NH93
New member
I have this sad feeling that we will never ever know :/
It's funny though, how human's seem to need to know everything...
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Snakes have feelings too!
- Thread starter ClutchItAllDay
- Start date
I have this sad feeling that we will never ever know :/
It's funny though, how human's seem to need to know everything...
RobbiesCornField
Bring it on.
My cat loves food. He tolerates and uses me for scratches and snuggles. And to get more food. :grin01:
yeah that's about it :laugh:
Duae
New member
They've been working on MRIs on dogs to record brain activity to actually see how much they think and feel and understand. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/05/doggie-mris-what-is-your-dog-thinking/
For cats, I had a sibling pair in the past where when one died the other searched the house for two months, and then after that refused to eat.
Another cat I got when the owner passed away in her sleep. For months every time I fell asleep, the cat would pat my face to wake me up, getting more and more frantic if I ignored her, until I would pet her and say something. Then she'd settle down. Slowly she did it less and less, and finally stopped. I really think she was able to somewhat understand that her owner had fallen asleep and stopped responding and bad things happened, and she wanted to make sure I wasn't doing the same.
I think reptiles brains function differently from human and higher mammal brains and to say they 'feel love' is like saying "You can directly translate a phrase from English to Finnish with all the cultural overtones intact, just using Google Translate" And to go along with the metaphor in the opposite direction, say Americans can't truly comprehend communication, because English is such a simple language compared to Finnish. I'd say snakes are very capable of feeling preferences, likes and dislikes, and so on, but a snake's view of the world and universe is probably different enough from my own that saying "They feel love, just like I do" is probably unrealistic.
For cats, I had a sibling pair in the past where when one died the other searched the house for two months, and then after that refused to eat.
Another cat I got when the owner passed away in her sleep. For months every time I fell asleep, the cat would pat my face to wake me up, getting more and more frantic if I ignored her, until I would pet her and say something. Then she'd settle down. Slowly she did it less and less, and finally stopped. I really think she was able to somewhat understand that her owner had fallen asleep and stopped responding and bad things happened, and she wanted to make sure I wasn't doing the same.
I think reptiles brains function differently from human and higher mammal brains and to say they 'feel love' is like saying "You can directly translate a phrase from English to Finnish with all the cultural overtones intact, just using Google Translate" And to go along with the metaphor in the opposite direction, say Americans can't truly comprehend communication, because English is such a simple language compared to Finnish. I'd say snakes are very capable of feeling preferences, likes and dislikes, and so on, but a snake's view of the world and universe is probably different enough from my own that saying "They feel love, just like I do" is probably unrealistic.
BSLMichael
Below Sea Level Reptiles
I understand that science says that snakes cannot feel love - rather I feel love in this case is an extreme word-- I prefer the term 'have fondness'.
Science also use to believe that alligators were dumb, Dogs do not understand speech, Chimps were the smartest non-human mammals, and that birds in general were stupid. All Because of the size of brain or the lack of certain parts.
Later Science found that Alligators can learn the habits of other animals, Most believe that a dumb animal cannot learn. Some studies show that border collies do actually understand what we are saying and can apply NAMES to objects and people. Dogs in general are in some way more intelligent than chimps. Crows and Ravens have been seen using tools and learning new ways to make and use them.
While brain size definitely plays a factor, it isn't everything and some parts of the brain will adapt to take on the tasks of others.
I am not saying anyone is wrong, rather... Keep an open mind. What may be proven with science now, MAY be found wrong later as science advances.
Alligator smarts:
http://www.oneworldmagazine.org/tales/crocs/smart.html
http://www.arn.org/blogs/index.php/2/2006/09/23/lstrongglemgpassive_fear_response_l_emg
Dogs vs Chimp smarts and general dog intelligence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJu2Qkbxes0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTTuiE1_Oe8
Some species of birds are super intelligent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P8Nwl7FAJk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY8-gP3Sw_8
Science also use to believe that alligators were dumb, Dogs do not understand speech, Chimps were the smartest non-human mammals, and that birds in general were stupid. All Because of the size of brain or the lack of certain parts.
Later Science found that Alligators can learn the habits of other animals, Most believe that a dumb animal cannot learn. Some studies show that border collies do actually understand what we are saying and can apply NAMES to objects and people. Dogs in general are in some way more intelligent than chimps. Crows and Ravens have been seen using tools and learning new ways to make and use them.
While brain size definitely plays a factor, it isn't everything and some parts of the brain will adapt to take on the tasks of others.
I am not saying anyone is wrong, rather... Keep an open mind. What may be proven with science now, MAY be found wrong later as science advances.
Alligator smarts:
http://www.oneworldmagazine.org/tales/crocs/smart.html
http://www.arn.org/blogs/index.php/2/2006/09/23/lstrongglemgpassive_fear_response_l_emg
Dogs vs Chimp smarts and general dog intelligence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJu2Qkbxes0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTTuiE1_Oe8
Some species of birds are super intelligent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P8Nwl7FAJk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY8-gP3Sw_8
Last edited:
ShelbyScott
Owned by Paisley
I absolutely love this thread. I have read the whole thing. Very deep
Can anyone really define love? Humans that love eachother crave the attention of one another. Dogs crave the attention of their owners. So is it the need for attention that defines love? No, teenagers do outrageous things like get large tattoos and piercings in order to get attention from anyone who will give it. You could say love is affection. People kiss and hug, dogs lick. But what can birds do? If anyone has heard of Alex the African grey parrot, he learned love. His last words to his owner/teacher were "You be good. I love you." What do you call that? The bird was familiar with his owner and felt safe with her. Snakes do the same. So maybe they can't hug you like a person or lick you like a dog. The fact that they are familiar with you and trust you is enough for me to believe that they experience some variation of love. A dog won't love you unless you give it attention. A snake will not be comfortable with you until you have given it so much attention. So what it all boils down to is this: do you feel that your snake is aware, mentally or physically, that you are not going to hurt it? A snake may enjoy a vacation from the viv in your hands. What else could you call this positive feeling that the snake experiences when you take it out?
In my very personal opinion, my snake loves me, and other people's snakes (given that they are being treated right) love them. Even if I am wrong, does it hurt anything to think that my snake loves me back?? That's what I feel is most important. As long as I am happy and my snake is well taken care of, then everything is right.
Can anyone really define love? Humans that love eachother crave the attention of one another. Dogs crave the attention of their owners. So is it the need for attention that defines love? No, teenagers do outrageous things like get large tattoos and piercings in order to get attention from anyone who will give it. You could say love is affection. People kiss and hug, dogs lick. But what can birds do? If anyone has heard of Alex the African grey parrot, he learned love. His last words to his owner/teacher were "You be good. I love you." What do you call that? The bird was familiar with his owner and felt safe with her. Snakes do the same. So maybe they can't hug you like a person or lick you like a dog. The fact that they are familiar with you and trust you is enough for me to believe that they experience some variation of love. A dog won't love you unless you give it attention. A snake will not be comfortable with you until you have given it so much attention. So what it all boils down to is this: do you feel that your snake is aware, mentally or physically, that you are not going to hurt it? A snake may enjoy a vacation from the viv in your hands. What else could you call this positive feeling that the snake experiences when you take it out?
In my very personal opinion, my snake loves me, and other people's snakes (given that they are being treated right) love them. Even if I am wrong, does it hurt anything to think that my snake loves me back?? That's what I feel is most important. As long as I am happy and my snake is well taken care of, then everything is right.
Xerneas
New member
I'm honestly not really interested in whether any of my reptiles "love" me or not. It'd be cool if they did, but anyone who goes into the hobby with a mindset that their snake will absolutely adore them is in for some disappointment IMHO! If they can't feel love, it's not disappointing to me at all.
I do agree with ShelbyScott, though, that they are definitely able to feel some level of trust and curiosity, and they all have individual personalities. If they didn't trust you as a safe place, why do they tame down and allow you to handle them? Even if they just like the warmth and are merely tolerating it, they aren't flying out of your hands either. I've had reptiles in the past who seemed very interested in exploring and were curious about me or did very silly and quirky things.
We aren't snakes so we can't tell just exactly what they are thinking! If a lot of ACCURATE evidence points to snakes not being able to feel what we usually consider love it's perfectly fine with me. They don't even care for their young, so I think it makes sense to say it wouldn't be any different for humans. But hey, I personally think they can trust, and it's not hurting anybody to think your snake loves you either.
I do agree with ShelbyScott, though, that they are definitely able to feel some level of trust and curiosity, and they all have individual personalities. If they didn't trust you as a safe place, why do they tame down and allow you to handle them? Even if they just like the warmth and are merely tolerating it, they aren't flying out of your hands either. I've had reptiles in the past who seemed very interested in exploring and were curious about me or did very silly and quirky things.
We aren't snakes so we can't tell just exactly what they are thinking! If a lot of ACCURATE evidence points to snakes not being able to feel what we usually consider love it's perfectly fine with me. They don't even care for their young, so I think it makes sense to say it wouldn't be any different for humans. But hey, I personally think they can trust, and it's not hurting anybody to think your snake loves you either.