From: John Tailby <john_tailby@x...>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 02:09:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [GZG] cats, psychotic killers or just misunderstood? was re hawkings aliens
_______________________________________________ Gzg-l mailing list Gzg-l@mail.csua.berkeley.edu http://mail.csua.berkeley.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/gzg-lIÂ got both my cats from a pet store as young kittens so no mother to bring them live prey. I fill their food bowls so they can have food when they want it. They both know how to kill prey and eat it if they want to. So my experience is that cats don't need to be taught to kill prey, they can do so on their own. my original point was that my cats don't kill because they are hungry they do so because they like it and it gives their instincts an outlet. How does that instinct transalte into a sentient soeciety. I have seen cats oberve other cats and then imiate their behavour so they can teach each other. my cats can make up their own game, one can make up his own games, one will play with his toys and make up games of hiding them under the couch and getting them out, until he can't. I'm far readier to belive that our encounters with aliens are likely to be with the representatives of Intergalactic Resource Exploiters Inc than the representatives of Intergalatic Charities. I'd be more prepared to believe Babylon 5 is more likely than Star Trek, much more likely to be shoot to kill than we come in peace. If we are lucky the aliens will let us sell them what they want, probably for beads and muskets but thats better than they show up take what they want and wreck the planet. I still think the basic imperatives of more food and more mates makes for a more successful life form.