[extropy-chat] extension of jolly good theory

[Mike Lorrey]

This doesn't follow logically. Using the same logic, we could conclude
that the fight or flight reflex is not hard wired, because someone
who'd never seen a jaguar may think "Nice kitty cat". The response is
really there, its just that the triggers need to be taught because we
are evolved generalists.

--- Kevin Freels <megaquark at hotmail.com> wrote:
> This is a guess, but I would think that laughter is not hard-wired.
> Although
> we may all have been in situatins that we couldn't stop laughing, it
> is
> always in response to something that is funny. This leaves a few
> problems:
> 1.) Since culture plays a large part in deciding what is funny and
> what is
> not, the trigger for such a response would be variable, and learned.
> 
> 2.) Even within a culture, each individual has unique ideas of what
> is funny
> and what is not.
> 
> 3.) Education also plays a key role
> 
> 4.) Each person is further subject to moods and other things in their
> environment which may cause them to laugh or not laugh.
> 
> In other words, I can only conclude that laughter is not hard-wired
> simply
> because some people laugh at Damien's jokes and some do not.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Spike" <spike66 at comcast.net>
> To: "'ExI chat list'" <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 10:47 PM
> Subject: RE: [extropy-chat] extension of jolly good theory
> 
> 
> > > Then came the blinding flash of insight, why it is that
> > > jolly and portly go together:
> > > Recall the classic spring mass system, the resonant
> > > frequency being square root of the spring constant divided
> > > by the mass, or (k/m)^.5 (remember that from physics 101?)...
> > > Now you understand why. spike
> >
> > I thought of an extension of the jolly good theory.
> >
> > If you have had an opportunity to dissect a mammal, you
> > are likely aware of the fact that all mammals are of
> > similar enough design that a structure in one has
> > an analog in the other.  If you find an organ or structure
> > in a cat, there is an analog of that organ or structure
> > in you.  The shape and size may be different, but there
> > is a nearly one to one correlation.  This observation
> > made in my youth is supported by the recent findings
> > that mammalian genomes are all remarkably similar.
> >
> > Insight: if analogous structures then analogous functions.
> > humans grin, chimps grin, dogs snarl.  Analogous functions,
> > different meanings.  A human grin is mirthful and friendly,
> > but a dog's snarl means "Back off, before I tear you a new
> > asshole."
> >
> > A chimp's grin has a meaning about halfway between these
> > two according to Sagan's Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors:
> > a grinning chimp is apparently saying "See my teeth?  I
> > could bite you with these.  But I won't, because you are
> > my friend.  Don't push your luck, hairless biped."
> >
> > The jolly good theory explains laughter as a natural
> > frequency with the diaphragm as the spring and the
> > mass of the gut as the mass.  My notion is that some
> > mammals have an analogous function, even if the meaning
> > is different.  Hyenas make a sound that has been described
> > as laughing, perhaps as a means of terrifying predators.
> > Chipmunks and squirrels make a sound that to me resembles
> > laughter, possibly to warn off competitors.
> >
> > Nowthen, here is what puzzles me.  I have been in situations
> > where I was completely unable to supress laughter, most of
> > us have.  This leads me to the following questions:  Do all
> > humans and human societies have laughter?  Do all humans
> > have *involuntary* laughter?  Is there anything analogous
> > to that in other mammals?  If involuntary laughter universal
> > in humans, how does that response get hardwired to our sense
> > of humor?  Should I stick with rocket science?
> >
> > spike
> >
> >
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> >
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=====
Mike Lorrey
Chairman, Free Town Land Development
"Live Free or Die, Death is not the Worst of Evils."
                                       - Gen. John Stark
Blog: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Sadomikeyism


	
		
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