Two Brain Cells » Nature http://www.twobraincells.com Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:33:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Bird-fearing bullshit http://www.twobraincells.com/2007/04/23/bird-fearing-bullshit/ http://www.twobraincells.com/2007/04/23/bird-fearing-bullshit/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2007 16:52:18 +0000 Chris http://www.twobraincells.com/2007/04/23/bird-fearing-bullshit/ This is the best bit of hand-wavy evolutionary nonsense I’ve seen in a while:

But the public’s general dislike of pigeons also comes down to an inherited survival instinct. Our bodies are programmed to play it safe when it comes to some species, says Felix Economakis, psychologist and hypnotherapist in BBC Three’s Panic Room.

“A dislike of any bird is an evolutionary survival instinct that has been passed down through our DNA. Back in cavemen times birds were bigger and posed a real danger.

“Our system still plays it safe, it generalises and paints all possible dangers with the same brush. Our brains are telling us not to take a chance. It’s the same with snakes and spiders.”

Seriously? Those sparrows in the garden? The ducks on the pond? We’re afraid of those?

From “Why do we hate pigeons so much?“.

]]> http://www.twobraincells.com/2007/04/23/bird-fearing-bullshit/feed/ 0 Uh-oh, the bees are disappearing http://www.twobraincells.com/2007/02/28/uh-oh-the-bees-are-disappearing/ http://www.twobraincells.com/2007/02/28/uh-oh-the-bees-are-disappearing/#comments Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:47:43 +0000 Chris http://www.twobraincells.com/2007/02/28/uh-oh-the-bees-are-disappearing/ Uh-oh, the bees are disappearing.

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