4 ms·

> smarter How do you figure that? Back in the 1800s bison hunters could clean out a whole herd, solo, because the bison would stand still as their fellow bison

> smarter How do you figure that? Back in the 1800s bison hunters could clean out a whole herd, solo, because the bison would stand still as their fellow bison were being shot to death and dropping like flies around them Edit: not sure why downvoted (continued Redditification of this site I suppose) but dairy cattle for instance will scatter when being predated

sandworm101 6y ago
Because what you describe has nothing to do with intelligence. Whales are intelligent but respond to attack in much the same way as buffalo, a behavior that whalers use to more easily harvest them. Go back in time and start shooting at a Roman legion. They will form close defensive formations. Romans were not unintelligent.
- Normal_gaussian 6y ago
  Firstly, your hypothetical legion is actually reacting in a way to prevent death. Secondly, if we were to continue killing the legionnaires without them having any success against us they will either retreat or break. I'm not certain of the sources of cows, bison, and whales reactions to their herd being killed; but taking the reactions as stated would certainly give pause for thought on gence. Markers of intelligence include awareness of the self, awareness of others in relation to the self, awareness of death. To not react to the murder of another member of your herd either requires a lack of fear of death, or a lack of one or more of tgose aforementioned markers of intelligence.
  - mod 6y ago
    I think it just means they don't have an instinct for how to react to ranged threats. Cows likely don't either, but their instincts are different and just so happen to work slightly better against guns.
Smaug123 6y ago
By the way, from https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html: > Please don't post comments saying that HN is turning into Reddit. It's a semi-noob illusion, as old as the hills.
- randycupertino 6y ago
  On way HN and Reddit are alike- complaining about downvotes inevitably just brings on more downvotes!
- waffle_ss 6y ago
  I'm well aware of that guideline, and I flout it specifically because it has only made the problem worse. I get turned into a pincushion every time for my trouble but it's worth it.

sandworm101 6y ago

Because what you describe has nothing to do with intelligence. Whales are intelligent but respond to attack in much the same way as buffalo, a behavior that whalers use to more easily harvest them. Go back in time and start shooting at a Roman legion. They will form close defensive formations. Romans were not unintelligent.

Normal_gaussian 6y ago
Firstly, your hypothetical legion is actually reacting in a way to prevent death. Secondly, if we were to continue killing the legionnaires without them having any success against us they will either retreat or break. I'm not certain of the sources of cows, bison, and whales reactions to their herd being killed; but taking the reactions as stated would certainly give pause for thought on gence. Markers of intelligence include awareness of the self, awareness of others in relation to the self, awareness of death. To not react to the murder of another member of your herd either requires a lack of fear of death, or a lack of one or more of tgose aforementioned markers of intelligence.
- mod 6y ago
  I think it just means they don't have an instinct for how to react to ranged threats. Cows likely don't either, but their instincts are different and just so happen to work slightly better against guns.

Smaug123 6y ago

By the way, from https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html: > Please don't post comments saying that HN is turning into Reddit. It's a semi-noob illusion, as old as the hills.

randycupertino 6y ago
On way HN and Reddit are alike- complaining about downvotes inevitably just brings on more downvotes!
waffle_ss 6y ago
I'm well aware of that guideline, and I flout it specifically because it has only made the problem worse. I get turned into a pincushion every time for my trouble but it's worth it.