Friday Discussion: Nature vs. Nurture (d-bags)

[count2infinity]

Do you guys think that there is something that is inherently coded in a person's being that causes them to be a complete a-hole/d-bag/any other letter followed by a word you want to use or is it something that is taught? Also, do you think the definition of being a jerk has changed over time and things that today are considered rude may not be considered as such 10-15 years from now?

[Gaucho]

taught

[Letang Is The Truth]

nature vs nurture, lodge, nature always wins.

/christopher walken

[count2infinity]

taught

then where did it originate?

[mac5155]

For most, seeing your parents do it I'd say.

[Troy Loney]

taught

then where did it originate?

Are you trying to make this a chicken or the egg thing?

[count2infinity]

no, just asking how being a d-bag came to be? do you feel it was taught or something that is in your chemical make up. I was just asking if it's a completely taught thing, then where did it originate?

[meow]

I get my d-baggery from my dad's side. Lot of d-bags on that side of the meow tree.

[shmenguin]

you'd have to deconstruct it a little. certain mental conditions like anxiety, ocd, depression...they can be traced to innate brain chemistry. you'd have to find the fundamental forces behind this behavior.

but to answer your question broadly, it's both.

[Kraftster]

Both. Though nurture is nature too, so...

[shmenguin]

Both. Though nurture is nature too, so...

yeah, as a determinist, i don't see much of a difference between the 2, either

[Willie Kool]

[redwill]

End Of Thread.

Simply because JLC's bare boobies trump every philosophical argument ever devised.

[DudeMan2766]

Depends on what your definition of d-bag, etc is. But I've always thought it comes down many times to self esteem issues. Some people are a-holes because they dont like other people because they don't like themselves, or use acting like a jerk/ treat others poorly as some defense mechanism. And some come off as d-bags because they try too hard to be accepted. That may be simplifying it a bit too much but I dont feel like typing, and you all are jerks anyway.

[Lt. Dish]

you'd have to deconstruct it a little. certain mental conditions like anxiety, ocd, depression...they can be traced to innate brain chemistry. you'd have to find the fundamental forces behind this behavior.

but to answer your question broadly, it's both.

Came here to post this and to add that nurturing can help people manage negative social (and physical) effects of mental conditions. So, while I agree nature has its say, nurture has its thumb on the scale.

The self-esteem point is a good one. I actually know a guy who's in therapy and freely admits to having self-esteem issues. He's said to me that he's aware of treating some people poorly at times to make himself feel better, and he's working hard not to do it. (He still has a ways to go, but I appreciated his candor.)

[Lt. Dish]

End Of Thread.

Simply because JLC's bare boobies trump every philosophical argument ever devised.

I was a teenager and I remember seeing that scene and thinking, they put that in a "regular" funny movie?!
I was such a sheltered, angelic, naive creature. My thought quickly shifted to wondering if I were ever going to look like that.

The answer is no, and we're not going to *prove it* with a pic-and-poll.

[count2infinity]

Depends on what your definition of d-bag, etc is. But I've always thought it comes down many times to self esteem issues. Some people are a-holes because they dont like other people because they don't like themselves, or use acting like a jerk/ treat others poorly as some defense mechanism. And some come off as d-bags because they try too hard to be accepted. That may be simplifying it a bit too much but I dont feel like typing, and you all are jerks anyway.

i can agree with this, especially the end part of it.

[columbia]

Two of my brothers are pretty serious d-bags and the other is not.
I'm going with the nature explanation.

[count2infinity]

This thread was brought up because of an experience I had this morning. PSU has a meat lab to train future butchers and they sell what they cut up. It's pretty good meat for really good prices. I got there about 45 minutes early so I could be first in line and get the stuff I wanted that normally sells really quickly. We vacuum pack it and freeze it. So while I was walking out carrying over $75 in meat in two very large bags, I hear a guy that was about 20th or so in line that got there just as they were opening yell, "Way to go a**hole! Bet you got all the good stuff didn't you???" I just kept walking as it's not really in my nature to respond to such things. He then yelled, "Don't pretend like you didn't hear me!" So I turned and smiled at him and then just kept walk to my car. I've been to this place multiple times, been 5th or 6th in line and some of the best stuff is already sold out, so I'm not sure why this guy thought the people that were at the front of the line wouldn't get what they wanted to get, especially since they planned to be there that early for that exact reason. It really got me thinking though, what goes on in a person's head to say such things? What was he trying to get out of yelling at me like that? Did he think I'd apologize for planning ahead and go return all the good stuff so he could have it? Was he just trying to vent? If so, I usually vent by talking to my friends or fiancee, not by yelling at a complete stranger.

The entire point is I see people on a regular basis being complete d-bags, and just think to myself, "wow, i could never do that, what is it that causes them to do such things?" And I often wonder, is it the way I was brought up? Is it just something that is hardwired into my brain to be a "nice guy"? I just wanted to see if that sort of thing goes through other people's heads or not.

[shmenguin]

blames others for his own shortcomings. pretty standard fare.

[Rylan]

Frustration probably more than anything. Maybe he intended to be there early but stuff happened in the morning and he was just angry and you happened to be someone to lash out at.

Now, I am not the type to do that. But I have certainly seen that in people.

[Alejandro Rojas]

Yes and Yes.

All people have a genetic predisposition to some form of anti-social behavior, whether it be benign or violent. Some people are taught how to control that predisposition, others are not.

[Gaucho]

Yes and Yes.

All people have a genetic predisposition to some form of anti-social behavior, whether it be benign or violent.

Looking forward to your presentation of scientific evidence in support of this claim.

[shmenguin]

Yes and Yes.

All people have a genetic predisposition to some form of anti-social behavior, whether it be benign or violent. Some people are taught how to control that predisposition, others are not.

i don't know why, but i have this feeling that you're a former poster with a new identity

[meow]

Here's the important question: Did you get the good stuff?