don't bring a knife to a gunfight. I can tangle on this one.

Why does this have to be a fight at all? o.O

Where society has, ipso facto, broken down.

Who was talking about society?

But while we're on the topic, if it takes a social construct to keep people in line, and they "go bad" when that construct (enforced via implied threat of violence, no less) fails... doesn't that strike you as argument against people being "basically good"?

(Note, I do not claim that people are "basically bad," nor will I.)

A bald assertion with no supporting evidence

The supporting evidence was a quote from one of the survivors admitting exactly as much to a reporter.

I chose to believe him, but it just occurred to me (given this thread) that he may have been lying. I don't think so, but its food for thought.

Platitudes are not argument. Don't waste my time.

You seem unnecessarily grumpy today. Is that part of being "basically good" too? Something else I just "don't understand"? ;-)

EDIT: Or are you genuinely annoyed that someone doesn't buy into the idea that people, on the whole, are "basically good"? If so... I sincerely apologize for that. I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers.