Why don't more animals commit suicide?

I mean, imagine if there was a big 15 foot tall snaggle-mouthed 1500 fanged slimy 5-eyed scorpion monster living on your block. And that every morning, this monster would eat one person who lives on your block. And if it gets you, you won't die fast either. It injects its poison into you, and then that poison slowly dissolves your insides until you eventually die from internal hemorraging.

If that were the case, would you still go to work/school every day, hoping that today isn't the day that the monster gets you?

Because a lot of animals DO live like that. If I had to live like that, I'd probably kill myself.

You know, whenever life sucks and things are looking down, just remind yourself that at least there isn;t a giant poisonous bug monster living near you that wants to eat you.

Yeah, it could always be worse. If I new that could happen any day or time, I'd probably leave (:P)...or google "ways to kill a scorpion."

I think that facing the fear is how these creatures survive in the long run.

That has been their life for thousandsgenerations. They don't know anything different, they probably can't even concieve the possibility of living without some level of fear. It's almost like a routine. It's just what they do.

We can ask ourselves "Hmm, we're gonna die in about 76 years, why do we spend about 28 years of it in school, and then the next 30 years working? Doesn't make sense how our society works, but it's just been developed this way for thousands of years, that it's no longer something we can change.

You know, whenever life sucks and things are looking down, just remind yourself that at least there isn;t a giant poisonous bug monster living near you that wants to eat you.

MrGeezer

You've never been to Scotland, have you...

Because one more day of living is one more day of living. Yes, we all die, but why hasten that eventuality?

If the creature could kill you tomorrow, it could also kill you in a year (or the maximum amount of people living in the area). Do you want to prematurely end your life a year earlier?

Surviving, whether threatened or not, is the priority of every animal. Commiting suicide wouldn't benefit the species' surivival in any way.Kritical_Strike

Arguably kin selection in displays of altruism, but I think that's an argument for another thread. :P

maybe it's because they aren't sentient and therefore can't think about such thingsBill900

That's assuming a lot, though.

how does animal suicide have to deal with scorpions? im confused.Putzwapputzen

Did you read the OP?

Animals aren't conscious. They follow their instincts which is to survive and reproduce. They are no more alive than artificial intelligence found in a videogame - besides their physical being of course.GodLovesDead

I definitely cannot agree with this position. Animals are more than just instincts wrapped in a bag of flesh. They have personality as well, and there is some degree of intelligence (though many will want to say that it is no where near to that of humans).

[QUOTE="GodLovesDead"]Animals aren't conscious. They follow their instincts which is to survive and reproduce. They are no more alive than artificial intelligence found in a videogame - besides their physical being of course.muthsera666

I definitely cannot agree with this position. Animals are more than just instincts wrapped in a bag of flesh. They have personality as well, and there is some degree of intelligence (though many will want to say that it is no where near to that of humans).

[QUOTE="GodLovesDead"]Animals aren't conscious. They follow their instincts which is to survive and reproduce. They are no more alive than artificial intelligence found in a videogame - besides their physical being of course.muthsera666

I definitely cannot agree with this position. Animals are more than just instincts wrapped in a bag of flesh. They have personality as well, and there is some degree of intelligence (though many will want to say that it is no where near to that of humans).

Having a personality and having intelligence is not that same thing as being able to articulate diverse thought. Animals are simple and are linear mentally. They are unable to question their own existance. "Cogito, ergo sum"

*ponders... MY KITTY NEVER LOVED MEE!!! :cry:*
D3ADMaggot911

You know, whenever life sucks and things are looking down, just remind yourself that at least there isn;t a giant poisonous bug monster living near you that wants to eat you.

MrGeezer

Thats profound.

[QUOTE="D3ADMaggot911"] *ponders... MY KITTY NEVER LOVED MEE!!! :cry:*
double_decker

ohhh man i was soo sad.. D3ADMaggot911

[QUOTE="double_decker"][QUOTE="D3ADMaggot911"] *ponders... MY KITTY NEVER LOVED MEE!!! :cry:*
D3ADMaggot911

Don't be fooled by the ol' 'gave him away' line. :roll:

That's cat's dead. Sorry.

1. Animals arn't that capable of comiting suicide.

2. Animals don't know what death is, they are not that smart.

[QUOTE="D3ADMaggot911"][QUOTE="double_decker"][QUOTE="D3ADMaggot911"] *ponders... MY KITTY NEVER LOVED MEE!!! :cry:*
bearbones

Don't be fooled by the ol' 'gave him away' line. :roll:

That's cat's dead. Sorry.

i would just make sarcastic and insulting comments about the scorpion behind t's back...

Animals live on instinct. Suicide is not instinct.:|LJS9502_basic

i would just make sarcastic and insulting comments about the scorpion behind t's back...

four_aces

Oh, like that show about zebras on Animal Planet the other day:

Zebra #1: ...so there I was at the waterhole, minding my own business, ya know? And there it was.

Zebra #2: What was?

#1: The tiger.

#2: No way!

#1: Yeah, let's just say it wasn't too happy to see me...

*reveals gaping bite wound*

#2: Well, you did make all those remarks about it's stripes behind it's back.

Oh wait, that wasn't on Animal Planet at all - I was just really high.

Here's the thing though...

All those little critters that get eaten by predators like deadly, poisonous scorpions don't really KNOW that their lives are in danger or even what death is. They only work on instinct...find food, mate; if you see predator, RUN.

The ability to think in detail and juggle hypothetical situations in our heads to the point that we become so totally afraid is an ability unique to us humans.

They always have this one thing in the back of their mind: I'm gonna get laid.Video_Game_King

This confirms my long time belief that Robbie Williams is, in fact, an ape.