I am new here, but thought I’d offer some constructive criticism on your answer to this question. While your research and knowledge base are impressive, you left out the obvious answer:
Q: Why are dinosaurs so big?
A: Because they ate A LOT.
If you need any proof of this, you might educate yourself by watching a few episodes of the Flintstones. Dino ate like there was no tomorrow.
As you correctly noted, dinosaurs come in all shapes and sizes, not unlike humans. When I look at say a 90 lb. weaking and compare him to a 1000 lb man suffering from morbid obesity, I ask myself:
Q: Why are some humans so big?
A: Because they eat A LOT.
I think you are confusing your readers by making this much more complicated than it really is. jmo
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board, SmokinMom! You have an interesting sense of humor, always an asset in this place.
Because we don’t always know which column you might be discussing, we ask that people starting threads put a link to the column in the initial post, like this: Why were dinosaurs so big?. It’s possible to do a link simply by cutting and pasting the url from your web browser’s address field. Sometimes, Uncle Cecil visits similar topics multiple times.
Pull up a chair and stick around. Mind the popcorn on the floor; we haven’t let the hamsters out to clean up for a couple days.
Thank you for the welcome, DSY, and also for the tip on posting a link. I certainly wouldn’t want to confuse readers any more than Cecil already has with his very complex answer to such a simple question.
I mean really, we could throw out all the theories in the world to explain the likes of Carnie Wilson (**before ** her stomach stapling surgery) and Marlon Brando in his later years. Maybe these two are just cold blooded, or perhaps they packed on the extra lbs to guard against the frigid L.A. climate…or better yet, skinny people have already taken up all the small spots. But lets face it, their excessive girth is the result of too many In-N-Out burgers and very irresponsible consumption of cheesecake.
And I certainly don’t want to push my luck by sounding critical of you seasoned posters, but hamsters should not be eating popcorn. As we all know, rodents need constant friction to control their ever growing teeth. Popcorn will not offer sufficient resistance, nor will T-shirts as Cecil pointed out in another thread…which can be found here …http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_079.html.
See, not only can I tolerate constructive criticism, but I apply it as well. Some others (I wont mention any names for fear of further alienation) could do the same.
p.s. Not sure what you meant by my “interesting sense of humor” but when in doubt I take any commentary as HUGE compliment.
You make an interesting point. It would be a fascinating study if some paleontologists would compare the size of American Dinosaurs to their European, Asian, or African bretheren.
Perhaps the American dinosaur diet consisted of too much fast food, cheetos, and Ben and Jerrys. Not to mention a sedentary lifestyle. Perhaps the all knowing Cecil can enlighten us or reach out to his many consultants for an expert opinion.
But I do think its important to bear in mind that back in the day, they didn’t have the pressure to stay thin by the unrealistic body images set by Hollywood movie stars or irresponsible fashion magazines. Nor did they have access to appetite suppressants or Lean Cuisine. Which begs yet another unanswered question: Did any dinosaurs suffer from Body Dismorphic Disorder, or Anorexia?
I doubt I’ll sleep until this question gets answered…
This being the SDMB, no doubt will a flock of members come along to claim that huge American dinosaurs – called “real dinosaurs” among their aficionados – are much more beautiful than conventionally-sized dinosaurs, and that those scrawny Tenontosauruses, Struthiomimuses and Eoraptors should eat some damn sandwiches.
Around here, we eat a lot of red meat, and are damn proud of it. This is apparently not a new situation, since most T. rexes were also found in Montana.
The current theory is actually that there was less oxygen in the air during the rise of the dinosaurs and that this is what lead to their increased size.
"Dr. Narbonne is trying to understand why life suddenly became large half a billion years ago. He thinks it could be linked to changing oxygen levels at this time in history. "
Are we sure that there weren’t more small dinosaurs? The larger bones would be more likely to survive and more likely to be noticed.
You’re walking down a trail and a newly-exposed, rhino-sized bone is sticking out from a cliff face: you notice. You’re walking down a train and a newly-exposed, mouse-sized bone is sticking out from a cliff face: you keep walking.
Even when small dinos are identified, they’re less likely to make it into the dino books.
I’d say you’re seasoned with oregano, poppy, and just a dash of spicy red pepper.
And I can’t help wondering why you used such small type? Is this some sort of disguised retaliation since I questioned your judgement in feeding your hamsters popcorn? I got a headache trying to read it and can’t help but think there is a subtle reference to carrots in your choice of font size.
Oh, you were serious when you said that they were so big because they at a lot of food?
The question could easily be reworded to ask “why did they eat so much.”
The big dinosaurs ate so much because they would have starved to death if they did not. The same is not true of your 1,000 lb. man, or Brando, or Carnie Wilson.
Once again, you’re complicating the issue, obviously due to Cecil’s bad influence. Oxygen Schmoxigen. The reality is they had no willpower…and sadly no support groups such as Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers.
Um, you need to learn to understand the word “subtle” used in a direct relationship with “humor.”
Yes, I know on this board it is a lost artform… :smack:
Heavens, you sound angry. That’s not good for your health you know and there are many theories that it was actually a lack of anger management programs that really killed off the dinosaurs.
And please watch your language around DSY. He is young you know and very very sensitive.
Perhaps the all knowing Cecil can enlighten us or reach out to his many consultants for an expert opinion.