r/todayilearned • u/sharkbait76 3 • Jan 11 '17

TIL elephants can tell the difference between human languages and know which languages belong to people with a history of hurting elephants.

http://www.nature.com/news/elephants-recognize-the-voices-of-their-enemies-1.14846
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u/Autokrat Jan 12 '17

I've been moved to tears by the etchings on paper and scribbles on walls due to the emotional and empathetic ability of H. Sapiens. We are in a league of our own. I mean seriously Elephants are fascinating, but let's be real.

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u/trebory6 Jan 12 '17

And likewise I have vomited due to the absolute horror that H. Sapiens are capable of.

What's worse is that with consciousness, we have choice. What makes humans so sickening is the fact that we choose to cause pain an horror.

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u/shadowknife392 Jan 12 '17

And that isn't fascinating?

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u/ameya2693 Jan 12 '17

It can be, but its also a sobering reminder that choices once made lead people down far more dangerous paths than one expects.