Thinking from a Tyrannosaur perspective (was: Social Biology and Dinosaur Behavior)

[Larry Dunn <majestic_cheese@yahoo.com>]

---Replying to me, Chris Campbell <sankarah@ou.edu> wrote:

>> Well, that's correct of course, and that's what I'm >> suggesting
-- that
>> we get our definitions straight.

> I tried to list suggestions for a few a couple of days ago, but no one
> seemed interested.  <Shrug>

Since you've suggested that you have some familiarity with the social
biology sources you cited in your earlier post, it'd probably be more
fruitful in a discussion of dinosaur behavior if you offer on-point
definitions straight from these sources.  This may generate more
interest.

This was one of the two points of my first message -- let's get some
authoritative scientific sources, rely closely on them and leave the
dino-fanboy speculation off the list.  I note that the scientists and
serious non-pros on the list usually don't partake in these
discussions, preferring to discuss the evolution and anatomy of the
dinosaurs, their forte.  So if we're going to discuss animal/dinosaur
behavior, let's use social biology sources and forget about attempting
to "think from a tyrannosaur perspective" and similar highly
entertaining notions.

My other point was that people without the interest and/or time to
look at these sources might want to be conservative in drawing their
own conclusions about dinosaur behavior, as this is generally the
wiser course in science in the lack of hard information.  It's
especially healthy to recognize the common anthropomorphization of
animal behavior.

Just a suggestion; speculation will of course continue (without me, as
I hope I've made clear!), which is ok because it's basically harmless.


==
Larry
http://members.tripod.com/~megalania/index.html

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