The Past - A Failed Future? - Page 3

BeardofPants · 10-05-2002, 04:19 PM

Yes, big brains help, as does an opposable thumb, but the real reason we're so damned successful, is because of our adaptability. No other species has specialised in non-specialisation like we have - we can survive just about anywhere. Extinctions generally happen when an organism is trapped into a niche/environment that they are not familiar with.

Regarding sapiens morphology, Sween is right. Physically, we have not changed in the last 10,000 years. If you transplanted a new born baby from 10,000 BP, and it grew up in our time, it would be no different from a modern baby. The differences between sapiens 10,000 BP and now belong purely in the cultural evolution part of the spectrum, not the biological part. (That is not to say that sapiens as a species hasn't changed since 250,000BP because morphologically, we have. We have slightly bigger brains, we are taller, we are less robust, and so forth.)

Sween · 10-05-2002, 05:28 PM

Im sure that people are getting much taller as the generations go on. The best example of this in my opion is the size of goals mouths in football. Now forgive me if the figures are not exact i heard this a long time ago the reason that we get lower scoreing games than when it first started has a lot to do with the size of people today. When football started they decided a goal should be the width of 3 and a half standard men which at the time was something like 4'5 so it means people have grown a lot.

My personal thery on this is the intrudion of shelves. I myself am 6'4 my mum is 5'2 and my dad 5'10 the reason i think im so tall is my keen intrest in basketball i think in many ways i subconsioly told my body to grow taller so i would be better. But as usual im probably talking out my ass.

BeardofPants · 10-05-2002, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sween
But as usual im probably talking out my ass.

Perhaps it's because you talk out of your ass that you're so tall.

I would say that the reason we are tall is due to things like better nutrition. But that's not to entirely discount the power of the brain; I just don't think that it's on such a small scale (one generation) like that.

osszie · 10-10-2002, 10:31 PM

Just to dig this old chestnut up again

Do you think that we have learned from the past..............or does society today distance itself from past events?

10-05-2002, 04:19 PM	#41
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Yes, big brains help, as does an opposable thumb, but the real reason we're so damned successful, is because of our adaptability. No other species has specialised in non-specialisation like we have - we can survive just about anywhere. Extinctions generally happen when an organism is trapped into a niche/environment that they are not familiar with. Regarding sapiens morphology, Sween is right. Physically, we have not changed in the last 10,000 years. If you transplanted a new born baby from 10,000 BP, and it grew up in our time, it would be no different from a modern baby. The differences between sapiens 10,000 BP and now belong purely in the cultural evolution part of the spectrum, not the biological part. (That is not to say that sapiens as a species hasn't changed since 250,000BP because morphologically, we have. We have slightly bigger brains, we are taller, we are less robust, and so forth.) __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords Last edited by BeardofPants : 10-05-2002 at 04:22 PM.

10-05-2002, 05:28 PM	#42
Sween im quite stupid Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cockermouth Posts: 2,058	Im sure that people are getting much taller as the generations go on. The best example of this in my opion is the size of goals mouths in football. Now forgive me if the figures are not exact i heard this a long time ago the reason that we get lower scoreing games than when it first started has a lot to do with the size of people today. When football started they decided a goal should be the width of 3 and a half standard men which at the time was something like 4'5 so it means people have grown a lot. My personal thery on this is the intrudion of shelves. I myself am 6'4 my mum is 5'2 and my dad 5'10 the reason i think im so tall is my keen intrest in basketball i think in many ways i subconsioly told my body to grow taller so i would be better. But as usual im probably talking out my ass. __________________ Yeah god hes ok but i would rather be judged by a sheep than that idiot

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10-10-2002, 10:31 PM	#44
osszie Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 409	Just to dig this old chestnut up again Do you think that we have learned from the past..............or does society today distance itself from past events?