I was reading a sci-fi novel and got an earworm-like thought. Are humans wired for destruction? Is the drive to break things written somewhere in our genome?<\/p>\n
Maybe it is just the folks I hang out with, but we like blowing things up. Fire is fun. \u00a0Turning the voltage up to well beyond the specified range is a completely amusing way to spend the time between 4pm and beer on a Friday afternoon. Taking apart things is neat, you get to see how it works. And odd torx-like screws are just double-dog dare.<\/p>\n
For the most part (and for most of my life), I’ve been fairly gentle about it. I don’t destroy things that I don’t own. But that isn’t true for everyone and as much as I disagree with the ethics of wanton\u00a0destruction, I kind of understand it.<\/p>\n
Hulk, SMASH!<\/p>\n
I understand that, too. And given how popular that character is, despite the crummy movies, well, I’m not the only one.<\/p>\n
Why is that?\u00a0Are we wired for violence? Or destruction? Or both?\u00a0And if we are, how can we possibly have built this civilization?<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
I was at a job I didn’t like when the office manager came around and asked the engineers if they couldn’t please break down the boxes in shipping and receiving. (It was a small company and the office manager was in a sling at the time, it was an unusual request but not unreasonable.)<\/p>\n
Even though I was fairly busy, I went to make the boxes less boxy. It was an odd company, one where I felt very left out of the culture. I wanted to like the people but I didn’t feel like I belonged at all. It wasn’t a very good job for me (though the technology was amusing). It was like a shirt that is too tight in some parts, too loose in others, and seamed with itchy tags.<\/p>\n
Anyway, one of the few moment of\u00a0synchronicity there was as I returned from my deboxing, happier and somewhat refreshed. Another engineer (J) asked about my clearly more relaxed state. I explained that breaking down the boxes is a form of constructive destruction and very meditative for me.<\/p>\n
As another person came (A) into the office, he heard and popped into my cubical, saying he loved constructive destruction and asking if there were any more boxes. J looked confused. But for the first time, I felt like A and I could be friends.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The ocean is a primal force, shaping the land, uncaring of the destruction it causes. It is what it is.\u00a0I love the raw, wild feeling as I watch waves crashing on the shore. I know the destructive potential and I like it. Lakes don’t do it for me, bays subdue it too much. I need the awesome power even as it makes me more aware of my own mortality. Or as it tumbles me and shoots seawater though my sinus cavities.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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