Every action is motivated by evolution and "S/R" value. Deep down past the surface and rational level that we acknowledge, our bodies continue to work to do whatever is best for the body to survive to the changing conditions that it faces. We are not different from any organism or animal on a S/R level. We evolved from them, so inherently we want the same things. Yes we have sentience and that's ultimately what separates us on an intellectual level, but when stripped down to its core, we are simply looking to survive and replicate. Keep our genes alive and fuse them with the best possible suitor. We are driven in our subconscious thoughts and actions to do what is best for our genes.
No matter how good you think a friend is, they will always put their needs over yours, especially if it is related to S/R. The underlying reason why a friend would choose a girl over you is because the girl holds more S/R value than you.
Have you ever wondered why the divorce rates spike up after 5 years? Because the father sticks around long enough to make sure his kid (offspring/genes) can survive, which is usually certain around age 5. At this time the father has a subconscious urge to spread his genes and replicate elsewhere. This is why divorce rates in general are so high, it is in male genes to replicate as much as possible cause diversification gives his genes the best chance of survival.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Value
When people make a decision of any type, they weigh certain aspects of that decision in order to decide. Whether it be pro's and con's, consequences if taken or not taken, risk of taking it versus the reward if taken. Many factors come into play as the brain calculates many minute details subconsciously before spitting out a result. This is all done in the subconscious, too fast for you to even realize all the options that were weight to come to the frame of thought that you realize you are thinking.
If you sit back for a second, and think about everything you do in life, literally everything, you'll realize its all based on a value system. Whether its deciding what clothing to buy, what tv program to watch, or whether to go out with friends that night. Options are weighed and decisions are the result.
The more I ponder about the characteristics as an entity that I possess and cultivate, i realized it all lies within this system.
Do I want to buy that new laptop? At $1,500 it's expensive, but I will use it almost everyday and my work depends on it. Easy choice, it is more valuable to me than $1,500, therefore the purchase is made.
I'm in the grocery store and blackberries went from 3.99 to 4.99. Well I enjoy eating blackberries in my oatmeal, but a banana I also like in oatmeal and are 1/3 the cost and I have some at home. Therefore I will not buy blackberries this at the new price. There value does not exceed 3.99 to me.
I'm invited to go to a football game with my roommate and a few of his friends. The total cost with ticket, food, gas, etc would cost about $100. I am not friends with his friends really, and I breakdown in my head all the other things that would give more value to me than an afternoon at a game that cost less than $100. Therefore, I do not go.
It can even go as far as, I am invited to a movie with a friend, he offers to pay for my ticket and give me a ride AND pay me $5 just for going, but its a movie I do not really want to see. If I go to the movie I won't have time to get to the gym. I realize going to the gym is worth more than $5 and a free movie and wasting 3 hours. So I go to the gym b/c it has more value than the other option.
Many people might disagree with the last example, except personal trainers perhaps. But the whole point is, people value money, a movie, or working out at the gym, more or less than other people. Neither is right or wrong, it just is. And it depends on the person and their beliefs and lifestyle.
You can break down every decision you ever make, into some sort of value system. Everyone places a different value on different things. Therefore it is very hard to determine if someone is cheap or spendthrift because you don't know how much they internally value the item. I use this system to keep my lifestyle above cheap and below spendthrift.
If you sit back for a second, and think about everything you do in life, literally everything, you'll realize its all based on a value system. Whether its deciding what clothing to buy, what tv program to watch, or whether to go out with friends that night. Options are weighed and decisions are the result.
The more I ponder about the characteristics as an entity that I possess and cultivate, i realized it all lies within this system.
Do I want to buy that new laptop? At $1,500 it's expensive, but I will use it almost everyday and my work depends on it. Easy choice, it is more valuable to me than $1,500, therefore the purchase is made.
I'm in the grocery store and blackberries went from 3.99 to 4.99. Well I enjoy eating blackberries in my oatmeal, but a banana I also like in oatmeal and are 1/3 the cost and I have some at home. Therefore I will not buy blackberries this at the new price. There value does not exceed 3.99 to me.
I'm invited to go to a football game with my roommate and a few of his friends. The total cost with ticket, food, gas, etc would cost about $100. I am not friends with his friends really, and I breakdown in my head all the other things that would give more value to me than an afternoon at a game that cost less than $100. Therefore, I do not go.
It can even go as far as, I am invited to a movie with a friend, he offers to pay for my ticket and give me a ride AND pay me $5 just for going, but its a movie I do not really want to see. If I go to the movie I won't have time to get to the gym. I realize going to the gym is worth more than $5 and a free movie and wasting 3 hours. So I go to the gym b/c it has more value than the other option.
Many people might disagree with the last example, except personal trainers perhaps. But the whole point is, people value money, a movie, or working out at the gym, more or less than other people. Neither is right or wrong, it just is. And it depends on the person and their beliefs and lifestyle.
You can break down every decision you ever make, into some sort of value system. Everyone places a different value on different things. Therefore it is very hard to determine if someone is cheap or spendthrift because you don't know how much they internally value the item. I use this system to keep my lifestyle above cheap and below spendthrift.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
What do you know?
I've been reading a lot about Descartes methodological skepticism recently. I was interested in this subject because it talks about things that I have always wondered about even as a little kid. The more I saw and witnessed about everyday life and the reality we live in, the more I questioned its purpose and effect. I often times thought 'is this really what life's about? Is this all there really is?' You grow up, go to high school so you can go to college so you can find a job so you can make money to pay the bills and raise a family so you can someday retire after working your whole life so you can finally get to travel/play golf/relax when you're too old and wishing you could have done what your doing now when you were younger and more agile. No one's answers ever made sense, religiously or non religiously. I was often left saying to myself 'this can't be it, b/c if it is, it doesn't make sense.' I never wanted to live my life like the vast majority of people in this world, which is working a job to pay the bills, always looking forward to the weekends, and continually dreaming of doing what you really want to do. Yet, less than a year after college, I'm stuck in that exact situation.
The reality of needing money to do the things you want to do and survive bugs me. Unless you come from a family of money, after you graduate college, you need money to start living on your own (paying the rent, food, leisure expenses, etc). So you almost have to start working and earning that money. The catch 22 of it is, once you start, a vicious cycle beings where you have to keep on working and saving and trying to get that promotion so you can buy a bigger house or be able to spend more on clothes or that new iphone. Where does it end?
The reality of needing money to do the things you want to do and survive bugs me. Unless you come from a family of money, after you graduate college, you need money to start living on your own (paying the rent, food, leisure expenses, etc). So you almost have to start working and earning that money. The catch 22 of it is, once you start, a vicious cycle beings where you have to keep on working and saving and trying to get that promotion so you can buy a bigger house or be able to spend more on clothes or that new iphone. Where does it end?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
First Post
This gives me a chance to try to clarify things that i think about on a daily basis, so i can sort of figure out what makes sense and what doesn't. What pushed me over the hill in actually deciding to go forward with this is my journal from pledging EX (sigma chi) at UCSD.
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