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Re:Why Spammers Spam by maxharris on Friday June 03, 2011 @11:13AM (#2616638)
If "survival" only means continued metabolism and respiration, yes.

But I submit that "survival" means more than just that. We're human beings, so for us, survival requires independent thought, art, science, honesty, self-esteem, productive work, and a whole lot more.

Re:Why Spammers Spam by eru on Friday June 03, 2011 @11:41AM (#2616760)
I'd call that "independent thought, art, science, honesty, self-esteem, productive work", and keep the definition of survival close to something like "You're heart's still beating.".
Re:Why Spammers Spam by maxharris on Friday June 03, 2011 @11:53AM (#2616809)
But the problem with your definition is that if we go by it, human survival in the long-term is not included.

Your mind's independent thought is ultimately the thing that ensures that your heart keeps beating. Without it, there will come a point where you can't keep making the things you need to stay alive physically.

Re:Why Spammers Spam by Travis on Friday June 03, 2011 @11:51AM (#2616795)
I understand where you're coming from, but not everyone has the same ethical sense that you do. I think you would be hard pressed to say that people without those things (art, science, productive work, honesty, etc.) are not surviving. Maybe they aren't thriving... but that's different.

I think Maslow's heirarchy of needs is pretty relevant here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslows_hierarchy_of_needs