The reasoning of a 5 year old.

[TwistedMac]

I was out walking with my 5 year old cousin yesterday, who has recently started being very concerned about nature and what we're doing to it, when we had a discussion that went something like this

*he sees some litter on the ground*
*heavy sigh*
What's up?
argh! it's the litter.
what about it?
People shouldn't be doing that.
Yeah, I guess.
That's why there are earthquakes, you know?
what?
Because uhmm.. because you see.. because mother earth becomes mad.
no, I don't think..
IT'S TRUE!
you sure?
Ofcourse.

It struck me how much this was like Religion.
Can't you see religion being born this way?
You have absolutely no fact to go by.. you just don't have the knowledge (In olden days it just didn't exist, in his case, he's 5 years old.) So you make stuff up... what sounds reasonable? Well... earthquakes seem really furious, don't they? SO it's gotta be someone being really angry. Has to be alot bigger than you and me though. We can't move the earth like that.. not even together. It killed alot of us, so apparently we did something wrong... What could've been done wrong changes with the times.. but the rest stays the same.

I'm gonna stop there, but you're smart people. I think you can see where I'm going with this.

 

[RockLee]

In this case we know earthquakes are not God's work Mac ;-)

But you are right about superstition leading to people their beliefs ☝

 

[TwistedMac]

In this case, at the present time. Yes. Most will agree it is not the work of God.
But it has not always been that way. Earthquakes used to be considered the wrath of God.

 

[lexico]

Are you sure it was a person, and not a dog or a cat ?
Wouldn't mother earth be more lenient with animals, being closer to nature ?
It is nature's way of recyling the nutrients s.a. nitrogen compounds and salts.
5 yr olds are smart enough to worry about the innocent victims who didn't do it.
What are you going to say about that ?

 

[TwistedMac]

Are you sure it was a person, and not a dog or a cat ?
Wouldn't mother earth be more lenient with animals, being closer to nature ?
It is nature's way of recyling the nutrients s.a. nitrogen compounds and salts.
5 yr olds are smart enough to worry about the innocent victims who didn't do it.
What are you going to say about that ?

I don't quite understand the question?

edit: wait.. I think I see what you're thinking here

the litter was not poo. it was candy wrappings.

 

[lexico]

Must I spell out the tabooed word for you ? The one who P-O-O-P-ED !

 

[TwistedMac]

'twasn't poop

'twas candy wrappings.

 

[lexico]

Sorry, was thinking about kitty litter.
Wow, you poor cousin must have been shocked.
Is (s)he okay, no nightmares ? It's not supposed to be too good for kids in those tender years.
You're smart, so you'll figure something out.
Don't put it off though. Psychological damage can be scary. :sorry:

 

[TwistedMac]

For seeing litter on the ground?...

Again, your logic is way more advanced than mine

I guess it could be considered psychological damage if he becomes a TV evangelist.

 

[lexico]

No, not the litter part. He seems to have responded quite alright on his own.
About the earthquakes. Imagine he sees a load of litter on TV or something.
Could get him mighty worried.
Who knows; what it might lead to.
A propensity for guilt; it all comes from knowing.
Guilt might not be the exact word, but undue worries. Kids can do that at that age.

 

[TwistedMac]

I wouldn't worry.. he's got the attentionspan of a retarded goldfish... He doesn't dwell on a topic for more than 30 seconds at a time.

 

[lexico]

Ookaay, well then, I guess he's somewhat like you. Let's all hope the humor runs likewise....let's hope so.... :haihai: