Double Naught Spy said:
Respect? LOL in the wild kingon at that level, such high/complex emotions are not known to exist. Humans are the only animal that thinks respect is supposed to be part of our interactive environment and that we somehow deserve it because we are humans.
I disagree, there may just be some discrepencies in what a different species and individual considers respectful that are lost in translation.
Take for example many large grizzlies.
People like Timothy Treadwell who know enough about the animal to sit on the border of disrespectful and tolerable have shown just how long it can take to get attacked. Spending months around these animals playing on that line.
While another person that comes stumbling along can upset the bear quite early on and get attacked much sooner, their ignorance requiring they almsot have to resort to a gun or spray right away.
Or similarly many photographers that give a respectful distance often are not attacked. While someone that does not show a level of submissive respect can get attacked.
It is not because they are out of reach that the bear leaves them alone, they could cover that ground in seconds. It is because the person shows a level of respect and calm, while also not triggering their prey drive (If you fall down or run away for example they may still suddenly decide to attack.)
People have worked with lions in the same way. Tempting fate, but through understanding typical animal reaction and behavior socializing with large wild male lions extensively over a period of time. The Timothy Treadwells of the lion world.
Some big powerful predators find it insulting when someone acts safe around them and don't even acknowledge the danger posed by the animal.
You see this in both semi domestic and wild lions for example.
It seems to often be interpreted as a type of disrepect, and provokes what to many people seems an unprovoked attack.
Likewise people have worked with wild Gorillas and found something similar with the dominant male.
If they acted like they were lower on the hierarchy after having been accepted in prxomity to the animals over a period of time violence was often avoided. While if the person acted dominant or showed an alpha level of overconfidence the actual alpha felt a need to violently challenge them through attack or intimidation.
There is always exceptions, and animals are also indivdiuals. But there is definately a respect issue with many.
Most people are just so used to the human perspective they don't percieve the differences in some animals.
I have seen domestic pets that would get angry and attack if someone laughed at them when they stumbled or hurt themselves. One person had a pet racoon that would act in that manner. Normally a calm pleasant animal, even around kids. It was a little clumsy though.
Yet if people started laughing at it then it would become angry and chase and bite the person making fun of it.
While that is a domesticated animal, imprinted with human social qualities, it goes to show wild animals could have similar traits.
So it doesn't mean you can socialize or interact like you would with a person, or that they are always predictable, but there is definately animals that think certain actions are tolerable, and some are disrespectful and require retaliation.
It doesn't make them right or their interpretation superior, but it does show they have an interpretation of things that are and are not disprectful and insulting.
Things that are respectful to humans may not matter to an animal, while things that don't matter to most humans certain species might routinely find disrespectful.
Someone that understands those things can often coexist with the animals, especially if they are not intentionally going to the extremes of what is tolerable most of the time.
