On Tuesday, October 4, 2005, at 06:57 PM, Tamir Nolley wrote:
Samuels has also used the terms "Alpha Male" ...
It probably isn't worth much, but the alpha male's primary role is to be the consort of the alpha female and sire the pups. One world this term refers to is that of wolves, hyenas and wild dogs. In that world the alpha female is the leader of the pack. She directs not only the hunting but the procreation pecking order.
Taking terminology from science isn't unheard of, but at least we should get the gender orientation right. And if we must have a human equivalent, think Prince Philip of England.
Among apes, our cousins, alpha males are said to mate more often. However dominance hierarchies prevail in ape society, which do not in human society. (Well, unless you count polygamous Mormons and harems where humans actually live in groups, but that is accomplished under duress). And it should be remembered that among apes as among humans the selection of the mating male is done by the female, not the other way around, appearances notwithstanding.
That's procreation for you. Politics in Minneapolis is another matter. Best wishes, Laura Laura Waterman Wittstock Candidate for Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees DFL and Labor endorsed AFSCME Mn Council 5 AFL-CIO COPE Minneapolis Building and Trades Stonewall DFL Minnesota Women's Political Caucus www.laurawatermanwittstock.com http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/ Wittstock for Library Committee 913 19th Avenue SE, Mpls, 55414 Minneapolis, MN 612-387-4915 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
