Originally posted by Gorman91
I was thinking about doing something like this because too many people are locked into the belief that only humans and human-like creatures can do
what we can (greys, reptilians, etc, are always in ours shape and form). Thank you for this.
The one thing is the elephant drawing though. drawing is something that is basically a means to express thoughts to others who might not understand
you. And for an elephant in captivity to draw itself simply holding a flower is really questionable. that seems more like something trained than
something inherent. If the elephant had drawn something like itself in a field, or with other elephants, then maybe it would be from itself, but
holding a flower? You spend your life in a cage and you will only draw liberating images, not recreational things like holding a flower. Now yes, it
could be indicating freedom and the flower could represent nature, and itself finally getting nature, but this would be too complicated, as not even
some humans understand imagery or abstract elements through concrete symbols. An elephant in captivity would probably draw other elephants, or a
field, or something to remind it of home.
TRAINING!!!!
Well. I don't think people understand how animals carrying out things they are trained to do is another form of intelligence. My reasoning there is
due to the animal having to do a few things in order to become trained. Here is this particular case:
1. The elephant must first understand the concept that when he puts the paint brush to the paper, the paint sticks.
2. The then elephant has to understand the concept that when you put those lines into a certain place it makes a picture.
3. You have to understand what a picture is before you can draw one.
Or the ravens dropping the balls in a cup to get the food.
1. The raven will have to understand it cannot reach the food.
2. Then through human teaching probably, has to understand the concept that if it drops a rock in the cup it will make the food rise.
3. It has to understand if it drops more in the cup it will get it's food.
I'm sure you noticed that raven frantically looking around for another stone to drop in at the end once it notices how close the food is for the top.
Even an animal carrying out training requires intelligence, because they have to grasp concepts in order to carry out their training.
The dog that dials 911. Sure it was trained to do that but there's another problem. How does the dog know when to dial 911? If it was just carrying
out it's training wouldn't it dial 911 every chance it got?
The dog has to understand the concept of, when it's owner is in trouble hit this button and help will come.
Animals understand concepts! All we do by training them is give them knowledge.
YOU CANNOT FORGET that humans are nothing but trained animals. Let me explain.
When you are a child you have no concept of words, mathematics, etc etc.
You have to be trained to do math.
You have to be trained to read.
You have to be trained to write.
You are trained that when you make a crayon touch paper it makes things happen.
You have to be trained that a square block fits in a square hole.
We just happen to have a ton of training in every area through knowledge that our species has gained over time. If another species had accumulated all
their knowledge and trained each other (which I am sure they do on quite a few levels) then they would have the same kind of advantages and learning
curve.
All training is, is giving an animal a concept to carry out. It has to first understand that concept before it can carry out the training. The
understanding is the intelligence.
People do not understand that when they see an animal that is trained to do something, the very fact that it is doing that thing, and understanding
that concept is a huge sign of intelligence!!
[edit on 8-6-2009 by DaMod]
