News Stories

[Mr_Paper]

Originally Posted by Vexx

To anyone following neurological research and brain science, this idea is overdue in serious circles and may start getting some traction. However, I expect the blowback to be strong from several factions against the idea.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6973994.ece
(Basically, science is saying "dolphins are people" in terms of consciousness, emotion, sense of self, and capability - moral, ethic issues, discuss )

I'm reminded of a particular episode of the Simpsons...

[MrTerrorist]

Women's tears reduce men's sexual desire - scientists

[synaesthetic]

Why the need to classify a dolphin as a person?

Are we (people) no longer animals? Of course not. We're not only still animals, but we're still apes!

So dolphins should just be dolphins. That doesn't make them less intelligent, nor does it make it okay for humans to slaughter them for no apparent reason (like any other animal).

[Ash Falls Town]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Why the need to classify a dolphin as a person?

Are we (people) no longer animals? Of course not. We're not only still animals, but we're still apes!

The word person/people has a different meaning to the word human.

People include things like elves and hobbits and the like. The article is basically putting dolphins on the same level as merfolk (except real).
It's an issue on sentience basically.

[ZephyrLeanne]

Originally Posted by Vexx

To anyone following neurological research and brain science, this idea is overdue in serious circles and may start getting some traction. However, I expect the blowback to be strong from several factions against the idea.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6973994.ece
(Basically, science is saying "dolphins are people" in terms of consciousness, emotion, sense of self, and capability - moral, ethic issues, discuss )

Get ready for Bible-thumpers...

[Asuras]

Originally Posted by Ash Falls Town

The word person/people has a different meaning to the word human.

People include things like elves and hobbits and the like. The article is basically putting dolphins on the same level as merfolk (except real).
It's an issue on sentience basically.

I agree here. To me, a person doesn't necessarily stick with anthropomorphic creatures, but rather, things with a consciousness. Something with human mental qualities.

Now we just need to engineer dolphins with hands and give them sticks.

[ganbaru]

Canadian sentenced for perjury in Air India bombing
http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNew...7065HG20110107

After all those years...

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by Vexx

To anyone following neurological research and brain science, this idea is overdue in serious circles and may start getting some traction. However, I expect the blowback to be strong from several factions against the idea.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6973994.ece
(Basically, science is saying "dolphins are people" in terms of consciousness, emotion, sense of self, and capability - moral, ethic issues, discuss )

...

So, what do we do about that gang rape they indulge in? Do we, like, hand them prison sentence in marine lands or something? (After releasing the innocent ones, of course.)

[Frenchie]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

...

So, what do we do about that gang rape they indulge in? Do we, like, hand them prison sentence in marine lands or something? (After releasing the innocent ones, of course.)

Having morals or ethics doesn't mean they are in any way similar to ours, or that we should judge them according to our own set of beliefs/morals.

[ChainLegacy]

Originally Posted by Frenchie

Having morals or ethics doesn't mean they are in any way similar to ours, or that we should judge them according to our own set of beliefs/morals.

Even so, Anh_Minh brings up an interesting point. If they are 'people,' then they are capable of being both good and bad, at least according to the way we judge ourselves. Not that this point has any real-world implications, but if we're going to philosophically categorize them as 'people,' then suddenly they become culpable for their actions, at least philosophically-speaking.

Also, this certainly does not come as a surprise to me. The kind of cooperation dolphins use when hunting is simply astounding, and definitely seems to require complex thinking and communication to pull off. I remember watching a documentary on Orcas, and how they lined up together in perfect timing to 'create' a wave that would push a sea lion off of the ice and into the water where they could eat him. That's just not possible to do without some kind of language.

Here's an article talking about the orca hunting method I just mentioned above :

Orca hunting article

[Asuras]

USA Arizona Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot in the head by armed gunman during a speech in front of Northern Tuscon Safeway. Confirmed 5 other people wounded by same gunman. Gunman was tackled by several speech-goers and Giffords' condition is unknown. Information gathered by way of television MSNBC.

I swear to god, Right to Bear Arms is such a stupid right.

[flying ^]

http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonor...ead-in-tucson/ (!!!)

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by Asuras

USA Arizona Congresswoman Gabriella Giffer shot by armed gunman during a speech in front of Northern Tuscon Safeway. Confirmed 5 other people wounded by same gunman. Gunman was tackled by several speech-goers and Giffer's condition is unknown. Information gathered by way of television MSNBC.

I swear to god, Right to Bear Arms is such a stupid right.

she is guaranteed reelection if she survives.

[flying ^]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

she is guaranteed reelection if she survives.

no

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head and killed outside a grocery store in Tucson while holding a public event, Arizona Public Media reported Saturday.

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/08/132764...hot-in-arizona

[Kamui4356]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

she is guaranteed reelection if she survives.

Not necessarily. Tuscon is one of the more liberal areas, but it's been going further to the right since I've been out here. She had a very tough reelection campaign and only won by a slim margin.

Originally Posted by flying ^

no

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head and killed outside a grocery store in Tucson while holding a public event, Arizona Public Media reported Saturday.

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/08/132764...hot-in-arizona

Any conformation on that? CNN, MSNBC, and Fox haven't reported her dying yet. *flipping between the channels atm*

Edit: Fox is reporting she's dead as well now.

[GundamFan0083]

Geez, this weekend has certainly gotten off to an insane start.

First the Congresswoman, now this:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/m...zJTXgwRyIEOP0L

[flying ^]

Originally Posted by Kamui4356

Any conformation on that? CNN, MSNBC, and Fox haven't reported her dying yet. *flipping between the channels atm*

sherrif being interviewd on msnbc confirms it

[Kamui4356]

Originally Posted by flying ^

sherrif being interviewd on msnbc confirms it

CNN and fox are as well now. It's a shame. As politicians go, she wasn't bad. She was at least consistent in her positions.

[GundamFan0083]

I just did a little checking on Gabrielle Giffords.
She was a strong supporter of securing the AZ border and stopping the flow of illegal aliens into this country.

http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/2...99s-latest-ad/

I think before anyone starts pointing fingers at the culprits we'd better wait and see who this shooter is.

[Asuras]

6 people killed besides her and at least 6 others wounded.