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From: vnend@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (D. W. James)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,alt.romance,soc.men,soc.women,soc.singles
Subject: Re: Are Humans Naturally Monogamous?
Message-ID: <4662@idunno.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 12 Dec 90 00:16:31 GMT
References: <1990Nov8.205905.1627@oracle.com> <1990Nov26.005512.16483@massey.ac.nz> <59596@microsoft.UUCP>
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In article <59596@microsoft.UUCP> rodvan@microsoft.UUCP (Rod VAN MECHELEN) writes:
)In article <1990Nov26.005512.16483@massey.ac.nz>, A.S.Chamove@massey.ac.nz (A.S. Chamove) writes:
)> You say (about drinking alcohol) that
)> 1--there is no sane reason for it
)> 2--that it does nothing to promote survival
)> 3--ideally no one would do it
 
)That's right.
 
	I'll ignore 1 and 3, since if 2 is true then they are both false.
#2 is false for several reasons, some historial, others not.  First, most
telling and most current, moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to
significantly reduce the likelyhood and effects of heart disease and
high blood pressure.  Moderate is translated by the medical community
as a couple of glasses of beer or wine a day.  No, drinking twice as
much isn't twice as good for you.  Historically alcoholic beverages 
were used to store grain for long periods of time (beer has nutritional
value aside from its alcoholic content) and as means of providing disinfected
fluids (which it is only somewhat good at, since it is also a diuretic.)

	Now then, if you'll amend that claim to 'drinking alcohol to
excess', then we are closer to agreement, and you are arguing on solider
ground.
	 
)> The interesting thing about alcohol drinking is 
)> 1-that it is so universally performed
)> 2-that so many sane people do it.
 
)I agree with point #1; but what makes you think point #2 is true?
 
	The majority is, by definition, sane.  Therefore 2 comes from 1.
 
)> It is relaxing.
 
)In small amounts it acts as a stimulant, in larger doses it acts as a 
)depressant, and in big, big doses it kills.
 
	Thus betraying your ignorance of the subject.  Or, rather, mearly
that you are several decades behind the times.  Alcohol is *never* a
stimulant, unless you want to burn something.  It is a depressant drug.

-- 
Later Y'all,  Vnend                       Ignorance is the mother of adventure.   
      Mail?  Send to:vnend@phoenix.princeton.edu or vnend@pucc.bitnet            
        Anonymous posting service (NO FLAMES!) at vnend@ms.uky.edu                    
"(Envision Nietzsche whirling in his grave: "Verdammnt!  And there were *four     movies*!!!")" --CJE