Can cichlids teach us anything about domestic violence?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Oscarum monstruoso

Oscarum monstruoso

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 3, 2010
1,004
8
68
33706
It seems that what we humans term "domestic violence" is part of the natural mating behavior of many cichlid species. Nature sometimes requires force be used to reach the desired genetic outcome. In the human world it is treated as a crime as it should be, but is there a genetic component as well? For example, if man's ancestors were hiding from a predator and the female started to talk or make noise, what choice would the male have but to silence her uuntil the danger passes.

Or perhaps she isnt as mindful of their offspring when he leaves to hunt for food, he has to discipline her for if he doesnt, he risks losing his family while he is out looking for food.

Im not trying to excuse violence towards domestic partners; that would be preposterous. However Im bringing up for discussion that domestic violence could be a partly engrained behavior as it is in the world of cichlids.
 
Geeze I thought you were serious for a second there lol.

Just in case this isn't meant to be a joke. Let me explain something to you. (Read slowly so you can keep up) Your genes won't be as likely to get passed on to future generations because you are so stupid that you will be unlikly to live long enough to reproduce. Even if you do the chances of you attracting a mate seem pretty slim.
 
splant;4560879; said:
Geeze I thought you were serious for a second there lol.

Just in case this isn't meant to be a joke. Let me explain something to you. (Read slowly so you can keep up) Your genes won't be as likely to get passed on to future generations because you are so stupid that you will be unlikly to live long enough to reproduce. Even if you do the chances of you attracting a mate seem pretty slim.
Click to expand...

What are you on about? Did you reply to the wrong post on accident? Off course I am serious, it makes sense if you can read better than you spell.
 
So the possibility that a natural instinct for spousal physicality so obviously exists in nature that may subtly exist in man is not intriguing? Isnt understanding a phenomenon the best way to stop it from happenning?
 
Look I will give you an example. All my life I never laid a hand on a woman, or a man really. But one night my girlfriend was driving us in her new Saab when we got in a huge argument, something about running into another one of her exes which was like the fifth one we ran into that week.

So we are at a gas station and were both angry but she is typically irrational and overly emotional, and not logical at all. So I get mad, and I get out of the car, slam the door and tell her that Im done and Im walking home, it was 5-6 miles but Id rather walk five miles alone than hear another story about what a coincidence it is that we see her "exes" everywhere we go. Then get what she does: she gets out of the car, leaves it running and starts running after me. Now people are looking, and its late in a bad part of town so I had to think fast, so I grabbed her (in a hug) and picked her up, put her in her seat, with her fighting me all the way. I pushed her down gently into the seat, clamped her belt and told her if she doesnt get out of the lot she would get attacked and Id be too outnumbered to help her.

Her eyes got wide as she saw the homeless guy approaching the passenger door, and she got on the gas and took off, and I had a nice relaxing walk and was able to chill out and gather myself.

In this case, I believe the instinctive, masculine use of adequate force was entirely justified, as it is when cichlids do it.
 
I think if you want to get into the nature part of it you cant get much farther than males solve problems with violence*. Those who cant control their tempers resort to that for petty reasons.
*As in killing the evening meal, establishing dominance in a pack/pride/herd, or defending the young
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom