5 ms·

He answers some questions here, also about bison domestication: http://jareddiamond.org/Jared_Diamond/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel.html http://jareddiamond.org/Jared_

He answers some questions here, also about bison domestication: http://jareddiamond.org/Jared_Diamond/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel.html http://jareddiamond.org/Jared_Diamond/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel... (according to this link I just googled, American buffalos are actually bisons http://www.diffen.com/difference/Bison_vs_Buffalo http://www.diffen.com/difference/Bison_vs_Buffalo )

soperj 11y ago
I read it, and it seems like crap. "When I ask American readers and animal handlers familiar with bison the possible reasons for bison non-domestication, they mention two factors: unpredictable dangerous disposition, such that bison ranchers remain wary of them; and ability to jump fences, such they could not be penned until modern strong high fences became available." First off, Bulls can definitely have nasty dispositions, and secondly they can definitely jump fences. I've personally seen a bull clear a 8 foot fence. thanks for providing that though!
- facepalm 11y ago
  I don't know anything about bisons. Are they domesticated these days? So you would say they would have been eligible for domestication and native Americans failed to do so for some unknown reason?
  - tedunangst 11y ago
    I think you're making much the same mistake Diamond does, assuming that domestication is inevitable, and that if it doesn't happen, somebody "failed".
    - facepalm 11y ago
      Well they failed by becoming subjugated by the European settlers, dying from diseases by the millions. That's what the book is about. I don't see a way to paint that in lovely colors? What about that isn't "failure"? The argument here was that Diamond's theory is wrong because the native Americans could have domesticated the bisons after all. The claim that they are too difficult to tame is dismissed as "crap". Then it seems to me why they were not being domesticated needs another explanation (if the one from Diamond is not good enough). Just random chance?
  - soperj 11y ago
    They are farmed. You can buy bison meat at any grocery store here (it's delicious!). So yes.' There are about 200 thousand bison on 2000 farms in Canada alone.

soperj 11y ago

I read it, and it seems like crap. "When I ask American readers and animal handlers familiar with bison the possible reasons for bison non-domestication, they mention two factors: unpredictable dangerous disposition, such that bison ranchers remain wary of them; and ability to jump fences, such they could not be penned until modern strong high fences became available." First off, Bulls can definitely have nasty dispositions, and secondly they can definitely jump fences. I've personally seen a bull clear a 8 foot fence. thanks for providing that though!

facepalm 11y ago
I don't know anything about bisons. Are they domesticated these days? So you would say they would have been eligible for domestication and native Americans failed to do so for some unknown reason?
- tedunangst 11y ago
  I think you're making much the same mistake Diamond does, assuming that domestication is inevitable, and that if it doesn't happen, somebody "failed".
  - facepalm 11y ago
    Well they failed by becoming subjugated by the European settlers, dying from diseases by the millions. That's what the book is about. I don't see a way to paint that in lovely colors? What about that isn't "failure"? The argument here was that Diamond's theory is wrong because the native Americans could have domesticated the bisons after all. The claim that they are too difficult to tame is dismissed as "crap". Then it seems to me why they were not being domesticated needs another explanation (if the one from Diamond is not good enough). Just random chance?
- soperj 11y ago
  They are farmed. You can buy bison meat at any grocery store here (it's delicious!). So yes.' There are about 200 thousand bison on 2000 farms in Canada alone.