AI-Jane Forums

[Armadillo]

[Anonymous24]

Slaves to DNA.

[Anonymous24]

Seriously though, haven't you read the twin studies? Where identical twins, raised in different socioeconomic studies, end up exactly the same. Even marrying wives with the same name!

[John L]

Note that it is a combination usually of nurture and nature. But random variations of genetic structure are ways that the species experiments with change. If certain variables work in certain niches, then those variations are at a 'select' advantage to multiply and become more commonplace within the gene pool.

And there is more here than just an imballance with dopamine. There are other brain chemicals, such as serotonin, which is what I have less to spare as I age. That is why I need a good "reuptake inhibitor" to keep the serotonin between the cell synapsis.

But there is alway hope for the future of genetic engineering.

[John L]

And speaking of DNA, there is this. We take glasses for granted, and don't even consider what life must have been like, in the good old days, when glasses were not present.

[Gunnen4u]

Bah, more excuses for more mistakes. We are in a culture of no consequence these days.

DNA I think, is irrelevant, how does one just ignore the stigma of something being wrong, or being told it's wrong, or forgot that he or she will go to jail for that?

Alchoholism runs in my family, cutting a wider swath than the Amazon - why am I not one of these yet caught up in the current, even though I have the disposition to be one (I have an addictive personality)?

I have had plenty of bad examples to choose from, and why haven't I followed them?

I can drink like a fish, and have since I first tasted the glory of beer and liquor, but I have no problems with a dry spell, or giving it up for the time being due to other circumstances.

Same with my Copenhagen. Right now, due to it's inconvience out here, I have given it up with no problem. Might never do it again.

I think while we are made up of genes, that reason and following reason are completely able to overcome it.
_________________

[Anonymous24]

People do need to be held accountable, no matter the cause of their behavior. But its possible to believe that people should be held responsible for what they do, *and* that what they do is largely determined by their innate personality. Free will and accountability don't necessarily go hand in hand.

[quadrat]

[Aurora Moon]

[Anonymous24]

I'm cynical about how much we humans are really capable of overcoming our innate tendencies and personalities. People don't overcome mental illness per se, they just learn how to deal with it.

[Palladin]

We do have predisposition to do this or that. All of us have various desires to do this or that.

The difference is for example,my father was hot tempered,so am I.

Dad let his temper rule his life,I struggle to maintain mine at the lowest heat I can. Yea,I struggle with it,but I actively seek to crush my hot temper,dad simply allowed his to control his life. Dad liked to drink,so do I,dad let drink rule his life,so far I have been able to drink with a level of moderation. I have desired to kill men before,but I haven't followed through,others desire to and follow through.

There are other examples.

Jeffrey Dahmer did what he did. We now know based on his father's autobiography that HE had the same lusts to murder and EAT his vicitm,but he never acted on the lust. Jeffrey did.

One was guilty,the other learned how to control his desires,bizarre as they were.