ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[peter]

Pckts\ dateline='\'1432674752' Wrote: @peter
I know its probably time consuming, but i'd be interested in how you interpret yourself and "diggs" ideology when it comes to what you're speaking about.
I find it interesting

"" ... Man's mentality, ..., for some set purpose, has always been differently constituted. Reason with him takes first place"
I like this quote

Also, I have a question in regards to book recommendations,
Do you or any others have any book recommendations in regards to hunters/biologist/naturalist who have first hand accounts of both lions and tigers in the wild, how they compare etc?
Thanks

INSTINCT IN HUMANS 

The 'ideology' of Diggs was explained best in the quotes I used. Read them again. Diggs said actions of animals often are based on instinct (or second sight). Humans rely on reason, whereas animals often rely on instinct. The question is what instinct is. When you read everything there is, the conclusion is 'instinct' relates to something most of us heard about, but do not quite understand. Because of a lack of understanding, we are not able to grasp it.

A few examples. Those who hunted man-eaters and lived to write about their experiences relied on instinct. They often described it as the sixth sense. A sense that can be trained, they said. I agree to an extent. If you are a specialist in some field and get to a level that can't be trained, you can trigger it at times. Good musicians say 'it' is in the air. You just got to grab it. Although most of us, if not all, have 'it', only very few are aware of it, let alone they are able to use it. Those that can, know how to do it but they can't do it on command. It could be one needs others. At times, these 'others' are with you (collegues, team members or a loved one) and at times they oppose (hunt) you. This also means the sixth sense isn't something that belongs to an (exceptional) individual. It is always there, but can be triggered in certain conditions only. Most often by those who know about it and are prepared to accept the risk. If you are prepared to accept the risk, however, you really take a risk. The reason is 'it' doesn't belong to individuals. It isn't there to help you when you ask for it.

INSTINCT IN ANIMALS

Wheras humans rely on reason, training, experience and skill, animals rely on something else. Diggs described it as second sight, but it could be something different. Those who work with animals and those who lived close to them or hunted them know it is very real. An example.

I've been to wild places, because I like them. I also like animals. The reason is I feel related to them. For this reason, I also 'know' they will not molest humans. Only few, as a result of special conditions, would be prepared to come for you and when they are, you will 'know'. And the other way round.

One day, when in Sweden, the weather was too bad to go out. The one accomoding us in his hotel (the same one who rented canoes) took my brother to a shooting range. He could, because he was a pro (police). My brother had never fired a gun, but I 'knew' he was a marksman. And so it was. A few days later, the weather cleared and we returned to wild Sweden. In the two weeks that followed, we didn't see animals. Not one. My brother was at a loss, because our camp had been visited by them all days before. A wolf did, a brown bear did, an elk did, a roedeer did (and even swam with me) and countless smaller animals did. They had no fear. The situation changed the moment my brother tested his skills at the shooting range. That's why I told him not to go.

Another example. Sweden again. One year later. The animals had forgotten about it (I'm sure they recognized us). They again visited our camp. We talked about it. My brother didn't understand it and also didn't believe a word of what I said. He asked me to convince him. I said ok, but he would see no more animals from then on. Fine, he said. I changed my attitude and we saw no more animals. He didn't like it one bit, but I couldn't return to the old situation. Once a thief, always a thief. You got to get out of the situation, 'clean' yourself and return when you are only a visitor.

TRAINING 

No believe? Try it at home. With those you know to start with. Convince yourself you despise someone you know well, but never ever show it. When you see him or her, treat him like you always do. Show warmth. Be nice. Go out. Touch. But in most cases he or she will know and tell you at some stage. This is how it operates in humans. Animals are way better at it. There's no comparison. When you like and respect them, they will know. Captivity or no captivity. The moment it changes, they will also know and act accordingly. Test it. When you know they trust you, change your attitude. No gun needed. Try to get close to them. You won't succeed. They will get close to you.

INTENTION

The key word is intention. Animals, and wild animals in particular, know all about it. Humans, although amateurs compared to them, also know. The problem is they often don't know they know, meaning they are not aware of their attitude and the consequences. If a row erupts somewhere 'unexpectedly', they don't understand. But they should. The point is it is difficult to learn how to recognize, train and control forces that affect relations (of any kind).

This is what Diggs was referring to. In wild India, you could carry a gun for protection a century ago. The moment you intend to use it, however, the animals will know. The trick is to go out there with a gun and enjoy the things you see. You are allowed to defend yourself, but you can't hunt. The animals will know. That's why a confirmed wild predator, a true specialist like a leopard or tiger, is so good at what he or she does. We have no idea about their real skills.   

It also works the other way round. When someone doesn't like you, you will 'feel' it, no matter how friendly he or she is. Same for animals. Nature isn't paradise. Some animals just don't like people. Others perhaps were injured in a fight and feel like revenge. Many have bad experiences with humans. They might try to get even at some stage. But you can learn to 'read' them, even if you can't see them. 

CONCLUSIONS

- The sixth sense

There's no question both humans and animals have access to forces usually hidden under 'instinct'. Some of these can be explained in a rational way, but others can't. Those who used it were convinced the sixth sense was (is) as real as it comes. The question is how to discover, train, use and develop it. Although it could compare to a kind of sonar in situations too complex to describe, it doesn't serve the individual who uses it all the time. It could depend on what was described as intention, meaning it only functions when it doesn't benefit one party only. Maybe those not out to kill don't send messages all the time.

Contacts between predators and prey animals could be more strongly affected by intuition (or instinct) than we think. Experienced predators seem to be much restricted as a result and, for that reason, often use those parts of their territory they haven't visited in some time. One could say they, trying to evade the intuition of prey animals, use 'surprise' in more than one way. It says a lot that these specialists, in spite of the counters of prey animals, survived and developed for hundreds of thousands of years. Humans often have no idea about the real skills of these specialists.       

- An open mind 

Our planet is a miracle. Same for the creatures inhabiting it. Although we think we've seen it all, we probably only scratched the surface. There are many skills we are not aware of, let alone use them. Maybe we, as suggested in very old books, really could be a bit special in some respects, but in order to get to that level, we need to expand our horizon in more than one way and act on it. The first thing to do is to understand there are more senses than those we use. If we keep using the old senses, we will keep running in circles.

- The sixth sense and the military

My guess is every creature is equipped with forces yet to be discovered. If true, they could be stronger than anything else. The only ones really interested, apart from a few freaks and those interested in (the revenues of selling) courses, faith and books about other 'dimensions', are the military. The reason is some of the unknown forces could shut down things we consider as invincible. They apparently think it could be true. This should tell you something. 

- Animals

If we want to know a bit more, we need to study animals. Not in a laboratory, but in wild places, where they live in more or less natural conditions. Today, wild places are few and far between. This is the reason I read them old books. Way more interesting than studies of those who mean well, but have no clue as to things that (in my opinion) really matter. Animals, although unable to play the fiddle and build a battleship, are not inferior. Far from it.

- Machines

When I say our world has become a very flat one, I mean we are getting ever more focussed on zilch. As long as we keep relying on the old and trusted senses, we will keep running in circles, meaning humans will concentrate on power. The power to dominate others. It will inevitably result in struggles time and again. Every time a war erupts, the destruction is more impressive. One day, we will blow ourselves into oblivion.

A black hole? Sure. But it isn't in space. It right here, in front of our eyes. This time, it's illustrated through machines. Most of us already are addicted to them. Many do not seem to realize they are erasing themselves. The development will result in not being able to write, count and think in some time. It will result in parodies on humans able to operate the machines that will replace them. Way cheaper. Before that happens, they will be tracked, played and exploited.

- Respect 

Modern man regards those who developed the world we live in with disdain. They couldn't measure a big cat, they couldn't count and in their books they came up with all kinds of silly stories about incidents a modern scientist would never ever even contemplate. Everything is dismissed if not treated in a way that would evoke the respect of the most cynical in history. It is a crying shame, but there's not much we can do about it. Arrogance has no limits.

- Our forum

This forum is a place for those without a voice. We have, however, to remember animals talk all the time. It's up to us to listen and report on what we hear. You do today and I will concentrate on books written a long time ago, when forests still covered half of our planet and animals acted as they did without fear of being apprehended, sentenced, imprisoned or executed. I also read some books of people who got lost in wild places. Some of the survivors reported on what they experienced. I will create a thread for them soon. Reply