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I have to imagine there's a reason for this behavior. The researchers have some very infantile conclusions as to why: maybe they like rudders! Maybe it's just a

I have to imagine there's a reason for this behavior. The researchers have some very infantile conclusions as to why: maybe they like rudders! Maybe it's just a fad! Seems a bit disingenuous given our understanding of how smart these animals are. Alternatively, they're doing this for a specific reason. Perhaps noise pollution, food scarcity, just general annoyance with the boats, etc.

mirror_neuron 4y ago
“Fads” imply sophisticated social interactions that are generally associated with near-human levels (or at least likeness) of intelligence. I interpret that conclusion as being supportive of the idea that these are incredibly intelligent animals, not the opposite.
- oldstrangers 4y ago
  I'm just saying "fads" implies there's no generally specific reason for their behavior outside of the learned social behavior.
CodeWriter23 4y ago
When it comes to other mammals, there's this Human Supremacist mindset that since we can't converse with them, they are incapable of intent / complex thought / problem solving activities.
scythe 4y ago
Humans have been piloting boats across the Atlantic for around 800 years (beginning with Greenland), and the great cod collapse happened on the quincentennial of Columbus's voyage. Each of your explanations has a "why now?" caveat. Fads fit in the gap, unless they've recently developed weapons.
- oldstrangers 4y ago
  "why now?" Increasing water temp, climate change, food scarcity, environmental pollution, desperation, habitat loss, new audible or physical disturbances caused by these boats. I mean, there's probably 100 different reasons you could think of for why now. "Fads" answer nothing aside from simply removing the need for further explanation. Why are they doing that? I don't know, they're bored! It's a fad. Great research.
drak0n1c 4y ago
Orcas enjoy pinning whales and entering the mouth to remove the tongue, even if they do not eat the rest. Perhaps rudders and boat undersides with similar shapes inspire the same play instinct.

mirror_neuron 4y ago

“Fads” imply sophisticated social interactions that are generally associated with near-human levels (or at least likeness) of intelligence. I interpret that conclusion as being supportive of the idea that these are incredibly intelligent animals, not the opposite.

oldstrangers 4y ago
I'm just saying "fads" implies there's no generally specific reason for their behavior outside of the learned social behavior.

CodeWriter23 4y ago

When it comes to other mammals, there's this Human Supremacist mindset that since we can't converse with them, they are incapable of intent / complex thought / problem solving activities.

scythe 4y ago

Humans have been piloting boats across the Atlantic for around 800 years (beginning with Greenland), and the great cod collapse happened on the quincentennial of Columbus's voyage. Each of your explanations has a "why now?" caveat. Fads fit in the gap, unless they've recently developed weapons.

oldstrangers 4y ago
"why now?" Increasing water temp, climate change, food scarcity, environmental pollution, desperation, habitat loss, new audible or physical disturbances caused by these boats. I mean, there's probably 100 different reasons you could think of for why now. "Fads" answer nothing aside from simply removing the need for further explanation. Why are they doing that? I don't know, they're bored! It's a fad. Great research.

drak0n1c 4y ago

Orcas enjoy pinning whales and entering the mouth to remove the tongue, even if they do not eat the rest. Perhaps rudders and boat undersides with similar shapes inspire the same play instinct.