What do you think of when you hear the word ‘humanity’? What are the
defining characteristics that it takes to be human? Ok, we speak, we
are self-conscious and we use our opposable thumbs so we can text more
quickly, but there is more. There should be more. We can show
compassion. We help the needy. Rather than eat them, as done by most
of the rest of the animal kingdom. We can be altruistic.

But the flip side of humanity is a darker one. We can be nasty, mean
and horrible. Animals fight over food or mating, humans fight because
they like hurting other people or to show how ‘big’ they are. Humans
murder, whereas other than one type of chimp, (our nearest genetic
‘relative’ sharing over 99% of our genes), animals never kill in that
way. They don’t plan a murder. Not pre-meditated. Only manslaughter.
Ok, animalslaughter.

I spend a little time with my granddaughter, in case you missed that.
And in doing so, without wishing to make you positively vomit, it is a
longitudinal study of human development. And that development is
rapid. Not just in Lila, even though she has an intellect and
understanding of the world way beyond her months and is so far beyond
merely ‘perfect’ as to be unique (in my world), but all kids develop
massively over the first two years; basically going from ‘nought to a
person’ at exponential rate, then it slows down. And in fact by the
teen years it reverses again and they re-evolve as animal/monsters.
But we’re at almost 17 months old and all is wonderful.

So we went, after the inevitably predictable Lila-day rains, to the
park. To the playground. We weren’t alone. Who’d’a thought that on a
sunny afternoon in mid-August there’d be other parents and carers
taking kids to play on swings and slides? Haven’t they got tellies?
Anyway, Lila walked (in her stumbly way) to the play-house, occupied
by two sweet LOOKING little girls about 4 or 5. One of whom tells
little baby Lila ‘THERE’S NO ROOM IN HERE!’ which, as we know, is
kiddie-speak for ‘fuck off!’ Lila, unperturbed by this act of (to her
witnessing grandfather who was looking for a big, heavy stick at that
time) OUTRIGHT HOSTILITY due to her being a veteran of nursery, walked
to the climbing frame. Upon which was a little boy, who we shall refer
to as ‘the TOTAL FUCKING BASTARD!!!’ for the purposes of convenience.
Because as little Lila put her hands on the platform upon which TFB
(about 2, 2-and-a-half, maybe) was standing, he carefully, gently but
quite purposefully put his shoe on Lila’s fingers.

My martial arts training immediately kicked in and I stepped forward,
broke the offending leg, pulled my sword and eviscerated him with one
stroke. Well, that’s what I wanted to do. Its not allowed in the
playground. There are signs. No dogs. No smoking. No eviscerating
TOTAL FUCKING BASTARDS!! His mother (probably a crack-whore; though if
so she was a pretty well-dressed one) didn’t see. But I did. Lila
cried, for like 1 second and the little shit walked away.

But I know his face. And will never forget it. And I thought; what is
it about the human condition that makes kids act in nasty, spiteful
ways? Its almost like they’re preconditioned to towards humanity but
towards being an absolutely spiteful little shit. Not Lila, obvs.

Happy but worrying Friday

A xxxx