Of course they do. Do you wonder why dogs give slobbery kisses that soak the face; or why cats tend to pass gas in the room with the most human beings, then vacate the premises. Sometimes I wonder what domestic animals do at night when we're sleeping. They attack our feet, runaway making us think we're imagining things.
What a thought...I'll never go to a zoo without ever noticing the surrounding humor -- humourology
Humor involves a level of thinking that is largely unknown to animals, at least, in my experience. There are many forms that humor takes, but, perhaps one of the most common relies on a sense of wrongness. A fully grown man behaving exactly like a five year old, a little white bunny rabbit attacking the knights of the round table and tearing off heads--sending blood flying everywhere, and a Mick Jagger-like pirate are all funny. Animals, it seems to me, normally do whatever they think is in their own best interests, or what instict dictates. All their thinking is bent in this direction. When an animal does something like lick your face, or ambush your legs, we think it is funny, perhaps, because it is unexpected or cute. Little children are funny for much the same reason, but they rarely realize that they are being funny. Animals are more likely to be frightened by the unexpected. I think that all the practical jokes we see in our fellow creatures are just invitations to play or behavior that the animal thinks is necessary. I am afraid that humans are alone in their ability to appreciate humor.
The correct answer is NO they do not. While they have moods, intelligence, etc, they have no sense of humor because to sense one's (own) humor is to be self conscious.
Interesting article. But I thought dogs panted as their only way of sweating. Their tongue is their air conditioner! I really think our dog tries to imitate our sounds when we pet him and when I ask him if he is cold he starts to shiver! But when we laugh he acts scared. Maybe a house dog would be more used to hearing human laughter. Rats? ewww....!
6 comments:
i vote to rename the chimps. though, oswald was nice... :)
yes, they have a sense of humor.
Of course they do. Do you wonder why dogs give slobbery kisses that soak the face; or why cats tend to pass gas in the room with the most human beings, then vacate the premises. Sometimes I wonder what domestic animals do at night when we're sleeping. They attack our feet, runaway making us think we're imagining things.
What a thought...I'll never go to a zoo without ever noticing the surrounding humor -- humourology
Humor involves a level of thinking that is largely unknown to animals, at least, in my experience. There are many forms that humor takes, but, perhaps one of the most common relies on a sense of wrongness. A fully grown man behaving exactly like a five year old, a little white bunny rabbit attacking the knights of the round table and tearing off heads--sending blood flying everywhere, and a Mick Jagger-like pirate are all funny. Animals, it seems to me, normally do whatever they think is in their own best interests, or what instict dictates. All their thinking is bent in this direction. When an animal does something like lick your face, or ambush your legs, we think it is funny, perhaps, because it is unexpected or cute. Little children are funny for much the same reason, but they rarely realize that they are being funny. Animals are more likely to be frightened by the unexpected. I think that all the practical jokes we see in our fellow creatures are just invitations to play or behavior that the animal thinks is necessary. I am afraid that humans are alone in their ability to appreciate humor.
The correct answer is NO they do not.
While they have moods, intelligence, etc, they have no sense of humor because to sense one's (own) humor is to be self conscious.
Sincerely,
the 500 pound alpha chimp
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7348880/
I found this funny
Interesting article. But I thought dogs panted as their only way of sweating. Their tongue is their air conditioner! I really think our dog tries to imitate our sounds when we pet him and when I ask him if he is cold he starts to shiver! But when we laugh he acts scared. Maybe a house dog would be more used to hearing human laughter. Rats? ewww....!
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