Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: wants vs needs, luxury vs necessity Message-ID: <642@ttidcc.UUCP> Date: Tue, 6-Aug-85 21:10:25 EDT Article-I.D.: ttidcc.642 Posted: Tue Aug 6 21:10:25 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 8-Aug-85 00:15:25 EDT References: <735@lll-crg.ARPA> <1742@reed.UUCP> <765@lll-crg.ARPA> Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Distribution: net Organization: The Cat Factory Lines: 43 Summary: In article <765@lll-crg.ARPA> bandy@lll-crg.UUCP (Andrew Scott Beals) writes: >> From: purtell@reed.UUCP (Lady Godiva) >> [...] I think that hugs are very necessary and important. People need >> that kind of physical contact. > >This sort of physical contact is NOT important and is definitely NOT >necessary. [``Kin yew say "hermit"? Iah knew ya could!''] It is purely >a luxury, like eating chocolate or or not having to work on the weekend >or having a *friend. Harry Harlow's work with monkeys is considered to be the fundamental research in this area. There is also a body of human subject research to support the need for physical contact and affection. For a more popular treatment see the works of Eric Berne, among others, or take my word that most psychologists would disagree with the above statement (just as "most" astronomers will agree the Earth isn't flat). > ... Some people who have warped their minds such that they will >be Unhappy if they do not have this "love and acceptance" will invent >an imaginary being that "loves" and "accepts" them. Sometimes these >people will gather in groups and all fantasize about One Being. Some people have warped their minds to convince themselves they don't need the love and acceptance they think they can't get. Some hermits fall into this category as do many psychiatric patients. Again, see Harlow, et. al. >> [...] I've never found a group of people under any circumstances, who >> didn't need that kind of thing. > >Are you sure that you don't mean "appreciate"? "Need" is a very strong word. "Definitely" is also a very strong sounding word (as in "... definitely NOT necessary."). It loses its strength when, on examination, no evidence is found to back it up. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe) Citicorp TTI Common Sense is what tells you that a ten 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. pound weight falls ten times as fast as a Santa Monica, CA 90405 one pound weight. (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe