Reptiles & Emotions

[MDT]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

we are the most complex and dangerous creatures on the planet mate


cheers shaun

Q.E.D.

However, the more this topic is debated and I keep hearing things like "my snake likes how I smell and it cuddles w me", my belief that bipedal mammals with opposable thumbs and the ability of complex reasoning may be slipping a bit on the "smart" side....

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by MDT

Q.E.D.

However, the more this topic is debated and I keep hearing things like "my snake likes how I smell and it cuddles w me", my belief that bipedal mammals with opposable thumbs and the ability of complex reasoning may be slipping a bit on the "smart" side....

could not agree more mate


another emotion is and will be the death of this planet...

GREED

government greed

cheers shaun

[Pareeeee]

Originally Posted by formica

this is true, and I wouldnt dispute that a dog which has a bond with its owner, will continue to have that bond after the owner dies

that said, some dogs have been known to eat their owners once they have died. but thats probably exceptional, and not really my point

what about before the dog has a bond with the owner? how and why does that bond get formed? because the dog falls in love? or is it something far more basic...like, a food source? a source of protection? is companionship between a man and a dog really a selfless love affair? or is it actually something more practical.

I'm inclined to believe that it is practical, and the bond becomes stronger as the years go by, and then we dress it up with silly human concepts

There is a different type of bond with dogs. Something much deeper than with other animals. They are extremely social animals (hence why most dog species run in packs). They have a much higher intelligence than most other animals, too. Watch a few dog documentaries and you'll see what I mean.

As for some dogs eating people, That is not an indicator of emotion or intelligence in my opinion. I would argue that some people (ie, cannibalistic tribes, etc.) eat other people too...

They did a recent study on cats and found that they don't really care about their owners in the sense that a dog does, they see us as more of a provider of food, protection, etc. I wish I still had the link to it.

Anyway, snakes. Since they do have some of the 'emotion' hormones, I would be forced to agree that they have the ability for very primitive and limited emotion, but there is no behavioural evidence to back that up. Their behaviour and body language is so different, so alien compared to other animals that it makes it very difficult. Just because a snake wags its tail or snuggles up on your lap doesn't mean it likes you. I think people need to stop comparing them to other animals and treat their behaviour like you would an alien's - if my analogy makes sense.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by Pareeeee

There is a different type of bond with dogs. Something much deeper than with other animals. They are extremely social animals (hence why most dog species run in packs). They have a much higher intelligence than most other animals, too. Watch a few dog documentaries and you'll see what I mean.

As for some dogs eating people, That is not an indicator of emotion or intelligence in my opinion. I would argue that some people (ie, cannibalistic tribes, etc.) eat other people too...

They did a recent study on cats and found that they don't really care about their owners in the sense that a dog does, they see us as more of a provider of food, protection, etc. I wish I still had the link to it.

Anyway, snakes. Since they do have some of the 'emotion' hormones, I would be forced to agree that they have the ability for very primitive and limited emotion, but there is no behavioural evidence to back that up. Their behaviour and body language is so different, so alien compared to other animals that it makes it very difficult. Just because a snake wags its tail or snuggles up on your lap doesn't mean it likes you. I think people need to stop comparing them to other animals and treat their behaviour like you would an alien's - if my analogy makes sense.

Most sensible post

[Rich Experience]

An alien who's brain also happens to run on the same emotion chemicals that ours does. Perhaps would not be too "alien".

[LiL Zap]

Originally Posted by Pareeeee

There is a different type of bond with dogs. Something much deeper than with other animals. They are extremely social animals (hence why most dog species run in packs). They have a much higher intelligence than most other animals, too. Watch a few dog documentaries and you'll see what I mean.

As for some dogs eating people, That is not an indicator of emotion or intelligence in my opinion. I would argue that some people (ie, cannibalistic tribes, etc.) eat other people too...

They did a recent study on cats and found that they don't really care about their owners in the sense that a dog does, they see us as more of a provider of food, protection, etc. I wish I still had the link to it.

Anyway, snakes. Since they do have some of the 'emotion' hormones, I would be forced to agree that they have the ability for very primitive and limited emotion, but there is no behavioural evidence to back that up. Their behaviour and body language is so different, so alien compared to other animals that it makes it very difficult. Just because a snake wags its tail or snuggles up on your lap doesn't mean it likes you. I think people need to stop comparing them to other animals and treat their behaviour like you would an alien's - if my analogy makes sense.

Nice response. Very thorough and your analogy makes sense.

[xSerpentGoddess]

I don't know about emotion. I have snakes that bite the crap out of other people when they go into their tank, but not me. I also have snakes that slither out of their hides and up the glass to come out when you go up to the tank. I believe you get what you put in and that they can enjoy your company. I firmly believe there is such a thing as building trust in them. Often times when I hand a snake to a customer to see, they try to come right back to me. I am also more comfortable with them and they sense it. Snakes act different in the hands of someone who's unsure.