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Further proof that humans grossly underestimate all other non-human lifeforms. Parrots reason like three year old children[1], mice feel empathy[2], elephants g

Further proof that humans grossly underestimate all other non-human lifeforms. Parrots reason like three year old children[1], mice feel empathy[2], elephants grieve[3], birds hold funerals for their dead[4], and now this. And yet we won't hesitate to deforest natural habitats for yet more highways and ugly low density housing. And scientists continue to use animals for all kinds of shockingly inhumane experiments. Over 19 million animals are killed each year in research in the US alone[5], and that's not counting mice. Even house pets are stolen and used for animal testing[6]. Surely we are the smartest animal on the planet (smart enough to rationalize anything), but isn't it more important we be compassionate? [1] http://m.livescience.com/22178-parrots-reason-three-year-olds.html http://m.livescience.com/22178-parrots-reason-three-year-old... [2] http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/researchers-say-mice-feel-empathy-with-peers/ http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/researchers-say-mice-feel... [3] http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/06/when-doves-cry-scientific-american-explores-grief-in-animals http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/06/when-doves-cry-scientific-a... [4] http://news.discovery.com/animals/birds-hold-avian-funerals-for-their-dead-120905.htm http://news.discovery.com/animals/birds-hold-avian-funerals-... [5] http://www.statisticbrain.com/animal-testing-statistics/ http://www.statisticbrain.com/animal-testing-statistics/ [6] http://www.stolenpets.com/about.htm http://www.stolenpets.com/about.htm

ra 13y ago
And it's not just the dung beetles that are missing out on the celestial tapestry over our heads, thanks to light pollution.
seanmcdirmid 13y ago
> And yet we won't hesitate to deforest natural habitats for yet more highways and ugly low density housing. And scientists continue to use animals for all kinds of shockingly inhumane experiments. Over 19 million animals are killed each year in research in the US alone[5], and that's not counting mice. We aren't the only species on the planet that engages in genocide of other species. Plenty of animals, large and small, are predators of other animals as well as habitat destroyers. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if we someday find an animal that performs tests on other animals (other than us, that is). In nature, it is every species for itself, it is like that extreme form of capitalism that libertarians craze after. It is egotistical to think that we some how exist outside of our ecosystem, with god like choices to make. Nature will throw things back into balance one way or the other, likely to our detriment.
- jadyoyster 13y ago
  Regarding the extreme capitalism: not even every species, every individual organism's genes.
  - seanmcdirmid 13y ago
    Natural selection is quite greedy in general: consume resources, or be consumed as a resource! We've grown rich enough to think a bit more forward, which is where conservation comes in, but to think that any of those animals are less selfish than us is crazy.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
benihana 13y ago
Ah, Hacker News, I always underestimate you. As I was reading the article, I was thinking to myself, there is no way someone can turn this into a negative, cynical, crabby top comment. Boy, how wrong I was. Not a single mention of anything in the article, just a bunch of loud complaining about how humans aren't living the way some random guy on the internet thinks they should.
- contextual 13y ago
  negative, cynical, crabby... Not a single mention of anything in the article, just a bunch of loud complaining Your comment or mine?
  - sigzero 13y ago
    Yours

ra 13y ago

And it's not just the dung beetles that are missing out on the celestial tapestry over our heads, thanks to light pollution.

seanmcdirmid 13y ago

> And yet we won't hesitate to deforest natural habitats for yet more highways and ugly low density housing. And scientists continue to use animals for all kinds of shockingly inhumane experiments. Over 19 million animals are killed each year in research in the US alone[5], and that's not counting mice. We aren't the only species on the planet that engages in genocide of other species. Plenty of animals, large and small, are predators of other animals as well as habitat destroyers. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if we someday find an animal that performs tests on other animals (other than us, that is). In nature, it is every species for itself, it is like that extreme form of capitalism that libertarians craze after. It is egotistical to think that we some how exist outside of our ecosystem, with god like choices to make. Nature will throw things back into balance one way or the other, likely to our detriment.

jadyoyster 13y ago
Regarding the extreme capitalism: not even every species, every individual organism's genes.
- seanmcdirmid 13y ago
  Natural selection is quite greedy in general: consume resources, or be consumed as a resource! We've grown rich enough to think a bit more forward, which is where conservation comes in, but to think that any of those animals are less selfish than us is crazy.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]

benihana 13y ago

Ah, Hacker News, I always underestimate you. As I was reading the article, I was thinking to myself, there is no way someone can turn this into a negative, cynical, crabby top comment. Boy, how wrong I was. Not a single mention of anything in the article, just a bunch of loud complaining about how humans aren't living the way some random guy on the internet thinks they should.

contextual 13y ago
negative, cynical, crabby... Not a single mention of anything in the article, just a bunch of loud complaining Your comment or mine?
- sigzero 13y ago
  Yours