There's got to be a story (or two or seventeen) in that.
Posted by Leigh (Member # 2901) on :
You'd have to be a VERY creative writer to write that. Then again, right now I can't think because of only 9 hours sleep in the last 72 hours. Stupid books...
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
People celebrate the oddest holidays...I always thought March 3rd, like most days, comes only once a year. Isn't that enough reason to celebrate?
Posted by Ted Galacci (Member # 3254) on :
If dogs had opposable thumbs the first thing you want to do is teach them to wash their hands. They would be picking up all kinds of gross things and smelling them. "Fido, put that down! Kaka!"
[This message has been edited by Ted Galacci (edited March 05, 2006).]
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
You also have to consider the issue of raw muscle power and intelligence, even assuming that your cat or dog were granted the proper neural wiring to use the opposable digit.
If a pet were granted human baseline or higher intelligence, that would make a much larger difference and be much more interesting.
Posted by rstegman (Member # 3233) on :
can you say, monkey?????
Posted by Ted Galacci (Member # 3254) on :
What Survivor is describing would greatly resemble a baboon.
Did anyone else catch the weird story about the troop of baboons in Arabia who recognize and stone the car of a man who ran over one of their number?
Posted by Corky (Member # 2714) on :
I just know that my cat would give anything to have opposable thumbs. She's always trying to pick up pencils (so she can chew on the ends, not so she can write with them--as far as I know, anyway).
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
Most cats can manage picking up pencils easily enough, your's might be defective
On the subject of a dog (or cat) with human level intelligence mostly acting like a baboon...even I am not that down on humans. If you mean that a dog with an opposable thumb would be capable of throwing rocks with any facility...I think you're mistaking the physical structures that allow a primate to throw things. That has a lot more to do with the shoulder than with the design of the hand.
I'll give you all a challenge. Try and think of something that a dog or cat might like to do (like opening a door or picking up a pencil and sticking the end in your mouth), and see whether you can do it without using your thumbs. If you find yourself stuck on something, ask yourself honestly whether it's something a dog or cat might try to do if it wasn't as smart as a human.
Posted by rstegman (Member # 3233) on :
I just had to give the concept a try, writing a bit on it. It is not good, but this is the link to my attempt. It is the sixth note (they are numbered).
