Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to SERIOUSLY, why do you find this emotionally important to you?

re: emotionally important
TB — (archived)

Do I sound like I'm all that worked up about this? Which of us is hurling words like "stupid" and "fool?" This is just another intellectual exercise as far as I'm concerned, and tell you the truth I leap on the chance to argue with anyone who can throw real arguments back. Sorry you had to hit me after a week when I've been dealing with the Twilight Zone, but it's like a breath of fresh air.

The "Lindy" reference was referring not to smarts, but letting emotions and personal observations overly sway your judgment (something you rarely do, as I pointed out). I apologize for that if it rankles that much.

I made a simple point in a short no-text post that has occurred to me (and for that matter, many others over the years) when the subject of how smart whales are has come up.

SF stories about whales have played with why a highly intelligent creature might be fatalistic about things like hunting, or beaching themselves. One story had it that a whale cult believed they came back as humans if they died on a beach.

A simpler answer is that maybe the Great Whales are just seagoing wild buffalo with a pretty good set of vocal and hearing equipment. They are as curious about things as any other higher mammal, and they like rubbing on boats because they itch.

On a similar note, there has been speculation about the benevolence of dolphins toward humans as a sign of intelligence.

If dolphins are actually that intelligent, it could mean they are actually benevolent and kind. Or maybe just smart enough to avoid ever being caught killing humans.

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