Poll: So let's talk about dinosaurs, and Feathers.

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

im a feather guy. scientifically accurate all the way baby. and lets face it if not for childhood nostalgia we would be equally scared of feathered dinosaurs.

I don't know about this- bear with me for a sec.

See, a lot of individual stories about chickens pecking people on the hand, or flapping and scaring kids don't really offset the fact that they (meaning mainly chickens) are our food. Like, by the millions. They are livestock, treated and completely rendered as property. Also, most birds are small(compared to us). Eagles and hawks and big owls are often a larger size, and pretty cool, sure- often being highly successful predators - but they can fly, too, and look the part. And I'm sure that there are other birds that are potentially threatening- like an ostrich could probably be really dangerous- but they also look relatively silly.

If feathers are canon, then so be it. But since this is about what we personally think, I don't have to like it.

You're kind of missing the point.

Okay, humans are not apex predators. We're basically ranked as a bipedular pig in our trophic level. When people talk about how non-threatening a 3-4 foot feathered velociraptor might be, let me remind you they're an ambush predator and a 4 foot tall cassowary will fuck up an adult human. A 2.5 foot tall canid will fuck up a human. A 2 foot tall mountain lion will fuck up a human.

Also, I've been chased by a cassowary ... anything that crazy is scary, regardless of size.

If, somehow, someone reproduces dinosaurs, and one person laughs and prods a 4' tall feathered dinosaur in the future ... that silly fucker is going to be an immortal lesson to everyone else.

 

[the December King]

im a feather guy. scientifically accurate all the way baby. and lets face it if not for childhood nostalgia we would be equally scared of feathered dinosaurs.

I don't know about this- bear with me for a sec.

See, a lot of individual stories about chickens pecking people on the hand, or flapping and scaring kids don't really offset the fact that they (meaning mainly chickens) are our food. Like, by the millions. They are livestock, treated and completely rendered as property. Also, most birds are small(compared to us). Eagles and hawks and big owls are often a larger size, and pretty cool, sure- often being highly successful predators - but they can fly, too, and look the part. And I'm sure that there are other birds that are potentially threatening- like an ostrich could probably be really dangerous- but they also look relatively silly.

If feathers are canon, then so be it. But since this is about what we personally think, I don't have to like it.

You're kind of missing the point.

Okay, humans are not apex predators. We're basically ranked as a bipedular pig in our trophic level. When people talk about how non-threatening a 3-4 foot feathered velociraptor might be, let me remind you they're an ambush predator and a 4 foot tall cassowary will fuck up an adult human. A 2.5 foot tall canid will fuck up a human. A 2 foot tall mountain lion will fuck up a human.

Also, I've been chased by a cassowary ... anything that crazy is scary, regardless of size.

If, somehow, someone reproduces dinosaurs, and one person laughs and prods a 4' tall feathered dinosaur in the future ... that silly fucker is going to be an immortal lesson to everyone else.

No, no, I got that. I see what you're saying (ocelot? heh), but when they originally looked like reptiles, that meant they looked like crocodiles... and they fuck up anything they want.

Trust me, no one is prodding turkeys here. And I'm sure dinos were dangerous- after all, hippos look like morons, but are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. But predatory reptiles look bad ass to me. And since that was the whole point, I stand by my opinion.

 

[Story]

I love birds so I'm fine with feathers.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

No, no, I got that. I see what you're saying (ocelot? heh), but when they originally looked like reptiles, that meant they looked like crocodiles... and they fuck up anything they want.

Trust me, no one is prodding turkeys here. And I'm sure dinos were dangerous- after all, hippos look like morons, but are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. But predatory reptiles look bad ass to me. And since that was the whole point, I stand by my opinion.

Just saying the whole idea that it would look ridiculous is weird to me. I mean the weirdest it would look like a cassowary-eagle hybrid thing with a long tail that suggests it leaps at things and requires a counterweighted balance. And cassowaries are scary enough.

It's kind of like when you watch a mob of kangaroos at what you thought was a safe distance and a big eastern grey male lands right next to you, puffs out its chest, and snorts a challenge. It's all those moments when you know something is well and truly out of your league when you've got nothing but a map, compass, first aid kit, and some food and water.

Ditto that cassowary....

Suddenly not so goofy looking. So if they're as big as them having feathers is meaningless to what they could probably do to you if you provoke them. I mean the main problem seems to be the feathers. Not the fact that they are smaller than commonly presented, and yet the feathers is what tick people off and call them ridiculous?

It might just be my healthy fear of things with big spurs by this point.

I will admit saltwater crocodiles are amazing up close. Just not too close.

 

[CaitSeith]

I blame Jurassic Park. They made featherless dinosaurs look too cool to even imagine them with feathers.