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Saturday, 23 February 2008
Facing facts?
I was watching this show on TV last night and it was about various species of animals that were heading for extinction. It included things like some types of elephants, deer and tigers. Such beautiful looking animals I think most would agree.
As they were talking I saw how we humans seem to be tricking ourselves, how we are pretending that what does exist actually does not.
For instance they discussed the tiger
Without a doubt a beautiful and magnificent animal indeed. Also very sad indeed that it is heading for extinction as the TV show stated. But that is the part that I had trouble with. I was told that the tiger is heading towards extinction and unless we act soon then the tiger would become extinct.
What does extinct actually mean? I looked up the dictionary and it says a species is extinct when it has no living members. So the TV presenters seem to be correct in their statements and we all breathe a collective sigh of relief knowing that tigers are not extinct. Maybe this is where we lie to ourselves just so we can feel better.
Perhaps we need to reassess what we actually mean by extinct. If these tigers were left to fend for themselves, that is they got no assistance from humans then I think it is safe to say that they would be extinct and there would not be one tiger alive on the earth.
So what do we humans do? We put them in zoos and game reserves and thus they are protected and thus they do not die out and become extinct. In essence what we have done is put them in a museum. There maybe tigers alive but they are not living naturally. One could say that there is not one tiger alive on this planet who is not living in an area that is fenced off to some degree. There is not one tiger on earth living in conditions that it did 100 years ago.
Don't see many of these nowadays, perhaps they have evolved into something else?
So is the tiger extinct or not? There are some alive but they are cocooned by humans. So tigers living naturally are extinct already. Tigers living unnaturally are not extinct. I am not for a moment suggesting that we don’t protect them, what I am suggesting is that we be true to ourselves about what has happen to these magnificent creatures even if it does not taste pleasant. I suggest we stop lying to ourselves about this and don’t continue to say that the tiger is not yet extinct, because in one sense they are. I would say that in real terms the tiger is already extinct. We basically have these tigers living in what amounts to a museum.
There was one other thought that came to me as I watched this TV show. There is an assumption in all this that extinction is a really, really bad thing.
Last time I read Charles Darwin’s book - The origin of the species - it seemed to say that extinction was an integral part of evolution. As species evolve, some species will become extinct and other species develop to fill in the space left.
Heading for extinction?
As you read this right now there will be a species of frog that is becoming extinct somewhere in the world. So why are we not putting in the same effort to put that frog in a museum like we do with the tiger? Maybe its because the tiger is so big, magnificent looking and cuddly whereas the frog is small, ugly and slimy.
Perhaps we need to be more realistic on this as well. Species have been reaching extinction since time began and it is all very natural, indeed that is exactly what evolution is! So the extinction of the tiger, which I argue has already arrived, is a natural thing and maybe we need to not be so terrified by it and thus pretend that it hasn’t really happened.
And there seems to be one other given as well. Sooner or later it will be our turn and the human species will become extinct. The day will arrive when there is not one member of the human species alive in this planet and then some other species will evolve to fill in the space that we leave. Alas however we are so death phobic at least here in western society, that we will all work very hard at lying to ourselves about that one for sure.
One day this species will be extinct but we will do everything we can to pretend it will never happen. When the facts taste bad humans are very efficient as somehow, sort of, kinda thinking that this extinction thing will never really, actually happen to us. Maybe that is the real reason we don't like thinking that the tigers are extinct, because it reminds us that species do become extinct and then that means it will be our turn one day.
Graffiti
13:10 Permalink | Comments (21) | Email this
Comments
That's my Chinese birth year sign. The tiger. Amazing creatures.
Tony, (oh my goodness - i just deleted a whole comment. Sorry)
What did you want to be when you grew up? When you were a little boy?
I wanted to be a 'star' then when i was a young teen, i wanted to be a 'spanish dancing horse trainer' but then i got a horse. Then - really quickly - i got really busy.
roses
Posted by: roses | Saturday, 23 February 2008
So maybe the cockroaches will come and visit the humans in zoos and enclosures and talk about how ugly we are :-)
Posted by: Madeleine | Saturday, 23 February 2008
I hope that TA therapists and trainers don't become extinct.
kenoath
Posted by: kenoath | Saturday, 23 February 2008
I am a Rooster Roses,
But not too sure what that means what I am like
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Saturday, 23 February 2008
I'm a puppy dawg. How cute be I!!
Here's the Rooster, Tony.
People born in the Year of the Rooster are deep thinkers, capable, and talented. They like to be busy and are devoted beyond their capabilities and are deeply disappointed if they fail. People born in the Rooster Year are often a bit eccentric, and often have rather difficult relationship with others. They always think they are right and usually are! They frequently are loners and though they give the outward impression of being adventurous, they are timid. Rooster people¡¦s emotions like their fortunes, swing very high to very low. They can be selfish and too outspoken, but are always interesting and can be extremely brave. They are most compatible with Ox, Snake, and Dragon.
Posted by: Madeleine | Saturday, 23 February 2008
Sometimes ago there was a small cockroach in my sink much to my horror Madeleine. When it saw me I sort of pushed it down the drain and then I quickly put the plug in the hole so it could not climb back out.
I felt good that I had trapped the horrid little thing down the dirty stinky drain and how it is now suffering because of that.
Then it kind of dawned on me that cockroaches love dirty, stinky drains and I had actually put the cockroach in cockroach heaven!!!
I had done it a great favour!!
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Saturday, 23 February 2008
Apparently, Tony, if there is ever a nuclear war, cockroaches are one of the species that will survive.
Thanks for the giggle re your cockroach story. And yes, you did do the cockroach a favour.
Posted by: Madeleine | Saturday, 23 February 2008
I really don't like cockroaches Madeleine. Ohh... they make my skin crawl!
Do you fit into the Rooster sign Tony? I understand it's a tad bland but how close are you to the basic's of your sign?
roses
Posted by: roses | Saturday, 23 February 2008
Tiger personality:
Occupying the 3rd position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Tiger symbolizes such character traits as bravery, competitiveness and unpredictability. Tigers love to be challenged and will accept any challenge if it means protecting a loved one or protecting their honor. They don’t worry about the outcome because they know they’ll always land on their feet. Don’t let their calm appearance fool you though; Tigers will pounce when they feel it’s necessary.
Born to lead, Tigers can be stubborn if they realize they’re not in charge. They have a slight tendency to be selfish but overall, Tigers are extremely generous. They’re very intelligent and they’re always on alert. Tigers are very charming and are well-liked by others. They are not motivated by money or power.
1962 is a water tiger sign:
Water tigers are sensitive and tranquil. They realize that other people have worthy opinions too. They're very intuitive which makes them good at accurately judging different situation.
Thanks for that Madeleine! That was fun!
A home alone ... roses
Posted by: roses | Saturday, 23 February 2008
I think Mother Earth will ensure that we are extinct some day. And I think that will be a good thing for all the devastation that we humans like to wrought around us.
Alternatively inhabitants from another planet will do the job instead.
I dont like cockroaches either. Yuck. Statistically, I am sure that we have probably all eaten a cockroach (unwitingly) in our lifetimes.
Posted by: Kahless | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Awesome post. I am doubly interested in this b/c I am concerned about the overall health of the planet but also I've been reading books about hyperspace/4th dimension/quantum mechanics and they make the comparison of looking at something like photons or electrons is like looking at a cheetah in a cage. You're seeing it, but not in its natural state. Therefore you aren't really seeing it at all.
Thanks for a good read on a Saturday morning.
Posted by: April | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Hi Tony, Roses and all,
I like the picture of the Tiger, Tony. I wanna offer him a slice of ham but ( I'm pleased to say)he'd bite my hand off.
Good win for the Ham Tony!!!WWwwrrrrrooooooaaaarrrrr!!!!!
Nick
Posted by: Nick | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Wow! April, thanks for saying that - i would never have said that but i totally agree. I hope you come back so you can tell me the name of that book!
Kahless, i really like the plants and animals and this whole planet. I consider the extinction of any creature a terrible loss whether human, tiger, whale, dodo, tasmanian tiger, as well as all the living things that are extinct but we don't know because they weren't discovered before their extinction. Isn't it strange how, just because we (humans) didn't/don't know it existed/s, it's not thought of as existing/ed at all? We really do seem to only acknowledge the things in which we can believe. That just seems so strange.
We do need to 'become' though and Tony's post does make everything, known and unknown together, appear to be one big living breathing organism. It could be that life isn't what we think it is, so when we look at a place like mars or venus, we just simply don't acknowledge the life we actually see when we look there. "Can't see/find it for looking"
This is a great post Tony! Boundry crossing is very tempting isn't it? 'Edgy'. I like suggestions.
roses
Posted by: roses | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Go on Nick. Offer the ham
roses
Posted by: roses | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Put a Tiger in your Tank and then maybe go hug a tree. The new generations will take on natures conservationalism unlike the previous generations only because they (before them) let it get so low on Tigers and other critters. I like your "world interest" post Grafitti.
kenoath
Posted by: kenoath | Sunday, 24 February 2008
In a small zoo near here - Mogo zoo - there's a breeding program for white lions. Yeah! Kind of like the 'save the Kimba foundation' - but it's really lovely Tony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHxrkVRR71I
I think the cubs are much older now than in this youtube though. Look at the fence.. i wonder who the fence keeps safe? Perhaps you're a fence sometimes? Just creating enough space offering both parties 'time' to gain perspective and work together to find some kind of solution?
If so... nice fencing!
roses
Posted by: roses | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Roses,
The book is Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universe, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension by Michio Kaku. Highly recommended if you are interested in the topic (quantum mechanics, unifying theory) but need it explained in something other than math equations.
Posted by: April | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Hello April,
Glad you liked the comment and I agree with your statement about not knowing what we are really seeing
Cheers
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Good news about West Ham Nick.
In Australia we have this figure known as Tony The Tiger and he is selling a breakfast cereal.
There is irony in there somewhere?
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Glad you liked the 'world interest' post kenoath.
I like that term tree hugger, not that I particularly see myself as being one.
Graffiti
Posted by: Graffiti | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Ohh April! Thanks for that! I like the blurb you gave it too...
"...if you are interested in the topic ... but need it explained in something other than math equations."
I so 'get' what you're saying! Thanks again
roses
Posted by: roses | Tuesday, 26 February 2008