Good News
- oktinkerbell
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- prehistoric
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Animal instinct?
This comment puzzled me, because wild mallards instinctively view humans as predators, (with good reason.) It was reasoning overcoming fear for a definite purpose which impressed me.oktinkerbell wrote:...Animal instinct is awesome.
From my own experience, fully domesticated animals like chickens and cattle, (don't even mention sheep or turkeys,) tend to be closer to mindless automata than their wild cousins. I propose we accept any exceptions, including (semi-domesticated) humans, as good news.
(Let's see, I can discard the politics, sports and celebrity news sections, plus advertising...)
I'll accept oktinkerbell's avatar as a semi-domesticated human,I propose we accept any exceptions, including (semi-domesticated) humans, as good news.
- she can come round and hoover up, or something!!
Oh, OK then, er, what time should I expect her?Let's see, I can discard the politics, sports and celebrity news sections, plus advertising...
Yep!!Animal instinct is awesome.
Aitch
- oktinkerbell
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My comment comes from years of growing up on a farm, yes, most domesticated animals are generally brainless,,however there are the exceptions to the rule and obviously this duck had the instinct that this human would help. Regardless of the fact that humans are a danger to thier well being. Call it what you want I found this story heart warming, but then again what do I know I am just a hick from OKlahoma, it is the simple things in life that amaze me. Be it is it may I liked this story great post Lobster.
- prehistoric
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Instinct
@Aitch,
I suspect your suggestion she show up to "hoover up", is the result of "animal instinct", with limited reason. I stopped myself from quoting an Italian proverb about brains and good legs, because I knew there would be low-lifes who would assume I was implying an insult, (which I have no reason to do,) not that you would know anyone of that sort.
@oktinkerbell,
I share a small part of your experience, but enough so when I call something "chickenshit" I know whereof I speak. Urban dwellers have improverished conceptual basis for profanity. (If you don't believe me, listen to rap.)
Instinct was operating here, in the form of a mother protecting her offspring, even at personal risk. This could all too easily have resulted in tragedy, as on a highway. The extraordinary thing is that a "mere animal" used human-like reasoning to actually achieve realistic goals set by instinct. I would argue the only thing lacking about the reasoning here was a verbal explanation. And it involved another species in a relationship without predator or prey. This is something beyond "nature red in tooth and claw". I even wonder if it was accident she accosted a policeman. Very likely, an urban duck would have experience with policemen driving off people who harrass ducks. If this is not learning and reasoning, what would be?
I still remember the shock I felt when I first examined the feathers forming the white ring around a mallard drake's neck, thinking, "surely, this must have been the result of deliberate breeding." While mallards are extremely familiar and tolerate humans well, the original species is wild and quite probably the ancestral species of all domesticated ducks. Perhaps they are in an intermediate state sometimes called "self-domesticated". Ask a cat if this places a species under any obligation.
There are lessons here on several levels. I've already forwarded the link and received responses. Good one, Lobster!
I suspect your suggestion she show up to "hoover up", is the result of "animal instinct", with limited reason. I stopped myself from quoting an Italian proverb about brains and good legs, because I knew there would be low-lifes who would assume I was implying an insult, (which I have no reason to do,) not that you would know anyone of that sort.
@oktinkerbell,
I share a small part of your experience, but enough so when I call something "chickenshit" I know whereof I speak. Urban dwellers have improverished conceptual basis for profanity. (If you don't believe me, listen to rap.)
Instinct was operating here, in the form of a mother protecting her offspring, even at personal risk. This could all too easily have resulted in tragedy, as on a highway. The extraordinary thing is that a "mere animal" used human-like reasoning to actually achieve realistic goals set by instinct. I would argue the only thing lacking about the reasoning here was a verbal explanation. And it involved another species in a relationship without predator or prey. This is something beyond "nature red in tooth and claw". I even wonder if it was accident she accosted a policeman. Very likely, an urban duck would have experience with policemen driving off people who harrass ducks. If this is not learning and reasoning, what would be?
I still remember the shock I felt when I first examined the feathers forming the white ring around a mallard drake's neck, thinking, "surely, this must have been the result of deliberate breeding." While mallards are extremely familiar and tolerate humans well, the original species is wild and quite probably the ancestral species of all domesticated ducks. Perhaps they are in an intermediate state sometimes called "self-domesticated". Ask a cat if this places a species under any obligation.
There are lessons here on several levels. I've already forwarded the link and received responses. Good one, Lobster!
@ Although we think it is "cute", the ancestral hunter killer instincts never left the cat. Domesticated my butt. I think we don`t give animals enough credit. They are a lot smarter and a lot more "aware" of their environment than we think. Watch the videos of birds using the motion detectors to open the doors of supermarkets. Or watching the traffic lights to see when its safe to swoop down and eat in the crosswalk. Coyotes live in big city`s, even the occasional deer or bear gets too far in town and gets in trouble. They are just adapting to their environment, of which we are a part. Soon they will be begging on corners.
@ Aitch,
As for OKTinkerbell, she`d really rather mow the lawn than do any "Hoovering".
@ Aitch,
As for OKTinkerbell, she`d really rather mow the lawn than do any "Hoovering".
Close the Windows, and open your eyes, to a whole new world
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- prehistoric
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human environment
A dominant part of the environment. I'm not so sure that begging is the limit. One Florida surprise has been the emergence of urban egrets. Watching these slouch around, ignoring traffic and looking for easy prey, has me wondering when I'll start seeing them in black leather jackets, with cigarettes dangling from their bills. I've already seen urban squirrels raiding vending machines.puppyluvr wrote:...They are just adapting to their environment, of which we are a part. Soon they will be begging on corners...
Bad news doesn't belong in this thread. Anyone have more good examples? I feel there have to be others.
- Lobster
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What a catch
http://todaysbigthing.com/2008/06/24
http://todaysbigthing.com/2008/06/24
- Lobster
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The link to the Cluster Channelwing site is gone
http://www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/potty/17.htm
but its time may have come - here is one of the developments
http://www.stavatti.com/SM74_OVERVIEW.html
http://www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/potty/17.htm
but its time may have come - here is one of the developments
http://www.stavatti.com/SM74_OVERVIEW.html
Last edited by Lobster on Thu 22 Jul 2010, 12:20, edited 2 times in total.
All media thrive on bad news, and we're engulfed in them -- that's the main reason why there's no TV nor newspapers in my home. Thanks Lobster for... going the other way!
An afterthought: Slackware offers a randomly-chosen funny/savvy story or sentence at boot, and it's cool: how about Puppy having a randomly-chosen good-news story panel in the Fun menu, "PupNews" or something, to raise spirits in critical moments?
An afterthought: Slackware offers a randomly-chosen funny/savvy story or sentence at boot, and it's cool: how about Puppy having a randomly-chosen good-news story panel in the Fun menu, "PupNews" or something, to raise spirits in critical moments?
- Lobster
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Faith The two legged dog
Last edited by Lobster on Thu 22 Jul 2010, 11:49, edited 1 time in total.
- Lobster
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good Windows
Air-purifying church windows early nanotechnology - finally - good Windows
http://www.nanitenews.com/research/Air- ... nology.asp
http://www.nanitenews.com/research/Air- ... nology.asp
- Lobster
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How to rescue a chipmunk . . .
http://web.me.com/syl/Sylweb/Chip.html
http://web.me.com/syl/Sylweb/Chip.html
- Lobster
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Dog calls emergency services
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/1 ... 26339.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/1 ... 26339.html
- Lobster
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Polar Bear Attack
WARNING: This page contains scenes of violence and may not be suitable for young audiences.
These explicit photos of a polar bear attack are not for the faint of heart.
http://www.clevelandseniors.com/forever/polarbear.htm
These explicit photos of a polar bear attack are not for the faint of heart.
http://www.clevelandseniors.com/forever/polarbear.htm