#coexisting with science

[unmerrymagdalene]

I cannot for the life of me find the post, but it was a screenshot of the Sex Tape scene in Science class. And Sirris says something like “I want you (guys) to know what sex really looks like. Humans are animals, after all.”

And I think it made something very obvious click for me?

Of course Sirris is like that when it comes to sex/sex education. They’re either taking it from a scientific perspective, where showing live examples of animals mating is understandable for educational purposes. Or even just from a “You’ll only really learn by experiencing/seeing it for yourself” way. It’s very blunt and “realistic.”

But it also made me realize that Sirris definitely does not talk about the emotional aspects of sex? I know that sounds fucking bonkers to mention considering the game, but they focus more on the act than like…the possible mindset/thoughts surrounding it? I feel like that’d be an equally important thing to explore, if they were discussing sex from a human being perspective.

But I guess humans are just animals after all

[balkanradfem]

I started reading the book 'Pests' by Bethany Brookshire. I thought it would be a book filled with information on how to protect your garden without causing any harm to animals. I could not have been more wrong, but soon it didn't matter, because I was drawn in immediately. This book is written by a brilliant scientist, who presents to you, the history, the data, the results and the cultural context of pests all around the world. It starts with squirrels, but then goes on to talk about pythons, pigeons, cats, rats, mice, frogs, coyotes, wolves, elephants, dogs, raccoons, deer, bears – and how they've been seen as a pest, most often for no fault of their own.

I learned about the numerous ways people in the past have created a 'pest' problem for themselves, and how they went on resolving it, and honestly I was shocked  at the most of it. I did not know that human scientists developed specific plagues for animals in order to get rid of them. I also had no idea how quickly humans turned the perception of a certain animal from 'useful' to 'pest', without even realizing they're responsible for the behaviour of the animal in the first place. Also the number of times humans have attempted to introduce a predator in order to get rid of an invasive species – only to immediately cause a new invasive species, absolutely incredible.

I was surprised to find out that some specific animals could be pests at all, for example, elephants. Absorbing the information presented to me thus far, I thought elephants were nothing short of wonderful and welcome in anyone's life – but, the story describes them eating the entire fields worth of grain, in only one night. And due to their size, they're unstoppable. They've destroyed houses, and even killed people, as a result of trying to get to the food. The elephants are a protected species, so the locals have been forced to develop different way of co-existing, namely, to stop growing grain and try to find different ways of survival and sustenance. There have been numerous other attempts to protect the fields from them, but how would you protect anything from an elephant? The only thing they're scared of, are bees. And if there's food to be gained, they'll overcome the fear of the bees too.

Did you know that if mice multiply too much, they'll have a mice plague that will wipe them out, without human interference?  Mice and rats are described as the animals closest to us – because they live where we live, eat what we eat, and learn whatever it takes to find their way in the land of humans. And it seems, we have the same problems as well.

One of my favourite little piece of knowledge in this book: the scientists studying the snakes in a lab name the snakes after Slytherins – so they have Snape, Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Bellatrix. It was amazing to listen about Snape the snake.

The author of this book is incredibly unbiased, and shows her love for every animal mentioned, but also understanding and compassion for people who have felt wronged, violated, helpless and cornered by the animal, and how awful it feels to not be able to protect their homes and livelihoods from an animal invading their territory. In author's mind, the animals are not at fault, because all they've been trying to do is survive, get to the source of food, for them this is foraging. For us, it's nature taking from us what we intended for ourselves.

The problem of seeing animals as pests, comes often from the perception of us being the dominating species, and having the right to remove or introduce or change animals, by how convenient and pleasing we find them. She sourced the problems from negative experiences, loss, violation and danger, but also from culture, colonialism, religion, behaviours of the people around us. Most children have no concept of danger or pests – babies in a study would reach out curiously seeing a picture of snake. Perception of which animal is good and which one is bad, comes with culture, experience and the behaviour of everyone else around it. And our collective perception comes from whether the animal is rare, whether it lives close to us, if we have to adjust our lives because of it or not, if we have had negative experiences or not, whether it can hurt us, whether we have something the animal wants (food) and tries to get from us.

I recommend this book to anyone who'd like to know more about the history of humans trying to live alongside – or refusing to live alongside certain animals. And anyone dealing with any kind of pest, or just not understanding why animals act the way they do around humans.

I come out from reading this, feeling no more wise on how to keep the pests out – except for, don't leave the food outside the house where animals can get to it, that's the #1 reason for most scenarios – but feeling way more understanding and at ease about animals that are perceived as pests. I know solutions  that have been tried to deal with them, I know what didn't work, and I know how badly some collective solutions can become. I understand we need to find a way to live with them as our neighbours, not enemies, not violators of our property. And most often, just being responsible about where you leave your food, how much animals you tempt to come close to you, how you reward them for interacting with you, is more than a half of the solution.

[magnetothemagnificent]

Thoughts on creationist?

I'm going to assume you mean "Creationism".

Now, this might make some of my colleagues in the anthropology sphere upset......but I literally don't care about the existence of Creationists. If someone believes that the Earth is only 6000 years old, or that evolution isn't real, etc, it's really none of my business what they believe. Every culture is entitled to their origin stories, and as long as they're not hurting anyone with their beliefs, it's not my place to try and suppress them.

I believe that the Earth is far old than 6000 years old and that evolution is real. I believe that the universe started from the collision of hydrogen atoms, and that it took millions and billions of years for the Earth to become what it is today. But I also believe that the entity that started everything, that put this process into action and continues to allow the universe to exist- is G-d. For me, learning about science makes me believe in G-d more.

But...there are those that don't believe in a G-d, or don't believe the universe is as old as science says it is. And that's okay. I'm not going to tell Creationists that they're wrong anymore than I'm not going to go to other cultures and say that their creation stories are wrong. As an anthropologist, I respect all cultures and I exist to study and empower them, not to put them down or try to change them.

Now, just like I don't mock Creationist beliefs, I don't believe Creationists should mock mine. I believe we should be able to coexist without science alienating Creationists and without Creationists demonizing science. Ultimately, Truth is relative, and we should be able to respect other people's Truths and expect for our Truths to be respected in return.

I don't seek to make everyone in the world believe in the same things I do, and I hope to live in a world where that is the norm, not the exception.

Judaism's rule against proselytizing for me extends to proselytizing about Western science. I don't do it.

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Although the battle lines have shifted down through the years from heliocentrism to evolution (and let’s not get started on the age of the Earth), it feels like there’s a fundamental conflict between science and religion, especially with respect to the Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Islam. I (Christina), the host of this podcast episode, as a scientist and atheist who tends to assume all scientists are atheists—because how could they not be?—am definitely guilty of thinking this.

Yet, there is a long tradition of curiosity, inquiry, and, yes, science within the Abrahamic religions and no shortage of devout scientists working hard to this day to understand the workings of the world and cosmos. I decided that it was time to confront my assumptions by talking to one of my religious colleagues. Thank you in advance to Dr Norm Nelson—an oceanographer whose Christianity is a core part of his life—for discussing whether or not there is a conflict between science and Christianity, and where the roots of that conflict might lie.

Don’t forget, dear listener, we need your support! So, recommend us to a friend and/or sign up for our Patreon or make a one-time donation via PayPal.

[taniushka12]

scully wishes the x files were more like evil (cbs)

[nightcxty]

when i open my mouth and speak about this goddamn fallout new vegas silverv au that ive been sitting on for literal months i swear i will combust into a thousand stars and recreate an entire galaxy (of insanity) and mimick the big bang principle and Fucking Die

[vulpinesaint]

excatholic will always be a better descriptor for me than agnostic or atheist cause it's not like i don't believe in god. that's not really a choice for me. my foundational perception of the world is built around a belief in god. so all that core stuff is still there. religious leaning of 'excatholic' meaning that to me the foundational facts of the catholic tradition are true, that god is real to me and so are sins and saints, but that i am consciously choosing to be contrary to all the practices of the religion because i think they are bad 👍 'excatholic' cause i think it's all real! i have just chosen to go to hell about it 🫡

[yourheartinyourmouth]

knowing that most complex life forms are host to a teeming multitude of various life forms by design and actually each their own fully unique microbiome is simultaneously one of the most breathtaking and disgusting facts i have ever known

[natequarter]

i fucking hate when christian asshats (or insert group here but it's mostly them) are all "oh well science is just as up for debate as christianity when you think about it! how can we be sure of scientific research and theories actually being correct?" well first of all when you perform experiments you actually get results, ethel

[literarywizard]

Human Interaction With The Environment In Scavengers Reign

Well, this might be the longest critical essay I've ever written for fun. I just love Scavengers Reign so much! There's so much there to think and write about! I might even have another (much shorter) one of these essays in me for next week...

Spoiler Warning for Scavenger’s Reign. I’m going to be going into detail about the plot and major events of the show in most paragraphs except the one immediately after this one (to hopefully prevent you from accidentally seeing any spoilers before you can read this and can click away if you don’t want to read about what happens in the show). Also, before you read this post, you should probably…

[teiasviago]

do you think scully and mulder watch the bachelor together?

Nah, I think if Mulder doesn't have Twilight Zone on for white noise while they do work or chores downstairs then they're probably continuing their weekly date night that's really just a family movie night where they watch a famous classic.

[encrucijada]

constantly using religious imagery and themes not because i have trauma but because now that my belief system is "sure why not" i don't worry about hell or blasphemy and i just think the aesthetic fucks

[blurred-cat]

i want my patient care team to come in with chants and ceremonial cloth and shit for this is a scared transformation ritual. i want my anesthesiologist to guide me through a chanted incantation as i go under. i wish to awaken to the sound of the village gathered around me in joy.

[mystichistoria]

Sometimes this guy's videos are really funny, usually they're informative. Simultaneously on the topic of biblical creatures like the person in the original video is going off on, I think it's cute that one of the first tasks God gave Adam was to name all the creatures of earth and humanity just. Hasn't finished with it yet because new-to-us creatures keep getting found/brought to us to name and discover things about.

[rottenlittlefink]

Support group for ppl who believe in both science and religion 😭

[captaingimpy]

"Monstrous Majesty: Godzilla X Kong Unleashed"

Initial Thoughts:“Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire” continues the epic saga of the MonsterVerse with a fresh and vibrant take on the titanic clash between Godzilla and Kong. Directed by Adam Wingard, this installment delivers a blend of exhilarating monster battles and a deeper exploration of the kaiju lore. Character Dynamics and New Additions:One of the standout aspects is the introduction of…