Open Fire?

[Bombila]

I wouldnt say fascinated but I do have an interest in thing such as swords (martial arts not so much). I study ancient warfare and ancient civilizations (A big part of ancient life was war). I have a broad interest of many things, it happens that many of the discussions here dont give me a chance to bring out my interest in these other things like tea, steampunk, city builder computer games, cybernetics etc etc.

I knew you must have other interests - but I'd never have guessed 'tea'. I'll just mention that I suspect a bigger part of ancient life was surviving, subsistence farming, storing food, hunting, and keeping warm. War was an important part, when it occurred, and therefore was recorded by writers and record keepers of the day - we know far more about the few years Rome occupied Britain than about the multitude of years before that.
- B.

I do consider peaceful options to be viable, but I also feel that there are times when talking simply wont work and you have to roll up your sleeves and mess someone up because if you wont, the other guy WILL. I do understand what lies beneath these conflicts and I study it actively. Im simply more willing to resort to a fight if I feel its needed. I am perfectly willing to talk it out, but Im also willing to fight for it if need be.

Part of it is I embrace (And in some cases actively encourage) what the vast majority if people attempt to conceal or cover. Every person has an animal nature to them. It comes out in fights or when they're angry or upset. That wild flash you see in someone's eyes or the anger you feel rising when someone hits you in the face. These reactions are part of our natural instincts, our animal side. Most people spend their lives running from that side, trying to push it down, cage it. Problem with that is that side of you doesn't LIKE being caged up and it wants to get out. So if you let it out to roam occasionally its going to fight to get out of the cage much less, and its something that can be unleashed when needed.

Most animal species actively avoid serious fighting, which is why many have evolved elaborate rituals and even body parts (antlers, peacock tails, etc.) around situations which cause conflict, like finding a mate and keeping terrirory. So I think human nature is a better descriptor for the responses you're talking about. We all have fight or flight responses to situations we perceive as dangerous. I frankly don't believe we have an 'animal nature' (we are animals) which is anxious to be expressed in violent activity. I think we do have a longing to be in touch with the physical world, the planet, the earth outside of our human built civilizations - for me, that's what river canoeing, Northern exploration and solo wilderness camping are for. - B

On the whole, I am a peaceful person. I do like to talk things out and work them out peaceably without having to get in a brawl about it. However there are certain things where I will not sit by and let something happen. If someone is trying to harm someone I care about, if I see someone harming someone else who is unable or unwilling to defend themselves, these kinds of things I will not try to work out peaceably. I will attempt to put an end to the situation via any means necessary to preserve the life of the defender.

You certainly aren't the only person I know who sees himself as a protector or avenger - you just seem extra dedicated to the idea. But I am glad to know you do have other interests and are willing to place peaceful means first. Personally, I think I'd rather men responded to conflicts by knocking their heads together repeatedly, as rams do... but you live with the morphology you got.

And thank you for responding.

 

[Steezie]

I knew you must have other interests - but I'd never have guessed 'tea'. I'll just mention that I suspect a bigger part of ancient life was surviving, subsistence farming, storing food, hunting, and keeping warm. War was an important part, when it occurred, and therefore was recorded by writers and record keepers of the day - we know far more about the few years Rome occupied Britain than about the multitude of years before that.

I love tea I drink green tea mainly but I've been known to indulge in some licorice tea every now and then. While those may have been important aspects of ancient life, accounts and records of that don't really survive to this day. Most of what we have is accounts of war. War was a constant state in ancient times, peace was usually an interruption of war rather than vice versa, especially in places like the Mediterranean.

Most animal species actively avoid serious fighting, which is why many have evolved elaborate rituals and even body parts (antlers, peacock tails, etc.) around situations which cause conflict, like finding a mate and keeping terrirory. So I think human nature is a better descriptor for the responses you're talking about. We all have fight or flight responses to situations we perceive as dangerous. I frankly don't believe we have an 'animal nature' (we are animals) which is anxious to be expressed in violent activity. I think we do have a longing to be in touch with the physical world, the planet, the earth outside of our human built civilizations - for me, that's what river canoeing, Northern exploration and solo wilderness camping are for.

And I reserve that nature, an attempt is made at avoiding a fight first, however if that fails then the majority of animals are adept at fighting in defense. Corner a wild animal if you'd like proof, although I'd recommend doing it close to a hospital and that you have your rabies and TB shots up to date. That longing IS part of our animal nature and I do indulge that side often, I do a lot of photography work and the shoots are generally outdoors and in the mountains (EXCELLENT lighting) so I do get out. Camping and hiking are good, but it doesn't get rid of that predatory desire. Thats part of the function that sparring for me serves, is to de-fuse that.

You certainly aren't the only person I know who sees himself as a protector or avenger - you just seem extra dedicated to the idea. But I am glad to know you do have other interests and are willing to place peaceful means first. Personally, I think I'd rather men responded to conflicts by knocking their heads together repeatedly, as rams do... but you live with the morphology you got.

I dont see myself as protector or avenger, but I feel fully capable of fulfilling those roles if necessary. Women also have a physical streak to them. Some of the most vicious fights I've ever seen were two women fighting. Guys try to knock each other out when they fight, girls (At least the fights I've seen) try to kill each other. Thats why I never believed that weaker sex crap, people who come out with that have never seen a woman mad and armed

And thank you for responding.

No sweat