Thanks to a suggestion on TWIT.tv from Brian Brushwood I am going to start reading Stephen Pinker’s The Beter Angels of Our Nature.
Apparently, we live in a time with fewer acts of violence against each other than ever in recorded history. Some might say it is because we are evolving and have become less violent as a species. I am interested in reading the book but I have to tell you that I don’t believe as a species we are less violent – I believe thanks to technology and various outlets for our rage we have been afforded the luxury of living out our violent nature without actually bringing physical harm to others.
Outlets like violent video games where one can kill an entire village of people with a sniper rifle, or run down pedestrians with their stolen hot rod. Television shows like “Dexter”, “Breaking Bad”, “The Walking Dead” — those are all outlets for our violent nature.
These shows and games allow us to vent and live out these thoughts and urges without getting our hands dirty.
I don’t think we are any less violent as a species – but my thoughts may change after I read the book.
