think it goes deeper into trying to understand ourselves.

This is quite ridiculous. The simplicity of the question is not an innate answer to the question! You can't answer a question of "why?" with the answer of "Oh, because it's so simple!". I'm looking for a bit more in depth reasoning than pseudo-Zen gibberish...

So, you don't think the answer is simple? Why ask a question and then attack people for giving their answers? If you know the answer is so in-depth, then don't come to a forum on the internet and ask your questions. Write the president a letter or go talk to a priest.

And, once again, the answer is quite simple: Because assholes like yourself exist.

I'm no follower of Zen, but if I were, you would have just answered you own question.....

But CF, he's asking WHY such assholes exist. 😐

Well, now we know he's an expert on assholes, don't we. So...tell us....*******.

Originally posted by Darth Revan
But CF, he's asking WHY such assholes exist. 😐

I understand what he's asking. I gave my explaination of why I believe such assholes exist.

Sarcasm my friend, sarcasm.

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
So, you don't think the answer is simple? Why ask a question and then attack people for giving their answers? If you know the answer is so in-depth, then don't come to a forum on the internet and ask your questions. Write the president a letter or go talk to a priest.

And, once again, the answer is quite simple: Because assholes like yourself exist.

Calm down, Captain! Just because I disputed your post doesn't mean that you can't add to the discussion in the future! A discussion by it's very nature involves conflicting views...I already mentioned this irony in regards to the topic of discussion!

I simply stated that your original 'answer' added nothing to the discussion...You just need to think about it, rather than type the first thing that pops into your head. Either that or go and post in The Off Topic forum...

everyone desires peace, but there will always be predjudice and jealousy.. we are material creatures that thrive on being in the spotlight

You didn't dispute anyting. You simply said that my observation/opinion (that the answer in this case is like most possible solutions: The most simple explaination is the most likely answer.) is silly and absurd. I don't believe that to be the case in this situation. You want to pretend that the answer is cosmic..something that requires deep thought. The harder you think about the answer to the question the less time you have to observe the answer. Look around you my friend. In case you haven't noticed, the human condition lends itself to suffering. When you suffer, you look for a reason. And the easiest thing to do is blame someone else for your suffering...even if it truely is your own fault. Why isn't my answer "good enough" or "thought out" enough for you? Why was Poland and France not enough for Hitler? Why couldn't Bill Gates stop after the first billion dollars? Why? Because the point of life is to continue. To evolve. To start out as one thing and end another. This principle trickles down from the etherial concept of evolution to the very real human being that walks the Earth to the now extict micro organism that started it all. To ask why conflict exists is like asking how life began. Why does the virus have to kill the organism it lives in? Because life is the principle of destruction and rebirth? Because life lends itself to everything and until it consumes everything and destroys itself will it be able to continue to grow and improve?

Does that mean that one religious belief can exist in the heart of one person and be truely valid unless it exists in the heart of the man standing next to him? Not in my opinion. On a personal level, and thanks to the intricacies of human interaction, yes. You and I can have a conversation about the weather becuase we are both interested in it, we're both effected by it. But bring up your religious beliefs and I will think less of you with each passing moment because I think organized religion is a waste of time. Can your religion be right if mine is too? Logically, no. Realistically, yes. That's why I believe that the answer lies in apathy until sympathy is needed. You don't f,uck with me and I won't f,uck with you. If you need help, then I'll be there. I'll live my life, love my boyfriend and pay my bills. You live out your version.

So, why is the answer simple? Because this is a feeling that all people have. The crack addict wishes he could get off crack and succeed in life, but that doesn't stop him from raping your wife and stealing her purse to buy more crack...so that he can get high again and forget what he just did. The answer is simple because all life strives to dominate and justify...dominate in religion, politics, social pleasantries and even in conversation. Justify by asking pointless questions and then making irrelevant observations. It doesn't matter why we can't get along. What matters is that you..the person...try. And as long as you do, then you will have done your small part to make it that much easier for us all to exist together.

The new Jesus my ass.

This is my question: We live here on Earth and we all want peace, so why don't we have it?

This is your answer:

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
There is an overwhelming simplicity to the question being asked. And therein lies the answer. Sometimes the most simple of things can not be achieved because they are so simple.

^ It doesn't make any sense.

You then offer these illustrations:

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
Too many world religions preach that their way is the only way. I'm not even talking about war or oppression. Simple things like abortion or gay rights are fought and killed for in this country alone.

Take christianity for example: The basic principles are good. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A fine moral ideal. But then there are those who get blinded by the whole "save the world from itself, even if it hasn't asked to be saved" principle. Even the idea of 'love the sinner, hate the sin' is antagonizing and lends itself to disagreement. [/B]

These are fair enough illustrations - and I agree with them - but they don't offer any reasoning as to why people believe this way...If you have read my original post you will see that I am questioning WHY people can not or refuse to accept differences. Sure, religion teaches people to 'defend their own faith', but HUGE parts of the world are not dependent on religion as a major part of their life...

In your most recent post, you go on to talk about evolution, but all you are thinking about is physical evolution...what about evolving an ability for the greater acceptance of the different types of human nature?

In many ways, humans greatly differ, but in others we are unified. The need for families, friends, love, peace etc...are all universal beliefs and ideals...My question remains the same - If we all hold these ideals, why do we not live for them and by them?

Oh, and the New Jesus is not your ass...it's my ass. Please stop sniffing it.

"Why can't we all just get along?"

Because there will always be assholes in the world.

"Why can't we all just get along?"

cause god still tries to have attempts at drawning the netherlands

somehow this title reminds me of "We all stand together"

Originally posted by Ou Be Low hoo
This is my question: We live here on Earth and we all want peace, so why don't we have it?

This is your answer:

^ It doesn't make any sense.

You then offer these illustrations:

These are fair enough illustrations - and I agree with them - but they don't offer any reasoning as to why people believe this way...If you have read my original post you will see that I am questioning WHY people can not or refuse to accept differences. Sure, religion teaches people to 'defend their own faith', but HUGE parts of the world are not dependent on religion as a major part of their life...

In your most recent post, you go on to talk about evolution, but all you are thinking about is physical evolution...what about evolving an ability for the greater acceptance of the different types of human nature?

In many ways, humans greatly differ, but in others we are unified. The need for families, friends, love, peace etc...are all universal beliefs and ideals...My question remains the same - If we all hold these ideals, why do we not live for them and by them?

Oh, and the New Jesus is not your ass...it's my ass. Please stop sniffing it.

If you can't wrap your mind around what I'm saying, then that alone illustrates why we can't get along. And my use of the term ethereal evolution illustrates what I mean by the non physical aspect of evolution.

I've run into people like you before. You think so highly of yourself that you think if you ask a question that man has been asking since the beginning of time, then tell everyone who weighs in that they're wrong or ignorant or irrelevant or that it's been said before, to make yourself feel better or smarter, then once again you illustrate why no one can get along.

Practically everyone that has responded to your thread has been told that they don't understand or they are wrong. There is no wrong answer to this question. The variables are too many. You think that you can ask such a question and find the answer you seek through discussion. All you have to do is live in the same world with the rest of us, and you'll see why we can't get along. It doesn't matter what we all want, it's how we all live.

You approach this question like you're the only one that's ever wondered about the answer. Every person that has ever been robbed, raped or lost a child to war has asked this question. If you want to act like you have the answer, then it's time to belly up to th ebar...and share your profound insight. If you want to cry about no one taking your question seriously, you should stick to making threads about bowel movments.

And I'm not sniffing your ass, I have my head down there because that's where you're talking from. I'm trying to listen.

I doubt it if anyone would get along.It is some people's nature not to get along with others because of there race there gender adn other stuff.I doubt it if it will ever change.JM

When individuals meet, we are not just meeting another body, we are meeting a spirit developed in relationship to other people, places and things. We do get along to a certain point. If we did not, society would already be forgotten history. We have to ask ourselves on which attitude our getting along is based on.

The human race is just plain ignorant is all.plain and simple.

If you consistently insist on knowing WHY everything is the way it is, you will never get anywhere. For example, I can look at my hand, and wonder why it is shaped that way. I could say, "well, because apes' hands are shaped similarly and we evolved from them". Then I could ask myself why apes' hands are shaped that way. I could then say, "well, because they serve many practical purposes, like manipulating small objects." Then I could ask myself WHY they need to manipulate small objects. "well, because sometimes that can prove useful for things like getting food and eating it." "but WHY do apes need to eat food?" "because they would die if they didn't." "But WHY would they die if they didn't?" "Because that's the way they were designed." "But WHY were they designed that way?" "Because the way animal's bodies work is an efficient method of survival." "But WHY is it an efficient method of survival?" "There are many reasons." "But WHY are there many reasons?" "Because they are complex organisms." "But WHY are they complex organisms?".... See what I mean? I could go on forever like that, and I've completely lost sight of the original question. It's pointless, because you'll never reach a conclusion, you'll just go around in circles forever and never get anywhere. At some point you have to stop questioning why things are the way they are and just accept it.

IE, there are assholes in the world, and that's just the way things are, and it's impossible to say why.

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic

And I'm not sniffing your ass, I have my head down there because that's where you're talking from. I'm trying to listen.

I'm going to start off by apologising, as I don't want to get bogged down in an argument regarding semantics...Sometimes I am an anal idiot and I know this...other times I am merely being facetious...

As for 'ethereal evolution'...it sounds nice, but I'm not a religious man, so I have no comprehension of that term.

Anyway...I have no illusions of grandeur in regards to this thread or this question...It was just something I have been thinking about recently as a result of the news and a book I've been reading...

I also appreciate that there is no definitive answer to the question, but I view debating as a way of either substantiating your own opinion or broadening it in light of the opinion of others...If I don't agree with a statement made, I will say so, but then I will wait for a response to see if it can change my conviction...That is the reason I sometimes will go a little OTT - just to see the faith other people have in their convictions...

Anyway, all this has been a little too soberly self-indulgent on my part, so enough about me and back to the discussion...

I read this passage recently:

'Another war is always coming. They are never properly extinguished. What sparks wars? The will to power, the backbone of human nature. The threat of violence, the fear of violence, or actual violence, is the instrument of this dreadful will. You can see the will to power in bedrooms, kitchens, factories, unions and the borders of states. Listen to this and remember it. The nation state is merely human nature inflated to monstrous proportions. QED, nations are entities whose laws are written by violence. Thus it ever was, so ever shall it be. War is humanity's eternal companion.'

So, even though I originally argues against it, perhaps 'power' is the ultimate corrupter of humanity's search for peace.

I know some people here have said it is futile to discuss 'why', but this is the Philosophy Forum so no other question exists...

Your thoughts...?