Actual wolf packs are a family. One pair of adults plus their children. Until those are old enough, then they leave and search for a partner and own territory.
All the stuff you read about pack alphas, all the sociological pseudo-science about alpha behavior derived from it… that’s all based on a one bullshit study about a large group of wolves artificially intoduced to a new area, that in no way behaved like wolves naturally do.
Basically the equivalent of putting a few dozen teen-age boys on an isolated island then studying their behavior to understand human society.
It’s nice when humanity isn’t the tragically disgusting thing we’re often forcefully told it is.
(Usually as some way to justify State-enforced law and order via violence.)
seriously, the more you actually read up about human history and biology the more you see that we’re just… kinda fucking great, when we’re not constantly torturing ourselves and trying to justify it like stockholm syndrome’d abuse victims.
Actual wolf packs are a family. One pair of adults plus their children. Until those are old enough, then they leave and search for a partner and own territory.
All the stuff you read about pack alphas, all the sociological pseudo-science about alpha behavior derived from it… that’s all based on a one bullshit study about a large group of wolves artificially intoduced to a new area, that in no way behaved like wolves naturally do.
Basically the equivalent of putting a few dozen teen-age boys on an isolated island then studying their behavior to understand human society.
Are you implying that humans aren’t prone to worshipping idols, tribalism, and interpersonal violence?
Funny enough, not in the cynical, depressing way William Goulding postulated and many of us were forced to read in English class. :D
https://www.newsweek.com/real-lord-flies-true-story-boys-island-william-golding-humankind-human-nature-rutger-bregman-1503204
It’s nice when humanity isn’t the tragically disgusting thing we’re often forcefully told it is. (Usually as some way to justify State-enforced law and order via violence.)
seriously, the more you actually read up about human history and biology the more you see that we’re just… kinda fucking great, when we’re not constantly torturing ourselves and trying to justify it like stockholm syndrome’d abuse victims.
I was gonna say wasn’t Lord of the Flies literally a critique of society?
Yeah, but a satirical one, not one to be taken literally.
I suppose it’s also worth mentioning that time some kids actually got stranded on an island and ended up developing a functional community.
yeah, as it turns out humans are actually inherently mutualistic and when faced with adversity will reliably organize quite well.
because, like, that’s a pretty handy feature to evolve as a social species.