The Human Layers; What We Are vs. What We Let Others See

The human struggles between two lives he/she leads.  The first life represents all their opinions and thoughts about things.  The second is the life that they put on display for others to examine. This second life is a fabricated one and, when projected correctly, it exemplifies how we want other humans to see us.  

A common pass time for the human is to watch others.  This is called people watching.  When in public many people will put there masks on so that they seem normal to the other humans that are watching and analysing them.  

This week I sought to investigate why humans have these layers.  Granted there are some who do not.  They behave how they want to and do not care about what people think.  It is in understanding why and when people put on their masks that we can start to understand ourselves a little bit better.

My exploration began by trying to determine whether humans are the only creatures on this planet that do this.  I found that other species do this to.  As I have said before, we are a social species and exist in groups.  Because of this ancient instinct to live in a pack, the human comes packaged with a arsenal of instincts that bolster the functionality of the pack as a whole.  For example, most humans will instinctively grab a kid out of the way of a car, even though they might not ever have met the child before.  We are programmed to lookout for our young.  It is not even something we think about.

We are not the only pack oriented species.  One of the most complex is the honey bee.  Although these creatures are unintelligent insects individually, together they function as a highly intelligent creature.  What makes this possible is the unrelenting devotion that every individual has to the pack.  Everyone pulls their weight.  

When a bee flies over alcohol and becomes intoxicated, the other bees can immediately tell.  The drunk behavior of the intoxicated bee causes the others to single him out and bite off the offender's legs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKNecnrxgdA

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2009/drunk-bees-p1.php

(same video but posted twice in case one is broken)

It breaks my heart to watch.

Why did they attack him?  It is clear that the bee is having a problem functioning.  The other bees notice this very quickly and immobilize him because to them he is a kink in the armor.  His clunky behavior is slowing the pack down.  For the survival of the pack, he must be killed.  These behaviors exist in all pack animals.  Should an individual become a radical renegade, he is ostracized from the group.  This is also true with monkeys.  When a drugged individual is introduced to the group, the group members become violent towards him.  Strange behavior is disruptive to the functioning of the group and this is bad for the disruptor.  

Similar to the bees and monkeys, humans also harbor this ancient instinct, and as instincts often do, it surfaces in our societal behavior patterns, despite our higher intelligence.  When a human becomes defective, he is isolated from the group.  This is achieved through jail, mental institutions, and drug rehabilitation centers (having reread that last sentence a month later, I now cannot make up my mind about whether humanity really isolates our defective citizens).

This leads me back to my original pondering.  We humans are constantly questioning whether our upcoming actions are going to be socially acceptable.  This is where this idea of layers comes in.  We base our actions off of what we want to do, and what society wants us to do.  We have built into us a need to fit in with the pack.  This is because those who don't fit in are considered harmful to the rest of the pack and are dealt with accordingly.  We have a need to conform because in a pack we are a more successful creature.

As we break further and further away from the confines of evolution, we are starting to question which behaviors are left over from our past, and why.  The majority of us will conform, and be safe and content during our meaningless lives, but there exists in our species the free thinker. These people can be the driving force towards human progression, or can become dangerous and harmful to society.  Regardless, their function is necessary for human progression.

Somewhere along the line we stop leaving our free thinkers for dead.  Sometimes we isolate, other times we imprison, but these people fill a very important role.  They refuse to behave as society wants.  They think of the world differently and their ideas have rocked the human race time and time again.  These individuals lack the need to conform.  It is a wonderful behavioral flaw.  Depending on the intelligence of the free thinker, he either sees the world in a negative way and because a harmful person, or sees the world in a new way.  A way that humans have not viewed the world before. 

Engels, for example, was a free thinker who was very intelligent.  He saw the world from a perspective that hadn't been seen before.  Whenever a free thinker of this magnitude comes along, he/she changes the way in which all humans view existence.  You know many of these free thinkers by name.  They are immortalized withing the human mind network.  They shatter the old social norms and reconstruct them into something better.  These are the heroes of humanity. Lincoln, Gandhi, Jesus etc.. 

They saw problems with the societal norms and they had the courage to intentionally go against them.  There actions electrify all of us. 

The Awkward Walk By

Whether you were walking to work, or perhaps in the mall shopping, one interesting occurrence that the majority of us have felt before is what I call the "awkward walk by".  This consists of two humans who recognize one another, but are not at the speaking stages of human interaction.  We all have walked by someone and intentionally ignored them.  Getting to the core of this behavior interests me, and because nobody reads this blog anyways, I am going to write solely for my own pleasure.

If you are like me you hate this and are constantly searching for a solution.  To figure out the best solution to this problem, it is important to first understand what is going on in the human brain during.  We are all very similar, and chances are that what is going on in our head is the same as what is going on in the other human's head.  

It all stems from a need we all have.  This is the need for acceptance.  Remember, our genetic code has not changed very much from the times before civilization and because of this, many of our behaviors can be traced back to our earlier existence.  Our need to be accepted 40,000 years ago was pivotal for our survival.  Humans that other humans enjoy being around always flourish, and this idea has crossed over to our society today, and is a very widespread idea. From middle school on, the idea of popularity starts to dominate the social structure of our young. Often times this can have vicious and cruel side effects.  Many of us look back to our middle school days and cringe at the awkwardness and evil that manifests itself in the trenches of the American grade school classroom.  It is at this time in our lives that we conform unlike any other, because the consequences of not conforming are much greater then.  To be ostracized from the group is a fear that not only humans have, it is a fear that all pack mammals share.  One of the most effective punishments for a dog is to expel him from the den.  To the pack mammal, expulsion from the group could mean death, because the survival of an individual often depends on the pack.

It is in this fundamental need to be accepted that the root of the awkward walk by persists in our minds.  We all have an image that we try to maintain.  This image is a fundamental part of the idea discussed in earlier posts that I call the human social hierarchy, or human mind network.  It is how we are viewed by society.  It is our societal worth.  Most of us tailor our actions keeping in mind the implications that they will have on our image.  It is an inescapable instinct of the pack mammal.

When a relationship is still in its infancy, both parties are aware of the possibility that the former human will not like the latter.  This is why, when given the opportunity to further the relationship, the human may choose to procrastinate.  The awkward walk by happens when one, or both parties feel that they should acknowledge the other, but for some reason, only one human tries to bridge the gap and further the relationship, or neither humans try.  When it is the case that one human tries, he/she feels very stupid when the attempt to bridge the gap isn't returned by the other human, creating an awkward feeling of rejection.  The ignoring human, in an effort to procrastinate the development of the relationship with another human out of fear of not being accepted by the other human, unknowingly begins the relationship down the wrong path anyways.

The solution to this problem lies in the knowledge of what is going on in the other humans head. Some humans are completely oblivious to the people around them, and this could be misinterpreted as one human ignoring the other.  In most cases however, both parties are aware of each other.  The solution is simple and universal to all cultures and situations.  It is brilliant and timeless.

You must alter your approach of acknowledgement of the other human.  We feel stupid when we go out of our way to say hi to someone and nothing is returned.  We look around thinking; did any one notice that?  The bigger a deal you make, the more stupid you feel.  The solution is to make the acknowledgment subtle enough so only you and the other party can notice.  A nod of the head, or a smile will suffice.  Remember, it is okay to smile!  There are people who will think less of you if you smile while you walk around, but why would you want to be friends with those people anyways?  There are people who will make fun of you for smiling, and that is why sometimes we feel stupid smiling and try to protect ourselves by being cold and emotionless. 

Don't do this.  Smile when you feel happy and cry when you feel sad.  Suppressing feelings is horrible for your body.  Smile when you pass someone you don't know.  Not in a freaky stalker way, but rather in a sincere way that says to them; "hi, I am in a good mood and you may approach me and talk to me if you would like." If you make this simple change in your life style, you will see your horizons broaden.  The world will seem much warmer and better.  

Next time you have your awkward walk by, simply make eye contact, and give them a little smile.  It is okay if it is a forced smile because they will be able to tell it is a forced smile and this is not a bad thing.  Forcing a smile for someone is a fantastic way of breaking the ice.  Think about it from the other persons perspective.  When someone gives you a short, forced smile, it speaks much lounder than words.  It says to you that they are polite and practiced in the art of social interaction and that it is acceptable for you to approach.  Practice giving forced smiles in the mirror. The smile I like to make is one several years in the making.  I like to let the person see that I see them, and then quicky give a soft smile as I slightly squint my eyes at the same time.  The slight eye squint makes you seem more laid back which makes you more approachable.  After about two seconds, I let the smile slowly fad.  Remember that not all smiles are good.  A smile can be very threatening to another human depending on the circumstance. Make them quick and be on your way. You want the smile to give the impression that you are well adjusted, not too eager for a friend, but you still would be up for a friendly chat.

For those of you that are very extroverted, and constantly find yourself feeling stupid because of the awkward walk by, you must remember that not everyone warms up as easily as you do. Everyone wants friends, but not everyone wants to be friends with everyone.  These people might be more introverted and less likely to break the ice themselves, and rely on the extrovert to initiate.  As an extrovert, your role in society is to bring us all together, this is where you flourish, and you doing this makes the rest of us happier, even though we will never admit it.

IMPORTANT

You must always remember that people know what is going on in their peripheral vision, even if they make it seem like they do not.  Only smile if eye contact is made and only try to make eye contact for a short period of time.  It doesn't bother people if you look at them for a very short period, but if it extends this makes people uncomfortable and they can tell if you are watching even if you do not think they can. Give people this short window to make eye contact at about ten feet away, if the eye contact is not returned within a second, divert your eyes and be on your way.  Some times eye contact will be made, and in these situations it is appropriate to drop the walk by smile.  Do it fast because people might lock eyes and immediately divert.  Give them a corny fake smile that says that you're trying to be nice but aren't particularly happy to see them. These are the conditions for relationships to develop, and the successful execution of the awkward walk by.

Turn your annoying experience into your social networking tool!  And, on a more general level, view things you hate to do as opportunities to master something you find annoying.  I no longer fear the awkward walk by, I embrace it, and this is because of a change of attitude towards it. You are a human!  Champion your life's crappiness!  Imagine looking forward to all of the things you hate.  If you hate hanging out with Bob, and Bob is always trying to hang out with you, then do your chores while hanging out with him.  The more you hang out with him, the more organized your life becomes, and the less he likes hanging out with you because you are becoming more and more boring to him.  He might even help you take care of your chores! 

The Human and the Alien

Another phenomenon that the human race has crafted is the idea of other intelligent life forms existing.  We have the ability to predict our future to a certain extent and one prediction is that one day we will colonize other planets to help ease overpopulation problems.  Traversing space is, from a physics standpoint, extremely complicated because of the distances and the resources necessary to make the journey.  If we want to send humans to other blue green planets, we must provide enough fuel and food for them to make it there, not to mention the resources needed to set up a new colony.  

There may be many solar systems with habitable planets.  Once we are able to colonize another planet, the likelihood for our species survival in the long run will dramatically improve.  Once we have set up base on more than one planet, our future no longer depends on the stability of one planet, but rather two, and once we begin to spread, we will always look for new colonization opportunities, for this is our nature.  We are merely animal, and this is something must not forget.  We are looking through mammal beer goggles.

So, if our future progress seems to be dependant on branching out from the confines of our planet, wouldn't this be the case for other intelligent life constricted to one planet?  

Even today, very little is known about what the prerequisites for the creation of life are.  In the future, it is likely that the idea of primordial soup will be looked upon as a primitive solution to a much larger question.  We may view the notion of primordial soup like the way we view the idea that the Earth was flat in 2009.  There are theories that suggest that life may not have originated on Earth but rather brought here by some sort of escort.  Either way, if life only sparked on Earth, and we are the only planet that holds life, what makes Earth so special?

It is possible that life originated somewhere else, and travelled to earth.  If this was the case, then there must have been life elsewhere at some point.  If life existed elsewhere, wouldn't it still follow the same rules of evolution?  And isn't the end product of evolution intelligence? As I was editing this post I reread the last sentence and realized that intelligence is not the end of evolution, but rather a blip down its very special road.    Maybe this road has an end, maybe not, but is it possible that evolution is just the beginning stage?  Writing that gave me the chills.

If I was a mighty god, and I had the ability to plant life somewhere, wouldn't intelligent life eventually sprout up from the primitive archaeobacteria, or what ever else took hold first to the desolate lifeless planet?  Isn't it only a matter of time?  Life shows extreme resilience in the face of obliteration.  Certain life forms have been found to withstand the harsh conditions of outer space, and the radioactive environments found on earth.  If this is so, it seems like life isn't a card house.

Within the kingdom of life, intelligent life is a small subset.  By intelligent life, I mean human and nothing else.  What makes humans the cut off?  Many would say that the dolphin or chimpanzee also harbor enough intelligence to make the cut off.  Chimps have been known to help types of plants that give them fruit by ripping out other competing plants around them.  These may be the early stages of agriculture and this may have been how the human phenomenon all began.  It is possible that other life forms are becoming more intelligent as well.

There is a clear difference between the human and every other life from on Earth.  It is hard to pin point exactly what it is.  It could be fire, or agriculture, or maybe language.  It is also hard to identify what it is about the human that gave rise to our intelligence.  I have heard argued that the opposable thumb is one of the advantages, or possibly our voice boxes.

We have the ability to make a variety of different sounds and pitches, and this could have given rise to language.  The most likely body part that gave rise to our intelligence is the frontal lobes of our brain that constitute the rational decision making behavior.  This part of the human brain is so developed that we are capable of thinking on a different level from our mammal peers. There is no doubt that these other characteristics helped.  In fact our frontal lobes are very resource demanding.  Our brains use a lot of fuel, and the opposable thumb may have helped facilitate this.  

Whatever it is that sets us apart, we are different aren't we?  The human's genetic sequence shares 98% of its code with a chimp.  That 2% discrepancy makes for a very large difference when zoomed out on the scrolly wheel of time.  We inhabit all reaches of the planet.  The room to expand is getting smaller.

Evolution leads to the intelligent life form eventually.  It seems from the human perspective to be evolution's end.  If there is life on other planets and should the life continue to exist, out of this will eventually rise intelligent life.  Had Earth had an ridiculously long stable period?

We have established that if other life exists on other planets, then it is only a matter of time before an intelligent life form evolves.  Life probably did not start here on Earth, but rather was brought here.  It is likely that other life exists on other planets, and this means that intelligent life is also likely to exist because intelligent life is a function of evolution and time, and we know that time is not an issue.  The cosmos have been in a stable state for a long time.

Humans, with the aid of technology, have been to the moon, and our technology has been to Mars, and much farther still.  If we are still in the preliminary stages of the revolution of the computer, then the possibilities for the human's future are still too new to be in our thoughts reach.  In other words, our ideas and possibilities are still in their infancy.  It isn't ridiculous to think that some day we will be spreading past the confines of our planet. 

Now for the million dollar question.  Why have we not made contact with a different life form who is further down the path of technological development.  In the vastness of space, it seems like there would have developed a life form with the ability and to travel here.

There are several reasons that there has not yet been contact.  The first is that there simply is no life elsewhere.  The second is that the sheer distance of space has made it impossible to get here.  The third is that the other life forms simply aren't interested.  The fourth is that they do not want us to know that they have are aware of us, and this is made possible through a much higher understanding of technology.  The fifth is, time and time again, an intelligent life form comes into existence, and cannot colonize another planet before their environment is destroyed due to war, resource depletion, or time.

There is a popular argument (and I forget the name) that the human is doomed because we have not yet made contact with other intelligent life. In other words, millions of intelligent life forms have existed, only to eventually perish with the habitability of their planet.  There have been so many instances of intelligent life developing, only to be consumed by the dynamic fluctuations of the universe.  The thought is that because there have been trillions upon trillions of failures in the past, it makes our situation hopeless.  We would be one out of infinite to have actually succeeded in branching out of our planet.  This argument is powerful, but it is a very negative one.  Firstly, it implies that every situation that intelligent life has been in before us has been the same.  This is not true. There are so many other forces at work and too many other variables to say that intelligent life in the past was in the same situation that humans are in now.

One notion to bring out of this argument is the idea that we are in a race against time. We must colonize other planets before ours is no longer habitable.

Let us return to the idea that aliens have been observing us.  There are several reasons why they would.  The first is that they want to harvest our resources, or maybe us, for their own profit.  The second, and more likely reason is that they they are observing us to further their own understanding of intelligent life forms, including themselves.

As isolated intelligent life forms, we understand very little about the nature of our own existence. We know intelligence from researching humans in particular.  

In order to make this more clear, I will give an example.  When we were in our math golden age, minds like Newton took particular cases, like two billiard balls striking each other, to form a general case.  It took many trials and errors to eventually start to see the bigger picture.  This gave rise to the idea of the variable.  If you have reached a the level of math to know this term, you understand what I mean.  We replaced numbers with letters to represent numbers.  The variable 'x' came to mean, a value that we do not know yet.  In math, you only need a certain number of pieces to complete the puzzle, and by using variables as number placeholders, we increased our spectrum of math problems that we as a species could solve, and this in turn increases our possibilities. 

Keep the idea of variables in mind and now apply it to intelligent life forms.  It is not only until we understand things in particular that we can come to understand things in general.  It is not only until we understand many particular cases of a math equation that we can understand this math equation in general.  It is not until we understand many particular cases of intelligent life forms that we can understand intelligent life forms in general.  

Right now we understand one intelligent life form in particular; the human.  We must understand other cases in which an intelligent life form has come to exist before we understand what makes intelligent life forms exist in general. 

Trying to understand this idea from a nobody blogger is nearly impossible.  Nobody has told you yet that my work is even worth your time, but I am trying to make this as clear as possible with the hope that this idea will spark in the mind of at least one other human, and from there will spread like wild fire, for the purposes of furthering human intelligence.  

Understanding these ideas may seem very boring, but along with their comprehension comes a world of wonders.  Questions that need answering.  It is with understanding this idea of intelligent life "in general" that comes a cascading effect of human flourishing.  It is not until we understand intelligence "in general" that we can truly begin to reach for our potential.

It is in this idea that exists the profession that I should be.  And I am upset that I was not alive during the time period in which this job existed.  This is the idea of the person who studies intelligent life patterns.  What do intelligent life forms do "in general"?  Do they all have war?  Do they all have industrial revolutions?  Do they all enslave each other? Do they all eventually give rise to a mechanized form of slavery?  Unfortunately we only have one particular case to work with; the human, and because of this, the intelligent life form pattern identifier is still a useless job.