[ericmcer]

Hard disagree, have you ever seen a group of 5 year olds interacting?

We are little monsters without our parents literally berating us until we develop shame.

Small kids left to their own devices will gang up on anyone different or weak and antagonize them to raise their own social standing. They respect strength/power and have little empathy.

The "intuition" the author refers to only exists because the scoldings he received during his formative years conditioned him to behave "right".

[wolttam]

I have actually, as a parent to a young child

My kid was about 3 when he figured out what it means to be a good person, and that's all he seems to want to be now.

Maybe it's just where I am, but the majority of parents around me also want to raise children who care, and a lot of them seem to be quite successful at it.

It was never scoldings, it was "hey, let's think about how it might feel if that happened to you." Patiently and caringly.

Again, it doesn't feel that hard to me, but I'll respect that it feels alien to other's nature.

[ericmcer]

Yeah that was my point, it needs to be taught.

The article seemed to indicate that humans have some innate goodness: "Our internal intuition about right and wrong seems to leave us at an early age". If you agree with that then why do the parents around you need to teach your kids to be good/care.

>> "Again, it doesn't feel that hard to me, but I'll respect that it feels alien to other's nature."

Thank you for "respecting" that being a good person is "alien" to me and my kids.

If you want to insult me just do it. I guess a snark filled "clever" backhanded insult does track with your self-important view of your child-rearing abilities. Are you teaching your little angel those skills as well?

[wolttam]

I feel like my comment was either misconstrued or misunderstood and don’t have anything to respond after the inflammation at the end of your comment there.

For the record, I don’t know anything about you or your kids.