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Self-domesticating seems an interesting evolutionary track for the survival of a species. Elephants may have a bit of a hard time totally committing to it, as t

Self-domesticating seems an interesting evolutionary track for the survival of a species. Elephants may have a bit of a hard time totally committing to it, as they're somewhat large. I have a hard time visualizing a herd wandering around a large city - although I do enjoy the clever elephants that cross streets and seemingly "thank" stopped motorists, or elephants that steal food from trucks they've stopped (obvy I can't tell intent)

alpha_squared 3y ago
If they're domesticating themselves in some way, natural evolution can take care of the rest (e.g. smaller sizes leading to long-enough lifespans to successfully mate and raise offspring long enough to repeat the cycle).
- xwdv 3y ago
  It would be a shame if mighty elephants were evolved to the size of piglets that people keep as pets.
  - Someone 3y ago
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeoloxodon_falconeri https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeoloxodon_falconeri: “Palaeoloxodon falconeri is an extinct species of dwarf elephant from the Middle Pleistocene of Sicily and Malta. It is amongst the smallest of all dwarf elephants at only one metre in height. A member of the genus Palaeoloxodon, it derived from a population of the mainland European straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus)” Not quite piglets, but getting there.
  - byby 3y ago
    This is a good start up idea in biotech. And highly lucrative. Genetically engineered tea cup elephants.
Jeff_Brown 3y ago
The definition of "domestication" in this article does not seem to have anything to do with living with humans. It says bonobos have self-domesticated. I'm honestly not sure the term is even well-defined.
- justinator 3y ago
  In a round about way, I think it does mean being able to live around humans, by being less violent, and well: dumber. Humans were also domesticated, killed each other less (if you can believe that), became even dumber (if you can believe that), and well: look at our population. Here's basically the same article about bonobos, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tame-theory-did-bonobos/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tame-theory-did-b... Being less aggressive, if I'm not reading things backwards, allows for a longer maturation time, and perhaps higher intelligence. Some domesticated animals show high intelligence, like bonobos and dogs. I wonder if the same idea applies to dolphins.
  - bikeshaving 3y ago
    I truly, truly think that even if there is a sense in which being sociable and non-violent is “dumber,” it actually is one of the most mentally taxing things you can actually do on a daily basis. It requires good posture control, a diplomatic tone, a great theory of mind, and so so so much patience. Like this is what people talk about when they say a lack of privilege ages them prematurely.
    - justinator 3y ago
      My "became even dumber" was somewhat tongue and cheek, but a lower brain volume is what they are seeing in humans, bonobos, elephants, dogs - when compared to the "wilder" cousins/ancestors. >Like this is what people talk about when they say a lack of privilege ages them prematurely. I don't... know if I agree? I think generally being oppressed by the privilege class is quite detrimental to one's health, as well as having less access to things like healthcare. Compound this with a complete gaslighting of the privilege class telling the lesser that they actually DO have it well off and have NO reason to complain - all the while distancing the haves to the have-nots, and it's no wonder that well: there aren't as many violent uprising happening (and the ones that are, usually are spun to not be seen that way). Yeah - yeah: that can age someone.

alpha_squared 3y ago

If they're domesticating themselves in some way, natural evolution can take care of the rest (e.g. smaller sizes leading to long-enough lifespans to successfully mate and raise offspring long enough to repeat the cycle).

xwdv 3y ago
It would be a shame if mighty elephants were evolved to the size of piglets that people keep as pets.
- Someone 3y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeoloxodon_falconeri https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeoloxodon_falconeri: “Palaeoloxodon falconeri is an extinct species of dwarf elephant from the Middle Pleistocene of Sicily and Malta. It is amongst the smallest of all dwarf elephants at only one metre in height. A member of the genus Palaeoloxodon, it derived from a population of the mainland European straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus)” Not quite piglets, but getting there.
- byby 3y ago
  This is a good start up idea in biotech. And highly lucrative. Genetically engineered tea cup elephants.

Jeff_Brown 3y ago

The definition of "domestication" in this article does not seem to have anything to do with living with humans. It says bonobos have self-domesticated. I'm honestly not sure the term is even well-defined.

justinator 3y ago
In a round about way, I think it does mean being able to live around humans, by being less violent, and well: dumber. Humans were also domesticated, killed each other less (if you can believe that), became even dumber (if you can believe that), and well: look at our population. Here's basically the same article about bonobos, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tame-theory-did-bonobos/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tame-theory-did-b... Being less aggressive, if I'm not reading things backwards, allows for a longer maturation time, and perhaps higher intelligence. Some domesticated animals show high intelligence, like bonobos and dogs. I wonder if the same idea applies to dolphins.
- bikeshaving 3y ago
  I truly, truly think that even if there is a sense in which being sociable and non-violent is “dumber,” it actually is one of the most mentally taxing things you can actually do on a daily basis. It requires good posture control, a diplomatic tone, a great theory of mind, and so so so much patience. Like this is what people talk about when they say a lack of privilege ages them prematurely.
  - justinator 3y ago
    My "became even dumber" was somewhat tongue and cheek, but a lower brain volume is what they are seeing in humans, bonobos, elephants, dogs - when compared to the "wilder" cousins/ancestors. >Like this is what people talk about when they say a lack of privilege ages them prematurely. I don't... know if I agree? I think generally being oppressed by the privilege class is quite detrimental to one's health, as well as having less access to things like healthcare. Compound this with a complete gaslighting of the privilege class telling the lesser that they actually DO have it well off and have NO reason to complain - all the while distancing the haves to the have-nots, and it's no wonder that well: there aren't as many violent uprising happening (and the ones that are, usually are spun to not be seen that way). Yeah - yeah: that can age someone.