June 14, 2003, 17:11
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#1
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Emperor
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Thumbs?
In various discussions about evolution I remember hearing(reading) people talking about thumbs being one of the big human advantages over other animals.
Can anyone clarify this point? It sounds odd.
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"Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master" - Commissioner Pravin Lal.
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June 14, 2003, 17:12
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#2
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Emperor
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Grasping.
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June 14, 2003, 17:13
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#3
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Emperor
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Think on the Romans, no gladiator bttles without thumbs.... 
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Banana
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June 14, 2003, 17:14
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#4
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Emperor
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Cut off your thumbs and let us know.
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June 14, 2003, 17:14
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#5
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Emperor
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Think about tying your shoes without thumbs.
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June 14, 2003, 17:15
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#6
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Emperor
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Of course, the truly big difference, the one from which all else follows, is the ability to walk upright.
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June 14, 2003, 17:17
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#7
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Emperor
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I´ve heard  thumbs are also neccessary for save masturbating.... 
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Banana
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June 14, 2003, 17:17
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#8
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King
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Thumbs, upright walking, and sentience are tied IMO. Thumbs allow us to build complex tools, sentience lets us think up the complex tools, and upright walking lets us use them.
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meet the new boss, same as the old boss
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June 14, 2003, 17:34
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#9
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Emperor
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While we're at it, what's the big deal with walking upright?
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"Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master" - Commissioner Pravin Lal.
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June 14, 2003, 17:54
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#10
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Apolyton Grand Executioner
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Getting from one patch of trees to another with enough weaponry in your now available hands to not get eaten.
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Bush-Cheney 2008. What's another amendment between friends?
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When all else fails, blame brown people. | Hire a teen, while they still know it all.
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June 14, 2003, 17:56
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#11
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Emperor
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Walking upright gives us two arms instead of four legs, you know?
Also allows for the growth of fingers, including the thumb.
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June 14, 2003, 17:59
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#12
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Deity
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Quote:
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Originally posted by mrmitchell
Thumbs, upright walking, and sentience are tied IMO. Thumbs allow us to build complex tools, sentience lets us think up the complex tools, and upright walking lets us use them.
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 thumbs up
On a side note, this is why I don't think monkeys or dolphins are NEARLY as intelligent as humans - they have no use for it, so why would they evolve it?
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[Obama] is either a troll or has no ****ing clue how government works - GePap
Later amendments to the Constitution don't supersede earlier amendments - GePap
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June 14, 2003, 18:02
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#13
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Warlord
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The big deal is opposable thumbs - without thumbs, making tools and such would be much harder. Even more worrying, we wouldn't have
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June 14, 2003, 18:21
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#14
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Deity
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I gotta see that! 
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[Obama] is either a troll or has no ****ing clue how government works - GePap
Later amendments to the Constitution don't supersede earlier amendments - GePap
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June 14, 2003, 18:53
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#15
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King
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meet the new boss, same as the old boss
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June 14, 2003, 18:55
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#16
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Settler
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June 14, 2003, 19:07
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#17
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King
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Well, Dave Barry's theory is that thumbs led to the creation of the "OK" hand sign, which gave us a big advantage over the apes, who could only make a noncommittal shrugging gesture when a good idea came along. Thus, while ape geniuses were unappreaciated and became despondent, humans followed through on good ideas and developed into the outstanding life forms we are today.
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Lime roots and treachery!
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June 14, 2003, 19:24
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#18
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Deity
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how true... scary
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[Obama] is either a troll or has no ****ing clue how government works - GePap
Later amendments to the Constitution don't supersede earlier amendments - GePap
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June 14, 2003, 21:09
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#19
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you pull the trigger with your thumb? 
I guess he shows the intelligence of the usual second amendment supporters
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June 14, 2003, 21:12
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#20
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Quote:
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you pull the trigger with your thumb?
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Um... you need the thumb to hold the gun itself, especially around the handle part.
I guess you show the intelligence of the usual gun control supporters? 
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June 14, 2003, 21:17
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#21
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That reason (grasping) was already covered by the first reply. It seems within reason to believe that SS was bringing something new to the discussion, hence HTower's comment.
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