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I wonder how this may have impacted world history. Something along the lines of humans have grain storage >> rats are attracted to grain >> cats are attracted t

I wonder how this may have impacted world history. Something along the lines of humans have grain storage >> rats are attracted to grain >> cats are attracted to rats >> humans are attracted to cats >> human populations with cats become slightly more schizoaffective (which in most premodern societies is not really pathological) >> these societies commune with the divine more/tell the future/develop more complex religious institutions >> these religious institutions help stabilize society Kinda seems like a win-win to be honest.

mustardo 3y ago
> these religious institutions help stabilize society I'm not sure this is true, there are plenty of conflicts because of religion. I would argue the most stable would for nobody to be religious
cm2012 3y ago
There's essentially no evidence for this.
doublemint2203 3y ago
Somebody read Snow Crash.... ?
- ta988 3y ago
  This Snow Crash thing, is it a virus, a drug or a religion?
  - jagraff 3y ago
    What’s the difference?
  - 83457 3y ago
    Yes
  - ridgeguy 3y ago
    This: https://wiki.c2.com/?NamShubOfEnki https://wiki.c2.com/?NamShubOfEnki
- adrianN 3y ago
  The ideas in Snow Crash probably come in part from the bicameral mind theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origin_of_Consciousness_in_the_Breakdown_of_the_Bicameral_Mind https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origin_of_Consciousness_in...
enlyth 3y ago
From an evolutionary point of view I still think cats are the most successful animals. They have managed to get the ultimate apex predator (humans) to feed, care and provide shelter for them, in exchange for merely existing and looking cute.
- onlyrealcuzzo 3y ago
  How is this different from dogs? Cats were useful, so were dogs. Now they're both mostly just for being cute. Dogs are generally better companions, but lots of people have dog-like cats that wanna be around them 24-7.
  - kelnos 3y ago
    > Dogs are generally better companions, but lots of people have dog-like cats that wanna be around them 24-7. I guess it depends on how you define "better". We have cats who snuggle with us in bed at night, but mostly do their own thing during the day, aside from little spurts here and there where they'd like (but don't demand) some attention. Meanwhile, most of my friends' dogs annoy the hell out of me. No, I don't want you to jump on me and slobber all over my face every time I see you. And most of my dog-parent friends agree that their dog requires a lot more attention and work than our cats do. To each their own, I suppose.
    - civilitty 3y ago
      In reality cats are man's best friend. Dogs are a child surrogate, except they never reach an age where they're independent. Which is probably half the appeal: they never outgrow us, unlike our children (or our cats).
    - geoffmanning 3y ago
      Any kind of companionship, even a mouse, can provide that kind of emotional support, but that says nothing of the animal's intent or ability to harm others. They are solitary creatures whereas dogs are social creatures. It's little wonder they would be carriers for parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, whereas dogs aren't
huytersd 3y ago
>which in most premodern societies is not really pathological Why? Crazy people have more often than not been severely repressed in former societies.
DoctorMckay101 3y ago
Look up lead plumbing in the Roman Empire and the documented case of many emperors and council members being more "aggressive" than usual.
- GaryNumanVevo 3y ago
  Lead plumbing pales in comparison to the lead they consumed via cooking pans (typically a lead / copper alloy) and a lot of Roman utensils used lead. Most tap water at room temperature won't absorb lead from pipes due to the mineral content and acidity. However, cooking in a pot made from lead will definitely poison you.

mustardo 3y ago

> these religious institutions help stabilize society I'm not sure this is true, there are plenty of conflicts because of religion. I would argue the most stable would for nobody to be religious

cm2012 3y ago

There's essentially no evidence for this.

doublemint2203 3y ago

Somebody read Snow Crash.... ?

ta988 3y ago
This Snow Crash thing, is it a virus, a drug or a religion?
- jagraff 3y ago
  What’s the difference?
- 83457 3y ago
  Yes
- ridgeguy 3y ago
  This: https://wiki.c2.com/?NamShubOfEnki https://wiki.c2.com/?NamShubOfEnki
adrianN 3y ago
The ideas in Snow Crash probably come in part from the bicameral mind theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origin_of_Consciousness_in_the_Breakdown_of_the_Bicameral_Mind https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origin_of_Consciousness_in...

enlyth 3y ago

From an evolutionary point of view I still think cats are the most successful animals. They have managed to get the ultimate apex predator (humans) to feed, care and provide shelter for them, in exchange for merely existing and looking cute.

onlyrealcuzzo 3y ago
How is this different from dogs? Cats were useful, so were dogs. Now they're both mostly just for being cute. Dogs are generally better companions, but lots of people have dog-like cats that wanna be around them 24-7.
- kelnos 3y ago
  > Dogs are generally better companions, but lots of people have dog-like cats that wanna be around them 24-7. I guess it depends on how you define "better". We have cats who snuggle with us in bed at night, but mostly do their own thing during the day, aside from little spurts here and there where they'd like (but don't demand) some attention. Meanwhile, most of my friends' dogs annoy the hell out of me. No, I don't want you to jump on me and slobber all over my face every time I see you. And most of my dog-parent friends agree that their dog requires a lot more attention and work than our cats do. To each their own, I suppose.
  - civilitty 3y ago
    In reality cats are man's best friend. Dogs are a child surrogate, except they never reach an age where they're independent. Which is probably half the appeal: they never outgrow us, unlike our children (or our cats).
  - geoffmanning 3y ago
    Any kind of companionship, even a mouse, can provide that kind of emotional support, but that says nothing of the animal's intent or ability to harm others. They are solitary creatures whereas dogs are social creatures. It's little wonder they would be carriers for parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, whereas dogs aren't

huytersd 3y ago

>which in most premodern societies is not really pathological Why? Crazy people have more often than not been severely repressed in former societies.

DoctorMckay101 3y ago

Look up lead plumbing in the Roman Empire and the documented case of many emperors and council members being more "aggressive" than usual.

GaryNumanVevo 3y ago
Lead plumbing pales in comparison to the lead they consumed via cooking pans (typically a lead / copper alloy) and a lot of Roman utensils used lead. Most tap water at room temperature won't absorb lead from pipes due to the mineral content and acidity. However, cooking in a pot made from lead will definitely poison you.