My brain is way too analytical.

[Moofins07]

I was walking home this afternoon, and I just randomly thought of something.

So far as I know, we are the only species on the planet that "cleans up" after we're done with our "dwellings".

At least, the people that believe in basic cleanliness do, but what I'm getting at is, for example, a groundhog or a mole doesn't care about the state of its burrow once it decides to abandon it. Bedding, feces, deceased young (god forbid we any of you should have that problem), etc. Mind you, WE have toilets and garbage disposal systems, granted, but... Once we decide to move, or even when we realize we'll be having company over, we clean up or organize. But what DRIVES us to be a more cleanly and tidy species than others?



I just find myself analyzing the weirdest things sometimes on my walks. It felt like a conversation starter and I welcome anyone's opinions on this odd subject. If anyone KNOWS of a few species of animals off the top of their heads that DO display similar behavior to ours when it comes to cleaning up their burrows, nests, caves, hidey-holes, whathaveyou, that would be awesome.

We humans are just weird. Actually, while I'm on the subject of our oddities, another thing that has been kicking in the back of my mind is this: why do humans have the largest number of illnesses out of any other species on the planet? Or so it seems.

I don't expect many replies, this is more or less just me getting ides out of my head, but, please, go ahead! I'm eager to know if anyone else ever thinks of these strange things in life.

[dembonez]

ugh dude im the same way my mom always tells me i over analyze stuff

[Moofins07]

ugh dude im the same way my mom always tells me i over analyze stuff

Hahah, it almost gets too much sometimes. I can't just tell my brain to "shut up".

[Danounet]

I cant get my brain to stop thinking, and I think that is why I have sleeping problems. I cant fall asleep until my body is really tired and the need to sleep overcomes my active brain.

[Beardedragon]

What sucks is right before you go to sleep, you really start to over analize everything. For me it is, too bad I just cant remember my awesome solutions when I wake up!

[dr del]

Hi,

Quite a few animals keep their homes clean.

Badgers (er the british version? ) regularly change their bedding and throw away the old stuff as do many different burrowing animals.

Birds often remove the droppings from their young from the nest and drop them some distance away.

The bower bird is positively nuts about the state of the bower and Capercaillies show a less extreme version of that behaviour in preparing their lek.

But those are all while the area is occupied or about to be so not exactly what you are looking for. I suspect nature has been historically unkind to animals that waste energy and time cleaning up something they no longer have any use for.

Could it also be related to the reasons the animals leave? I mean I can think of several common reasons where cleaning up behind you would be impossible or suicidal - death, dangerous predators in the area, no food in the area etc.

On the disease front I don't think we do have any more diseases than other animals - it only seems like it because we have devoted so many resources to discovering, classifying and studying anything that can hurt or kill us and given those a higher priority than most animal diseases.

I know sheep seem to die of the strangest things on occasion.


dr del

[dembonez]

Hahah, it almost gets too much sometimes. I can't just tell my brain to "shut up".

lol for sure!

[wilomn]

There are several species of crabs and not a few fish that also keep quite tidy homes.

[mr. s]

Nature cleans up after animals. They don't need to. They move on. Nature is sustainable on it's own and so an animal can focus its time on survival and reproduction. Our human brains have taken us in a different direction now that we are beyond the basics of survival. Also, there are also lots of birds and fish that I know of who clean out a mating or living area.

As for the diseases, I agree with dr. del. We just analyze them more. A thousand years ago, people would just die of "a fever". They did not know everything that was going on. This still happens in 3rd world countries. People just die, and nobody finds out why.

Don't worry about having an active mind, I LOVE it. I LOVE thinking about all kinds of things that most people don't care about. I think that an active mind is particularly valuable when we combine it with hard work and dedicate ourselves to something, and I mean DEDICATE. In the past, 5 or 6 years of my life, since I was 19 or 20, for the first time, I began to really decide to work hard at everything that I do as opposed to the passing grades I was shooting for in high school. From this, I have seen the most rewarding outcome, which is invaluable for my future. I decided to do well in school. I decided to start a business. I decided to travel the world. I have chosen to pursue a profession based on what I would do if I knew I could not fail. I see all these things coming together, and among other things, I attribute it to training an active mind to be a great tool.

[Seru1]

Well, I hate to bring this into a discussion, but from my standpoint It's because we're not animals. We're beings set apart.


A religious standpoint not everyone agrees with and thats okay, but it is mine and one reason I never spend time comparing man to animal.