The Off Topic Topic

[CountDeMoney]

Yeah, what makes animals so special? Just because they can move doesn't mean they "think" any better than plants do. Seriously, Ide, eat some shrimp.

I do eat shrimp.  Their nervous systems are probably not sufficiently advanced to generate any conscious qualia of pain.

You don't know that.  And I doubt you are a Shrimp Whisperer.

[mongers]

Yeah, what makes animals so special? Just because they can move doesn't mean they "think" any better than plants do. Seriously, Ide, eat some shrimp.

I do eat shrimp.  Their nervous systems are probably not sufficiently advanced to generate any conscious qualia of pain.

You don't know that.  And I doubt you are a Shrimp Whisperer.

Shush now, don't disturb the affectation.

[Josquius]

Shrimp does however taste bad

[Eddie Teach]

Shrimp tastes vastly different depending on how it's prepared.

[DGuller]

Shrimp does however taste bad

[mongers]

A new low in facebook 'communication' for me, a female acquaintance of mine sent me this message "habob", Bob is one version of my name, but what does this mean ?
I have so far resisted the temptation to reply in a Languish-like way.   

[Eddie Teach]

Depending on context it may mean "Hey Bob!" or "Ha, Bob" /snicker

[Ideologue]

Yeah, what makes animals so special? Just because they can move doesn't mean they "think" any better than plants do. Seriously, Ide, eat some shrimp.

I do eat shrimp.  Their nervous systems are probably not sufficiently advanced to generate any conscious qualia of pain.

You don't know that.  And I doubt you are a Shrimp Whisperer.

I said "probably."  They certainly exhibit nociception (that is, perception of negative stimuli), but so can machines.

What's disturbing is that some studies with arthropods indicate that they are capable of making trade-off decisions, i.e. accepting a negative stimulus in exchange for achieving some other goal.  This indicates that it in some arthropods, at least, responses to negative stimuli are not automatic, and that they are able to ignore negative stimuli if incentivized to do so, just like humans.  It only suggests, however, that they experience anything analogous to pain.  An unfeeling object could still react in the same manner.  Until we know exactly how conscious experience is mechanically achieved, we cannot know for sure; however, the simplicitly of arthropod nervous systems in comparison to vertebrate, or cephalopod, nervous systems, does not make a finding of consciousness obvious.  Whereas vertebrate and cephalopod brains are similar enough to human construction and human complexity that we can and really must assume the capacity for painful sensation.

I don't eat lobster, though.

[DGuller]

Note to self:  when the time comes, do not cuss out the judge.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/giggling-woman-flips-judge-bird-judge-not-amused-210739814.html

[Sheilbh]

The German education minister had her degree revoked for plagiarism.

Such a German scandal

[MadImmortalMan]

Note to self:  when the time comes, do not cuss out the judge.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/giggling-woman-flips-judge-bird-judge-not-amused-210739814.html

Wow. 

How did this chick get to be so full of herself that she thought that would fly? She's laughing about it. No humility at all, just...indignation?. This is probably the first time princess has ever been disciplined in her life.

[garbon]

Note to self:  when the time comes, do not cuss out the judge.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/giggling-woman-flips-judge-bird-judge-not-amused-210739814.html

Wow. 

How did this chick get to be so full of herself that she thought that would fly? She's laughing about it. No humility at all, just...indignation?. This is probably the first time princess has ever been disciplined in her life.

At the same time, it is a shame that we often have to feign respect for people.

[sbr]

Note to self:  when the time comes, do not cuss out the judge.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/giggling-woman-flips-judge-bird-judge-not-amused-210739814.html

Wow. 

How did this chick get to be so full of herself that she thought that would fly? She's laughing about it. No humility at all, just...indignation?. This is probably the first time princess has ever been disciplined in her life.

At the same time, it is a shame that we often have to feign respect for people.

You respect the position, not the person.

[garbon]

I think only respect certain positions.

[CountDeMoney]

I don't eat lobster, though.

Your loss.