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Science/nature/environment

Polar Bears seem to be at full capacity in two areas

(107 Posts)
Bags Mon 10-Jun-13 16:03:33

polarbearscience.com/2013/06/10/signs-that-davis-strait-polar-bears-are-at-carrying-capacity/#more-2059

j08 Sun 25-Aug-13 09:52:34

Well, at least we know now that the baggy one did leave Gransnet, taking someone else with her! hmm

At least they are both back now. smile

j08 Sun 25-Aug-13 09:55:24

"if we had wolves or links in Scotland we wouldn' t have to keep culling deer"

There might not be too many tourists either, one way or the other.

j08 Sun 25-Aug-13 09:57:47

My Fire spelt lynx wrong, not me!

carboncareful Sun 25-Aug-13 22:15:22

J08 That is rubbish; wolves and Lynx are scared of humans and keep well out of their way. Humans have lived with wolves as long as there have been humans. There are wolves and lynx and bears all over Europe and they are no problem except to farmers who have forgotten how to look after livestock properly. Even then it is only the occasionaly animal that is taken. I have seen all three of these animals in the wild and at no time felt unsafe. Polar bears are a different kettle of fish (pun) though I have to admit - but Inuits does live with them

gracesmum Sun 25-Aug-13 22:37:13

Thank goodness then that there is somebody with some sensitivity on GN. What on earth is your objection to it, j08?? I bet you don't like the one about Albert and the 'orses 'ead 'andle either.

j08 Sun 25-Aug-13 23:12:32

I don't think there would be too many walkers in Scottish forests if wolves were on the loose!

j08 Sun 25-Aug-13 23:14:46

I don't think there would be too many walkers in Scottish forests if wolves were on the loose!

j08 Sun 25-Aug-13 23:15:28

Sorry. I was spotting a little index

j08 Sun 25-Aug-13 23:16:43

Sorry. Was swatting a little insect thing against the screen of my Fire.

j08 Sun 25-Aug-13 23:20:05

Gracesmum the "poem" is a set of comic verses on the theme of the Titanic. If you can't see how obnoxious that is, well, I give up. hmm

gracesmum Sun 25-Aug-13 23:29:55

And I suppose Little Red Riding Hood is about wolves and Goldilocks is about bears?

j08 Sun 25-Aug-13 23:41:40

What?!

The verse thing is in BAD TASTE. People died when the Titanic sank.

hmm

FlicketyB Mon 26-Aug-13 06:29:27

A bit like jokes about 9/11. Like you j08 I recoiled from it. I think it is to do when it was written. It would have been written as a music hall humourous song. Written to day, it would probably be a conservationist's anthem.

gracesmum Mon 26-Aug-13 10:09:30

That's a bit OTT. It is NOTHING like "jokes about 9/11", not that I have encountered any but I apologise if it offended.

nightowl Mon 26-Aug-13 10:17:47

gracesmum I thought it was quite amusing too. Not sure what all the fuss is about confused I thought it was typical sentimentalism of its time. I must be missing something here.

nightowl Mon 26-Aug-13 10:21:42

But then I love 'Albert and the 'orse's 'ead 'andle' as well confused

Oldgreymare Mon 26-Aug-13 10:26:47

Just re-read the poem gracesmum.... and I totally agree with you! Nothing like the jokes about 9/11.
I think it's exactly as you say, FlicketyB typical of the poems/music-hall songs of the day BUT in no way offensive!

Elegran Mon 26-Aug-13 10:33:43

Yes, I found it a bit over-sentimental, and typical of that era, but not insensitive. I think sometimes people are looking out very assiduously for reasons to be outraged, while being astounded that anything they posted could possibly cause offence.

How far back do we have to go before making even the slightest reference to a traumatic event? The Norman Conquest for example - can we say "That is one in the eye for . . ." someone, without causing offence to descendents of Harold?

Oldgreymare Mon 26-Aug-13 10:45:25

Elegran smile

Greatnan Mon 26-Aug-13 15:09:58

Gracesmum - of course it is nonsense to say the poem is insensitive. It is just a bit of comic verse. For goodness sake, we will be afraid to post anything soon, in case somebody accuses us of being insensitive. I speak as somebody who has also been accused of insensitivity in a most ridiculous way.
Most families lost somebody in WWII, but nobody objects to 'Dad's Army'. I hope!!!

JessM Mon 26-Aug-13 15:40:21

Have you got round to complaining about the Marmite ad yet jo8?
Or Blackadder? Particularly the last one that made light of WW1.

carboncareful Mon 26-Aug-13 15:42:59

Haven't even read the poem.
but I have walked in forests where wolves live, and bears, and its not even occurred to me to be scared. What do you think people do who live in Europe or America? If you want actually see a wolf you have to creep about and stay still for hours on end - the slightest hint that humans are about and they disappear. Its extremely rare for wolves to attach humans. You are far more likely to be attacked by a dog than a wolf. Or a cow - cows are especially dangerous and humans get killed by cows every year, not to mention bulls.

Deedaa Mon 26-Aug-13 17:04:40

But the last Black Adder didn't make light of World War 1. In a paradoxical way the humour underlined the horror and stupidity of the whole thing. I found it sat very well with All Quiet on the Western Front and the poems of Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, and the finale was so sad.

JessM Mon 26-Aug-13 17:09:10

Indeed deeda and the poem about the polar bear is sad too hmm

j08 Mon 26-Aug-13 23:05:52

Jess you will find that I was one of the first on the Marmite ad thread to say how funny I thought it was.

I'm not at all sure Blackadder really did exactly make fun of WW1. In fact, towards the end it became quite poignant.

The poem is crap but would probably have been appreciated by the Victorian music hall goers.

I am not at all outraged about it. Just a bit surprised.

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