What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017) • Hacker News Board

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#141

Post by Razengan » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 11:19 AM UTC

jbotz wrote: post #3

It's an old trope in Sci Fi that alien intelligences would be so different from us that we couldn't even begin to comprehend them. Octopuses belie that idea... although we share some DNA, our last common ancestors barely had a nervous system, so any similarities in cognition between us really are the product of paralllel evolution. And since their environments are also very different from ours, this parallel evoution…

BBC's Blue Planet had a segment that showed an octopus and an entirely different species, a grouper fish I think, communicating with each other by changing the color of their skin, to coordinate and trap prey.

Watching something like that really hits home how intelligence already comes in so many forms on our own planet.

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#142

Post by codeisawesome » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 11:45 AM UTC

Being an octopus is intelligent and great until Korean people decide to pluck you as a baby out of the ocean and boil you alive for fun (and laugh as you struggle in unimaginable pain).

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#143

Post by allendoerfer » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 12:13 PM UTC

cvaidya1986 wrote: post #13

The original 8X engineers.

By the logic of your own joke, they would be a 4x engineers.

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#144

Post by onnodigcomplex » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 12:22 PM UTC

pavanky wrote: post #59

If anyone is else is interested in thought experiments on how other forms of intelligence / sapience may evolve, try to read "Children of Time" and "Children of Ruin" by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Also if anyone else has other books that follow similar themes, please recommend!

Two Greg Egan stories come to mind.

Wang's carpets is a short story about life evolving within a simulation of a naturally occurring computer. (also part of the larger novel Diaspora)

Schild's Ladder is about physicists researching the fundamental 'geometry' of the universe and accidentally create a quickly expanding geometry that is more stable than a regular vaccuum, very unhealthy for all regular matter, but...

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#145

Post by inopinatus » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 12:41 PM UTC

When asked if I have any dietary requirements, I’ll always respond, I don’t eat octopus. Tales of Diogenes aside, this is why. I don’t eat my peers.

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#146

Post by inopinatus » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 12:49 PM UTC

0_____0 wrote: post #66

e40 wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're all home (probably), but that [1] is NSFW! (it wasn't totally obvious to me before clicking, I thought it would be a text description)

Funny enough, there is a text description on the woodcut itself. If you click through to the photo on Wikipedia I believe there's a translation in the description. For the lazy: it's pure, unadulterated smut

I've never quibbled,

If it was ribald.

When correctly viewed,

Everything is lewd.

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#147

Post by wizzwizz4 » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 1:09 PM UTC

cesarito wrote: post #119

Reminds me that this youtuber still is profiting from these animals: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NcChbIdrdaA

Why would you eat an octopus‽

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#148

Post by shostack » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 2:46 PM UTC

Razengan wrote: post #141

jbotz wrote: post #3

It's an old trope in Sci Fi that alien intelligences would be so different from us that we couldn't even begin to comprehend them. Octopuses belie that idea... although we share some DNA, our last common ancestors barely had a nervous system, so any similarities in cognition between us really are the product of paralllel evolution. And since their environments are also very different from ours, this parallel evoution…

BBC's Blue Planet had a segment that showed an octopus and an entirely different species, a grouper fish I think, communicating with each other by changing the color of their skin, to coordinate and trap prey. Watching something like that really hits home how intelligence already comes in so many forms on our own planet.

That's fascinating. Do you happen to have a link?

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#149

Post by shostack » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 2:52 PM UTC

centimeter wrote: post #11

quercusa wrote: post #2

The novel Blindsight by Peter Watts considers the issues humans would face in contact with similarly alien aliens. It's an intriguing read. Available under CC: https://rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm#CC

The second book in the Children of Time series by A. Tchaikovsky deals with rapidly-evolved octopus intelligence. Similar vibe.

Was wondering why I had to scroll this long for this to be recommended.

The two books in the series are both fascinating for trying to imagine thinking in the manner of another species evolved to be "human level intelligence."

I enjoyed the first book more, but the second does an admirable job exploring what communication, thought processes, and technology look like from an octopodes perspective.

Re: What's it like to be an Octopus? (2017)

#150

Post by Razengan » Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 2:54 PM UTC

shostack wrote: post #148

Razengan wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

BBC's Blue Planet had a segment that showed an octopus and an entirely different species, a grouper fish I think, communicating with each other by changing the color of their skin, to coordinate and trap prey. Watching something like that really hits home how intelligence already comes in so many forms on our own planet.

That's fascinating. Do you happen to have a link?

I don’t think it’s on YouTube, you may have to get the show on iTunes or Netflix etc.