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Five Lessons on Aggression and Dominance “There is a point in the history of society when it becomes so pathologically soft and tender that… it sides even with those who harm it.” Friedrich Nietzsche wrote this nearly 140 years ago, yet it still sounds contemporary. In *Chimpanzee Politics*, Frans de Waal shows that dominance, aggression, hierarchy and confrontation—often dismissed in humans as “toxic masculinity”—also appear in our closest relatives. These behaviors may reflect deep-rooted drives, not merely social constructs. **1. The threat of violence can keep the peace** Most chimp confrontations are displays, not fights. Only about 0.4% of male confrontations become physical. Rank depends on strength, alliances, displays and recognition. Violence matters partly because it is rare: conflict must be allowed to resolve before it escalates. **2. When respect disappears, violence rises** Chimpanzees maintain hierarchy through formal greetings, including bowing. At Arnhem, 22 of 37 serious male fights occurred when males had stopped greeting one another—even though such periods made up less than a quarter of observation time. Violence was nearly five times more likely when recognition rituals broke down. **3. Power requires alliances** Before challenging the dominant male, a chimp often grooms females and plays with their young. Like Machiavelli’s political challengers, he builds support before attempting to seize power. **4. Influence can replace force** Female chimps sometimes recruit males to attack rivals, signaling distress and flattering the enforcer while avoiding the fight. Power can operate through alliances and influence, not just strength. **5. Concentrated resources create conflict** Chimpanzees normally forage for scattered food, limiting competition. When humans provide concentrated food, aggression rises. Larger groups are also harder to govern because familiarity declines and hierarchies become unstable. Stable societies may require hierarchy, respect, controlled confrontation and distributed power. Suppressing every expression of dominance may not eliminate conflict; it may remove mechanisms that keep conflict contained.

❗️ Okupeklis vairs nav jau četrus gadus. Vatņiki tik un tā katru augustu zvēr cits citam, ka neko nav aizmirsuši. No malas tas izskatās mežonīgi un maksimāli dīvaini. 🤯 Katru gadu Latvijā dienā, kad Uzvaras parks tika atbrīvots no okupācijas sekām, sociālajos tīklos vatņiku vidū notiek visai savāds flešmobs. 🏥 No malas tas atgādina demences skartu cilvēku sanāksmi, kurā visi mēģina pārliecināt paši sevi par pretējo. Tāpēc vatņiki katru augustu cits citam atkārto savādas afirmācijas par to, ka patiesībā viņi visu atceras un neko neaizmirsīs, cerot, ka šāda psiholoģiska pašiedvesma patiešām palīdzēs saglabāt viņu strauji zūdošo atmiņu. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Šogad grupu psihoterapijas seansā piedalījās arī vatņiku vidū esošie parlamenta deputātu kandidāti, par noziegumiem pret Latviju notiesāto aizstāvji, oficiālais LKS konts un daudzi citi putinistu paveidi. Viņi visi izteica sakrālo frāzi, tādējādi apliecinot savu piederību īpaši fanātisku vatņiku sektai, kas nodarbojas ar politisku masturbāciju uz nojaukto bezgaumīgo betona konstrukciju. 😇 Interesanti, ka latviešu vidū okupekļa nojaukšanas gadadiena palika nepamanīta. Nebija ne masveida ļauna prieka, ne svinību par godu tam, ka stāsts par fallisko simbolu Pārdaugavā beidzot ir noslēdzies. 😎 Nebija arī kolektīvas dzeršanas un savstarpējas apsveikšanas ar uzvaru pār okupantiem, un 2022. gada notikumu veterāni nesaņēma ziedus no tiem, kuri okupekļa nojaukšanu nebija pieredzējuši. 👏 Vienkārši pirms četriem gadiem beidzot tika izlabots vēsturisks pārpratums, un visi turpināja nodarboties ar savām lietām. Tieši ar to atšķiras tauta, kas dzīvo tagadnē, no tautas, kas ir iestrēgusi pagātnē un paliek tās ķīlniece. ❓ Kā jūs domājat, kādas saknes ir šim savādajam fetišam uz okupekli? Tas ir kaut kāds sektantisks rituāls vai vienkārši nespēja atzīt, ka viņu laiks Latvijā ir pagājis? #okupeklis #vatņiki #LKS #putinisti #vēlēšanas #okupeklis #vatņiki #vēlēšanas

Breaking Ngo Comment report: A trans-identifying leader of a cult in the "764" satanic network has been sentenced to 77 years in federal prison. Kyle Spitze groomed underage victims for s—xual abuse, torture and gruesome satanic blood rituals. Dozens of members of the 764 child-grooming network have been arrested around the world. There are many more who have yet to be identified by the FBI. ngocomment.com/p/trans-leader… https://x.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2090167809653486039

In Bunia, DR Congo, where a recent Ebola outbreak has devastated families and communities, mourners are adapting to strict burial protocols that prevent the traditional rituals associated with their deceased loved ones, emphasizing the need for safe burial practices to control the spread of the virus. #EbolaOutbreak #GriefSupport #InfectionControl

The 2026 Hajj in Saudi Arabia reached its spiritual peak on May 26, as millions of pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat and the Grand Mosque in Mecca for prayer and rituals, amidst extensive preparations by authorities to ensure their safety and comfort. #Hajj2026 #IslamicPilgrimage #Mecca

Despite concerns over the ongoing Iran conflict, more than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have commenced the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, navigating extreme temperatures and expressing hopes for peace as they participate in one of Islam's most important rituals. #Hajj2023 #Pilgrimage #IranConflict

The article recounts the harrowing experiences of Aaria, who was sexually abused by a prominent imam, Abdul Halim Khan, at the age of 13, and details how he manipulated and intimidated multiple young girls and women over an 11-year period, claiming to perform protective rituals against evil spirits, ultimately leading to his life imprisonment for multiple counts of sexual abuse and exploitation. #SexualAbuse #JusticeForSurvivors #ChildProtection #GB

The article discusses the history and commercial impact of Mother's Day, originally inspired by the ancient Greek rituals honoring Rhea and modernized in the early 20th century by Anna Jarvis, who campaigned for an official day to celebrate mothers, only to later regret its commercialization as businesses capitalized on the holiday, leading to significant consumer spending. #MothersDay #Motherhood #Tradition #US #MX #GT #SV #GR #VA

Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered a 2,000-year-old mummy containing a fragment of the Iliad wrapped in clay, suggesting that Greek literature played a significant role in Roman-era Egyptian burial practices, potentially providing a more comfortable afterlife through its integration with traditional Egyptian rituals. #AncientEgypt #GreekLiterature #Archaeology #EG #GR

Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered a 2,000-year-old mummy with a fragment of Homer's Iliad, suggesting that, during the Roman period, Greek literature played a significant role in the funerary practices of Egyptians, potentially serving as a spiritual guide for the afterlife alongside traditional rituals. #AncientEgypt #GreekLiterature #Archaeology #EG #GR

In his article, Bruce Feiler explores the resurgence of rituals as a response to the growing loneliness and disconnection in modern society, highlighting how people are creatively reimagining traditional practices and establishing new communal activities to foster connection and meaning amidst increasing digital isolation. #Rituals #Community #Wellbeing #US #JP #FI #IS #FR #OH

In "A Time to Gather," author Bruce Feiler explores a contemporary renaissance of rituals as a response to loneliness and disconnection in society, highlighting how these collective practices can foster community, provide meaning, and counteract the isolating effects of technology. #Rituals #Community #Connection #US #JP #FI #IS #FR

In "A Time to Gather: How Ritual Created the World -- and How It Can Save Us," Bruce Feiler explores the resurgence of rituals as a means to address the loneliness epidemic and foster community, highlighting how new and reimagined ceremonial practices provide individuals with a sense of connection, purpose, and meaning in an increasingly digital and isolated world. #Rituals #Community #Connection #US #JP #FI #IS #FR

In his article, Bruce Feiler explores the revival of rituals as a response to the growing loneliness epidemic, highlighting how new and diverse communal practices can help foster connection and meaning, bridging generational and cultural divides amid the challenges posed by digital saturation and social isolation. #Rituals #Community #Connection #US #JP #FI #IS #FR #OH

In his reflective piece, Bruce Feiler explores the rise of new rituals as a powerful response to contemporary feelings of isolation and existential homesickness, highlighting how these collective practices can foster community, meaning, and connection in an increasingly digital and fragmented world. #Rituals #Community #Connection #US #JP #FI #IS #FR #HK

This year's Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is scheduled for late May, with key rituals taking place from May 25-29, culminating in the Day of Arafat on May 26 and the celebration of Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim, on May 27, and involves specific traditions and communal prayers among Muslims worldwide. #Hajj #Islam #EidAlAdha #SA #MA #NG

Muslim man posing as Lucky allegedly drugged and raped his 23-year-old Hindu girlfriend in Indore, blackmailed her with a recorded video of the assault, and forced her to participate in rituals, leading to his arrest by police following her complaint. #JusticeForVictims #SexualAssault #OnlinePredators