Mind controlled zombie ants

This is a really interesting article where a fungus litterally takes over the actions of an insect. It almost makes the fungus seem conscious. The fungi control the ants to take it to its next area to produce spores.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20110310/od_yblog_upshot/zombie-ants-fall-victim-to-mind-control-fungus
Here's a video on it from National Geographic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGSUU3E9ZoM

Response to Julia on people not helping you even if you help them

            I have found that when I have needed help from people that they have been there for me. I have never been in such a serious need that I was in danger or anything like that, but I have had small things. For example, I don’t like to compete in breast stroke because it requires certain movement that aggravates my hip dysplasia and when my coach, not realizing the situation, decided to put me in a breast stroke race I found someone willing to take my place even though they had already done three races. Also, my dog had elbow dysplasia (it’s rather odd luck that we have the same health issue) and after the surgery she couldn’t do certain things like climb stairs for six months. I had to sleep on the floor with her every night because I had agreed with my parents that once I got her I was completely responsible for her care. (This was not in the traditional learning to take responsibility way. I used to help my aunt with her six dogs and my parents had no experience with dogs at the time.)My mother offered to take some nights even though she did not have to. I have also had simple things like when someone offers to help teach me a concept if I don’t understand. It is very pessimistic to think that nobody will help you when you need help and if you believe this you might lose the inclination to help others. If people are basically uncaring and bad, then it seems worthless to try and help them. It is worth noticing the little things people do to help. People do seem disinclined to give money to a large degree, but this does not mean they will not help in other situations. I do agree that people tend to help each other out when they can do so with little risk to themselves, but this is mostly true when they can see the individual they are helping and see that their help has had an impact. When someone gives money to a homeless person, as we noted that they often do not do, it may be because they cannot see their work in action. That may be a sign that people do not want to help unless they get the gratification from seeing the reactions of others, or it could be we are inclined to help people we see receive the help because that way we know we have really helped.     

            Do you find people are more inclined to help people if they can see the beneficiary react to their help?

Response to Sean's Question on universality in religion

            People universally fear death and religion provides a way to alleviate that fear. It teaches that people live on after death and it is not the end for them. It also provides a sense of community and united belief for people. Religion also explains question that could or cannot be sufficiently answered. An example we discussed in class is how was the universe originally created? Religion also creates meaning for many people in their own lives. We are not living out day to day routines in an endless cycle until we die, because we are connected to something greater than us that cares about us. It can also provide comfort for why bad things happen to an individual and some people use it find the strength to act a certain way, for example, to stop drinking. I think religion helps people psychologically and so many people utilize it. It also teaches that we are not random people on a random world. Not only do people’s lives have meaning but reality is both more meaningful and more mysterious than it at first appears. Religions also seem to largely agree that there is a world beyond this one that people are not privy to and may at most glimpse in this lifetime. That certainly adds a sense of mystery to the world and I think that people like mystery. It is worth noting that religions may exist in diverse areas and have some aspects in common, but they are quite different from place to place. They have also caused many problems for people as people have killed in the name of religion in many cases and some religious leaders have taken advantage of the people that depend on them for mystical messages. This would not take away from the benefits of religion as a whole, but it is a good reminder when focusing on the positives in religion.

            If one were to take a naturalistic view point on religion, how would religion originate? Does one person make it all up because they see the benefits it could have or does it develop slowly over time, etc?      

Response to Jenny's Question

            One could say that the end justifies the means and that if one donates it is not their reasons that help the people supported by the charity. That being said, people’s reasons for donating to a charity probably help what they think of that charity and charities in general. When supermarkets ask if you would like to donate a dollar to a charity as an addition to your order it is an imposition that is hard to turn down. You are put on the spot in public and feel pressured to donate. The other people in line and the cashier will know you choose not to donate where with the Salvation Army at least you personally are not on the spot. Even with the Salvation Army you are being pressured by the presence of a person ringing the bell who I think a lot of people cannot avoid feeling is judging them. When a person donates to a charity because they feel forced, rightfully or wrongfully, they will not feel good about themselves for the act of donating and may even feel resentful that they were “forced” to do so. When an organization leaves out a can for donations a lot of the pressure is reduced because no person is watching them and potentially judging. Then when the person does donate it is because they have chosen to and not because of social pressures. The same is true for mail in donations. People are not concerned that the person who mailed it will judge because they cannot see that person. People who donate money because they feel guilty are not likely to feel good about themselves after they donate. They know there reasons were not altruistic and they do not like that about themselves. People who donate because seeing people in need makes them upset are more likely to be happy about donating because they think it says something about them. People might also donate to show they support a certain belief. Someone who donates to the Humane Society can back up a value they see in themselves. They can say that they care about animals because they donate. It matters to the person that donates why they donate.

How could someone motivate someone else to donate to a charity or organization?