Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id QAA17325 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 30 Apr 2002 16:12:21 +0100 X-Originating-IP: [137.110.248.206] From: "Grant Callaghan" <grantc4@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Red, tooth and claw (was media and violence) Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 08:06:29 -0700 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <LAW2-F12681IfpT8vWy00005f9e@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 30 Apr 2002 15:06:30.0176 (UTC) FILETIME=[9B9EFA00:01C1F058] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>
> >>Compared to that, there aren't many fierce predators (didn't
>someone
> >> write a book called something like 'why big, fierce animals are
>scarce'?).
>
> <No offense, but I beg to differ. Even the vegans among us are
>slayers (of
> > veggies).>
> >
> Don't worry, I'm not going to jump on you like Bill Benzon did! (BTW
>I'm not going to get involved in that one, apart from saying that I see
>Bill's wider point, but that's not what you were saying, nor do I think his
>term for you was appropriate. It's not like him to be so terse).
>
> Similarly here, I know what you mean, but still some veggies and
>fruits don't "mind" being eaten though- indeed isn't that the purpose, in
>order to get seeds widely distributed? I wonder if plants that bear fruit
>would, if sentient and able to talk, would be like that animal in the
>Restaurant at the End of the Universe that wants to be eaten? (Arthur Dent
>says that's disgusting, to which the retort comes, better than eating an
>animal that doesn't want to be eaten).
>
> There was something recently in New Scientist, that I think someone
>else referred to, about our early ancestors being prey rather than
>predators. I think our prey species ancestry affects our perspective on
>nature so that we focus on predatory animals more than other species.
>Tigers and sharks get our adrenalin going, slime molds don't.
>
> Vincent
>
> By the by, there was a piece I haven't read yet, that Robin F (where
>he gone?) should read, about a theory that the universe is nothing but
>information, and "reality" is some kind of holographic illusion. My brain
>was tired on Friday when I bought the magazine (and I was a bit miffed they
>hadn't published my letter), so if that sounds weird, I can't explain it
>further at the moment.
>
I think it would be fair to say our ancestors were both predator and prey
rather than just one or the other.
Grant
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