Evolution, Survial Instinct, and You!!

This thread is more or less about the term many of us use here in the conspiracy world. "Sheeple". Though a word that bothers many, it is a term that is used to describe someone that follows "group" mentality", or refuses to think outside the box.

I am going to present some information pertaining to our survival, our brains, our instinct, and the world around us, and how some of us when come into money, would buy an extra bag of rice, due to the financial situation, and others to buy a big screen t.v.

I would love others input on this, as I see it as a window to learn that though we fight about very important things at times, our "survival instincts" can either come into play strongly, or we can run and hide immediately.

Hard-wired Human Survival Instincts

So are humans wired to survive? It sure seems like it. There are many examples of hard-wired human instincts that help keep us alive. Perhaps the most obvious case is the fight-or-flight response, coined by Harvard University physiologist Walter Cannon in 1915. When humans are faced with danger or stress, a biological trigger helps us decide whether to stay and fight or get the heck out of there -- flight.

When we're stressed or staring danger in the face, the brain's hypothalamus is activated. It initiates a series of chemical releases and nerve cell responses that gets us ready for the impending scenario. Adrenaline is released into the blood stream, our heart rate increases, blood is pumped more quickly into our muscles and limbs. Our awareness, sight and impulses all intensify and quicken. You can thank our caveman ancestors for this one. Early man faced a lot of dangers, and the fight-or-flight response evolved to help them evade or battle those dangers in order to survive. Today, it's what allows an ordinary Joe to rush into a burning building or a mother of three to lift a car off of one of her children -- a phenomenon known as hysterical strength. It also helps us out in non-life threatening situations like a boss screaming in your face or possibly fleeing -- or getting involved in -- a barroom brawl.

adventure.howstuffworks.com...

Now I really enjoy the term "fight or flight", this is a mechanism that has been shown by many on numerous occasions. People that have chose "fight" have been termed brave, and strong. While those who chose "flight", have been deemed scared, and a punk.

But when you look at both aspects we even have saying that can excuse "flight", such as "You get to fight another day". Is this a correct term, or state of mind? Does this seem logical, and can it be used as an excuse?

This is also the way that we have been separated from finding our ideal mate. IMHO the reason for many people finding themselves in relationships that does not last, is due to us falling away from what our instincts are in choosing a mate, such as strength, virility. We have adopted the term "metro-sexual". This is a very confusing concept when we are choosing a mate. Though we know that we are aware that metro-sexual men are not gay, metro-sexual can cause confusion on the part of reproduction, or strength.

Metro-Sexual

Metrosexual is a neologism derived from metropolitan and heterosexual coined in 1994 describing a man (especially one living in a post-industrial, capitalist culture) who displays behavior stereotypically associated with homosexual men (such as a strong concern for his appearance), although he is not homosexual. Debate surrounds the term's use as a theoretical signifier of sex deconstruction and its associations with consumerism.

en.wikipedia.org...

Now there is a very important word that is associated with our survival instinct and that is hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is responsible for certain metabolic processes and other activities of the autonomic nervous system. It synthesizes and secretes certain neurohormones, often called hypothalamic-releasing hormones, and these in turn stimulate or inhibit the secretion of pituitary hormones. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, thirst,[1] fatigue, sleep, and circadian cycles

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The above can be confused with the signs of PTSD, and other anxiety "disorders". "survival instinct" has been considered (when not facing a threatening situation), a dis-order. Here is a snippet that explains what is now being done with those who have this so called problem.

The study of anxiety is fast merging with the science of memory. No longer focused just on symptoms like social isolation and depressed mood, scientists are turning to the disorder’s neural roots, to how the brain records and consolidates in memory the frightening events that set off long-term anxiety. And they are finding that it may be possible to blunt the emotional impact of even the worst memories and fears. The war in Iraq has lent a new cultural urgency to this research. About one in eight of the troops returning from combat show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, or P.T.S.D., which is characterized by intrusive thoughts, sleep loss and hyper-alertness following a horrifying experience. Many are so traumatized that they fail utterly to respond to antianxiety medications, talk therapy and other conventional treatments. When mammals sense threat, at least two important brain circuits swing into action. One pathway runs through the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex, the layer of the brain that regulates consciousness, thinking and decision-making functions.

The other circuit is more primal, running deep into the unconscious brain and through the amygdala, a pair of lozenge-sized nubs of neural tissue (one on each side of the brain) specialized to register threats. This unconscious circuit is “quick and dirty,” a primal survival instinct that increases blood pressure, heart rate and alertness well before the thinking cortex is fully aware of what is happening.

The difference between the two may be crucial to understanding how an irrational fear forms. The amygdala records sights and sounds associated with a harrowing memory, and it is capable of sending the body into high alert before a person consciously processes the stimuli. Most drugs currently prescribed for anxiety, like benzodiazepines and antidepressants, work to ease the symptoms of anxiety and have little effect on the underlying trigger. But scientists are now taking tentative first steps toward altering the brain’s age-old dynamic.

Researchers have been experimenting with a heart disease drug called propranolol, for instance, which interferes with the action of stress hormones like epinephrine. Stress hormones are central to the human response to threat; they prime the body to fight or run, and appear to deepen the neural roots of a terrifying memory in the brain. When the memory returns, these hormones flood again into the bloodstream.

But in one series of studies, people with P.T.S.D. who took propranolol reacted more calmly — on measures of heart rate and sweat gland activity — upon revisiting a painful memory than did similar subjects who took a dummy pill. By blocking receptors on brain cells that are sensitive to stress hormones, experts theorize, the drug may have taken the sting out of the frightening recollections.

www.nytimes.com...

Now dont get me wrong, I do think that some people may have a slight disorder, but having fear is not a disorder, but another form of us wanting to protect ourselves, and our surroundings. Drugs are now the way to get those who are scared of the government, fluoride, and all those "crazy" things to settle down, because things aren't that scary.... but aren't they?

I am afraid of heights, does that mean that I have a useless phobia, or maybe my survival instinct is telling me that I am unable to properly use my senses in a situation where I am very high in the air? Do I know better? Or does a doctor with a prescription pad?

How do some of us want to prepare while others see no need? What makes some people ignore what is right in front of them, while others spend their entire lives preparing for the worst? Have we lost our initial survival instinct? Do we now think that danger was in caveman times, and not a thing of the future?

Is the separation between those who want to survive and those who do nothing about it, just another way of us evolving by the weeding out process? Thanks for reading, and all replies with opinions are appreciated.

Peace, NRE.

These "anti-fear" medications are basically means to ignore fear. Although the physical reaction would be reduced in intensity, it is very difficult to treat people who are naturally the "gatherer" type of personality when confronted with war, as they were generally brought up in environments devoid of fear. Those children that live in war zones have become used to it, and even take the idea of death as being honourable - a positive attitude towards fear. However, because we are so shielded, and so focused on the atheistic perspective of the value of life, when we return from war, we are often traumatised by it. Usually, the ones that cope are those that have seen thier fair share of fear, and know what it is like to see death and be involved in death. (most people will live thier entire lives without ever having killed an animal, despite eating tonnes of meat in a lifetime) If they fought honorably, they have nothing to worry about, in terms of thier karma, however, our wars are far from honourable, as we are basically not man enough to fight an honest war, afraid to "lose" - and thus we resort to bombing civillians. I say, bring back the days of the shield and sword, the fight on the battle field, and the codes of honour in combat.

I think that when you begin to ignore fear, you begin to dumb down your instincts of survival. The less you are dependent on your own instincts, the less chance you have of being able to rely on those instincts when needed.

Peace, NRE.

Nice post.

I'd speculate that the situation as it is now, is as a result of us being in a transitional period in our phsychological evolution, as we begin to lose some of our primal instincts from a few thousand years lack of use.
Survival of the fittest (traits), and all.

reply to post by NoRegretsEver


I believe we are also far more intelligent in a practical way, when our instincts are in control of our minds. I believe that the case with the average person, is that their minds control thier instincts, as opposed to thier instincts controlling thier minds. When I have to solve a problem, when I acknowledge that my life depends on it, the ideas stream through my mind, as it searches for answers. I also have a much greater control over my mind as my mind obeys my will in a direct fashion. In terms of everyday life, when I am in a totally instinctual state, all my actions come autonomously and instantaneously, I practically do not need to "think" and I can just "act" - a most valuable ability in times of crisis. It is often that split second where one must "choose" that thinking serves to create a state of conflict between flight and fight, and thus the generation of anxiety. I believe that those who suffer from anxiety are just too afraid to act, too afraid to fight thier fears, eventually, they must make the jump, they must act on thier true impulses, as opposed to the retrospective thoughts that they harbour in thier minds.

I will tell you that this makes me think about the depopulation theory. When you realize that many, and I mean many people have either ignored their instincts, or have drugged them down, and are not fully aware of any danger until its to late, the who's fault would it really be?

If we as a species have a "test" that we must face as a whole, then could we all really survive. We are now plagued with horrible weather patterns, dying birds, harmful foods, drugged up water, etc., But who do you really know is preparing, or even concerned?

I myself am a person that is fully aware of my capabilities and have survival on my mind constantly, but when I ask this of another, I get the dead stare. I say well what about a hypothetical, and then I see confusion in their eyes. How did wanting to survive become something that only crazy people do?

Peace, NRE.

Originally posted by NoRegretsEver
I think that when you begin to ignore fear, you begin to dumb down your instincts of survival. The less you are dependent on your own instincts, the less chance you have of being able to rely on those instincts when needed.

We're capable of differentiating between threat levels. We are capable of raising our awareness, in a calm, controlled manner, in response to the raising of that threat level. By concentrating on anything other than clear and present danger, you are doing yourself and your body a disservice, not to mention your mental health. Know what you need to know and leave it at that. In most cases, there will be warning enough, and by focusing on the now of your own environment you will be most sensitive to how you can protect your family as and when the situation arises, and when you will need to act.

reply to post by KilgoreTrout


I agree that we have the ability, what I am concerned with are those who either dont know that they have it, or it has been dormant for so long that when needed they will not know what to do with it. The number of people that are not aware, or refuse to believe that we as a species can be in danger is a very high percentage.

Being prepared is not a form of either conspiracy, or mental disorder, but a way to maintain your safety and well being as well as those you care for and love. Having the ability to want to survive and knowing what to do with it are 2 very different things.

Peace, NRE.

Thought Id give this a bit of a nudge.

Peace, NRE.

reply to post by NoRegretsEver


Fear is logical in its purpose, it's there for a reason, but not always right. So why do you fear is the question? Or I can put it all Shakespearian if you want.

"To fear or not to fear, that is the question"

But when you look at both aspects we even have saying that can excuse "flight", such as "You get to fight another day". Is this a correct term, or state of mind? Does this seem logical, and can it be used as an excuse?

Depends on what your fighting, and the why of it. And most importantly the whole point of fighting in the first place is to win, the reasons of "why" or "what" or the "purpose" can be made up latter. So what is the whole point of doing such a thing as "fighting" in the first place?

Fighting and fear do go hand in hand, and just like fear is of the unknown, fighting is the purpose for overcoming such a fear, basically the known, or knowing why you fight, or even making a reason of why you would fight. You see it's not a game, that one should do or play at, if you want to fight another day, then you should of not begun to fight in the first place.

But like everything there are exceptions, and against some things you can not win, or even have a chance in hell of winning. So "he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day". But if he was smart he would find another way other then fighting another day, against something he did not have a chance in hell, of wining against in the past.

Now dont get me wrong, I do think that some people may have a slight disorder, but having fear is not a disorder, but another form of us wanting to protect ourselves, and our surroundings. Drugs are now the way to get those who are scared of the government, fluoride, and all those "crazy" things to settle down, because things aren't that scary.... but aren't they?

I don't know, are they, you tell me?

This is a question that has many layers, first you say that people like to amass and follow in herds, which is right, because they do, and when you follow and don't look around were your going, you wont see whats coming. But it can also be said that your fear is not justified, or that your fear is not as big as it actually is. After all why would they be afraid of the government, when all that governments are is just a bunch of people in a structure, basically "themselves" as individuals, on mass, in an idea of correspondence and belonging to a purpose, or even a higher purpose. I know they sure thing highly of themselves, how much higher can it get then just a bunch of people making noise over something. But anyways back on topic. So really what they are afraid of is the disconnect that they experience, so really they are afraid of change that they can not grasp, so once again the "unknown".

Can you trust the government? really comes down to can you trust yourself, and your perspective of the world, and how you see yourself, is your perspective of how you see your government. And the more you know of history and people and just anything really in general, the more fractures in the facade of "sameness" or "reality" there is, and the farther away you move from that sameness and reality well how to explain. OK so lets say that, if you have eyes, or even if you do not have eyes then sound will suffice, then maybe you have noticed this "effect". That the "farther" a thing is away from you the "smaller" it appears, a mountain can appear small from far away, but get close to it and its another thing all together. Same thing aplies with sounds and anything else really.

The same can happen in reverse as well, to objects and people be they physically or metaphysically like in ideas or way of being and thoughts, the farther you move from something or someone or a group of someones, the smaller you would appear to them. But if they got close to you then, they will see how wrong they were, assume much=perceive less, in a lot of things. How many 5 year old kids that have never heard of space and planets, at one time or another wondered if they could hold the moon in there hands, after all it looks so small up there in the sky, all you would have to do is reach out and grab it.

That things really leads into lots of things, like what is "time" and the world of the "big" like planets and galaxies. To the world of the "small" like cells and atoms. Really these words that we use to define them such as "big" and "small" are not sufficient to describe anything really, for they are not big or small, they are a whole different world or universe or existence, were just defining them from our perspective of looking at them from far away, in our ignorance. This poem by William Blake expresses such a thing.

To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour..... William Blake

I am afraid of heights, does that mean that I have a useless phobia, or maybe my survival instinct is telling me that I am unable to properly use my senses in a situation where I am very high in the air? Do I know better? Or does a doctor with a prescription pad?

You would know better. Because you most likely got yourself to whatever height you are at, or why you would be afraid of falling from heights, maybe your not nimble on your feet, and have a habit of tripping over things, or any number of reasons.

There are people who jump out of planes and of cliffs or buildings and feel no fear, and some even continue on doing it over and over even though they know sooner or later something will not go as you expect it and death is not only a possibility but guarantied. Yet they still do it, and some have done it knowing that they will die doing it, and some have died doing exactly that. And the only ones who can know the why or the whole story of it really, is them. Not saying that doctors never know better, just that there is a lot of things that they wouldn't know about. Heights and falling off of heights, is one of those things, that they might not know much about, but have as much a grasp as any other that, it wouldn't be a good thing to have happen to you.

How do some of us want to prepare while others see no need? What makes some people ignore what is right in front of them, while others spend their entire lives preparing for the worst? Have we lost our initial survival instinct? Do we now think that danger was in caveman times, and not a thing of the future?

Perception of perceived fears, no one is on the same level of perceiving things or fears, but that does not mean they are not real, just not perceived as being real. What makes you see some big problem in front of you, to them it might seem small. So maybe you have misjudged it or made it out to be bigger then it seems, or they have just not gotten close enough to it, to see it as you do, and as it really is. And no we have not lost our survival instinct, but unlike the cavemen in the past who had so few things to fear really, other then predators and weather and other clans of cavemen. We live in a different world, and a tiger to us is not as big a problem as say dudes with guns, or wars, or collapse of civil structure, or bills we cant pay, or economic stability. And we have even become more enlightened to other dangers as well such as meteors, solar storms, ice ages, and many more that the cavemen would of not feared. Does that make them braver then us? One thing is for sure, ice ages sure have made some of them more dead then us. And I'm sure the dinosaurs didn't fear meteors at all.

And yes, some do think that danger only existed in caveman times, and it has no relevance in our world today. But dangers do not go away, they just redefine themselves, its part of the condition that all that live, must live with.

Is the separation between those who want to survive and those who do nothing about it, just another way of us evolving by the weeding out process?

Evolving, yes....Weeding out..if there is conceptual agreement, and if there is a majority that wants that then, yes that will happen. Mostly though things just have a habit of changing, and people have a habit of trying to adapt to those changes, and trying to grasp why things change, or making rules as to why things change that all have to follow blindly, so that they don't have to look at the changes going on around them. Though some habits though are better then others, or at least less messy and noisy, in the process of change. And yet some don't care at all about surviving, but that's another thread I take it. By the way what are we looking to survive for?

Originally posted by NoRegretsEver
I agree that we have the ability, what I am concerned with are those who either dont know that they have it, or it has been dormant for so long that when needed they will not know what to do with it. The number of people that are not aware, or refuse to believe that we as a species can be in danger is a very high percentage.

Part of being prepared, for any eventuality, is knowing that you can only be responsible for a certain number of people. As a mother I know, that instantly, my first priority will be my child, everyone, including my parents, brother, friend and her family, the other people I love therefore, are secondary. Once my child is safe and provided for, then I am available to assist them. Once they are all accounted for, then the net can be widened further. Beyond that, there is very little I can do to be prepared, that isn't beyond my expenditure, time and money. And, simple awareness of the environment and seasonal forageing...where the tanks and horses can be found haha...that sort of thing, is really a waste of time because when it comes down to it, what exactly are you preparing for? Presumably, if something happens, it will either be too quick and catastrophic to be even possible to prepare for, or we will have reasonable warning. I have no intention of spending my life worrying about things that may never happen, I'd rather work towards more optimistic goals.

Anyway, I am not saying that it is unwise to be prepared, I am saying it is unwise to experience fear on a regular basis, it literally poisons your system. It all comes back to knowing yourself, and worrying alot less about what other people are doing and thinking.

Good song...



There are people in this world who are experiencing real fear every single day. To an extent, there is an attempt to keep us in fear. It keeps us docile.

Interesting.. And good thread .. Have observed over the years that people who live in cities and rely on technology often ignore their instincts or have lost them entirely .. Whereas people who live closer to nature in rural areas are more aware and heed their instincts..

The trick is to pacify the ego, this means that you have to be aware that you dont let your ego react when other peoples ego are attacking you and you don`t attack other peoples ego, but keep in mind that certain events in your life also effects your ego, as our society is an ego based one created by people.
Job loss, accidents, wars, poverty, you name it everything that creates negative emotions is feeding ground for your ego.

So we have to change the whole of society and ourselves to the effect that the ego has very little to feed on and consiousness will automaticaly increase and increase and fill the dark room with its rays of light.

This is why people have a hard time being enlightened as we have to survive in this ego created and ego driven society it is damn hard to realise that it is the root of all negativity but it is even harder to realise that our own ego has to be pacified before we realise that it is all an illusion and we slowly awake to what we really are and are part of.


Also I think that there are unseen forces are at work raising consiousness of all people without having to work on pacifying their ego that they otherwise had to do themslves to reach that level of consiousness.
The other factor is our society that has to change to a system that doesnt feed the ego anymore, or atleast greatly reduces it., and this is where i think where evolved alien races will reach out to us at a moment where all people will see that taking their help is the only solution....and this will depend on how succesful the unseen forces are in creating enough leverage by raising our consiousness.