My opinion of human history? What do you mean exactly?
OK for the first bit where they were chillin in wild landscapes and learning the ropes of the Earth. After that, primarily a bunch of fools. Very, very few people have truly and cleanly been "role model humans" exemplifying knowledge, prescience and circumspection, understanding, diplomacy, peace, calmness, humor, and altruism - most of which are qualities found essentially exclusively in the human brain and which we clearly have the capacity to do. We might end up failing our evolutionary abilities and destroying ourselves (I just went over this in another forum. I must still be on the same train of thought).
Conversely, very few people have been cunningly evil enough to even be "effective" autocrats, regardless of available technologies. It's good for humanity that these people weren't as evil as can be, but it says a lot about humans that even when people try to be evil, they are dumb enough to somehow lose power. Then again, reality and life in general and the nature of people dictate that mistakes will be made and what not, so this could have been inevitable in many (especially older) cases. I think I was taken in by 1984 too deeply. It really does make Stalin and Mao look, despite their evilnesses, like the only reasonably intelligent leaders who knew what they were doing (in maintaining power) and communism as the most effective power tool; and if one looks, both were stopped only by their own deaths.
It's sad that we have so few truly good people that a number of them are categorized into "prophets" and much of 6 billion people end up choosing only a handful of role models. On the other hand, ruthless dictators have been quite, quite common.
I like thinking about human history. It's very thought-provoking. It also makes one feel so insignificant. One wants to do something, to make a difference, but it's virtually impossible. Or is it?
On an alternate road, I found the Inner Party's The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism to be a very interesting take on human history.
On another alternate road:
Australopithecus anamensis -> A. afarensis -> A. africanus -> Homo habilis -> H. erectus -> Early H. sapiens -> H. sapiens neanderthalensis (and later) Cro-Magnon H. sapiens (modern)
I think we all make a difference in human history in little ways, because we effect those around us and those people effect others and so on and so on.. Pretty much the butterfly effect. It may seem insignificant and maybe it is, but you could do something that may set in motion the events that may create world peace![]()
The question is, what will be that seemingly insignificant action that actually carries meaning? The obvious answers are things people have tried that haven't worked. Or maybe it's doing everything in combination. Anyways, that's what remains to be found, I think.
Could be as simple as smiling at a stranger couldn't it?
I hope so since I do it everyday anyways. I know when someone smiles at me puts me in a better mood and I am less likely to do evil in my day![]()
It could, but in order to be meaningful there would have to be some sort of International Day of Smiling in order to get everybody to smile at each other and/or bring out their good sides because not everybody smiles as much as they should. But I suppose a smile could do it because putting people in a good mood brings out their productive, diplomatic, rational sides, which is clearly good for avoiding problems and foolishness.
I like that, better check that there isn't already one. It seems there is a day for everything these days, but most people don't pay attention to any of them
yep there is one
his year, on October 5, 2007 we celebrate World Smile Day® for the 9th time.
Interesting. Only, I would like to smile every day, so Oct. 5 will just be a day in that process. ![]()
Well here's smiling at you corticalaxon![]()
o wow, i really haven't been here in a while. Must return the smile: ![]()
LOL!
Welcome back!![]()
Sending ...