You know the type.
Those people who, regardless of the fact that it doesn't help anything, resort to primate behaviour patterns. You'd think that, as fellow humans, they'd have the intelligence and courtesy to handle being part of the so-called 'Social Contract', but, alas, they don't appear to be that evolved.
Who are these people? They're all around you.
- The guy with multiple pieces of carry-on baggage, who pushes ahead of anyone he can shove out of the way, simply to be the first to get on the bus/ferry/train...regardless of the fact that he's not only in no danger of being left behind, but is now slowing everyone down and creating a bottleneck
- The woman who insists on taking more than 10 items through the Express Checkout lane, because she's in a hurry to get home to her soap operas
- The child who ignores a beat-up, worn-out toy...until some other child wants it. Suddenly, it's the most meaningful thing in the world
The list goes on and on. Why do these people insist on this behaviour? Ask any of them, and you'll get a quick, sharp, defensive response. Generally, that response is something along the lines of "It doesn't matter", "I'm not hurting anyone", or, my personal favourite, "I'm just doing this one little thing." They fail to see that, according to the primate brain, them performing these acts encourages others to do the same (or, in the vernacular, 'Monkey See, Monkey Do'). The more that do it, the worse the situation becomes, and these first offenders are frequently the first to stand up, beating their chests in true ape fashion, calling for something to be done about this nuisance.
A vicious cycle, to be sure.
So, how to counteract this? Believe it or not, it's quite simple, and it starts with you. You must learn to recognize the primate instinct in yourself. Watch your own actions, looking for the things you do which are simply stimulus/response outcries. Be aware of those times when you do something, simply because you want to be there first...or, as we've come to call it, simply because you want to get to the banana. When you find these times, remind yourself that you are no ape, and there is no banana.
Having established your superiority as a human, you must then begin to watch those around you. There will always be those that just don't 'get it'. Perhaps they just need your help...perhaps all it would take to bring them up from primate status is the reminder that there is no banana.
So, tell them. Tell them that the sweet, pulpy fruit that they seek simply doesn't exist. They may not get it. They may even get snotty with you...but, remember, these are primates; they don't know any better. But your efforts will help, if you just keep working. Others around you will get it, and they will pass on the knowledge to others. Eventually, the homo sapien species may be worthy of the title of 'man who thinks', and can get on with the business of evolving yet further.
Our numbers are small, but growing. We will make a difference on this planet (and, perhaps, one day, on another)...and we want you to join us. If you are a kindred spirit, let the world know. Feel free to display any of the following graphics, and link back to us here, that others may join the ranks of the evolved. Who knows, one day we may be able to offer stickers or t-shirts, to make spreading the message that much easier, but for now, this is what we have.Please save pictures to your own host; DO NOT HOTLINK.
Be More Than You Can Be...Evolve.
