Do humans just create their own problems?
Man has over its time on earth solved many of its problems. It has evolved and adapted and overcome many challenges. In doing so it has become a very populus species. Indeed it would seem to be one of the most populus mammals there is; certainly of the large mammal species.
However, could it be humans have now reached a point where it is actually creating more problems than they are solving? Or at least create the problems they then have to solve – like some sort of whole world version of the sort of “job creation industry” you see in certain companies, where it would seem certain decisions are taken just to create or maintain jobs (though I could write a whole separate blog post on that and probably will).
I don’t just mean the obvious problems such as climate change which, despite the denials of certain world leaders and conspiracy theorists, I firmly believe is a reality and is due to humans. I also mean the way the human race has now reached a point where it seems to constantly over thinks how it should act. It now spends huge amounts of time and effort arguing amongst itself about events and ideas that actually have very limited impact on the majority of the human race.
It does seem to me that whereas probably even a hundred years ago the majority of humans were busy trying to survive to get involved with many of the debates and issues that seem to rage today. Certainly a few hundred years ago I’m sure they would have been. Now a lot of people seem to have too much time on their hands and so a large proportion of the human race (at least in the West) spend their excess time in creating problems for themselves and others when really there would seem to be little need.
Humans drink too much, they eat too much and take various narcotic substances. All of these lead to long term health problems for the individual and additional problems for society as a whole.
Humans have created inventions (such as social media) which are primarily used to waste time and often to spread discord, ultimately leading to people being distressed and potentially suffer long term mental health problems.
Most humans could quite happily get along but they invent reasons to fight each other. Religion (that one has been going on for a long time. I fully accept this is not a new development, though perhaps to some extent episodes like the crusades were as much about conquering territory as they were about religion). Sexuality. Political views. All of these lead to arguments, wars and terrorist attacks. And for what? Most people do not want the world, they just want enough to have a life with sufficient food, shelter and safety.
It is clear that no other species acts in the ways humans do. Other animals species might fight their own kind over territory, food, mating rights or other essential resources but only when they really have to. Most of the time they will look to avoid conflict wherever possible and will stay out of each others way. They will not choose to die or torment themselves simply for the sake of an idea, which is the position humans seem to have reached.
Perhaps however these actions should be viewed as a form of population control and natural selection. After all, there are very few other means by which the human population is being reduced so perhaps it will ultimately prove a blessing that they have got so good at creating their own downfalls. For, though I say there is no need for man kind to fight each other, ultimately there is an ever growing human population and ultimately if something does not check its expansion then I imagine it will all end in some sort of horrific population crash.