Why Do We Fight?

[Beowulf DW]

I once saw an old movie in which the main character is asked, "Why do we war/fight?"

By the end of the movie, the protagonist responds that we fight because we enjoy it. When we hold another man's life in our hands, we live more intensly than at any other time in our lives.

Why do you think we (humans) fight? Why would you fight?

 

[fulano]

we fight 'cuz we're animals like any other. Really, there's no philosophy there. One animal goes against another, that's it.

 

[Soulfein]

We fight to win the war.

 

[meatloaf231]

Stress relief, especially when the cause of your stress is who you are fighting.

 

[Ares Tyr]

I fight because I enjoy it. I'm a martial artist and to me, nothing is more thrilling (except maybe sex) than fighting. Its a rush, the feeling of adrenaline pumping through your veins while you defend your body from harm and possible death while trying to overcome your opponent physically and mentally with whatever tools you have. You're reminded that you are alive when you are faced with your own death.

I fight to defend myself, yes. I fight to defend the lives of those I love, or those in need. Other than that, I won't fight for any reason beyond the sheer enjoyment. Its fun. Its a game, a sport, and life or death all in one. And while I haven't been in a life or death fight before, and hopefully never will, the simulation of the act is thrilling. And in victory, we gain things like honor, prestige, and respect from our fellow man. We've proven our strength, speed, skill, courage, and worth all in one act. Its been said that you can see a person for who they truely are when they fight. It brings out the best and worst in people, and shows who they are deep down inside. You'll feel a full spectrum of emotions during a fight, and in the end, you're left feeling truely alive no matter what (unless you got killed, heh).

As for war, war is the cause of human ambition, prejuidice, and misunderstanding. We war because we fear one another, we war because we want what each other has, we fight because we are different and will not accept those differences. War is the outcome of humans being human, pretty much.

Before there was war, people fought for survival against one another. We needed what the other man had, be that his possessions, his food, his land, or whatever. As time advanced and people began to form tribes and societies, this turned into war. However, the one on one fight stayed as a institution for men to feel that feeling of primal, life or death survival. We'd fight to feel that rush, and to protect our honor. We'd fight to take the name of another man, to show that we overcame a man you either disagreed with or who was reknown for being a great fighter, to show how great a man (and fighter) you yourself are.

I love fighting because I love that feeling of being alive that it gives me. I don't fight to say that I beat another man, or to protect my honor. I fight to protect my friends and family, and myself. But if that is not there, then I fight just because I love the feeling of it. It's intoxicating. Humans have a love-hate relationship with death. We hate to fall to it, but we love to overcome it. And when we fight, and win, we have overcome death.

Atleast, for the time being.

 

[Mistah Kurtz]

Because we all think we're right. If we didn't think we were right then we would think something else, and when one person's perception of right is incompatible with another person's a fight breaks out, whether in the form of a world war or a simple debate. Nothing wrong with it really, just common sense.

 

[Nazulu]

I hate fighting, my brother loves fighting no help from his friends and he just so happens to be one of those people easily affected by movies. But sometimes its necessary, I had people following me around at school because they didn't have anything better to do and they just drove me nuts.

 

[Beowulf DW]

Why do we fight? To crush our enemies, and see them driven before us. And to hear the lamentations of the women.

It's been years since I heard that, and I still got it right away.

I'm a martial artist, and I always hated sparring. The only times I actually enjoyed sparing was when one of the other students had knocked the wind out of me (actually brought me to my knees) the previous class. So I guess that the only time I enjoy fighting is when I've got unfinished business with my opponent.

 

[iKiller]

I would quote myself from a previous post, but I'm not so much a douchebag.
The reason we fight is... well, that movie almost got it right. Except for the last part. We fight because It's the only kind of interaction between nations (or ourselves) we will allow that isn't huggy, gifty goodness. If you're not an ally, you're an enemy. It's the American law that applies to everybody except Switzerland :\

 

[Ares Tyr]

Why do we fight? To crush our enemies, and see them driven before us. And to hear the lamentations of the women.

It's been years since I heard that, and I still got it right away.

I'm a martial artist, and I always hated sparring. The only times I actually enjoyed sparing was when one of the other students had knocked the wind out of me (actually brought me to my knees) the previous class. So I guess that the only time I enjoy fighting is when I've got unfinished business with my opponent.

Sparring was always my favorite part of the martial arts because it taught me the most about what I was learning and why I was learning it.

 

[Fineldar]

Why do we fight? To crush our enemies, and see them driven before us. And to hear the lamentations of the women.

Dammit, everytime I try to do that someone gets it in ahead of me.

 

[Saskwach]

We fight at an individual level because that guy across from you makes your fist clench and your throat constrict with rage; there's no reasoning with him and the only way to show him who's right, goddamit, is to beat his face in. That'll learn 'im.

We go to war on a larger level because someone/s high up wanted something and enough people below him were so unfamiliar with those dudes across the river, yet so familiar with each other, that it was easier to empathise with their own than those hypothetical people a boat's ride away. And the same goes for the guys across the river.

Oh, damn, you tricked me into being philosophical.

 

[Najos]

I fight because I enjoy it. I'm a martial artist and to me, nothing is more thrilling (except maybe sex) than fighting. Its a rush, the feeling of adrenaline pumping through your veins while you defend your body from harm and possible death while trying to overcome your opponent physically and mentally with whatever tools you have. You're reminded that you are alive when you are faced with your own death.

I fight to defend myself, yes. I fight to defend the lives of those I love, or those in need. Other than that, I won't fight for any reason beyond the sheer enjoyment. Its fun. Its a game, a sport, and life or death all in one. And while I haven't been in a life or death fight before, and hopefully never will, the simulation of the act is thrilling. And in victory, we gain things like honor, prestige, and respect from our fellow man. We've proven our strength, speed, skill, courage, and worth all in one act. Its been said that you can see a person for who they truely are when they fight. It brings out the best and worst in people, and shows who they are deep down inside. You'll feel a full spectrum of emotions during a fight, and in the end, you're left feeling truely alive no matter what (unless you got killed, heh).

I have to disagree. I really enjoy fighting in controlled environments, but everytime I've ever been confronted with death...well, I've tried to forget about those moments, but I'll never be able to. So yeah, sparring/training/pretend is all good, but when bullets start hitting your truck or an IED goes off about 20 feet away...it isn't enjoyable at all.

 

[p1ne]

We fight, both by the extremely literal and more liberal definitions, because competition makes us better. Being nice never advanced your genetic material/species.

That is, up until recently. Something interesting has happened with mass communication and global cooperation and our primitive urge to fight each other all the time is getting in the way. Hence the HUGE popularity of violent videogames and competitive sports. Those violent feelings have to be exorcised somehow.

 

[The_Prophet]

well lets look at it this way. There are a more stupid people, and less smart people.

 

[Ares Tyr]

I fight because I enjoy it. I'm a martial artist and to me, nothing is more thrilling (except maybe sex) than fighting. Its a rush, the feeling of adrenaline pumping through your veins while you defend your body from harm and possible death while trying to overcome your opponent physically and mentally with whatever tools you have. You're reminded that you are alive when you are faced with your own death.

I fight to defend myself, yes. I fight to defend the lives of those I love, or those in need. Other than that, I won't fight for any reason beyond the sheer enjoyment. Its fun. Its a game, a sport, and life or death all in one. And while I haven't been in a life or death fight before, and hopefully never will, the simulation of the act is thrilling. And in victory, we gain things like honor, prestige, and respect from our fellow man. We've proven our strength, speed, skill, courage, and worth all in one act. Its been said that you can see a person for who they truely are when they fight. It brings out the best and worst in people, and shows who they are deep down inside. You'll feel a full spectrum of emotions during a fight, and in the end, you're left feeling truely alive no matter what (unless you got killed, heh).

I have to disagree. I really enjoy fighting in controlled environments, but everytime I've ever been confronted with death...well, I've tried to forget about those moments, but I'll never be able to. So yeah, sparring/training/pretend is all good, but when bullets start hitting your truck or an IED goes off about 20 feet away...it isn't enjoyable at all.

Of course thats no fun. Thats war, not a fight. What I meant by fight was a one on one combat between two individuals. Guns and IEDs are war. I love fighting, I hate war. Life or death fighting for me is like dueling back in the old days or MMA fights. War for me is when guns and explosives become involved and its groups of people going at each other.

So yes, you're right, but I wasn't saying what you think I was.

 

[fedpayne]

because THIS! IS! SPARTA!

 

[Hey Joe]

We fight with other men to avoid having sex with them. That's some true shit right there.

Basically, we fight to affirm our masculinity (whether that be in a male or female).

 

[Dommyboy]

Because humies are da biggesht and da strongesht! WAAAAAAGH!

 

[Dealin Burgers]

Because some people are better off than others. Those without want whats not theirs, those with want to keep whats theirs. The end result is conflict.