Reference: "Brain Wave Diary" (08/31/00)

The Wing-ed worm.

I came across the description of an experiment designed to measure the tenacity of a predator engaged in hunting food versus a counter stimuli such as pain. It is a disgusting exercise, but since it was performed, perhaps some value can be extracted from the published result, (although even if there is, it cannot ever justify the end or the means).

A predator pike fish was introduced into a tank of prey fish. The pike is an aggressive predator often called a fresh water shark. The young pike soon demonstrated the specie hunting prowess by devouring the prey fish. The scientist then introduced a glass partition into the tank separating the pike from the replenished prey. For several days the young pike rushed at the prey fish on the other side of the glass partition, the result was always a sharp, cruel blow to the pikes nose. After a while, the will to hunt the prey fish diminished and the young pike ceased to try to hunt and feed from the partitioned prey fish.

The glass partition was then removed.

As hungry as the young pike was at that point, it would not attempt to cross the now imaginary boundary formally established by the glass partition. The young pike wasted away and died even though in easy reach of food. I will not address the conclusions science made from this controlled torture of a captive living entity. My conclusion is one of shame for what our specie can be. I would have been content with an assumption of a hypothetical result to such a question.

It is tempting to draw parallels to human behaviors based on the result of such an experiment, so tempted--I will. If our young are barrier-ed from their strong and natural drive to wonder and discover, could it be eventually their desire to seek and try withers and though the partition is eventually removed, are so conditioned not to go there again? A self administered partition with no substance, an ingrained mental barrier, one that stanches self exploration and perhaps enlightenment.

If cows were not tasty would there be any by now? Could being tasty be a specie survival ploy? Is a robin nothing more than a collection of worms who have found a way to elevate themselves in the natural order of things, a worms answer to the secret of achieving flight? Is what we witness worm evolution based on second party cannibalism? What eats the robin when it passes on, the worms?

The problem with removing the barricade of mental conditioning is you are likely to start pondering unusual questions. The miracle of removing the mental barricade is you are likely to start pondering unusual questions.

Answers to questions are not nearly as important as formulating the question to begin with. Without questions, answers cannot exist, can they?

Hmm I would like to fly to! Do you think I ever will?

"Whatever you pursue gains credibility... even undeserving things."