Jan 25, 2009 8:39 PM
Why people never learn?
I was wondering why it seems that people never learn, when we're creatures that have dominated through our well developed ability to learn(meanings of symbols, words/grammar, tools, stories etc.).
I know we learn things like those above, and seem to remember them quite well. However it is always in self-interest that we learn these things, all in the name of continuation, of our lives, comforts and ideals. And It appears to be because of this that we always hear complaints of how we never change, how we're always violent and always on a path of disillusioned destruction.
I've observed(and participated in) this blind 'learning', where we make a mistake, and if the negative consequences aren't immediately forthright, we continue making the mistake. It only seems that we'll actively correct this if everyone around us encourages this 'correction'.
So can't this be put down to social trends? As we learn our social trends, technically that means our perpetual mistakes are all learned. So our learning, from those around us, to make these mistakes has effectively limited our learning! We've grown up being taught not to learn! I don't know if I've made this obvious, but it's what I'd call a paradox. In being taught, we learn, but if we are taught not to learn...?
I think this is why people smoke, drink, kill, steal, are bigots, racists, sexists, egotists, and generally fuck everything with a hole. We won't change because no one wants a change, yet we're meant to be this amazing creature of 'learning', seriously if someone (a friend, 'superior' whoever!) does/says something stupid. Fucking tell them! Make a change in your stupid social circle!
...but you could also say we're just too damned lazy, shit the human brain already consumes 20% of our total energy at rest! We don't want that thing running up hills! I wouldn't be able to perpetuate my worthless and destructive, yet comfortable, life with all that thought going on!
I know we learn things like those above, and seem to remember them quite well. However it is always in self-interest that we learn these things, all in the name of continuation, of our lives, comforts and ideals. And It appears to be because of this that we always hear complaints of how we never change, how we're always violent and always on a path of disillusioned destruction.
I've observed(and participated in) this blind 'learning', where we make a mistake, and if the negative consequences aren't immediately forthright, we continue making the mistake. It only seems that we'll actively correct this if everyone around us encourages this 'correction'.
So can't this be put down to social trends? As we learn our social trends, technically that means our perpetual mistakes are all learned. So our learning, from those around us, to make these mistakes has effectively limited our learning! We've grown up being taught not to learn! I don't know if I've made this obvious, but it's what I'd call a paradox. In being taught, we learn, but if we are taught not to learn...?
I think this is why people smoke, drink, kill, steal, are bigots, racists, sexists, egotists, and generally fuck everything with a hole. We won't change because no one wants a change, yet we're meant to be this amazing creature of 'learning', seriously if someone (a friend, 'superior' whoever!) does/says something stupid. Fucking tell them! Make a change in your stupid social circle!
...but you could also say we're just too damned lazy, shit the human brain already consumes 20% of our total energy at rest! We don't want that thing running up hills! I wouldn't be able to perpetuate my worthless and destructive, yet comfortable, life with all that thought going on!
Posted by
Milk-plus__
| Jan 25, 2009 8:39 PM |
3 comments
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Milk-plus__ | Jan 27, 2009 12:15 PM
But then again, a couple of those things we do could be influenced by our biology...shit what am I saying? Everything is because of our biology!Point being hormones etc. overriding our cognitive functions |
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Milk-plus__ | Jan 26, 2009 11:18 AM
Yea that's pretty much people, we live for continuation...and that applies to more than just continually living.The main point was the paradox thing, in learning not to learn. I edited that part in |
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Jisasu-no-Hime | Jan 25, 2009 10:13 PM
You have a good point there.It's sort of like the saying "Monkey see monkey do" People hate change. |