Darwin Was Wrong: Woodpeckers Show Why

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of woodpeckers and the implications for Darwin's theory of natural selection. Participants explore the apparent contradiction between the survival of certain behaviors in woodpeckers and the concept of "survival of the fittest." The conversation includes humorous and speculative commentary on various fictional bird species and their traits.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Humorous

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how the seemingly irrational behavior of woodpeckers, such as banging on air conditioners, could persist if natural selection is accurate.
  • Another suggests that the loud pecking might serve as a mating call, potentially attracting females.
  • There are humorous references to fictional bird species like "rockpeckers" and "peckerpeckers," with participants joking about their characteristics.
  • Some participants engage in playful banter, introducing terms like "randomabusepecker" and "meaninglesscommentpecker," which do not contribute to the main discussion but reflect a light-hearted tone.
  • A participant expresses confusion about the relevance of a previous comment regarding burritos, indicating a lack of coherence in the thread.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion does not reach a consensus on the implications of woodpecker behavior for natural selection, with various humorous and speculative viewpoints presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

The conversation includes a mix of serious inquiry and playful commentary, which may obscure the original intent of discussing natural selection. Some claims are made without supporting evidence, and the humorous nature of many posts may detract from a focused analysis.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in evolutionary biology, animal behavior, or those looking for a humorous take on serious scientific concepts may find this discussion engaging.

tribdog
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Survival of the fittest?
Right now, as I'm typing this, I've got some idiotic woodpecker outside my bedroom window banging it's brains out on my air conditioner. If Darwin is right how could this sort of idiotic behavior not have been bred out of this bird? How did this species not go the way of some of the other Brainiacs of the Animal Kingdom like Triceratops, dodos and unicorns?
I thought natural selection took care of this sort of stuff. That's why we have woodpeckers but we don't have rockpeckers, mountainlionpeckers or peckerpeckers anymore.
 
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I was full of bull last night...beef burritos, nummy!
 
but we don't have rockpeckers, mountainlionpeckers or peckerpeckers anymore.
Dang! While the first two would most assuredly be amusing, it sure would be nice if EVERYONE could have a good peckerpecker!
 
I don't know about that, but I wouldn't say no to a peckerpucker.
 
ive heard that girls don't like peckerpackers.
 
Zero said:
I was full of bull last night...beef burritos, nummy!

what does that have to do with anything?
 
Zero is a burriterpecker...duh!
 
Zero said:
I was full of bull last night...beef burritos, nummy!

Aren't you on a diet? Now drop down and give me fifty!
 
jimmy p said:
Zero is a burritopecker...duh!
goll darn you, jimmy! now i HAVE to go change my pants... :eek: :frown:
 
  • #10
i think you are so stupid.
 
  • #11
looks like we have a randomabusepecker...
 
  • #12
jimmy p said:
looks like we have a randomabusepecker...

:wink: :biggrin:
 
  • #13
actually, i thought the randomabusepecker was extinct, ladies and gentlemen, a RARITY... if you think about it in the wild, they WOULDNT survive long, going up to a lion and saying "your mum's a kitty!" just going to lead to mass extinction...
 
  • #14
jimmy p said:
looks like we have a randomabusepecker...
Yes it does. Or it could be a meaninglesscommentpecker. An often ignored species. :biggrin:
 
  • #15
Evo said:
Yes it does. Or it could be a meaninglesscommentpecker. An often ignored species. :biggrin:


ah we are so fun-loving! :smile:
 
  • #16
I appologise for what I previously said, or didn't say. Someone has gotten a hold on my password. I will change it immediatly.
 
  • #17
ah... the dastardly theiving passwordpecker... :wink:
 
  • #18
Or maybe the ole' hestolemypasswordnotmeatallpecker trick :smile:
 
  • #19
I bet the loudness of the pecking works like a mating call. If a male can find something that makes a real racket, the females probably think, "Whoa, that's one helluva pecker!"

Njorl
 
  • #20
A woodpecker needs to apply a great deal of force to bury his acorn nuts into his unwilling host.
 
  • #21
i don't think trees have that much will. Or maybe they enjoy having a woodpeckers nuts shoved in them...
 

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