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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/sep/13/ugly-animals-preservation-cute-creepy
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| Ugly animals rule, cute is creepy | Ugly animals rule, cute is creepy |
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| What makes an animal cute? Why would we humans decide en masse that some non-humans are more aesthetically pleasing than others? An easy answer would be that we like things that are cute and fluffy. Even primates show a preference for softer, more comforting contact, even opting for that over food. | What makes an animal cute? Why would we humans decide en masse that some non-humans are more aesthetically pleasing than others? An easy answer would be that we like things that are cute and fluffy. Even primates show a preference for softer, more comforting contact, even opting for that over food. |
| Soft fur clearly isn't the only factor influencing our idea of what's cute though. If it were, why would we have developed a strong psychological bond with cats on the one hand while developing entire industries for wiping out rats on the other? Rats are small and furry too, why do they need to be eradicated? Granted, there's the whole "spreading disease and plague" thing, so it's not a completely fair comparison. | Soft fur clearly isn't the only factor influencing our idea of what's cute though. If it were, why would we have developed a strong psychological bond with cats on the one hand while developing entire industries for wiping out rats on the other? Rats are small and furry too, why do they need to be eradicated? Granted, there's the whole "spreading disease and plague" thing, so it's not a completely fair comparison. |
| Things that have the properties of human babies/infants seem to be considered cute. This may be why we seem primed to take care of things we find cute, sometimes even to the point where it defies logic. I recall passing a stand where animal rights activists were collecting signatures for a petition to protest animal experimentation (using images of monkeys and dogs, rather than far more commonly used mice and, of course, rats, meaning humanity still hasn't gotten over that whole "black death" thing). | Things that have the properties of human babies/infants seem to be considered cute. This may be why we seem primed to take care of things we find cute, sometimes even to the point where it defies logic. I recall passing a stand where animal rights activists were collecting signatures for a petition to protest animal experimentation (using images of monkeys and dogs, rather than far more commonly used mice and, of course, rats, meaning humanity still hasn't gotten over that whole "black death" thing). |
| One passer-by was signing the petition while ranting about how terrible it was that people would be cruel to animals for no reason and anyone who does that should be locked up. He then turned to leave, spotted a pigeon in his path and kicked it out of the way, accusing it of being a "filthy bird". Apparently cruelty to animals is not on, unless they fall below an unspecified standard of hygiene. | One passer-by was signing the petition while ranting about how terrible it was that people would be cruel to animals for no reason and anyone who does that should be locked up. He then turned to leave, spotted a pigeon in his path and kicked it out of the way, accusing it of being a "filthy bird". Apparently cruelty to animals is not on, unless they fall below an unspecified standard of hygiene. |
| It would be wrong of me to imply that animal rights protesters are just cynical for using images of "cute" animals in their materials; if they have to gain the support of the general public, it's more of a necessity. This becomes apparent when conservation groups do it too. | It would be wrong of me to imply that animal rights protesters are just cynical for using images of "cute" animals in their materials; if they have to gain the support of the general public, it's more of a necessity. This becomes apparent when conservation groups do it too. |
| Is cute "better"? A purely human-centric subjective factor is meaningless in evolutionary contexts. Cute things aren't intrinsically more worthwhile than non-cute things (if this even makes any sense in the context of complex biospheres). Plus, some research suggests cute animals provoke an aggressive response (possibly due to the caring inclination being thwarted by distance/species-incompatibility). If you're going to try and aggressively squeeze a smaller, furrier creature, try the testicle-shredding Honey Badger. | Is cute "better"? A purely human-centric subjective factor is meaningless in evolutionary contexts. Cute things aren't intrinsically more worthwhile than non-cute things (if this even makes any sense in the context of complex biospheres). Plus, some research suggests cute animals provoke an aggressive response (possibly due to the caring inclination being thwarted by distance/species-incompatibility). If you're going to try and aggressively squeeze a smaller, furrier creature, try the testicle-shredding Honey Badger. |
| Thankfully, the uglier animals are finally getting the attention they deserve. Recently, the ever-popular Ugly Animal Preservation Society, which uses comedy and conservation science to promote the plight of the less aesthetically pleasing endangered creatures, held a national vote, announced at the British Science Festival in Newcastle, to determine which is the world's ugliest endangered animal. The five finalists were as follows. | Thankfully, the uglier animals are finally getting the attention they deserve. Recently, the ever-popular Ugly Animal Preservation Society, which uses comedy and conservation science to promote the plight of the less aesthetically pleasing endangered creatures, held a national vote, announced at the British Science Festival in Newcastle, to determine which is the world's ugliest endangered animal. The five finalists were as follows. |
| The blobfish | The blobfish |
| The winner was the humble blobfish, named using the "say what you see" system of taxonomy. The blobfish is very accurately named. Picture a sculpture of a Sontaran made out of margarine that's been left in the sun for five hours. Now stick a fish body on that, and you're pretty much there. | The winner was the humble blobfish, named using the "say what you see" system of taxonomy. The blobfish is very accurately named. Picture a sculpture of a Sontaran made out of margarine that's been left in the sun for five hours. Now stick a fish body on that, and you're pretty much there. |
| The kakapo | The kakapo |
| The kakapo isn't exactly ugly when compared to some of the slimier/insectile members of the animal kingdom. They're parrots, but surprisingly large, flightless ones, native to New Zealand. Admittedly, they're a bit shambolic and cumbersome compared to the rest of the parrot kingdom. They are to "parrots" what darts players are to "athletes". | The kakapo isn't exactly ugly when compared to some of the slimier/insectile members of the animal kingdom. They're parrots, but surprisingly large, flightless ones, native to New Zealand. Admittedly, they're a bit shambolic and cumbersome compared to the rest of the parrot kingdom. They are to "parrots" what darts players are to "athletes". |
| The proboscis monkey | The proboscis monkey |
| The most notable aspect of the proboscis monkey is that it has big nose. As in, seriously big. If you see one, your immediate reaction would be "that's a big nose", much like if you saw a person on fire you'd think "that person's on fire". You wouldn't really dwell on their height or other measurements. I'm sure the proboscis monkey has other properties too, but the main thing is the nose. | The most notable aspect of the proboscis monkey is that it has big nose. As in, seriously big. If you see one, your immediate reaction would be "that's a big nose", much like if you saw a person on fire you'd think "that person's on fire". You wouldn't really dwell on their height or other measurements. I'm sure the proboscis monkey has other properties too, but the main thing is the nose. |
| The scrotum frog | The scrotum frog |
| The scrotum frog must surely be damning proof that intelligent design can't be real. Imagine the conversation between designers that could have led to this. | The scrotum frog must surely be damning proof that intelligent design can't be real. Imagine the conversation between designers that could have led to this. |
| "You know what's a really good look? The human scrotum" | "You know what's a really good look? The human scrotum" |
| "Hmmm … is there any way we could make it even better?" | "Hmmm … is there any way we could make it even better?" |
| "How about if we made it 10 times bigger, gave it eyes, limbs, slimy skin and a tendency to croak?" | "How about if we made it 10 times bigger, gave it eyes, limbs, slimy skin and a tendency to croak?" |
| "Great! But will people take it too seriously?" | "Great! But will people take it too seriously?" |
| "What if we make it indigenous to lake Titicaca?" | "What if we make it indigenous to lake Titicaca?" |
| "Perfect!" | "Perfect!" |
| The axolotl | The axolotl |
| I had a pet axolotl as a child. He was creamy white but with red fronds for "hair". We kept him in a tank and had to feed him strips of raw liver with tweezers. We called him "Alan", because that's what my family was like. He was awesome and I won't hear a word against this glorious salamander, so here's a quote from fellow (better) science comedian Helen Arney, who championed the axolotl in this contest | I had a pet axolotl as a child. He was creamy white but with red fronds for "hair". We kept him in a tank and had to feed him strips of raw liver with tweezers. We called him "Alan", because that's what my family was like. He was awesome and I won't hear a word against this glorious salamander, so here's a quote from fellow (better) science comedian Helen Arney, who championed the axolotl in this contest |
| "The axolotl's true ugliness is on the inside. I discovered that they stay in a juvenile state their entire lives and never grow up, which is creepy … Earlier this week I met a baby axolotl at Newcastle's Life Centre – at just 2cm long it had already eaten more than two dozen of its brothers and sisters, leaving Hannibal (that's what they named him) all alone in his fratricidal cannibal tank". | "The axolotl's true ugliness is on the inside. I discovered that they stay in a juvenile state their entire lives and never grow up, which is creepy … Earlier this week I met a baby axolotl at Newcastle's Life Centre – at just 2cm long it had already eaten more than two dozen of its brothers and sisters, leaving Hannibal (that's what they named him) all alone in his fratricidal cannibal tank". |
| So ugly animals are finally getting the respect and consideration they've always been entitled to. We always emphasise how shallow and immature it is to judge others on their appearance alone, why should it be any different with animals? Besides, some studies have shown that an animal is considered more attractive if it is believed to be endangered. So by acknowledging the precarious state of these ugly creatures, perhaps we could make them more beautiful? But then, why should we need to? | So ugly animals are finally getting the respect and consideration they've always been entitled to. We always emphasise how shallow and immature it is to judge others on their appearance alone, why should it be any different with animals? Besides, some studies have shown that an animal is considered more attractive if it is believed to be endangered. So by acknowledging the precarious state of these ugly creatures, perhaps we could make them more beautiful? But then, why should we need to? |
| Dean Burnett would probably qualify as an ugly animal by most people's standards. He can be preserved by following him on Twitter, @garwboy | Dean Burnett would probably qualify as an ugly animal by most people's standards. He can be preserved by following him on Twitter, @garwboy |
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