"We humans have millions of years of evolutionary baggage that makes us regard competition in a deadly light"

This quote by Vernor Vinge recommends that human beings have a deep-rooted instinct to view competition as a risk. This instinct is likely an outcome of our evolutionary history, which has shaped us to be careful of competition in order to make it through. Throughout our millions of years of development, people have actually had to contend for resources, mates, and territory, and this has led us to establish a strong hostility to competition. We are hardwired to view competitors as a prospective risk, and this instinct has been given through the generations. This quote serves as a tip that, despite our modern-day society, we still carry the evolutionary luggage of our ancestors.