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UCLA Study Finds Laughter in 65 Species, from Rats to Cows

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Re: UCLA Study Finds Laughter in 65 Species, from Rats to Cows

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Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to be nitpicky but I would say there are definitely situations where laughter is not a positive (edit: or beautiful) thing – laughing at someone else's misfortune, laughing in pain, etc.

Absolutely. Nevertheless, and to nitpick, "beauty" and "positivity" are not isomorphic.

Sure, but I wouldn't call laughing as the world burns "beautiful" either – more "psychotic".

Re: UCLA Study Finds Laughter in 65 Species, from Rats to Cows

#12
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I wonder what their jokes are (outside of tickling) it’s hard to imagine a rat punchline.

I doubt any of the laughs are provoked by verbal ‘jokes.’ But rats are very smart, and play (wrestle) around with each other. It’s probably not too different from kids giggling as they engage in rough and tumble play.

I’ve seen Australian magpies do exactly the same thing. I was thoroughly unsurprised to see that they are in the list of laughing animals as well.

Re: UCLA Study Finds Laughter in 65 Species, from Rats to Cows

#17
post #10
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to be nitpicky but I would say there are definitely situations where laughter is not a positive (edit: or beautiful) thing – laughing at someone else's misfortune, laughing in pain, etc.

Absolutely. Nevertheless, and to nitpick, "beauty" and "positivity" are not isomorphic.

I just have to say that i have had a word stuck on the tip of my tongue for an embarrassingly long time, maybe six months now. I’ve had occasion to use it several times recently on a project but it was just stuck wherever words get lost. I’m cruising HN in a post completely unrelated to what I’m doing and there it is, in living color: isomorphic.

I could feel the tension release in my brain as it sunk in. Thank you!

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