A Thought Experiment: the TALKING DOG

Terry

I was just sitting here performing a little gedanken (thinking experiment) in my widdle head.

Imagine dogs could talk.

In one of our conversations our dog tells us that their hearing is so acute they can hear sounds we don't even know are there.

We acknowledge that this is true. Ultrasound is a fact of physics. We need machines to detect these sounds.

Next, the dog tells us that he can smell so many more things and more acutely we are vastly inferior in our sensory equipment.

We acknowledge this is true.

Our canine friend proceeds to inform us that dogs are waaaaay more loyal than humans are.

We agree.

Then, the dog tells us that Cats are alien beings from another planet that, throughout history, have been using Extra Sensory Perception to cause human conflict. Wars!

We blink.

We ask how this could possibly be true?

The dog calmly assures us that canines have a special sensory ability to detect these things just as they are able to do other things

humans fail to comprehend.

Should we--in such an unlikely scenario---trust Man's Best Friend?

What if that dog assures us the entire feline population is about to unite their special ESP powers to cause humanity to destroy itself in a nuclear war.

We ask frantically, "What should we do?"

The dog pauses for dramatic effect and replies: " Kill them all."

In view of the above, should we trust them and should we kill all the cats?

If "Yes", why?

If "No", why not?

Now, compare that talking dog to the role of the Governing Body in the Watchtower Religion. Or, to any priest, shaman, diviner, mystic, etc.

james_woods

Next, the dog tells us that he can smell so many more things and more acutely we are vastly inferior in our sensory equipment.

I would have stopped the dog right there, and tried to find out why they have to get their noses so close to other dogs poop to smell it. And, as a matter of fact - why they even WANT to smell it...

BTW, Terry - I wanted to post something on your NOAH/physics thread, but like the one yesterday, it just has two blank posts and nothing else.

Knowsnothing

Terry, on top of that you should add a sense of urgency, such as the cats will soon send signals into humans' brains to being WWIII. That parallels quite well with WT and apocalyptic groups.

OnTheWayOut

I think I am finely tuned to totally get what you are saying, Terry.

Regardless of it's special ability, we know it's just a dog. A dog that probably hates cats. It has learned how to mislead us for it's own benefit.

NO, we realize that no matter it's skills, it is probably lying. We recognize that life on this planet has not evolved to the point of having this sensory ability because we have learned how evolution works and has given dogs their smell and hearing and (in this case- imaginary) their ability to talk.

We have also learned how the Bible and other "Holy" writings came into existence, at least in a general sense. We have learned how people can have heightened senses and how people can even believe in their own ability to communicate with the spirit world. We have also learned about con-artists and those that would use position, power, and abilities to manipulate us to do things to their benefit. We need to be wary of following any priest, shaman, diviner, mystic, etc.

But at least we wouldn't need the spirit world to make sure the dog gets fed. He could just say he hasn't been fed. Still, he could be lying.

james_woods

Very well stated, OTWO.

Terry

BTW, Terry - I wanted to post something on your NOAH/physics thread, but like the one yesterday, it just has two blank posts and nothing else.

Just send me $25 and get your special Decoder Ring and you'll be able to not only READ my post; you'll be able to UNDERSTAND them as well!!

What Browser do you use? Have you tried Firefox (Mozilla)?

Band on the Run

I adore dogs and hate cats so it is hard to figure it out. One trait of dogs stands out for me in this discussion. Their hynoptic stares when they want to be walked or fed. They know how to wrap humans around their paws. I suppose cats serve some ecological purpose such as getting rid of rodents. Dogs could convince humans of almost anything. My dog used to bark at the plain air. I was convinced a gang of rapists/burglars were coming in the door b/c of the ferocity of dog barks, whelps, howls.

I would believe my dog as a presumption but if it went too far the presumption would be overcome. It is interesting how well cats and dogs get along when raised together.

james_woods

What Browser do you use? Have you tried Firefox (Mozilla)?

Microsoft Internet Explorer. I have to use what IBM gives me.

poppers

This is a little off topic, but it reminded me of a movie I just watched called Dean Spanley. Dog lover's will really enjoy it, but check it out even if you aren't one.

From Amazon: SYNOPSIS: Multiple Oscar nominee Peter O'Toole adds yet another offbeat role to his long resume with the mystical comedy-drama Dean Spanley. Adapted from Lord Dunsany's popular novella - My Talks with Dean Spanley and helmed by Toa Fraser, the film stars O'Toole as Horatio Fisk, an irascible, cantankerous septuagenarian living out his final days at the turn of the 20th Century. Despite his distant and slightly strained relationship with his son Henslowe (Jeremy Northam), Horatio willfully joins the young man on regular outings; the tedium and monotony of these routines eventually grow so overwhelming, however, that the two decide to attend a lecture on the Transmigration of Souls by a visiting Hindu Swami. At the meeting, their paths intersect with the eccentric Dean Spanley (Sam Neill), and a friendship blossoms between Spanley and Henslowe. When Spanley joins Henslowe for a private dinner, and accepts his invitation to sample a rare Hungarian wine known as the Imperial Tokay, Spanley instinctively brings forth reminiscences of a prior life lived out as a canine - and his recollections hold a rather bizarre connection to Horatio's familial past. ...Dean Spanley (2008) ( My Talks with Dean Spanley)

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I woudn't describe it as a comedy though there are moments of humor. It takes a while for it to get going, but the wait is worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/Spanley-Talks-NON-USA-FORMAT-Blu-Ray/dp/B006GXGDK6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1326395529&sr=8-5

Terry

Peter O'Toole is my favorite actor! Thank you.

Have you ever seen his THE RULING CLASS?

A Thought Experiment: the TALKING DOG

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