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There is also the problem that we are talking about certain subsets of badgers and squirrels. Consider that many of the badgers that originally grew the forest
by Lawtonfogle 11y ago
There is also the problem that we are talking about certain subsets of badgers and squirrels. Consider that many of the badgers that originally grew the forest that they now enjoy only did so because they were shunned not just by the squirrels, but by many other badgers. Look closely and you'll notice that some of these badgers, or those of the same subgroup, are resistant to both squirrels and other badgers coming into the forest. It isn't due to some sense of greed or superiority, but from a trained desire of self preservation.
And then you have the issue that in this forest, the job of maintaining the forest and the hobby of playing in the forest merge together, so groups that formed by badgers who play together carry over their group behaviors, including the exclusion of outsiders, into their work of maintaining and growing the forest. They likely don't even mean to do this most of the time.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- Kalium 11y agoThis sounds very much like the central thesis of "When Nerds Collide". Is that intentional?
- d883kd8 11y agoMy guess is no ... "When Nerds Collide" is a great piece of exposition but I doubt it's the source of the idea.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- Lawtonfogle 11y agoNot intentional. When many people describe a similar phenomena, trends will appear, independent of if they are well constructed entries or once off forum posts.
- wisty 11y agoAre these squirrels and badgers resistant to other squirrels and badgers coming in, or just resistant to changing their behavior to fit in with the newcomers? And do we really believe that squirrels and badgers are fundamentally that different?
- bayesianhorse 11y agoOne of the points of the fable as I understood it is that the badgers often aren't actually badgers, but all sorts of other individuals trying to mimic a badger.
- ionelm 11y agoOn that idea, there was a very interesting lightning talk at EuroPython 2015: https://youtu.be/Tt-R2KdQUFs?t=2772 https://youtu.be/Tt-R2KdQUFs?t=2772
- Lawtonfogle 11y agoWhich gets confusing because it makes one wonder if all the squirrels are actually squirrels are a bunch of different animals in squirrel costumes. If they are all squirrels, what does it mean that there are very few badgers, a bunch of animals looking like badgers, and a bunch of squirrels. But if most squirrels are actually other animals in a squirrel costume, it gives a second level of reflection in the squirrel society as well. The ending of the fable seems a bit open ended, like a plot twist thrown in at the end but never resolved.
- barry-cotter 11y agoIf you feel like surrendering the space you and your friends built to those more socially adept by all means go for it. Who cares if they have any real connection to the interest the group is centered about, they're... normal! Maybe it'll rub off on me! Maybe then I'll be a real boy!