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Survival Of The Fittest Instinct

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by sindmani, Jun 13, 2017.

  1. sindmani

    sindmani Platinum IL'ite

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    Every human being and animals have that instinct of the survival of the fittest imbibed in them. It is really an important instinct with out whrich no living beings can survive. I heard this term by Charles Darwin in 7th std in Biology. But it is more of sociology now. When I talked with my husband about the political issues at present in Tamil Nadu(my state) , I asked this question to me. I came to a conclusion that this instinct of survival is present in every human being, not only it is seen in politics.
    This instinct is good as much as it doesn't harm others. But once it crosses the border there will be confusions. I wish to get inputs.
     
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  2. Umanga

    Umanga Gold IL'ite

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    The best way to ensure survival is to gain power. In order to gain power, you have to take it from others. You have to oppress others. That's where the problems begin. The survival of the fittest instinct only evolved in living beings because there were others that wanted the resources that we needed to ensure our survival. There is not enough sunlight, space, water, food, shelter, status and mates to go around for everybody. So, we aim to become strong so that we can hoard all the resources for ourself. We want to go to the best schools, so that we can get the best jobs, so that we can make the most money, so that we can get the best homes in the nicest areas, eat the choicest foods and wear the nicest clothes. We use this to attract the fittest mate. We then work hard to ensure the same future for our children. And on and on it goes. Life is a relentless competition and struggle for survival. We all know this but sometimes we pretend otherwise to appear holy.
     
  3. PushpavalliSrinivasan

    PushpavalliSrinivasan IL Hall of Fame

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    @sindmani
    Dear Sindhu,
    Humans have outwitted all other living beings in the survival of the fittest theory through their ingenious ways including by hook or crook.
    PS
     
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  4. sindmani

    sindmani Platinum IL'ite

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    . I have also seen people who flatter a lot their boss or higher authority,even say a rich relative gets lot of benefit.. It is their surviving theory.happy for them as far as it doesn't harm any one.once it is harmful then it is different .Little flattering sometimes is a technique elders will ask a new daughter in law to follow in in-laws home. Little is ok. But many people (including me), don't have .being straightforward can also be diplomatic.
     
  5. Cheeniya

    Cheeniya Super Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    @sindmani
    In politics, it is always the survival of the richest. Particularly in Tamilnadu. Your fitness is determined by the amount of money you are able to throw around.
    Sri
     
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  6. sindmani

    sindmani Platinum IL'ite

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    Competition to survive in this competitive world is the major thing , u have hit the nail.
     
  7. sindmani

    sindmani Platinum IL'ite

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    True. Money is everything. People too tend to forget what us good for them in the long run. What to do. Education is important. Voting system,democracy etc is imbibed only in constitution. Many People do not have awareness of these words .
     
  8. Umanga

    Umanga Gold IL'ite

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    I think it tends to be the straightforward who visit online forums. We can't figure out what our crooked friends, colleagues, relatives and acquaintances are up to so we naturally gravitate towards seeking anonymous advice. It helps build a sense of community among the straightforward, the introverted and the highly sensitive. As for me, I am not diplomatic at all. I just say what is on my mind. I stop talking to the people who don't like what I say. I am quite blunt, though one has to pay a heavy price for this if one lives in India.
     
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  9. sindmani

    sindmani Platinum IL'ite

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    I personally like people who are straight forward. It is very easy to deal with straightforward people. We know we can believe them. But ways of the world is different. I am straight forward , I will say my feelings in a way that doesn't hurt others. In RTO office India last year , To get my driving license my straight for wardness did not work. That's all.
     
  10. Umanga

    Umanga Gold IL'ite

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    I agree with you. Straightforwardness doesn't work in India and the world in general. So, even people like us have to play at being crooked. It is easier in the West. You don't have to lie about how much you are earning (nobody cares) and how well your son is doing at school (nobody cares). The rules for applying for licenses and opening bank accounts are all fairly simple and straightforward. The need for crookedness arises when people try and involve themselves in your life and when the rules are not clear and not evenly applied.

    I shall also say that being straightforward becomes difficult when one is interacting with people from different backgrounds. I was reading a discussion on R2IClubForums about marriage. The OP is a bachelor in his 30s settled in the States for a long time. He was interacting with another Indian chap at work and when asked about his marital status replied that he was a bachelor. This is what happened:

    "One of my co-workers, he is from India was stunned when I told him I am single and was in my mid-30's. I mean he totally freaked out, try to put me down at first thinking something was wrong with me and then totally shun me. I was polite at first but then I noticed he kept throwing tantrums, after I awhile I told him something nasty and now he stopped and the last of his comment was marriage is important to one's life. I can't imagine what it would be like living in India as a single man.

    After all this was done, I felt like the real reason he was behaving like that was he was probably protecting his daughter from me. I didn't give any queues on his daughter. I think some older Indian family man look at single men as threat to their family unit.

    For the life of me I have not figured out the secret of it being a necessity with half the country being divorced, spouses dying at different times which means good chance of dying alone, people changing with times which means you are not the same person when you first met. What makes this necessary? and why are family man imposing their will and prejudice on us ? I don't go around preaching my ways to an indian family man. Relationships go sour so easily in the west. People just end things over cat food or car parking. It looks like so much work to take on."

    So, you see, we live in a mixed world now. Maybe we always have. But, people from different backgrounds are coming into closer and closer contact with each other. So, misunderstandings are natural. One cannot afford to be straightforward when one is faced with people who have a completely different upbringing to ours and a different value system. Best to say as little as possible. But then, people get upset if you don't share. So, there is really no escape. We have to suffer. We have no other choice.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2017
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