If a species of similar intelligence to us evolved from a prey animal, they would probably always keep feeling a subtle discomfort with wearing colorful clothes, being in large open spaces, and otherwise standing out.
If a species of similar intelligence to us evolved from a prey animal, they would probably always keep feeling a subtle discomfort with wearing colorful clothes, being in large open spaces, and otherwise standing out.
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I think a lot of people with varying anxiety/social outcast levels still feel this way- and from an evolutionary point if view where humans were once hunted themselves in pre-history by bigger animals, it’s likely that we DO have this instincts to varying degrees for exactly that reason.
I mean agoraphobia (fear of large open spaces) is still a thing no? I’m wondering if that’s a vestigial impulse from some far-off point in human evolution- it could be way back when we were tiny mouse-like mammals. Human lineage goes all the way back to the first cells, so I’d bet we still have some of that “prey” drive in us plinking along like old legacy code in the newest computer systems
Humans did develop from a prey species and we’re jumpy as hell
I mean have you seen the little dinosaur-era rat things that primates evolved from after the comet hit?
No species starts at the apex.
So be weary of aliens in drab colored clothes. Got it.
These hypothetical prey creatures would have the worst case of FOMO ‘I want to wear this sparkly cape, but what if it attracts the attention of something with teeth?!
There’s a neat series by M.R. Carey, The Pandominion, that has some elements of this, although not co-evolution, but instead a multiverse done alright that features such easy crossing between dimensions that they form a unified society. Predator and prey descendent species routinely mingle with one another, and it makes for some very awkward situations.
The main character lives in a universe where they descended from rabbits, and it actually features this prey reflex and other anatomical features (like running fast and jumping) in parts of the story.
Underrated series.
I just learned that early homo species were not prey animals
Can confirm. Bullied in school. Not comfortable being highly visible.
They would feel the full unbridled force of racism.
Weird that I’m listening to this right now:
https://youtu.be/weCNsUHcW3U?si=0rujViYInV_RvaQS
Which is a fictional (human written – there’s an ai voice and images but the story itself is not) story about like 900 space faring species and only humans and 1 other species are predators. Everyone else is some kind of herbivore/pack species that evolved… It’s basically your thought in a sci-fi story. I’m enjoying it.
I don’t know if anybody mentioned it to you, but we evolved from a prey animal.
And you go stand next to a bear sometime and see how your setting your status holds up.
These lines are not as bright or solid as you believe them to be.
we actually were prey, not all pray are herbivores.
Well, go to any nomadic group of people and you will notice they wear brightly coloured clothes only when there are large gatherings.
Go to any village in Southern Africa(the more rural, the better) and I dare you to see any person walking alone in a field, or wearing any bright colours.
That’s why everyone in New York City wears black
More likely we would have killed them off. Humans suck!
Well they are not evolved enough if they still feel that way.
>otherwise standing out.
We are here already
I think a lot of women feel this way in general.
Imagine a world where fashion week is just a bunch of rabbits nervously adjusting their pastel jackets while hiding behind bushes. ‘Does this color make me look like I’m about to be dinner?
maybe, but our intelligence (probably) came from our very complex hunting patterns, which includes not only the regular stuff (location/animal memorization) but also language, tools, how to use the tools and social skills.
if we’re assuming that it is still prey to something, the intelligence would come from adapting to an already intelligent predator, and instead of picking a mate based upon strength or power alone, the most attractive being would be one that lays low as you said, and is very tricky. it would be interesting to see the mating practices of these beings.
if we’re assuming that the predator is no longer in the picture, and that we’d just evolved from this prey animal, then that’s already happened to humans, and socially the most powerful are still the sexiest, though we are breeding that out, slowly.
you can see this in the gender norms. when we were monkeys gender norms were not optional as each person was reliant on their inherent skills and physical build to survive. if you were female you did a specific task, and males did too.
nowadays in advanced societies, where gender differences are not needed, we not only see more women and men doing BOTH traditionally female and male tasks, but also the rise of transsexuality has to do with this too i think.
men no longer need to be super strong and aggressive, which is why testosterone is so low now. the sexiest men (if you’re not in a highschool hierarchy phase) are the ones that are as female as possible while still having a penis. this means emotional intelligence, partnership for life, a good teacher.
women no longer need to be the sole homemakers, or kept from difficult jobs, as there is no longer any threat in our jobs. women are infact more important evolutionarily than men, which is why we go to such lengths to protect them, but the thing is that’s an old adaptation, for problems that no longer exist (in advanced countries). that’s also why you see women/men treated traditionally in 3rd world scenarios.
of course it varies as does any dataset, and i may be wrong but i believe we’re heading for complete transsexuality, where the differences between men and women become even blurrier, simply because no difference is needed. just a thought though, a shower thought.
Apparently, I have evolved from a prey animal.
Well as someone who uses mostly dark clothes doesn’t like big open spaces and has social anxiety, I am always wary of the tiger in the bushes