11 ms·

Humans are also literally the apex hunter on the planet. We can successfully hunt and eat any other predator if we choose to. Even nearly perfectly evolved hunt

by bane 12y ago

Humans are also literally the apex hunter on the planet. We can successfully hunt and eat any other predator if we choose to. Even nearly perfectly evolved hunters like sharks, lions and tigers are merely food and decorative pelts to us. A right of passage for some human children to be considered adults is to track, hunt and kill other apex predators. Humans have no natural predators. Zero. Think about that. Anything that may have once threatened us, we've out organized, out planned, and out thought on the way towards global dominance. Even superficially similar co-inhabitant species like Neanderthal could not survive in a world with Humans. Today, only microscopic creatures threaten us, and we once again organize, plan and think about ways to defeat these creatures. Even with stone-aged levels of technology we spread to every corner of the world, in every known climate and ecology, in large numbers, and thrived. The only thing that is dangerous to humans is other humans. And we've even arrived at the point that, with no considerable effort at all, we're capable of wiping out every living thing that inhabits the surface of a world. Despite having poor biting power, diminished canines, running (poorly) on our heels, lower than average strength and no claws. We are the the most dangerous creature in the known universe.

mckiddy 12y ago
Thats true, but I just wanted to point out that humans are actually one of the best species on Earth at distance running http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2012/06/long_distance_running_and_evolution_why_humans_can_outrun_horses_but_can_t_jump_higher_than_cats_.html http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2012/06/long...
- malka 12y ago
  We are extremely good at throwing things with precision as well.
  - danieltillett 12y ago
    Only those of us with a Y chromosome :P
  - bane 12y ago
    The combination of unusual tricep structure (also found in cats and the extinct great sloth), remarkably mobile shoulder structure (inherited from our primate ancestors) and grippy hands (thumbs!) gives us remarkable downward thrusting power useful for smashing, grabbing and throwing.
    - s_q_b 12y ago
      One of the earliest inventions, the spear-thrower, enhanced that ability even more, giving us the ability to kill big game from a distance with near impunity. (It works by increasing the lever arm. Think of a lacrosse stick.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear-thrower http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear-thrower
- s_q_b 12y ago
  My professor once told us that we were thinking of Australopithecines, a recent hominid, all wrong. While we thought of early human ancestors as less intelligent versions of ourselves, the correct analogy was to a modern Velociraptor: fast to the point of running animals to death, fiercely intelligent, and with unparalleled group coordination. Arguably the last of the giant dinosaurs was the Moa, a bird with claws that could eviscerate a human with a single swipe, and our species wiped them out as a prey animal. We are a terrifyingly effective species.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
antocv 12y ago
> we're capable of wiping out every living thing that inhabits the surface of a world. Oh come on now, dont flatter yourself so much. No, humans cant wipe out all living things that inhabig the surface of the world.
- danieltillett 12y ago
  I think you might need to look into what the Russian and USA nuclear arsenal might do if used evenly across the world. If this does not convince you let me introduce you to the cobalt bomb [1]. 1. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_bomb http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_bomb
  - Retric 12y ago
    I laugh I your General direction: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterbear http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterbear note there is a lot of surface area on the planet. A 1MT nuke per sqare mile would come fairly close but not quite get to where you suggest and we don't have close to that many nukes.
    - danieltillett 12y ago
      I have to say I love Tardigrades, but without a food source they are not going to survive. Nuclear winter is not too conducive for moss growth. More seriously I suspect that short of a massive high altitude cobalt bomb detonation that some small life will survive on the surface even if all the current nuclear weapon were used.
      - Retric 12y ago
        Well they can go without food for 9+ years so that's more of a long term problem. As to nuclear winter they already live in Antarctica so there food source can also survive fairly harsh conditions, and it only takes one (or 2 depending on species). Not that we have a lot of spare planets lying around but IMO it would be an interesting experement. Also, there is a fairly interesting ecosystem living inside the chernobil building which just goes to show how hardy some things are. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus Gama radiation as food... Yea that's a thing.
eru 12y ago
> The only thing that is dangerous to humans is other humans. And microbes. And other parasites.
VeejayRampay 12y ago
I agree with pretty much anything you said, but I disagree on humans being poor runners. We are amongst (if not THE) most endurant runners on the planet. Humans have been known to defeat horses in long races [1]. As for running on the heel, this is more of a modern shod runner curse than a natural instinct or predisposition. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_versus_Horse_Marathon#Winners http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_versus_Horse_Marathon#Winne... (might be anecdotic, but still somehow revealing)
- bluedino 12y ago
  That's what happens when you're a biped
- bane 12y ago
  Paradoxically, this skill only becomes really apparent when humans act in the role of hunters. As prey, it's more likely a sneaky tiger will spring forth from the jungle and run us down for dinner. But yep, we can actually run other animals to death. Humans are terrifying unbalanced creatures.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
restalis 12y ago
"Humans have no natural predators. Zero." As a group yes. As individuals - no. Go in alone somewhere where other big predators like wolves, bears or whatnot and hold your ground for a few weeks. I bet that unless you build some kind of fortress for yourself to sleep at night, not even firearms will help you in the long run. "Even with stone-aged levels of technology we spread to every corner of the world, in every known climate and ecology, in large numbers, and thrived." Actually, we've managed to thrive only in the places where there was enough air (no underwater humans), water (not many thriving communities in the deserts), food (which was a hard limit for the level of development, famine was a regular regressing factor), warmth (no people in Antarctica), and other such useful things. In this regard we are no different than other animals.

by bane 12y ago

mckiddy 12y ago

Thats true, but I just wanted to point out that humans are actually one of the best species on Earth at distance running http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2012/06/long_distance_running_and_evolution_why_humans_can_outrun_horses_but_can_t_jump_higher_than_cats_.html http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2012/06/long...

malka 12y ago
We are extremely good at throwing things with precision as well.
- danieltillett 12y ago
  Only those of us with a Y chromosome :P
- bane 12y ago
  The combination of unusual tricep structure (also found in cats and the extinct great sloth), remarkably mobile shoulder structure (inherited from our primate ancestors) and grippy hands (thumbs!) gives us remarkable downward thrusting power useful for smashing, grabbing and throwing.
  - s_q_b 12y ago
    One of the earliest inventions, the spear-thrower, enhanced that ability even more, giving us the ability to kill big game from a distance with near impunity. (It works by increasing the lever arm. Think of a lacrosse stick.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear-thrower http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear-thrower
s_q_b 12y ago
My professor once told us that we were thinking of Australopithecines, a recent hominid, all wrong. While we thought of early human ancestors as less intelligent versions of ourselves, the correct analogy was to a modern Velociraptor: fast to the point of running animals to death, fiercely intelligent, and with unparalleled group coordination. Arguably the last of the giant dinosaurs was the Moa, a bird with claws that could eviscerate a human with a single swipe, and our species wiped them out as a prey animal. We are a terrifyingly effective species.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

antocv 12y ago

> we're capable of wiping out every living thing that inhabits the surface of a world. Oh come on now, dont flatter yourself so much. No, humans cant wipe out all living things that inhabig the surface of the world.

danieltillett 12y ago
I think you might need to look into what the Russian and USA nuclear arsenal might do if used evenly across the world. If this does not convince you let me introduce you to the cobalt bomb [1]. 1. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_bomb http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_bomb
- Retric 12y ago
  I laugh I your General direction: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterbear http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterbear note there is a lot of surface area on the planet. A 1MT nuke per sqare mile would come fairly close but not quite get to where you suggest and we don't have close to that many nukes.
  - danieltillett 12y ago
    I have to say I love Tardigrades, but without a food source they are not going to survive. Nuclear winter is not too conducive for moss growth. More seriously I suspect that short of a massive high altitude cobalt bomb detonation that some small life will survive on the surface even if all the current nuclear weapon were used.
    - Retric 12y ago
      Well they can go without food for 9+ years so that's more of a long term problem. As to nuclear winter they already live in Antarctica so there food source can also survive fairly harsh conditions, and it only takes one (or 2 depending on species). Not that we have a lot of spare planets lying around but IMO it would be an interesting experement. Also, there is a fairly interesting ecosystem living inside the chernobil building which just goes to show how hardy some things are. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus Gama radiation as food... Yea that's a thing.

eru 12y ago

> The only thing that is dangerous to humans is other humans. And microbes. And other parasites.

VeejayRampay 12y ago

I agree with pretty much anything you said, but I disagree on humans being poor runners. We are amongst (if not THE) most endurant runners on the planet. Humans have been known to defeat horses in long races [1]. As for running on the heel, this is more of a modern shod runner curse than a natural instinct or predisposition. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_versus_Horse_Marathon#Winners http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_versus_Horse_Marathon#Winne... (might be anecdotic, but still somehow revealing)

bluedino 12y ago
That's what happens when you're a biped
bane 12y ago
Paradoxically, this skill only becomes really apparent when humans act in the role of hunters. As prey, it's more likely a sneaky tiger will spring forth from the jungle and run us down for dinner. But yep, we can actually run other animals to death. Humans are terrifying unbalanced creatures.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

restalis 12y ago

"Humans have no natural predators. Zero." As a group yes. As individuals - no. Go in alone somewhere where other big predators like wolves, bears or whatnot and hold your ground for a few weeks. I bet that unless you build some kind of fortress for yourself to sleep at night, not even firearms will help you in the long run. "Even with stone-aged levels of technology we spread to every corner of the world, in every known climate and ecology, in large numbers, and thrived." Actually, we've managed to thrive only in the places where there was enough air (no underwater humans), water (not many thriving communities in the deserts), food (which was a hard limit for the level of development, famine was a regular regressing factor), warmth (no people in Antarctica), and other such useful things. In this regard we are no different than other animals.