[lit-ideas] Re: I think I'll come back as a squirrel next time
- From: Andy Amago <aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 14:00:45 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Kirschenbaum <carolkir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Aug 28, 2004 12:00 PM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: I think I'll come back as a squirrel next time
> A life of sisyphusistic nut lugging, while threatened by dogs, foxes,
fleas,
> eagles, snakes and rabies?
A.A. Why is it so hard to believe that animals can be, in fact, are, happy?
The deer that come to my yard don't look miserable. In fact, there is a mom
and two fawns (young, with spots) that regularly come by to eat the wild
apples. Others too, but in this particular family one of the fawns will run in
circles at top speed. I've seen it on a number of occasions. Clearly, at
least to me, this fawn is running for the joy running brings. Carol, of
course, will say this fawn is acting demented or nervous. Scared perhaps,
waiting for the joy that copulating will one day bring it. But conisder this.
They eat their apples, the fawns will run, but as soon as I make myself known,
then they all stop and stare at me. If I get silent, they will continue eating
and (yes, Carol) playing. If I talk to them, they will run away into the
woods. So, Carol, why is this fawn running in circles at top speed? What form
of miserable behavior is it exhibiting?
Andy
ck: No wonder squirrels look nervous! But Andy envies these squirrelly,
antsy little creatures because their compulsive behavior shows that they're
so gosh darn happy.
As Andy says, expressing an anthropomorphism rarely expressed outside of
children's books, "They *love* what they do, or they would have killed
themselves long ago."
A.A. Brilliant observation Carol, that saying a squirrel enjoys doing
something is anthropomorphic, but saying it looks nervous is not
anthropomorphic. I like it.
C.K. I gather that Andy believes lab rats on running wheels are happy, or they
wouldn't stay on those wheels or run those mazes. Any creature doing its
natural rutting thing is happy. By this easy definition of happiness, every
critter on the planet is happiest when copulating. And that may be the truth
of it. Maybe Sisyphus an the oracle had an arrangement behind the rock.
A.A. And I gather that the lab rats you know throw themselves in the cages,
lock the doors, and force themselves to run those mazes, which accounts for
their unhappiness. I like that too. Actually, you're right. The two drives
of life on earth are food and copulation, which would leave all animals
deliriousy happy, including humans, at least the ones who are "getting enough".
BTW, how do you define happiness?
Andy Amago
weekending,
Carol
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