Teaching kids to potty train (the way that a lot of parents do), is an example of operant conditioning where an association is drawn between a behavior and its consequences through the use of reward and/or punishment. We do things like this to help our children fit in as productive members of society. This is psychology, not genetics.
I am not going to argue with you because it seems that what ever I say you disagree with as a matter of course. I read this in a paper written by a professor of genetics
. I figured that he is right considering who he is, however, you are no doubt more qualified then he is. I am talking about adaptive behaviour when a child adapts to using a potty instead of soiling himself. That is adapting so my description was right and did not require any challenge.
I didn’t just say that, and you know it.
This is what you said and this is what I read. "You said: "
Anyhoo, alcoholism is genetic. The link you gave reinforces that fact that myself and another poster had previously pointed out. So as it turns out, I do know what I'm talking about. You're the person trying to say alcoholism isn't genetic. That would make you wrong. Sorry."
I also said a whole bunch of other stuff that you keep ignoring. Twice now, I’ve quoted all that other stuff I said, clarified it, and expanded upon it and you’re still saying this. Please explain what it is that I have not made clear.
You are judging me without justification. I have not ignored what you have said, I had not read it, therefore, I only read your claim that alcoholism is down to genetics. You wrote it in a way that who ever just joined the debate would wonder what planet you lived on. It was grossly negligent and inconsistent.
Well it sure did sound like it
This didn’t work when I explained in my own words, so I’ll try Wiki:
“A
genetic predisposition is a
genetic characteristic which influences the possible
phenotypic development of an individual organism within a species or population under the influence of
environmental conditions.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_predisposition
It didn't work because you were teaching your grandmother how to suck eggs again.
I’m saying everyone has genetic predispositions that exist beyond our own control. Does a person’s genetic predisposition have something to do with their sexual orientation? I’d have to say yes.
I know what you are saying, however, you are wrong. You are trying to make a fact out of an ambiguity. We can all say "No" regardless of our genes. They may cause the urge but we lift the blanket and get in. If you say that we cannot control our base desires, then lets be honest, a trip to a psychologist is essential. Everything we do is by our choice, to blame it on our genes is a first degree cop out. That is why I said that dead to rights killers say that the are deterministic, blaming anyone or anything for their actions..
We can’t say anything for sure. It’s pretty obvious though, that there are factors that are involved in our decision making abilities that are beyond our control.
Then you see something that I don't. We are all in full control of our faculties, only when you lose that control can you claim "I didn't have a choice". There is no compromise on this. I am sixty years old and in that time I have fully accepted that I am totally responsible for every choice I have ever made, whether it be wrong or right, and have never willingly succumbed to the enticing of the Devel, or or any other influence, that would cause me to do something that I did not want to. Drinking another pint before going home, which leads to another and another is not the beers choice, it is mine. I accept accountability for that. That the choice was a wrong one does not detract from the fact that I made it, nobody made me do it. No one has ever made me do anything. I drank the second beer because that it what I wanted to do at the time.
Well if Christ were real, and attempting to show me his light, he would/should know exactly what it would require to convince me to believe in him. So I’m not too worried about missing anything.
Christ is real, you just choose not to find out for yourself. Christ does not impose himself upon you. He knocks on a door with no handle. It has to be you who lets Him in. Christ cannot intervene and what kind of test would it be if you know all the answers.
I hope you don’t think that people who don’t believe in the Biblical god are incapable of determining right from wrong.
It is my opinion that they have no deterrent. The have no rules and regulations, morals and principles, that the have a need to follow. If they sin then there is no consequences to their actions. So, although I cannot tar all atheists with the same brush I am a realist and can see easy prey for satan to influences into paths of unrighteousness. Although morality is objective when you have no need to keep then than the first thing to go is morals
Well sure, anybody can say anything they want, but it doesn’t make it true. You can’t possibly know that your cognitive awareness far exceeds that of any animal that lives and breathes or that your ability to reason is far greater than any animal. There is no way to verify such a claim.
Do you know, I can say that. One of the senses that feeds our cognitive awareness is our eyes. Through my eyes I see an animal with limited intelligence. Not with none but limited. They will easily open a door if you give them a banana, but he will never be able to solve a quadratic equation or have an intelligent conversations. They have not changed that much since we started to observe them. None of them drive a car to work or watches a rugby match with his mates. I love animals. I have two shih tzus that I adore who are both very intelligent but to potty train them would be a waste of my time.
That’s great that you believe that, but I don’t.
That is your prerogative.
The similarity in our DNA is strong evidence for the theory of evolution – which certainly doesn’t rule out any kind of creator god(s), but I just don’t see the need for one.
Don't see it, or don't want to see it. I became a Christian because I was challenged to try it, and if I did so with real intent have faith in Christ and a belief in His mission that I would receive the testimony of the Holy Ghost. Initially I tried half heartedly, however, I gave my word that I would try so I must honour my word. I would treat it as though it were a scientific experiment and give it equal attention. I have been a Christian for some 40 years now, because I rose to the challenged and received the testimony of the Holy Ghost, as promised. You have to want it bad enough to succeed anything else will result is a failure.
Can you tell what a dolphin is thinking? How about an ape? How about another human being?
I believe that animals think in concepts rather then words so to discern concepts is not impossible. I know when my dogs are hungry, when they want a drink or go for a walk. Their wagging tails tells me that they are happy, and their affection towards me tells me that they love me. The communicate to us by barks and moans in a way that we comprehend them. I have an interest in dolphins and those who look after them will tell you that do know what the are feeling rather then what they are thinking.
That’s just not true. I implore you to go out and learn all you can about our primate cousins. By the sounds of it, you will be astonished.
Well, I believe differently. They are not without intelligence and they have a limited degree of cognitive awareness, however, they will never understand what a black hole is. We are leaps and bound ahead of them. We have progressed in Intelligence over the last thousand years yet they have only marginally progressed. We are of a different breed to them[/QUOTE]