like they're somehow compelled to do so
― snappy baritone (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 11 March 2017 22:58 (seven years ago) link
https://twitter.com/ilikemints/status/840645034978480130
^^^the secret vector of all human compulsions
― mark s, Sunday, 12 March 2017 11:25 (seven years ago) link
Pretty sure the quote is from Kathleen McAuliffe's This Is Your Brain on Parasites.
The science on flu viri affecting animal behavior is rather weak, but there's tons on toxoplasmosis. Becoming attracted to cat piss in rodents, but in humans, higher testosterone, more risk taking and road accidents, etc.
― Sanpaku, Sunday, 12 March 2017 18:26 (seven years ago) link
It would be crazy to argue that our individual wills exist godlike, floating serenely above all mere physical influence, controlling but never controlled. It is obvious that our will is predicated upon myriads of contributing factors, including the vagaries of vertebrate evolution and whether it is raining at the moment, and it can never be disentangled from them. But even if our will is heavily constrained, nevertheless if one can choose between two nearly indistinguishable actions and effectively act upon that choice, then one's will is not predetermined or predestined and the effects of that choice will propagate into the future.
― a little too mature to be cute (Aimless), Sunday, 12 March 2017 18:41 (seven years ago) link