> David Hobby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >Deborah Harrell wrote:
> > > David Hobby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > > Got me, what is the difference between disease
> > > organisms and parasites?
> > Delineating one from another is not always
> > straightforward.
> >
> > My Steadman's definition of "parasite" is
> > 1) an organism that lives on or in another and
> > draws its nourishment therefrom
<snip>
> > Practically speaking, I think what makes something
> >a parasite involves the "eeuuww!" factor: tapeworms
> >are just *gross,* while cold-causing viruses really
> > aren't.
> So we're saying the word "parasite" is 90%
> connotation and 10% denotation.
Noooo, that's *my* take - by correct definition, your
mistletoe is indeed a parasite.
> Let's test it. Mistletoe is not gross, at
> least unless one is a tree. Do we call it a
> parasite?
> > *Cats* are at least commensals, but frequently
> >provide
> > benefits to the lesser bipedal species as well; if
> > they cause harm it is *deliberate and predatory,*
> >not parasitical!
> Benefits? I could get the same effect by leaving
> stuffed
> animals lying around the house, and moving them now
> and then.
> But I guess they "draw their nourishment" from cans,
> rather
> than directly from me. So they are technically not
> parasites. : )
> And what's *deliberate and predatory* about lying
> around until a furless biped trips over you?
<LOL>
Ah, but it's _where_ one chooses to lounge in the dark
that makes it predatory... <evil smirk>
<serious> It's true that kittens need to be
socialized earlier than puppies in order to really be
bonded to humans (IIRC, cats' "imprint" window is only
until about 7 weeks of age, while for puppies it's
more like 12 weeks). My oldest cat was introduced to
walking on a leash, riding in the car, and various
other strange human-things-to-do before he was 3
months old; he was socialized to humans from a few
days old on. He knows how to shake paws, ring bells
to go outside (bells strung from the door handle), and
comes when I whistle better than 80% of the time
(well, that was before we moved -- now he's down to ~
60% response b/c there's such grand mousing in the
barn environs!). Once he deliberately woke me up in
the middle of the night, ran to the door growling,
then back and forth between me and the door: turned
out that someone was trying to break into my
neighbor's apartment [this was years ago, in Dallas;
that would-be burglar was run off by the super's
Rottweiler, released into the courtyard after I phoned
him re: the break-in. <grim smile>].
Debbi
Cats Are Beneficial Symbiotes If Raised Proper-like
>From Kittenhood Maru :D
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