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#1357 04/13/00 06:29 AM
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jmh Offline OP
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I spotted this on the internet today and thought it was relevant to all of us - perhaps we're barking up the wrong tree!

I had a linguistics professor who said that it's man's ability to use language that makes him the dominant species on the planet. That may be. But I think there's one other thing that separates us from animals...We aren't afraid of vacuum cleaners.

copyright JOKE-OF-THE-DAY : mailto:can-joke@calder.net



#1358 04/14/00 03:15 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Gee, I was always taught that we're different because of
our opposable thumbs--thanks for setting me straight!
Guess I'll switch to a horse of a different color. :-)


#1359 04/28/00 06:50 AM
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old hand
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Hi
More than 30 years ago a man of some experience told me: people use language for the same purpose as dogs use their urine on streetcorners.


#1360 04/28/00 09:27 AM
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jmh Offline OP
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Woof


#1361 05/01/00 09:05 PM
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stranger
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Whoever said that people aren't afraid of vacuum cleaners hasn't met my flatmate!


#1362 07/05/00 04:27 PM
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old hand
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well, if what puts us above other animals is their fear of our creations (vacuum cleaner) ,does the fact that a vast percentage of our population is afraid of cobwebs make spiders our superior?


#1363 07/05/00 07:14 PM
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Good point, Jazzy--
I reckon the same would go for snakes, rats, a variety of bugs, arachnids, and other creepy-crawlies, and...
people...of different cultures/backgrounds than ourselves.

I think knowledge is the key here. We're not afraid of
vacuum cleaners because we understand "what makes them tick". I know that, once a person understands, for
example, that snakes aren't slimy, and that they virtually always prefer fleeing rather than fighting humans, then the person's fears are eased. Same would follow in most situations, but I don't think I would ever be able to
have a hissing cockroach run up and down my arm, no matter
how much I learned about them!



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