A conversation with Jake (Part 3)

“I don’t understand how you can be- or even just argue that nurture can have more of an effect on a person than their nature.” I laughed, before leaning in with a more hushed tone. “You’re literally a living example that someone’s nature can’t be overwritten by how they’re nurtured.”

Jake wagged a finger at me. “I never said I was nurture over nature.”

“What then? Playing devil’s advocate?”

“Nah, I’m just neither… Nothing is ever ‘one or the other’, there’s always going to be an in-between.”

I racked my brain for a few seconds trying to figure out what could be the concept the middle of nature and nurture. Jake probably took notice of how my eyes devoured as I retreated into thought.

“Naturture-” was all I could come up with, but I abandoned the pun as soon as it left my lips.

“What’s in-between nature and nurture?” I asked him.

“Both. Or neither. Someone can be born with a certain nature that can change or adapt with nurturing.”

“Ok, that I can accept.” I said after some thought.

“Naturture.” Jake shook his head, picking his mug back up with a smirk.

“Shush.” I laughed.

After a blow over his soup and a slightly more generous sip, Jake continued.

“People will have their natures, but those natures will be changed and affected by the person’s nurturing.”

“It doesn’t negate the fact that ‘one or the other’ is more important or… influential than the other.”

“That’s why I say things could also be Neither. Humans are free willed beings. Two identical people with the same ‘nurture’ can react to the same stimuli completely differently.”

“What evidence do you have to back that up?”

“What evidence do you have, bro?” Jake rebutted.

“You!” I almost yelled. “I remember something similar actually- I’ll send it to you if I find it- but basically, after watching that, I realised that it doesn’t matter how your body looks, your mind is who you are.”

“Is it a ‘he’?

“Yeah?”

“I think I know who you mean. I would say it was nature for him, but that wouldn’t always be the case.”

“Huh?”

“His nature and nurturing was a lot similar to mine but I feel like we’re still way too different.”

I knew who Jake was talking about but I didn’t understand how they could be different, after having taken the same road and ending up in the same destination. This was going to be something I’d end up sleeping on. Whether I wanted to or not.