nobody here but us wildlife

Anton Sherwood (dasher@netcom.com)
Mon, 9 Jun 1997 23:46:50 -0700


Curt Adams writes:
> As an aside, the domesticated primate (us) is the smartest
> primate of all.

Arkuat replies
: I see no evidence that any member of this list has been domesticated
: in the sense in which nonhuman animals have occasionally been
: domesticated by human animals. I rather doubt that the experience
: of being domesticated is an intelligence-enhancing experience.

By comparison with our hairier cousins, we have some signs typical of
domestication: lighter bones, variable loss of pigment and -- duh, I forgot.

Some claim we are inherently less bright than our hunter-gatherer
ancestors, making up for it with communication.

Anton Sherwood *\\* +1 415 267 0685 *\\* DASher@netcom.com