There are those who frown upon us cutesie dog lovers. There are those who say some people love their dogs more than they love their fellow humans. Who knows, they may have a point, but our relationship with canines goes much deeper than this. For forty thousand years, the human species has co-evolved with domesticated canines. Both species have benefited greatly from the interaction but alas, dogs have also lost out in many countries where they are classed now as vermin on the streets. Dogs were domesticated long before other animals, when we were hunter-gatherers, not farmers. And it wasn't us who domesticated them, it was them who affirmatively re-wilded us, reminding us, as a species, that we were 'of nature' and not outside nature. That message is even more urgent for us to heed today. Kennedy knows it. Trump might in time. It is no coincidence that modern 'environmentalists' see pets, at best as an indulgence, at worst as a meat-eating, carbon emitting threat to the planet which we must give up on if we are to prevent 'climate breakdown'.
I loved this - such an irreverent long view and contra-narrative. Thank you. I will look at my beloved dog in a very different way - and consequently the predominant world view!
I once read somethng about wolves...how they hunt, who leads the pack, who takes care of the old ...can you elaborate on wolves? Because I agree, we need more wolves.....
“If I wanted a one-sentence definition of human beings, this would do: humans are the animals that believe the stories they tell about themselves. Humans are credulous animals.” ~ Mark Rowlands
There are plethora competing stories. Narratives which are based on “The $cience™️” are one set of stories, aka myths. It’s just that the vast majority of (so-called) “smart” people -- ie people who are conformed to what the cultural institutions of (so-called) “higher learning” have indoctrinated them to believe -- have absolute trust in their belief in the scientific mythos.
All narratives -- epistemological, historical, scientific, ontological, political, religious, economic, etc -- are myths/stories. The intersections of our various subjective and objective (so-called) “realities” reveal that only that a small number of these myths/stories have received official sanction by the State.
You want “hostility”? Express logical, rational, reasonable skepticism in official State narratives, especially in what’s accepted without doubt as scientific.
Oh yes, they're all competing, but on a level playing field and the rules of engagement have been set in advance and the players have been hand-picked. We (the spectators) are told to remain in our seats. But what happens when the spectators invade the field and Outsiders - who missed out when the players were being hand-picked - also come onto the field to contest the rules and question the way the Game is going? We are probably going to find out very soon.
To back up your tectonics, there is a red sandstone quarry between Hopeman and Lossiemouth on the Moray coast and beside it a red coloured cave with an information board to the effect that the land in this area was once co-located with the Sahara. There is also a collection of slabs from the quarry imprinted with dinosaur footprints and tail drags.
I think the South (Brazil, Africa, Dixie) will survive because high-contact cultures are more dog than ape. Relationship first.
The low-contact cultures of the North (Yankees, Brits, Germans) are more ape than dog. The North is no longer reproducing. Nature is taking care of business.
However, looking at current events, I suspect that all the AGW hoaxers, all the other fantasists who can't define a woman and sundry sideshows are going to be sidelined by far more existential matters, well removed from the fantasy worlds of the Doom Goblin and her ilk!
If I don't miss my guess, interesting times are coming - fast.
This dog owner has always thought that dogs and humans are symbiotic, since that time round the camp fire when each knew they co9uld serve the other.
Wouldn't be without one. They ground us and make us more human.
There are those who frown upon us cutesie dog lovers. There are those who say some people love their dogs more than they love their fellow humans. Who knows, they may have a point, but our relationship with canines goes much deeper than this. For forty thousand years, the human species has co-evolved with domesticated canines. Both species have benefited greatly from the interaction but alas, dogs have also lost out in many countries where they are classed now as vermin on the streets. Dogs were domesticated long before other animals, when we were hunter-gatherers, not farmers. And it wasn't us who domesticated them, it was them who affirmatively re-wilded us, reminding us, as a species, that we were 'of nature' and not outside nature. That message is even more urgent for us to heed today. Kennedy knows it. Trump might in time. It is no coincidence that modern 'environmentalists' see pets, at best as an indulgence, at worst as a meat-eating, carbon emitting threat to the planet which we must give up on if we are to prevent 'climate breakdown'.
Spot on, Jaime!
I loved this - such an irreverent long view and contra-narrative. Thank you. I will look at my beloved dog in a very different way - and consequently the predominant world view!
That makes me very happy. Thank you.
Excellent. Lots to think about here. 👍🏻
And the credulous shall be culled and controlled by the scheming apes and dream of freedoms lost.
I once read somethng about wolves...how they hunt, who leads the pack, who takes care of the old ...can you elaborate on wolves? Because I agree, we need more wolves.....
I recommend you read 'The Philosopher and the Wolf', also 'In Defence of Dogs' by John Bradshaw.
Thanks. I think there are lessons we can learn from wolves...dogs also. Dogs are a gift to the human race IMHO.
“If I wanted a one-sentence definition of human beings, this would do: humans are the animals that believe the stories they tell about themselves. Humans are credulous animals.” ~ Mark Rowlands
There are plethora competing stories. Narratives which are based on “The $cience™️” are one set of stories, aka myths. It’s just that the vast majority of (so-called) “smart” people -- ie people who are conformed to what the cultural institutions of (so-called) “higher learning” have indoctrinated them to believe -- have absolute trust in their belief in the scientific mythos.
All narratives -- epistemological, historical, scientific, ontological, political, religious, economic, etc -- are myths/stories. The intersections of our various subjective and objective (so-called) “realities” reveal that only that a small number of these myths/stories have received official sanction by the State.
You want “hostility”? Express logical, rational, reasonable skepticism in official State narratives, especially in what’s accepted without doubt as scientific.
Oh yes, they're all competing, but on a level playing field and the rules of engagement have been set in advance and the players have been hand-picked. We (the spectators) are told to remain in our seats. But what happens when the spectators invade the field and Outsiders - who missed out when the players were being hand-picked - also come onto the field to contest the rules and question the way the Game is going? We are probably going to find out very soon.
WOW. The piece intertwines poetry, philosophy, history and inspiration. Definately biokmarked for frequent re-reading.
To back up your tectonics, there is a red sandstone quarry between Hopeman and Lossiemouth on the Moray coast and beside it a red coloured cave with an information board to the effect that the land in this area was once co-located with the Sahara. There is also a collection of slabs from the quarry imprinted with dinosaur footprints and tail drags.
It's profoundly sad that David Attenborough has lost it - he really was a National Treasure at one point.
As my late mother-in-law would have said: if you get a name for getting up in the morning, you can stay in bed all day.
I think the South (Brazil, Africa, Dixie) will survive because high-contact cultures are more dog than ape. Relationship first.
The low-contact cultures of the North (Yankees, Brits, Germans) are more ape than dog. The North is no longer reproducing. Nature is taking care of business.
Interesting piece, Jaime.
However, looking at current events, I suspect that all the AGW hoaxers, all the other fantasists who can't define a woman and sundry sideshows are going to be sidelined by far more existential matters, well removed from the fantasy worlds of the Doom Goblin and her ilk!
If I don't miss my guess, interesting times are coming - fast.