Have you ever asked yourself what would happen if aliens ever found our planet and began monitoring our TV networks?  Thom and I have asked ourselves that question—especially after hearing about reality shows like “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”  But even if those aliens only tuned into our news channels and programs, what do you think their view of the human race would be?  Unfortunately, the day-to-day hostility and aggression frequently viewed on those programs would likely be enough for any alien to determine that our species is egocentric, violent, and highly competitive.  In fact, if you watch much TV news at all, the average person would probably be tempted to think the world is a very scary place and that any minute something horrible could happen.  But is that true?  Are we really that egocentric and violent?  Or are we actually much more compassionate and empathetic than we sometimes believe?  Maybe exploring those questions is one way to find out why we struggle to get along in this day and age. [Read more…]