That's honestly what creeps me out about them the most, is that something as smart as that doesn't have concepts we consider basic to intelligence like language and society They are completely alone, to a degree that none of us can understand
-
-
Show this thread
-
So, like, when they punch a fish out of "spite", do they understand the fish as a being similar to themselves, do they have a concept of resentment or blame, can they project feelings outward onto other entities the way we do?
Show this thread -
Most people act like the creepiest possible answer to this question is "yes" and that an octopus is a person like a human being -- I think it's far far creepier if the answer is "no"
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
Have you read Sy Montgomery's Soul of an Octopus? She describes them as tender and curious creatures. And what about how the mums literally give up their lives for their babies? I think the actual issue is that ppl too narrowly define these things. We're species-ist.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
The other major safety feature is that FIRE is pretty central to technology and anathema to aquatic life
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
Reminds me of of one of my fave Sci-horror novels, BLONDSIGHT. Don't want to spoil it, but the novel's thesis is that intelligence is a common element in the universe, but SAPIENCE is not. An alien learns to "talk" to us, but by rote, like a chatbot, just to slow us down.
-
'BLONDSIGHT' sounds like a very different novel
- Show replies
New conversation -
-
-
Hi Arthur! Fellow Swattie here & marine biologist! Hate to “well actually” but octopuses communicate using posture & skin color/texture. Their intelligence is def diff from ours (could even speculate abt relevance of short lifespans?) but I wouldn’t say they’re totally solitary
-
That said, this is an epic take. Maybe you’ve been reading too much Lovecraft?

- Show replies
New conversation -
-
-
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.