Recent reads

I've recently read a few books penned by Richard Preston. One is fiction, the other a true story. Both in the Sci-fi category.
One is called Hot-zone, it's the true story basis, it's about ebola and other viruses. But the other one (The Cobra Event) offered up more real-life information as well. It was this information that I found completely boggling.
There is in fact a genetic disease among the human population called Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS). It is a disease involving self-mutilation and self-cannibalism. If you want more info on this you can find it @ http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/lesch_nyhan/lesch_nyhan.html . It involves the production and distribution of chemicals in the body and brain, that result in the aformentioned effects.

I truly don't want to offend or upset anyone who may be affected by this disorder, but am in fact calling attention to it for a specific good reason (in my mind anyway). It brings to light the idea that people do certain acts for reasons un-beknownst to everyday citizens.

On a recent camping trip with my Fiancee, we discussed this matter to some depth. The topic started with the discussion of the high number of awful tragedies we've had in our world in recent years, months, days, etc. Check your local rag and you'll be able to find any number of "disturbing" events going on. {**Note: disturbing to some folks may not seem that awful to others, I cannot account for this idiosyncrasy}

ANYWHO...the idea ultimately came about when she asked how some of these things have come to be? i.e. "how could they kill their own children?, how could they blow up the school?, etc..."
That is a very good question. How could someone do that?

I am not claiming to have a solution to that sixty-four-thousand-dollar question...but this disease (LNS) does indicate that there are mental or physical issues that Joe-car mechanic (or myself for that matter) cannot explain. For example, with this disease (adults or children) may harm themselves or loved ones. They don't want to do this, but they physically cannot stop their bodies from performing these acts. There is more to it scientifically speaking of course, but you get the idea.

So, why did little Billy shoot his grandparents? Why did Hitler do what he did? Why would someone kill another person? (simply rhetorical questions) These people can tell all the reasons that they can think of, but how will anyone ever know the implicit reasoning? Is there a straight up answer? I don't know. Is it mental health, is it genetically inherited? So many avenues to explore.

For arguments sake, turn this around and look at the disease as a "simpler" example. For this is a turnabout from the original question where it is posed as, why do people cause harm to other people. But, these unfortunate individuals who have this LNS are doing damage to their own bodies. If a fully grown adult (or a child for that matter) harms themselves and others, what does that say for what people who don't understand they are harming each other? (I don't know if this accounts for "evil do-ers" who "know" what they are doing).
Again these LNS affected persons do not perform these acts for like or dislike, they simply don't have a choice. A discussion of the highlights of this genetic disorder is the only fringe of a reply that I could offer to my Fiancee.

What I am saying here is not ground breaking psychotherapy or sociology (by any means), but just my own rendering of thought to a stream of concious/unconscious analysis for my own good (or anyone else who can take anything away from this garble).