NC Woman tries to feed bears, succeeds

[swat_op506]

Woman known for feeding bears found dead in N.C. woods

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-kn...arolina-woods/

[BiteThePullet]

But...why?

Why feed bears? Why do it unarmed? Why go out into the middle of the woods? Why go alone? Why be an idiot?

[EmmaPeel]

Woman known for feeding bears found dead in N.C. woods

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-kn...arolina-woods/

Umm. I think I qualify as certifiable now. First I read your title. Then I read your post.

My Sparkling ICE Pink Grapefruit drink is all over the screen.




Dunno if you meant that to be funny or if it was accidental. But you can quit your day job and become a comedian now, swat op.

[CCCSD]

Reminds me of the dufus in Alaska who said he could befriend Bears. He and his GF got slaughtered. Dar-Win...

[Pogue Mahone]

But...why?

Why feed bears? Why do it unarmed? Why go out into the middle of the woods? Why go alone? Why be an idiot?

As a former employee in a national park I can tell you that Professor Darwin has a strong presence in the woods. Most people have a strong dosage of anthropomorphism, and it can easily get them in trouble when it comes to dealing with wild animals. I've seen people feeding squirrels a few feet away from a sign that said that it was illegal to feed the animals (trains the animals to become dependent on humans mostly during summer, and then starve in the winter when there is a fraction of the humans to feed them).

This is why we employees commonly referred to them as "tourons" (unless them made themselves out to be pains in the rear, for which we then referred to them as "touroids"). When people go on vacation (especially in the wilderness), they commonly leave their brains at home.

[BiteThePullet]

As a former employee in a national park I can tell you that Professor Darwin has a strong presence in the woods. Most people have a strong dosage of anthropomorphism, and it can easily get them in trouble when it comes to dealing with wild animals. I've seen people feeding squirrels a few feet away from a sign that said that it was illegal to feed the animals (trains the animals to become dependent on humans mostly during summer, and then starve in the winter when there is a fraction of the humans to feed them).

This is why we employees commonly referred to them as "tourons" (unless them made themselves out to be pains in the rear, for which we then referred to them as "touroids"). When people go on vacation (especially in the wilderness), they commonly leave their brains at home.

Well then....

I have a newfound respect for parks & rec workers

[Max K]

But...why?

Why feed bears? Why do it unarmed? Why go out into the middle of the woods? Why go alone? Why be an idiot?

Life is harsh. Our advanced civilization makes it possible to forget that. Or at least, some of the people, who live in a security bubble provided by the military and the police, want to forget that life is harsh and dangerous. They are deeply invested in a worldview like something out of a disney movie. But nature is so indescribably brutal that animal documentaries must be edited so that these people are protected from seeing that brutality.

My guess is, the woman in the article was projecting certain human characteristics onto the bear. That the bear would be thankful. That the bear would send her a Christmas card. Well, not the last one. But almost. That if you do a good deed (like giving food to a bear), you will be rewarded. It's tempting to live in such a world, because it's nice, it's rational, it's comfortable. And it's easy, to simply project from yourself outwardly, instead of actually observing what's out there. This might also be the reason why a majority of Americans see no problem with Islam: projection of their own beliefs and underlying values onto Islam.

[that's my hand]

Reminds me of the dufus in Alaska who said he could befriend Bears. He and his GF got slaughtered. Dar-Win...

yep, the "Grizzly Man" ... what a complete waste of life, especially the GF ......

[Jim1648]

NC Woman Tries To Feed Bears, Succeeds

Woman known for feeding bears found dead in N.C. woods.....

Well, one thing is for certain, she will never do that again!