I had never thought this before, so I simply post it as an interesting thought to ponder. Make of it what you will on this final Sunday of February
Sunday, February 22, 2026
No Bullies
I stumbled across a short reel that contends that humans don't really have alpha males in the way that other primates do. It is brief (2:58), easy and interesting (to me, at least) on a Sunday morning. Hint: it was because we both lead and follow by consensus, and we have a tendency to deal with those who try to bully us.
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I find this presentation somewhat oversimplified. He neglected how executions and prisons actually led to a hierarchical system, which has bullies most definitely in power wherever laws are not followed, or even enacted. They are certainly not the fittest, but the most manipulative.
ReplyDeleteThe chief bully in the nation south of us is in full charge. Sad. If you are a woman, however, it is likely that you have been bullied by the system at some point. I would turn the comment above around, and say that the male hierarchy we have inherited from the medieval systems causes prisons and fills them; fills them with 'low caste' males who, up to this century, were allowed by law to beat their wives. And then there is the Epstein thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mary's comment.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I agree either? But it was an interesting take. Is he sure Chimpanzees don't conspire, lol.
ReplyDeleteHe isn't very knowledgeable about primates. They have wars, they use ambush, and tools. They definitely have a social system of cooperation, particularly bonobos.
ReplyDeleteHis concept of human execution shows a classic privileged outlook. Executed people are poor, minority males, not infrequently innocent of the crime. white affluent male bullies don't end in prison much less executed.
After about ten gross misstatements, I switched off. I gave him long enough.
Wow, a controversial take. I don't know enough about primates to judge the veracity of his comparison. I do know that a certain leader is a bully and seems to get away with anything and everything. :(
ReplyDeleteNever thought of it being the last Sunday of the month.
ReplyDeleteI think some refs were bullies according to analysts during the hockey game. Sorry the US won, but jeepers, we need something to cheer us on. Seems the Supreme Court woke up briefly to try and put our political bully in place, but like a bad kid, he found a possible circuit around that ruling. I hope he's on his way out. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI find this take problematic and somewhat alarming in its casual (even celebratory) tone regarding execution. However, I do think that as a society we should be pondering our unexamined notions about alphas.
ReplyDeleteIn a general way he goes back to the simplest of things. Survival of the fittest and strongest that go back before humans were really 'civilized' so to speak. Humans have evolved to use others to do their wishes.
ReplyDeleteInteresting stuff.
Interesting and contentious.
ReplyDelete