re: #339 negativ

I’m (slightly) annoyed by the common portrayal of the orca in question as some kind of loose cannon, somehow more dangerous and menacing than other captive orcas exhibiting the ‘default setting’.

Orcas are not domesticated animals. One might have noticed they are colloquially called “KILLER WHALES”. Those with a background in linguistics and/or etymology might recognize the subtle disposition such a moniker might convey.

We humans are pretty good at recognizing intelligence in others - it’s part of the reason we’re the dominant species on the planet. We don’t seem to be really good at understanding that non-human intelligences can have decidedly non-human motivations. Whales and dolphins seem to be capable of curiosity and cooperation, but they also seem to be capable of fucking you up.

Like chimpanzees.

Reminds me of the stories of dolphins shoving swimmers toward the shore. Inspiring until you realize they may have playful pushed a few out to sea.