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1.  

   animals vs humans

   

   SF Company Joker, Dec 8th, 2011 @ 5:09pm

   
   

   I disagree. Animals aren't getting smarter, humans are getting dumber.
   
   Kardashians are on TV, 16 & Pregnant is a show and apparently the cupcakes are at war.

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2.  

   Re: animals vs humans

   

   Michael Ho (profile), Dec 8th, 2011 @ 5:29pm

   
   

   I wonder if anyone is tracking the "average intelligence" of the human population... it's quite possible that the median intelligence is trending downwards.

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3.  

   Re: Re: animals vs humans

   

   Jeff (profile), Dec 8th, 2011 @ 6:05pm

   
   

   trending??? No... the correct term is "free-falling"

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4.  

   

   Hip Hop Production, Dec 8th, 2011 @ 6:30pm

   
   

   The lack of intelligence of the human species is linked to too much tv. Therefore I blame television.

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5.  

   Re: Re: animals vs humans

   

   A Guy (profile), Dec 8th, 2011 @ 6:40pm

   
   

   Intelligence seems to be linked to some magical property akin to "the degree to which we like what you say, or how you say it."
   
   Before you can measure it, you need a rigorous definition of what you are measuring.

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6.  

   Animals Are Getting Smarter...

   

   Stupid is as stupid does, Dec 8th, 2011 @ 6:51pm

   
   

   After following OOTB's comments.... I have to disagree with that statement.

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7.  

   Just Look at Congress

   

   Anonymous Coward, Dec 8th, 2011 @ 7:43pm

   
   

   "Animals Are Getting Smarter..."
   
   Or maybe humans are just getting dumber...

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8.  

   

   Wayne, Dec 8th, 2011 @ 8:28pm

   
   

   Animals are not getting smarter, we are just (finally) figuring out that animals are more than simply "squishy robots". I think the idea that animals do not have intelligence will be looked back upon by future humans the same way as the idea that the earth is the center of the universe.

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9.  

   Re:

   

   Anonymous Coward, Dec 8th, 2011 @ 9:56pm

   
   

   I agree. They were always intelligent, we are just now better discovering their true intelligence.
   
   So they are adapting to new environments in new and intelligent ways. Doesn't make them any 'more' intelligent, they already had the intelligence to adapt to a changing environment before the environment changed but they didn't adapt (because they have no reason to) until after the environment changed. Doesn't make them any more intelligent, they just don't need to apply their pre- existing intelligence to adapt to a new environment before the environment changes. They're intelligent, not psychic.

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10.  

    Re: Re: animals vs humans

    

    Hephaestus (profile), Dec 8th, 2011 @ 10:23pm

    
    

    Michael
    
    You forgot a major one... Dolphins talk in images
    
    David

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11.  

    Re:

    

    Hephaestus (profile), Dec 8th, 2011 @ 10:25pm

    
    

    What do you mean the earth is not the center of the universe? Next thing you will be telling me is that the earth is shaped like a potato.

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12.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Dec 9th, 2011 @ 3:35am

    
    

    www.npr.org/2011/12/09/143304206/cagebreak-rats-will-work-to-free-a-trapped-pal
    
    Even rats are more empathetic than some people I know :)

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13.  

    Re: Re: Re: animals vs humans

    

    Michael Ho (profile), Dec 9th, 2011 @ 1:51pm

    
    

    David,
    
    These DailyDirts aren't supposed to be comprehensive... but I did mention dolphin communication in this one:
    http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090513/1026354871/dailydirt-talking-to-animals.shtml
    
    If you've got any more examples of cool animal communication techniques, I'd love to see 'em.
    
    Thanks!
    
    Mike

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14.  

    Chimps are dumb

    

    darryl, Dec 9th, 2011 @ 9:28pm

    
    

    Dogs are far more intelligent that chimps, they are also very skilled in human communications.
    
    Most humans can determine the nature of a dog bark from it's sound alone, therefore it is a very effective form of communication.
    
    Dogs are also expert at reading facial expressions and body language, also their 'mind map' of the world around them is based on smells.
    
    You could teach a dog to do something in 5 minutes that would simply be impossible with a chimp.
    
    Also lion ants throw things.

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15.  

    Re: Re:

    

    Anonymous Coward, Dec 9th, 2011 @ 9:38pm

    
    

    The earth is shaped like a potato !!!!.
    
    A round one...

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16.  

    Accuracy of Techdirt ??????? *NOT VERY*

    

    Darryl, Dec 9th, 2011 @ 9:47pm

    
    

    Since the sides of the pit consist of loose sand at its angle of repose,[10] they afford an insecure foothold to any small insects that inadvertently venture over the edge, such as ants. Slipping to the bottom, the prey is immediately seized by the lurking antlion; or if it attempts to scramble up the treacherous walls of the pit, it is speedily checked in its efforts and brought down by showers of loose sand which are thrown at it from below by the larva. By throwing up loose sand from the bottom of the pit, the larva also undermines the sides of the pit, causing them to collapse and bring the prey with them. Thus it does not matter whether the larva actually strikes the prey with the sand showers.
    
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antlion

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17.  

    Re: Re: Re: animals vs humans

    

    Anonymous Coward, Dec 9th, 2011 @ 9:57pm

    
    

    are you speaking from personal experience ?

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18.  

    A quote from one of my favorite movies

    

    Anonymous Coward, Dec 10th, 2011 @ 3:29pm

    
    

    F****n' scrugs. They're getting smarter all the time.

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