Scientists Have Reported a Breakthrough In Understanding Whale Language::Researchers have identified new elements of whale vocalizations that they propose are analogous to human speech, including vowels and pitch.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    So what I’m hearing is they can literally talk to each other in a way that we do and we still kill them constantly.

    • theherk@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      We kill humans constantly too, and we probably obliterated the rest of the hominins also. I’m just saying we have a chequered track record.

        • theherk@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          While I always love a Mitchell and Webb reference, I can say I don’t think so. I think the book Humanity by Rutger Bregman is a good reminder that we are mostly good.

          • SoleInvictus@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            Agreed. It’s just that it’s really easy for a small amount of people to do a lot of bad things. It’s hard to maintain, harder to build, and easy to destroy.

          • whoisearth@lemmy.ca
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            11 months ago

            However take in context that it’s written by a human. Of course we will say we’re mostly good. If Pol Pot wrote a book about Pol Pot he’d probably say he was mostly good too.

            • theherk@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              Well believe it or not the book isn’t one page whose entire contents read “We’re good”. It is a whole well reasoned length of prose supporting that with reason.

              • whoisearth@lemmy.ca
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                11 months ago

                I understand but it’s written by us lol. Not that any other creature can write a book but consider the absurdity for a moment. We are saying we’re mostly good.

      • pigup@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        I share this understanding with you and this is why I say that AI will absolutely kill us because that is what we would do. It’s trained on our data afterall.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        I guess, but it feels to me like wiping out a species close to our intelligence is worse that killing each other.

  • littleblue✨@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Oooh, look! The translation’s coming through!!

    Thanks… for… all… the…

    For what? Thanks for all the what?!

  • ExLisper@linux.community
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    11 months ago

    They probably have nothing interesting to say anyway. After a year or two all the scientists will be like “I fucking know you like krill, whale. Shut the fuck up about the krill already”.

  • kingthrillgore@lemmy.ml
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    11 months ago

    What they’re saying is: “All shall perish” as they proceed to kill people and smash yachts.

  • paddirn@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Just in time for them to go extinct. It’ll be helpful in a few hundred years though when we need to travel back in time again.

  • aidan@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    If complete mutually intelligible communication of complex ideas with another species is undeniably proven, that will be a massive boon for veganism(although of course not all animals are equal), and a legal quagmire. What do you do if they are suffering in ways that we can fix due to their environment? Like humans were, and then we changed our environment. Do you give whales weapons so they can defend themselves from orcas? Do you shoot whale pochers? Do you shoot orcas attacking whales? Do you farm krill for them to eat? Do you drastically alter the ocean surface to be more comfortable for whales?

    After all, most people recognize it as good to alter a person’s natural state(hunting and gathering from caves) for the better, so would that not be the same for animals that are considered essentially people or near-people?

    • iegod@lemm.ee
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      11 months ago

      We don’t even treat other humans on earth with dignity and respect and you think anything will change for whales as drastically as you propose? Maybe I’m mega jaded but I see this having little impact.

    • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Nobody said anything about complex ideas. Maybe they just said. “food here”

      Speaking to animals would be cool but I doubt they’d have much to share other than basic instincts.

    • schmorp@slrpnk.net
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      10 months ago

      What is this idea about not eating non-humans I communicate with. I speak with my plants too and they entertain complex thought. Do I have to stop eating them? There is nothing out there that isn’t a person. Continue eating as you see fit and be kind to the living.

        • schmorp@slrpnk.net
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          10 months ago

          Speaking is an act of changing reality, always. If you want to go as far as calling this ‘speaking to’ is up to you.

    • andxz@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      One of mine too. It’s a little scary seeing the things they got right so far.

      • anon6789@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        It wasn’t a great show and I didn’t binge watch it, but I’m glad I ignored all the hate about it I read eventually. I really liked the drone defection plotline and the whale episode I feel is up there with some of the best Black Mirror stuff.

        There was very much morale ambiguity of the “good” characters as well, it wasn’t all pro-environmentalist guys are all heroes, there was definitely eco-terrorism.

        • andxz@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          I agree, it had its ups and downs, but on the whole it made me contemplate on things from many perspectives, and I think (and hope) that that was ultimately the goal of the creators as well. It certainly seemed to be.

          Very few things I’ve watched have given me the same …vibe, so to speak. I have been to India and that episode felt very … authentic, for a lack of a better word.

          In my opinion it’s a bit sad it didn’t get all that much recognition, but it also wasn’t the easiest series to watch at times.

          • anon6789@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            Seeing the story play out over the span of a few decades really hit home about how long we’ve let this stuff go on already and how long it can take for people to change views and seek justice. We just need to do all we can and keep trying to set the example.

            Being the main contributor of !superbowl@lemmy.world, my feeds get full of environmental destruction and habitat and species loss, and it’s tough to filter through all that every day looking for positive stories.

            • andxz@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              I agree there too. Finding the fine line between staying informed and going nuts from all the negative stuff has forced me to step back at times, just for the sake of staying sane.

  • Spacehooks@reddthat.com
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    11 months ago

    Soooo this totally not going to go wrong by the military or a mad scientist?
    I feel like I saw this movie.