What do you think is the primary cause of human suffering across the globe?

[bilby]

Ok but if you're citing instances where there isn't suffering, one can't even ask what it is that causes the suffering in that case.

I didn't say there was no suffering, just in the context of anti-natalism there may be cases where life is worth living, and others where it's not.

Sure. You could say that. At this point, I'm by and large enjoying my life, for instance. I've no intention of pressing the eject button, yet.

But that still doesn't take away from the fact (I think it's a fact) that reproducing is the primary cause of all human suffering. Without it, all human suffering would end.

That's cute. It's simultaneously undeniably true, and completely useless.

The fact is that the primary cause of aircraft crashes is the flying of planes. Why the FAA and NTSB are not simply banning aviation, in order to eliminate this primary cause of these disasters, is a complete mystery.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

If tomorrow we woke up and there was no malnutrition and starvation there would still be oodles of human suffering. Fact is there will always be human caused human suffering because of an inequality of opportunity. It seems humans love to fight each other for dominance, and historically dominance of one society over another was enabled by having a higher population.

In short humans love fucking and fighting because both are so easy. Maybe those two things constitute the basic problem. The solution would be less fucking and less fighting.

 

[southernhybrid]

Too much chimp. Not enough bonobo. That pretty much sums it up.

 

[Lion IRC]

If tomorrow we woke up and there was no malnutrition and starvation there would still be oodles of human suffering. Fact is there will always be human caused human suffering because of an inequality of opportunity. It seems humans love to fight each other for dominance, and historically dominance of one society over another was enabled by having a higher population.

In short humans love fucking and fighting because both are so easy. Maybe those two things constitute the basic problem. The solution would be less fucking and less fighting.

Maybe. But have you ever gone through the jury selection process?

 

[Bomb#20]

...
I had some options ready, but I'm sure i haven't thought of them all. i put down OTHER as an option ... My options are ...

You're making this way too complicated. Obviously the primary cause of human suffering is them. If we could just get rid of them then things would be peachy for us.

 

[ruby sparks]

That's cute. It's.....undeniably true.

Thank you. Yes, I did think I had pretty much nailed the answer to the OP.

 

[steve_bank]

I heard it said we make war because it is exciting.

Our politicians and media talking heads today treat conflict like with ISIS and Iran like college football.

 

[WAB]

I voted other.

The main problem with your choices is that they are also major causes of human happiness. Some people thrive on hate; some people love the continuous and selfish acquisition of money; Religion makes many people happy; and there are people here who couldn't live without discussing politics.

How about things that never cause happiness:

• Fear (Not comfy, exciting fear as in a roller-coaster ride or a scary movie, but the real deal.)
• Anxiety/Panic
• Hunger
• Disease
• Grief

Oh! and Pauly Shore.


But Bronzeage is right: There is no primary cause.

 

[DBT]

Buddhism suggests desire as being a prime source of suffering.

 

[bilby]

That's cute. It's.....undeniably true.

Thank you. Yes, I did think I had pretty much nailed the answer to the OP.

And completely useless.

Leave the quote mining to the creationists.

 

[ruby sparks]

And completely useless.

That is obviously and clearly complete nonsense. You should leave that sort of thing to the creationists.

But I have to work now and so I will just say, whatever. Good luck to you and all who sail in you.

Oh and in future, try to stick to the OP. Or start a discussion on solutions to human suffering.

 

[southernhybrid]

I heard it said we make war because it is exciting.

Our politicians and media talking heads today treat conflict like with ISIS and Iran like college football.

I disagree. War is because we share so much DNA with chimps. Chimps have a patriarchal society that includes war and violence. We evolved from a very violent species. Sure, chimps have their better qualities, as do humans, but they are territorial warriors, often ruthlessly violent. War is due to extreme tribalism, imnsho.

 

[bilby]

And completely useless.

That is obviously and clearly complete nonsense. You should leave that sort of thing to the creationists.

But I have to work now and so I will just say, whatever. Good luck to you and all who sail in you.

Oh and in future, try to stick to the OP. Or start a discussion on solutions to human suffering.

Defensive aggression is not a good substitute for actually thinking.

 

[ruby sparks]

And completely useless.

That is obviously and clearly complete nonsense. You should leave that sort of thing to the creationists.

But I have to work now and so I will just say, whatever. Good luck to you and all who sail in you.

Oh and in future, try to stick to the OP. Or start a discussion on solutions to human suffering.

Defensive aggression is not a good substitute for actually thinking.

There's nothing defensive about it. Your point is de facto absolute bollocks, nothing more than your personal opinion, and it's not directly the subject of the OP to discuss possible solutions. In any case, I'm already familiar enough with your myopic, ideological, inaccurate views on population reduction to know that it's pointless to even talk to someone like you about anything related to that.

As for aggression, I'd prefer to call it well-deserved sarcasm. I sometimes deploy that when someone says something particularly stupid.

 

[just_me]

...
I had some options ready, but I'm sure i haven't thought of them all. i put down OTHER as an option ... My options are ...

You're making this way too complicated. Obviously the primary cause of human suffering is them. If we could just get rid of them then things would be peachy for us.

Never forget, The "Them" in your statement is wearing our own shoes and those shoes are following the dirrection the person wearing those shoes has decide to go.

 

[Speakpigeon]

I was just wondering what everybody thinks is the primary cause of human suffering across the globe. I am trying to make this a poll, but being this is my first try, I will probably blackout the Eastern seaboard instead. So if your lights go out by clicking this, I apologize. lol.

I had some options ready, but I'm sure i haven't thought of them all. i put down OTHER as an option and if you have something other than what I came up with just click other and speak your mind on the subject.

My options are

Hate

Greed

Religion

Politics

Other.

Thank you for adding to this.

First, human nature and therefore nature. Our brain is wired so that we can feel pain and hunger and envy. Without that, it would be plain sailing: no humanity, no suffering. Just little robots. So, be careful what you wish.

Of course, if you want human beings, well, you need to feed and you will feed if you are allowed to feel hunger. The need to feed is major reason for our misery. Maybe someone could invent something?

But also, if we want humans as humans, we need to reproduce, but human reproduction comes with feelings and competition for sexual partners, another cause for our misery.

And so on.

Maybe the fact that we can be so effectively entertained nowadays is a major cause for less suffering. When people are occupied with their iPhone they're not at war. Well, at least not literally, or at least not yet literally.
EB

 

[DrZoidberg]

I was just wondering what everybody thinks is the primary cause of human suffering across the globe. I am trying to make this a poll, but being this is my first try, I will probably blackout the Eastern seaboard instead. So if your lights go out by clicking this, I apologize. lol.

I had some options ready, but I'm sure i haven't thought of them all. i put down OTHER as an option and if you have something other than what I came up with just click other and speak your mind on the subject.

My options are

Hate

Greed

Religion

Politics

Other.

Thank you for adding to this.

Existential crisis. It's the underlying cause of all the other one's. You also need health on the list. That's an obvious one.

Politics is a bit of a silly category. You're literally shooting the messenger. Politics is just a tool. I'd say overall politicians is doing a great job. We only pay attention to what they're doing when they fuck up.

 

[Politesse]

I definitely think fear and panic are on the list; they make everything more dangerous. Mary Douglas rightly observed that our metaphors often betray us; fear of bodily violation is a very core anxiety that sets off an amygdala-driven response toward the unfamiliar other. Understandable but perilous, and it leads to acts of considerable cruelty at times. You start with a wall, you progress to "kids in cages" in a frighteningly short interlude. I've been thinking a lot about "Purity and Danger" lately. And "Keep Your Powder Dry".

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

If I have to pick one, I say identity politics. That breeds tribalism and that breeds hate, discrimination, war, etc.

 

[bigfield]

Politics.

Humans have organised into a complex global society that depends upon the exploitation of the majority in order to sustain itself.

The system will either evolve or go extinct. Individuals' vices don't really matter beyond the fact that they are part of human nature, and humans are the building blocks of society.