Comments on: We once ate tiny pandas, says scientist in China http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 05:43:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557431 acerplatanoides Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557431 Well, that's like, your opinion, man Well, that’s like, your opinion, man

]]> By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557428 acerplatanoides Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557428  I find it difficult to believe that people have -ever- been any different. I find evidence of that impossible to locate. Have you got any? Sounds like you have hope. Hope is not proof. Life is proof.  I find it difficult to believe that people have -ever- been any different. I find evidence of that impossible to locate. Have you got any? Sounds like you have hope. Hope is not proof. Life is proof.

]]> By: Culturedropout http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557346 Culturedropout Tue, 16 Oct 2012 05:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557346 Why do you find this difficult to believe?  I have _never_ understood the attraction killing things seems to have for some people, and I grew up among the rednecks of western Nebraska.  Is it such a stretch to think that perhaps (even putting aside the fact that if they could barely survive, they probably had neither the time nor the energy to kill for sport) maybe ancient people gave a bit more thought to the things they did to other living creatures? Why do you find this difficult to believe?  I have _never_ understood the attraction killing things seems to have for some people, and I grew up among the rednecks of western Nebraska.  Is it such a stretch to think that perhaps (even putting aside the fact that if they could barely survive, they probably had neither the time nor the energy to kill for sport) maybe ancient people gave a bit more thought to the things they did to other living creatures?

]]> By: Ipo http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557272 Ipo Tue, 16 Oct 2012 02:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557272 We're talking about pandas.  Proie facile.  Without technology you would have run up to the panda and poked it with a long stick. Neither was hard to find in a bamboo forest. But we had technology when we, including Denisovans, first got there. Also, hunting used to be easy living when nature was plentiful.  Outside of Africa, where animals had evolved alongside our ancestors, the largest prey and the easiest prey were hunted into (near) extinction first.  Everywhere on the planet, as soon as we could get there.  Just one successful mastodon hunt in fall would get your ancestors family group through the winter.  Paleolithic hunters lived longer and were healthier than neolithic farmers.  Farming is constant work.  Constant work is not healthy.  Newer research suggests that paleolithic hunter-gatherers seem to have had an average life expectancy of above 70 years.  In the seventeenth century the average European lived around 40 years.  Currently the worlds average life expectancy is still below 70 years.  Hunting was a life of Sundays. We’re talking about pandas.  Proie facile. 
Without technology you would have run up to the panda and poked it with a long stick. Neither was hard to find in a bamboo forest.

But we had technology when we, including Denisovans, first got there.
Also, hunting used to be easy living when nature was plentiful.  Outside of Africa, where animals had evolved alongside our ancestors, the largest prey and the easiest prey were hunted into (near) extinction first. 
Everywhere on the planet, as soon as we could get there. 
Just one successful mastodon hunt in fall would get your ancestors family group through the winter. 
Paleolithic hunters lived longer and were healthier than neolithic farmers. 
Farming is constant work.  Constant work is not healthy. 
Newer research suggests that paleolithic hunter-gatherers seem to have had an average life expectancy of above 70 years. 
In the seventeenth century the average European lived around 40 years. 
Currently the worlds average life expectancy is still below 70 years. 

Hunting was a life of Sundays.

]]> By: Navin_Johnson http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557208 Navin_Johnson Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557208 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgame http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgame

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557177 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557177 How about the ancient Olympics then? How about the ancient Olympics then?

]]> By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557151 Guest Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557151 Ah, but that was called a "Circus", wasn't it? It wasn't sport to partake in, but rather an entertainment, presented by some caste or class of professionals or specialists, and, therefore, not "sport" as in how I understood the previous speaker. Ah, but that was called a “Circus”, wasn’t it? It wasn’t sport to partake in, but rather an entertainment, presented by some caste or class of professionals or specialists, and, therefore, not “sport” as in how I understood the previous speaker.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557144 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557144 <blockquote>On the other hand, the idea of "sports" as an activity for larger parts of the population only dates back a few centuries.</blockquote>What do you think was going on in the Flavian Amphitheater?

On the other hand, the idea of “sports” as an activity for larger parts of the population only dates back a few centuries.

What do you think was going on in the Flavian Amphitheater?

]]> By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557139 Guest Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557139 I would assume the ruling classes in classical antiquity certainly hunted for leisure or status; maybe even in prehistoric times. On the other hand, the idea of "sports" as an activity for larger parts of the population only dates back a few centuries. I would assume the ruling classes in classical antiquity certainly hunted for leisure or status; maybe even in prehistoric times. On the other hand, the idea of “sports” as an activity for larger parts of the population only dates back a few centuries.

]]> By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557129 Guest Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557129 I think it's a correct statement, not because our ancestors were more moral or more nature-loving, but because hunting and killing things without technology is pretty hard, singular exceptions notwithstanding. They simply could not afford waste. I think it’s a correct statement, not because our ancestors were more moral or more nature-loving, but because hunting and killing things without technology is pretty hard, singular exceptions notwithstanding. They simply could not afford waste.

]]> By: Navin_Johnson http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557116 Navin_Johnson Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557116 Are they good lovers? Are they good lovers?

]]> By: avraamov http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557114 avraamov Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557114  yeah. fuck 'em.  yeah. fuck ‘em.

]]> By: Ipo http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1557102 Ipo Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1557102 fta: <i>"<b>Prehistoric man</b> ate pandas in an area that is now part of the city of Chongqing in southwest China.  ...many excavated panda fossils showed that pandas were once slashed to death by man." "Pandas number about 1,600 in the wild, where they are critically endangered <b>due to poaching</b> and development. More than 300 live in captivity, mostly in China's breeding programs."</i>  Will they be safe once prehistoric man will go extinct? fta: “Prehistoric man ate pandas in an area that is now part of the city of Chongqing in southwest China.  …many excavated panda fossils showed that pandas were once slashed to death by man.”
“Pandas number about 1,600 in the wild, where they are critically
endangered due to poaching and development. More than 300 live in
captivity, mostly in China’s breeding programs.” 

Will they be safe once prehistoric man will go extinct?

]]> By: pupdog http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556977 pupdog Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556977 Herded by Tiny Cowboy(s) http://images.wikia.com/phineasandferb/images/c/c4/Meatloaf.jpg Herded by Tiny Cowboy(s)

http://images.wikia.com/phineasandferb/images/c/c4/Meatloaf.jpg

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556965 Brainspore Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556965 The Hasenpfeffer doesn't seem to have any such inhibitions. The Hasenpfeffer doesn’t seem to have any such inhibitions.

]]> By: angusm http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556956 angusm Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556956 No wonder pandas can't reproduce in captivity. Could you get it on under the watchful eye of a species that once thought of you as an appetizer? No wonder pandas can’t reproduce in captivity. Could you get it on under the watchful eye of a species that once thought of you as an appetizer?

]]> By: hymenopterid http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556883 hymenopterid Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556883 Well, If we're like cats, then it's when we stopped being hungry enough to eat what we just killed. Well, If we’re like cats, then it’s when we stopped being hungry enough to eat what we just killed.

]]> By: Navin_Johnson http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556871 Navin_Johnson Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556871 Panda Express c. 10,000 BC Panda Express c. 10,000 BC

]]> By: SedanChair http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556860 SedanChair Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556860 Yeah, that's a bold assumption. When exactly did humans begin to kill animals for sport? Yeah, that’s a bold assumption. When exactly did humans begin to kill animals for sport?

]]> By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556854 acerplatanoides Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556854  http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/wow-panda-1.jpg  http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/wow-panda-1.jpg

]]> By: tyger11 http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556841 tyger11 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556841 Pandas look delicious! Pandas look delicious!

]]> By: Seth E http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556837 Seth E Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556837 They were 'Finger Ling-Ling Good!' They were ‘Finger Ling-Ling Good!’

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556838 Brainspore Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556838 I'm pretty sure some cultures still send young warriors out to <a href="http://oi44.tinypic.com/16awbj6.jpg" rel="nofollow">hunt these fearsome beasts</a> as a rite of passage.  I’m pretty sure some cultures still send young warriors out to hunt these fearsome beasts as a rite of passage. 

]]> By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/we-once-ate-tiny-pandas-says.html#comment-1556830 acerplatanoides Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=187513#comment-1556830 "because our ancestors didn't kill things they didn't need for some survival purpose" well, that sounds a bit utopian. “because our ancestors didn’t kill things they didn’t need for some survival purpose”

well, that sounds a bit utopian.

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