Hacker News Reader

Comment by qwerty456127 | Hacker News Reader

I don't say monogamy is a natural rule everybody should follow but it also is not unnatural "bullshit" invented by humans. As far as I know many wild species are monogamous. Many bird species in particular. I don't mind anybody being polyamory (and even some sort of adore them for breaking a taboo) yet many people are happy in monogamy and they are not necessarily constraining themselves artificially. Also shame can hardly be considered "invented" - whenever you feel that blushing you don't invent it, it's a physical body reaction although particular reason behind usually is "invented".

View on HN

Monogamy is pretty much limited to birds. It's uncommon in mammals and in primates in particular. It's interesting that humans arrived at it.

Did we ever arrive at it? Even though most of us may desire lifelong partners, sexual monogamy is mostly socially-induced, not a natural instinct; indeed, social/sexual monogamy usually goes against our natural instincts.

Throughout our history, it's also mostly practiced out of necessity/pressure by the underclasses/commoners* of human society, not the rulers/leaders/wealthy.

* (not counting prostitution)

Shame and peer pressure are also good things often. They help us collaborate and prevent us from acting selfishly. We shame those who do things like litter or steal which prevents this behaviour. If you steal from your friends you will be excluded from their social circle which is enough reason to not do it.

I wouldn't say often. Shame and peer pressure are usually used against someone that a larger group already dislikes.

"Acting selfishly" is also a common victim-blame.

Not sharing your lunch money with povert bullies, or loving someone you love instead of whomever other people want you to love.

I was speaking of repressive cultures, especially those with far less choices available to women.

These are typically cultures also where men have few choices. There is probably no way that a sustainable advantage of one sex over the other, in a reproductive sense, could be maintained by evolution.

I’ll correct myself: far fewer

I’m ashamed.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com