Celtdog, without question. I would love to know what he thinks and smells. I have always been curious about how dogs experience the world, given the wealth of information their noses provide.
It’s so weird how they always seem to be in the moment, but yet theoretically, they can not only tell who has entered a room, but how log ago, and most of what they did while they were there. So ARE they in the moment, or do they live in a sort of bandwidth of time encompassing the available sensory information? Or maybe they never put two and two together, and it’s just “Jane’s smell is here, and it’s fainter over there” with no corresponding conclusions drawn as to when she went where.
So, yeah, Celtdog first because he’s getting on in years. Then straight back in line for a dolphin. Same general reason but related to their use of sound/language. Also the sheer sensory buffet of being able to dive deep and live in the ocean. If I have to wait a few years for that one, I’ll survive.
Then back in line again, this time for a bird. If there are several years to wait in between opportunities, I’ll be getting on by then, and the freedom of flight will provide a much-needed respite from my human frailty.
If I made it to a final round, then I’d pick an extremophile, but hopefully a mobile one. Maybe something that lives near a deep-sea vent. Or if the technology has advanced enough by then, I’d love to inhabit an ancient Great Sequoia.
I was swimming yesterday and thinking it would be cool to experience life as an otter. I presume the raw fish would taste good to me and otherwise it’s swimming around and basking on the banks
I’d like to be a bird, so I can fly, but I’d also like to stay here in the city. An eagle would be noticed, but a crow? Crows go everywhere, and nobody messes with them. I wouldn’t even have to hunt or eat carrion - I’d live just fine snatching food off people’s plates at sidewalk cafes.
[ul]
[li]Jet-powered movement in 3 dimensions[/li][li]Ten arms with suckers AND swiveling hooks[/li][li]Largest eyes ever known[/li][li]Largest beak known[/li][li]The ability to emit light and change color[/li][li]Blinding ink[/li][/ul]
Oh yeah, fun stuff, for sure! It would be neat to experience life as any sort of cephalopod, but especially the ones near the top of the food chain. Of course, a big sperm whale would be a threat to any of these critters.
Hmmm… Sperm whale? Come ta think of it, I’d like to be one of those beasties, as well.
Sperm whale would be ok, but they don’t impress me as being partying types. So, Orca for me.
Pal around with my pod-mates all day. All the sashimi I want. And, well … I think even a horse would be impressed with how well I’m hung (how you doin’, Ms. Orca).
Top-of-the food-chain? You bet. Nobody’s gonna to mess with this [del]fish![/del] marine mammal. Heck, I’ll head-butt a great white and eat his liver for lunch, then swim north and knock a polar bear off an ice floe just for fun.
