How do you copy paste in a normal human way?

[zeuspaul]

Are you referring to free select?  I am not familiar with the lasso tool.  Using free select I first make the selection and then Ctrl+c.  Then I select the layer I want to copy to.  Then Ctrl+v.  The copied selection appears as a floating selection.  Then from the layer menu I select to new layer and now the selection has its own layer just above the layer I want it on.  Then after I position the selection with the move tool I select merge down from the layer menu.