Comments on: Dolphin seeks help http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 13:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Kevin Reid http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1636007 Kevin Reid Thu, 24 Jan 2013 04:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1636007 I think that one's dead. How about complaining about programmers' and fans' use of “canon(ical)”? I think that one’s dead. How about complaining about programmers’ and fans’ use of “canon(ical)”?

]]> By: CLamb http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1635565 CLamb Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1635565  The intro specifically warned against "lay persons" doing this and pointed out those in the video were "professional divers".  I couldn't help but think how lucky that dolphin was to encounter a group of priests being paid to dive.  The intro specifically warned against “lay persons” doing this and pointed out those in the video were “professional divers”.  I couldn’t help but think how lucky that dolphin was to encounter a group of priests being paid to dive.

]]> By: Mr. Son http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1635002 Mr. Son Wed, 23 Jan 2013 06:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1635002 Ha! Yes, that is better. Thanks for the correction. Ha! Yes, that is better. Thanks for the correction.

]]> By: Sasha http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634878 Sasha Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634878 Big jump for idiots, perhaps. Big jump for idiots, perhaps.

]]> By: SovereignEntity http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634578 SovereignEntity Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634578 Sick and wounded animals often come to those that they sense can help. Animals can sense allot about human character and intentions. My friends animal sanctuary has animals turn up from far and wide and nearly at deaths door. These are mostly birds but all kinds show up, wild pigs, etc. Its definitely some sort of phenomena. Sick and wounded animals find it and get help and get released back into the bush. I am not claiming that the animals know, what I know, but the "word" is out that her small sanctuary is safe. My beliefs were challenged but I can say for sure. There is some science behind it. Rupert Sheldrake has done some work on Human and Animal Telepathy that is stunning. http://www.sheldrake.org/B&R/videostream/ Sick and wounded animals often come to those that they sense can help.
Animals can sense allot about human character and intentions.

My friends animal sanctuary has animals turn up from far and wide and nearly at deaths door.
These are mostly birds but all kinds show up, wild pigs, etc.
Its definitely some sort of phenomena.
Sick and wounded animals find it and get help and get released back into the bush.
I am not claiming that the animals know, what I know, but the “word” is out that her small sanctuary is safe.
My beliefs were challenged but I can say for sure.

There is some science behind it.
Rupert Sheldrake has done some work on Human and Animal Telepathy that is stunning.
http://www.sheldrake.org/B&R/videostream/

]]> By: Shibi_SF http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634532 Shibi_SF Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634532 I've watched this twice now and both times I've teared up.  (Bah, I'll try to be snarky later to make up for it.) I’ve watched this twice now and both times I’ve teared up.  (Bah, I’ll try to be snarky later to make up for it.)

]]> By: Stone_Monkey http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634516 Stone_Monkey Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634516 I suspect it was more like: "Hey you! Yeah, I'm talking to you Monkey Boy! Bring those opposable thumbs over here and make yourself useful for once. And if you sort this out for me my bros over there won't beat you to death. Or molest you... Not today anyway." I suspect it was more like:

“Hey you! Yeah, I’m talking to you Monkey Boy! Bring those opposable thumbs over here and make yourself useful for once. And if you sort this out for me my bros over there won’t beat you to death. Or molest you… Not today anyway.”

]]> By: John Fleming http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634388 John Fleming Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634388 <i>Ultimately, I suppose the only one likely to know for certain, is a dolphin <strike>behaviorist</strike></i>. Fixed it for you! Ultimately, I suppose the only one likely to know for certain, is a dolphin behaviorist.

Fixed it for you!

]]> By: welcomeabored http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634389 welcomeabored Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634389 I can believe the dolphin was curious, and if it's ability to catch food was impaired, it may have been in a weakened state.  I can believe it understood the humans to be non-threatening and even helpful through past observations.  The dolphin may or may not have sought the humans out directly for help, but 'allowed' for the intervention or didn't put up a defense, in that the diver seemed to be doing what the dolphin itself was trying to do - dislodge the hook. I can believe the dolphin was curious, and if it’s ability to catch food was impaired, it may have been in a weakened state.  I can believe it understood the humans to be non-threatening and even helpful through past observations.  The dolphin may or may not have sought the humans out directly for help, but ‘allowed’ for the intervention or didn’t put up a defense, in that the diver seemed to be doing what the dolphin itself was trying to do – dislodge the hook.

]]> By: Mr. Son http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634345 Mr. Son Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634345 It just seems very dismissive to call it a "grand leap" and say seeking assistance for injury outside ones species is a "higher motivation" when we know simpler animals who do the same thing. Waving a plausible idea away as "humanizing" an animal just because there's another possible answer that seems more "animalistic" just feels to me like a flaw of logic. Ultimately, I suppose the only one likely to know for certain, is a dolphin behaviorist. It just seems very dismissive to call it a “grand leap” and say seeking assistance for injury outside ones species is a “higher motivation” when we know simpler animals who do the same thing. Waving a plausible idea away as “humanizing” an animal just because there’s another possible answer that seems more “animalistic” just feels to me like a flaw of logic.

Ultimately, I suppose the only one likely to know for certain, is a dolphin behaviorist.

]]> By: Rider http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634250 Rider Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634250 Yes and it reminds me of many more shots I have seen of curious dolphins and seals.  That the problem with making these grand leaps, it's very very open to interpretation and people are drawn to mistakenly trying to attach higher motivation to things. Yes and it reminds me of many more shots I have seen of curious dolphins and seals.  That the problem with making these grand leaps, it’s very very open to interpretation and people are drawn to mistakenly trying to attach higher motivation to things.

]]> By: robcat2075 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634235 robcat2075 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634235 the manta rays would freak me out. There's a scene in a recent submarine movie, I forget the title, where they have to go outside the hull to fix something and they get swarmed by giant manta rays. I thought it was preposterous but now that I've seen this footage, i think "ok, maybe..." the manta rays would freak me out.

There’s a scene in a recent submarine movie, I forget the title, where they have to go outside the hull to fix something and they get swarmed by giant manta rays. I thought it was preposterous but now that I’ve seen this footage, i think “ok, maybe…”

]]> By: Mr. Son http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634180 Mr. Son Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634180  Do you watch much nature documentaries on creatures of the oceans? 'Cause that reminded me a LOT of footage I've seen of fish submitting themselves to cleaner fish and seagulls for parasite removal. Especially the way the dolphin not only returns repeatedly, but rolls over and stops to drift belly-up next to the diver.  Do you watch much nature documentaries on creatures of the oceans? ‘Cause that reminded me a LOT of footage I’ve seen of fish submitting themselves to cleaner fish and seagulls for parasite removal. Especially the way the dolphin not only returns repeatedly, but rolls over and stops to drift belly-up next to the diver.

]]> By: John Fleming http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634165 John Fleming Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634165 Then I agree with the basic message of the episode.  The whale probably wasn't performing a ritual thank you dance (or whatever it was purported to be doing).  But I don't believe that the capacity to "ask" for help and (to an extent) empathy are exclusively human qualities.  Again, haven't listened to the episode, but I'm not at all surprised that a behaviorist tried to explain away an internal mental state. Then I agree with the basic message of the episode.  The whale probably wasn’t performing a ritual thank you dance (or whatever it was purported to be doing).  But I don’t believe that the capacity to “ask” for help and (to an extent) empathy are exclusively human qualities.  Again, haven’t listened to the episode, but I’m not at all surprised that a behaviorist tried to explain away an internal mental state.

]]> By: Rider http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634152 Rider Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634152 You can't put human thoughts and emotions into the mind of animals is the basic message of the hour long episode. You can’t put human thoughts and emotions into the mind of animals is the basic message of the hour long episode.

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634142 Lemoutan Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634142 I thought the "Leave this to the experts" stuff at the beginning was a bit much and uncalled for. But by the end I'm finding I'm genuinely worried about syndromes Munchausen-by-Proxy and Hero jumping a species barrier. Now I feel bad because I'm not normally that jaundiced about humanity. I thought the “Leave this to the experts” stuff at the beginning was a bit much and uncalled for. But by the end I’m finding I’m genuinely worried about syndromes Munchausen-by-Proxy and Hero jumping a species barrier. Now I feel bad because I’m not normally that jaundiced about humanity.

]]> By: laen http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634128 laen Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634128  The music almost killed it for me.  The music almost killed it for me.

]]> By: Navin_Johnson http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634101 Navin_Johnson Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634101  <i>have you ever had a fishhook stuck in you?</i> I've lost count how many times. It sucks.  have you ever had a fishhook stuck in you?

I’ve lost count how many times. It sucks.

]]> By: Cathal Mc Ginley http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634077 Cathal Mc Ginley Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634077 I thought the bit at 3:50, where it hangs upside-down and presents its tangled fin to the diver was a pretty clear request for intervention. And yes, it seems it knew the humans were trying to help it. I thought the bit at 3:50, where it hangs upside-down and presents its tangled fin to the diver was a pretty clear request for intervention. And yes, it seems it knew the humans were trying to help it.

]]> By: John Fleming http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634066 John Fleming Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634066 I'm at work, and can't listen to the episode.  What's the real story? I’m at work, and can’t listen to the episode.  What’s the real story?

]]> By: cooljames http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634047 cooljames Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634047 Calling all Octonauts! Kwazii, Peso, Shellington, Dashi, Inkling, Tweak!  Tunip! Ahem. Kwazii, Activate Creature Report!  Creature Report! Creature Report! (creature report!) Facts: The dolphin had his fin all stuck (check check check) It seemed that he was really fucked (check check check) Till scuba man could cut the line (creature report creature report) And now the dolphin's swimming fine (creature report creature report) Thank god they got it all on tape (check check check) To prove that injured dolphins are smarter than some apes Dance Break!  Clap clap clap. Clap clap. Clap clap clap. Clap clap. Clap clap clap. Clap clap. Go dolphin! Go dolphin! Go dolphin! Creature Report! Creature Report! (creature report) We're done with our mission, Octonauts at ease (clap clap) until the next adventure! Calling all Octonauts!

Kwazii, Peso, Shellington, Dashi, Inkling, Tweak! 

Tunip!

Ahem. Kwazii, Activate Creature Report! 
Creature Report! Creature Report! (creature report!)

Facts:

The dolphin had his fin all stuck (check check check)
It seemed that he was really fucked (check check check)
Till scuba man could cut the line (creature report creature report)
And now the dolphin’s swimming fine (creature report creature report)
Thank god they got it all on tape (check check check)
To prove that injured dolphins are smarter than some apes

Dance Break! 
Clap clap clap. Clap clap.
Clap clap clap. Clap clap.
Clap clap clap. Clap clap.

Go dolphin! Go dolphin! Go dolphin!

Creature Report! Creature Report! (creature report)
We’re done with our mission, Octonauts at ease (clap clap) until the next adventure!

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634045 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634045 Given that this is a dolphin, the request is probably more along the lines of "Fix this shit before I beat you to death like a baby porpoise that owes me money." Given that this is a dolphin, the request is probably more along the lines of “Fix this shit before I beat you to death like a baby porpoise that owes me money.”

]]> By: thunderhammer http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634026 thunderhammer Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634026 Allow me to respond in the form of a haiku snark snark snark snark snark snark snark snark snark snark snark snark snark snark snark ha ha Allow me to respond in the form of a haiku
snark snark snark snark snark
snark snark snark snark snark snark snark
snark snark snark ha ha

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634025 oasisob1 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634025 No of course not. I'm glad the divers were able to remove the hook, and I'm sure the dolphin appreciated it. No of course not. I’m glad the divers were able to remove the hook, and I’m sure the dolphin appreciated it.

]]> By: Rider http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634013 Rider Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634013 There is a great episode of Radiolab where a similar story happens with a whale.  They interview an animal behaviorist and get the real story. http://www.radiolab.org/2010/jan/11/ There is a great episode of Radiolab where a similar story happens with a whale.  They interview an animal behaviorist and get the real story.

http://www.radiolab.org/2010/jan/11/

]]> By: Magnus Redin http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1634002 Magnus Redin Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1634002  No  No

]]> By: Jason http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1633998 Jason Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1633998 So much snark. Was I the only one emotionally impacted by this? So much snark. Was I the only one emotionally impacted by this?

]]> By: John Fleming http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1633990 John Fleming Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1633990 If my cat can lead me directly to its water dish and meow until I refill it, a dolphin (whose encephalization quotient is second only to mine) can seek assistance. If my cat can lead me directly to its water dish and meow until I refill it, a dolphin (whose encephalization quotient is second only to mine) can seek assistance.

]]> By: manybellsdown http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1633985 manybellsdown Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1633985 But consider that the dolphin hangs out and lets them tug on the hook and the fishing line.  That had to HURT - have you ever had a fishhook stuck in you?  A natural animal response would have been to bite the guy.  Instead he comes back and lets them try again. But consider that the dolphin hangs out and lets them tug on the hook and the fishing line.  That had to HURT – have you ever had a fishhook stuck in you?  A natural animal response would have been to bite the guy.  Instead he comes back and lets them try again.

]]> By: mrtut http://boingboing.net/2013/01/22/dolphin-seeks-help.html#comment-1633979 mrtut Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=207570#comment-1633979 Did it ask them to stop playing that muzak? Did it ask them to stop playing that muzak?

]]>