I don't know where excitement ranks in the hierarchy of human needs but it seems to be an innate desire in most folks, especially when they are young. Scary movies, roller coasters, mountain climbing, crowded bars, there are plenty of activities that get the pulse pounding. Risk taking for the sake of excitement must be hard wired in people; why else do we do such pointless things that accomplish nothing besides an adrenaline surge? Is it a uniquely human characteristic to seek risks and challenges, just to see what happens and what it feels like? I think it goes beyond seeking relief from boredom; there is much to ponder.
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The human proclivity for excitement links nicely with Mr. Beagles position that "humans are just competitive by nature," a statement I agree with. But the competition can be subtle, not of the win-or-lose variety but as a.means to establish our position in the tribe/pack/society. Not all of us have the desire or need to compete to be the top dog; we find the position we are comfortable with and try to stick to it, which leads to a question of leadership.
I think that good leaders arise naturally and are acknowledged as good leaders. People that go to great lengths to seek leadership positions are suspect, in my opinion. They strike me as being power hungry, with only their own best interests at heart. If you know where you're going you don't really need a leader; a good manager will get the job done. But I think we're at a point where we really don't know where we're going, and are forced to choose between two people who are pointing in two different directions. The possibility that we may prefer a third direction puts us between a rock and a hard place; regardless of who wins next week we may all lose.
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