Why are humans so self destructive?

[Dis]

I don't get it. I try to figure out why I self destruct good things in my life, and can't figure it out. It seems to go against evolutionary theories and self preservation doesn't it? Humans should put survival above all else. So why the self destruction? I'm not talking about suicide and the like, but self sabatage, and self destructive behaviour in general. Is this evident in the animal world at all?

[DaShi]

Genetic mutation?

[MOBIUS]

We've already got an obesity thread - another one would just be being greedy...

[ZEE]

what good things in your life have you self destructed, Dis?

[Donegeal]

We do it because we're good at it!

[Elok]

Reality TV is to blame. Also, Satan.

[Lorizael]

Natural selection means some don't get picked.

[SlowwHand]

You never notice animals looking at people with a "WTF?" look on their face? They're onto us.

[Blake]

People are self destructive because our society makes us live in moronic and unnatural ways.

[Cort Haus]

Is playing Civ natural?

[Blake]

Yes. It's an outlet for aggression and that kind of thing.

It is natural to fight and stuff.

When people are put in an environment and told they can't do that, and aren't given the guidance needed to master their baser instincts, this naturally leads to self-destructive behavior, which may well be pursuing what is "natural", that is, being slave to our instincts.

[Blake]

Basically, anyone who has mastered their mind and overcome their base instincts, wont be self destructive.

Likewise, anyone who is living in an environment where their base instincts serve them well, wont be self destructive.

[DaShi]

Would Blake be more fun if he was a born-again Christian?

[Blake]

If you think I'm babbling nonsense, think about self-destructive behaivours.

An excellent one is over-eating.

Someone who is living in the wild, must work hard for thier food. They must wander far and wide to gather it, they must painstakingly hunt or trap game. They expend energy to gather their food, and their food is low in fat.
Their hunger serves them well to motivate them to catch food and the food they eat gives them energy to live. If they get too fat, they can no longer run down prey or walk as far, so they get less food, and get lose weight.

Contrast this with the modern society.
Anyone living today in the west can get an abundant amount of food requiring practically no effort at all. The food which tastes best, is higher in fat and sugar than anything which can be found in the wild.
If they let their hunger guide them, they eat a lot of food and expend little effort.
The result: they get fat.

If someone masters their hunger, so that they eat as required to sustain their body in a healthy state, then they eat in proportion to their energy use and don't get fat.

You see what I mean?

[DaShi]

Dang, I can't post that again.