commodities or anthropomorphised? Digest Number 251

[Guest guest]

>

> Given that " wild " humans spend a third to a half of their lives as

> infants, and the parental bond does not break with time the way it

does

 

Eh?

 

I'm a bit confused (though get your general point)

 

What do you mean by 'wild humans'?

 

Don't most humans stop being 'infants' in western cultures at around

the age of 16?

 

If you mean less technological societies than ours where there is

greater and younger mortality are not children expected to fulfill

an adult role at a much younger age than 16?

 

 

Graham

[Guest guest]

quercusrobur2002 wrote:

>

> >

> > Given that " wild " humans spend a third to a half of their lives as

> > infants, and the parental bond does not break with time the way it

> does

>

> Eh?

>

> I'm a bit confused (though get your general point)

>

> What do you mean by 'wild humans'?

 

Ones without the full support network of a modern society prolonging

both their lifespan and their childhood.

 

> Don't most humans stop being 'infants' in western cultures at around

> the age of 16?

 

I didn't leave parental support until I was 21. This would be an example

of the prolonged childhood. I didn't leave full-time education until I

was 25.

 

> If you mean less technological societies than ours where there is

> greater and younger mortality are not children expected to fulfill

> an adult role at a much younger age than 16?

 

Yes, but they tend to die much younger, so they still have a

proportinately long childhood compared to other species. Plus, they tend

to stay in their family group for their whole lives.

 

Actually, I don't know all the facts on this. Which animals stay in

their birth family group for their whole lives?

 

> Graham

>

 

 

--

Ian McDonald

 

http://www.mcdonald.me.uk/

[Guest guest]

It probably depends on the lifespan and maturation time of infants Elephants

live as long as we do I believe and keep their young with them for many

years . Cows live for 25? years so maybe would keep their young with them

for less time Once an animal is mature there is no value in the parent

wanting to mother it

The parental bond needs to be strong so that the mother will protect her

young . it only needs to last till the animal can cope by itself

I think the parental bond does break with time . imo it is replaced with a

kind of friendship

Life of Brian calls !!!!

-

" Dr Ian McDonald " <ian

 

Sunday, March 03, 2002 12:58 PM

Re: commodities or anthropomorphised? Re: Digest

Number 251

 

 

>

>

> Angie Wright wrote:

> >

> > I agree with you that they should be able to be themselves . Seems

obvious

> > to me but so is the fact that eg mammals would suffer as much as I

would

> > the loss of an offspring .Most human beings don't seem to understand

that

> >

> > Angie

> >

>

> Given that " wild " humans spend a third to a half of their lives as

> infants, and the parental bond does not break with time the way it does

> in many other mammals, I suspect other mammals would suffer, but not as

> much as Angie, at the loss of an offspring.

>

> Of course, as I told an omni colleague this week, I'm sure the cow

> misses her calf more than I miss pizza.

>

> --

> Ian McDonald

>

> http://www.mcdonald.me.uk/

>

>

> To send an email to -

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kids can look after themselves from about 10- 12 years(except for earning

money !!!)

 

Angie

 

-

" quercusrobur2002 " <grahamburnett

 

Sunday, March 03, 2002 1:37 PM

commodities or anthropomorphised? Re: Digest Number

251

 

 

>

>

> Don't most humans stop being 'infants' in western cultures at around

> the age of 16?

>

> If you mean less technological societies than ours where there is

> greater and younger mortality are not children expected to fulfill

> an adult role at a much younger age than 16?

>

>

> Graham

>

>

>

> To send an email to -

>

>

[Guest guest]

Angie Wright wrote:

>

> It probably depends on the lifespan and maturation time of infants Elephants

> live as long as we do I believe and keep their young with them for many

> years . Cows live for 25? years so maybe would keep their young with them

> for less time Once an animal is mature there is no value in the parent

> wanting to mother it

 

Yup, Elephants occurred to me as another example of the same long

infancy.

 

 

--

Ian McDonald

 

http://www.mcdonald.me.uk/