Re: We ATE Them All ... Why The MegaFauna Disappeared

["Followup-To:" header set to talk.politics.misc.]
On 2024-07-24, 186282@ud0s4.net <186283@ud0s4.net> wrote:

https://scitechdaily.com/man-vs-nature-new-research-uncovers-real-story-behind-the-disappearance-of-earths-largest-animals/
>
Researchers at Aarhus University have concluded that human
hunting, rather than climate change, was the primary factor
in the extinction of large mammals over the past 50,000
years. This finding is based on a review of over 300
scientific articles.
>
Over the last 50,000 years, many large species, or
megafauna, weighing at least 45 kilograms have gone
extinct. Research from Aarhus University suggests that
these extinctions were predominantly caused by human
hunting rather than climate change, despite significant
climate fluctuations during this period. This conclusion
is supported by comprehensive reviews incorporating
evidence of human hunting, archaeological data, and
studies across various scientific fields, demonstrating
that human activity was a more decisive factor in these
extinctions than previously dramatic climate changes.
>
. . .
>
   Yep ... we ATE them.
>
   "Climate change" wasn't nearly enough ... big
   beasties were a high-payoff for human hunters.
   Beats chasing 500 rabbits around in the grass.
>
   FAIR chance WE killed-off the Neanderthals too.
   Hey, they were "different" - "trolls", "ogres" -
   so it was all perfectly OK ....
>
   Maybe those "Predator" movies were correct, that
   humans ARE an especially deadly top killer.
>
   Yea, yea ... "human" is just a generic term, we
   are all hybrids of hybrids of hybrids. However
   about 300,000 years ago an especially "effective"
   hybrid was generated (apparently in Morocco).
>
   Just a wonder ... was human mental evolution
   influenced by constant competition/conflict
   with OTHER humans (and/or human-likes) ? This
   would be an interesting "mirror" effect,
   reflections of reflections of reflections.
   Survival meant getting in your competitors
   heads, anticipating what THEY might do and
   devising work-arounds. No greater teacher
   than competing against "yourself". WE became
   our own top predator.
>
   Note that todays "AI" is being taught on mass
   quantities of "human stuff" AND the systems
   are capable of "watching themselves" in various
   ways and improving from the experiences.

I always felt that "climate change" was a dodge, a way of not placing
blame on us, and more to the point, not placing blame on indiginous
"first nations" peoples.

It always struck me as strange that despite all we know about humans,
indigineous peoples never seem to have driven species to extinction.