Arthur, I agree with your wife. Eliminating completely the effects of thousands of years of naturally selected traits (hard wiring) is unlikely and unreasonable to expect. Therefore, the lesser evil is to observe mildly aggressive sports rather than Roman bloodsport, duels, wars... Watching sports (I like ice hockey - for the speed and skill, not the violence), provides a mental outlet for some of our wired tendencies, and vicarious fulfillment is less harmful (for most people) than direct participation. Sort of like watching porn rather than doing what the actors are doing in mass orgies or domination of women.
My 2 cents. Steve -- http://magma.ca/~gpco/ http://www.scientists4pr.org/ Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist.--Kenneth Boulding
