Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => Science and Technology => Topic started by: Bubbles on September 10, 2015, 09:33:09 PM

Title: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Bubbles on September 10, 2015, 09:33:09 PM
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Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Rhiannon on September 10, 2015, 10:13:28 PM
I just told the dog the brown/sticky/stick joke but he didn't get it.

He doesn't laugh at Father Ted either.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Anchorman on September 11, 2015, 07:59:18 AM
I've always thought they have, based on my subjective experiences with sheep (a ram I befriended as a child) horses and dogs.

Now it may well be true, and not my imagination.

You can tell when a animal is having fun at your expense by looking in their eyes.

Has anyone else experienced being on the end of an animal sense of humour?

It's happened to me a few times.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25312-do-animals-have-a-sense-of-humour/



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Not the eyes, but t'other end.
There's a pigeon which sits on the guytter over my back door and takes what can only be called malicious pleasure in anointing anyone extracating themselves from my domicile via that exit.
And, no, there is no nest nearby, nor do we feed the blasted thing.......
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Hope on September 11, 2015, 09:15:47 AM
Rose, just what do you mean by 'a sense of humour'?
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: ekim on September 11, 2015, 09:16:38 AM
I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Hope on September 11, 2015, 09:20:24 AM
I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.
I've had that experience as well, ekim.  Is it humour or simply the animal indicating insecurity?
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: ekim on September 11, 2015, 09:28:36 AM
I don't know, but I have heard some comedians say that they started out on the comedy route as a result of insecurity.  If others kids laughed at them they didn't hit them.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Jack Knave on September 11, 2015, 01:17:55 PM
I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.
I think dogs do that to dogs as well...?
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Jack Knave on September 11, 2015, 01:22:18 PM
I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps, and many have a sense of play where some form of teasing takes place. I would guess it is the fun of seeing others' reactions.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Shaker on September 11, 2015, 01:26:38 PM
I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps
It would be extremely bizarre though if that weren't the case.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Jack Knave on September 11, 2015, 01:45:50 PM
I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps
It would be extremely bizarre though if that weren't the case.
Explain, please.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Shaker on September 11, 2015, 01:50:53 PM
I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps
It would be extremely bizarre though if that weren't the case.
Explain, please.
Chimps and bonobos are our closest relatives, the last common ancestor existing possibly as recently as 5 million years ago. If there weren't many and great similarities between them and us it would be very highly peculiar indeed and stand in need of explanation.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Hope on September 11, 2015, 02:40:49 PM
If there weren't many and great similarities between them and us it would be very highly peculiar indeed and stand in need of explanation.
suggesting, of course, that the reasons haven't been explained.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Shaker on September 11, 2015, 02:42:36 PM
suggesting, of course, that the reasons haven't been explained.
No, the similarities have been explained - by evolution by natural selection. Are you reading somebody else's post?
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Rhiannon on September 11, 2015, 03:43:20 PM
I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.

Both labs I've owned have done that and it is usually a pecking order thing. I indulged my bitch lab as she was generally quite submissive but although I will play for a bit like it with my boy lab he has to hand his toys over as he needs to know his place in the pack.

I still let him on the sofa though. Actually it's usually him on top of me on top of the sofa.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: ekim on September 11, 2015, 03:59:28 PM
I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.

Both labs I've owned have done that and it is usually a pecking order thing. I indulged my bitch lab as she was generally quite submissive but although I will play for a bit like it with my boy lab he has to hand his toys over as he needs to know his place in the pack.

I still let him on the sofa though. Actually it's usually him on top of me on top of the sofa.
Ah, now that I know the motive, the next time it happens I'll leave the ball and throw the dog.  That should establish a new pecking order.  ;)
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Rhiannon on September 11, 2015, 04:20:55 PM
That sounds like a plan.  :)
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Harrowby Hall on September 12, 2015, 09:20:13 AM
What purpose would a sense of humour serve in an animal?
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Rhiannon on September 12, 2015, 03:35:52 PM
It's explained by pink mohair dog jumpers. Dogs have evolved the need to laugh at their fluff-brained owners as a coping mechanism.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Harrowby Hall on September 12, 2015, 06:38:16 PM
It's explained by pink mohair dog jumpers. Dogs have evolved the need to laugh at their fluff-brained owners as a coping mechanism.

Yes. That figures.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Jack Knave on September 13, 2015, 04:15:29 PM
I think some animals do have a sense of humour, like chimps
It would be extremely bizarre though if that weren't the case.
Explain, please.
Chimps and bonobos are our closest relatives, the last common ancestor existing possibly as recently as 5 million years ago. If there weren't many and great similarities between them and us it would be very highly peculiar indeed and stand in need of explanation.
That implies a sense of humour has been around for over 5 million years - that's just laughable!!!   ;)
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Jack Knave on September 13, 2015, 04:22:05 PM
I am not sure whether I would call it humour but I've met dogs who like to tease by placing a ball or stick at my feet for throwing and just as I reach to pick it up they snatch it away and when I straighten up they put it back again.  After several times they allow me to pick it up and throw it for them.

Both labs I've owned have done that and it is usually a pecking order thing. I indulged my bitch lab as she was generally quite submissive but although I will play for a bit like it with my boy lab he has to hand his toys over as he needs to know his place in the pack.

I still let him on the sofa though. Actually it's usually him on top of me on top of the sofa.
Ah, now that I know the motive, the next time it happens I'll leave the ball and throw the dog.  That should establish a new pecking order.  ;)
Try a stern look and a stern voice, instead and get it to not pick up the ball before you.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Shaker on September 13, 2015, 04:27:13 PM
That implies a sense of humour has been around for over 5 million years - that's just laughable!!!   ;)
When primatologists conclude that they can identify signs of playfulness and humour in chimps and bonobos why is it laughable?
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Jack Knave on September 13, 2015, 04:30:00 PM
What purpose would a sense of humour serve in an animal?
I hope you are including humans in the term animal.

The only thing I can think of is a social bonding or hierarchy building one.
Title: Re: Do animals have a sense of humour?
Post by: Jack Knave on September 13, 2015, 04:34:01 PM
That implies a sense of humour has been around for over 5 million years - that's just laughable!!!   ;)
When primatologists conclude that they can identify signs of playfulness and humour in chimps and bonobos why is it laughable?
Oh come on, Shaker, you're trying to tease me.

What do you think the smiley was for?