The Need to Fight
Long ago, a wise friend I used to know once told me that humans have many kinds of needs - physiological, emotional, etc. Along with these, there is also the need to fight.
I’ve been thinking over and over on how true this is. Or whether it is just baloney.
The need to fight. And I’m not talking physically. There is something that you’re always fighting against - whether your focus is challenges at work, or road rage, or even fighting with your loved ones.
A basic human need is to fight. That’s why we have wars and battles all the time. Especially in the mind. I know many people who coded best when they were angry. Maybe our genes and body are built for action, for the rush of the battle.
Maybe that’s why the milestones in a startup feels more “earned” than when working in a big company where the same situations are so shielded.
Maybe that’s why you get things done only when you have a deadline.
Maybe that’s why people do sports, trekking, adventures, long distance biking, etc.
Maybe that’s why people with rags-to-riches stories are more happier than kids of rich people.
Maybe that’s why people feel fired up after a debate or a race, irrespective of whether they win or lose.
Because you’re trying to fight the odds.
And if people don’t have the fight in them, or don’t fight for anything, that’s when they seem so boring, so bored and so lifeless.
Maybe that was part of the message in the Fight Club.
P.S. Has there been any organized pillow fights in India?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Don’t know. But would love to be part of one.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I think the message of the Fight Club was about the inner fight. That’s most interesting for me
June 17th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I am all game to organize one? We could rent a cheap motel and get sponsorship from the pillow maker!
June 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
@Rafael Yep, that’s what I was referring to by “Especially in the mind”
@Ankur @Shreyas : You serious?
It could sure be an interesting event!
June 17th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
The instinct to fight is already part of that physiological/emotional systems in operation.
Heh. Define ‘best’ here. Was their code simple? readable? had good comments? good abstractions? good design? reliable? how about performance?
June 19th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Very nice Idea. In my opinion , the best fight for modern humans is to fight with thier weaknesses . That’s maybe the most difference between modern and pre-history humans
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
@Sridhar:
Yes, but so is the ability to push our physical body, but people don’t necessarily exercise (sic) this. Same with the instinct to fight.
This question can be asked independent of the state of mind. It has more to do with the calibre of the person.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Physiology, yes. Emotional, no. Instincts, no. But we digress.
I asked this question because you said “I know many people who coded best when they were angry” - anger being a state of mind. And that exactly is what I am questioning - define ‘best’ here.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 pm
@Sridhar Well, I don’t know. That sentence is what they claimed
… I guess that’s when they have high concentration or motivation.