Was just reading the thread about dumb things people have said. Anecdote about poster’s cow-orker who refused to admit that people were animals, insisting, “I ain’t no damn animal, I’m a person.”
Was thinking that I can understand why someone would feel that way. We, humans, do think of ourselves as distinct from animals. Why? Because we’re the dominant species!
We’re the dominant species. I’m part of the dominant species. I’m in an elite group!
That’s an encouraging thought. No matter how bad any human has it, they’re still part of the dominant species. I may not have been born into the best of circumstances, but I made the cut for the dominant species.
Dinosaurs were the dominant species for a while too, you know.
And to be perfectly honest I usually have more fun with my “animal” side than my “angel” one.
Not that I’m complaining about being on top of the food chain, mind you…I’m just saying, is all.
Not to bum you back out, but remember that dominate does not necessarily mean superior.
Crab grass or dandelions may be the dominant species in your yard, doesn’t mean they are the best or most desirable. A physical deformity or mental defect can be caused by the dominant gene, again, not a good thing.
That said, I think you can take speciest pride in the fact that we (no matter how dim the light bulb) are still a thinking, reasoning species with the wonderful ability to demonstrate understanding, compassion and intelligence. We have evolved beyond reacting purely on instinct, feeling or emotion to allow those rational and ethical guides, which include logic and empathy, to dictate our actions.
Not to divert anyone from the original discussion–which is a good one and I have many brilliant insights which I might share later when I’m more awake–but I have to question the reliability and integrity of the “cow-orker” mentioned in the original post. I’m not the most sophisticated person so I’m not sure what exactly is involved in orking a cow (or any other animal for that matter), but it sounds as though it might be a distinctly un-human–or, at the very least, inhumane–activity. I just had to say that. Sorry for the interruption. Carry on.
I could also reference the Bloom County Sunday strip, wherein Opus drops the top scoop of his ice cream on his foot and declares, “I am so blasted UNLUCKY!” Oliver recounts for him the tremendous odds against Earth being formed and being able to sustain life, the evolution and survival of flightless waterfowl, and Opus’ parents meeting and mating to produce him, concluding that Opus is overwhelmingly lucky to be standing there with ice cream on his foot, against such long odds. The odds of Oliver wearing the remaining scoop in the last panel are, of course, 1:1.
