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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Science Our Socialist Eyes

Posted by Charles Mudede on Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 7:48 AM

The beautiful human eye:

Garretttaggs55 on Wikipedia

This eye is designed to bond with other human eyes. The bonding results from the striking contrast between the iris and the sclera, the white part of the eye. A human can communicate with just the eyes. No words are need, nor the movement of the head. Just move the eyes and a message is sent, a bond is made. It is here we find the reason for the popularity of sunglasses in the realm of professional poker. Those socialist eyes betray the player:

Like a poker player sporting aviator sunglasses, a species of squid has developed a clever way to camouflage its eyes from potential predators. In the deep ocean, the light coming from behind an approaching predator is identical to that coming from behind its prey — so an animal that can reflect this light will appear invisible.

These squids are really something else. But what their eyes do in nature is what sunglasses do in the circle of human sociality. When we can't see the eyes, the soul of the other becomes invisible.

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The body language experts might dispute that. But evolution is remarkable in the biological arms race of survival. And when one considers that life in the oceans is considerably older than life on land, you would almost expect it's adaptations to be more nuanced and sophisticated.

Posted by Vince on February 24, 2011 at 8:14 AM

I thought I had cat hair on my screen.

Posted by Brad in Seattle on February 24, 2011 at 8:30 AM

Chuck, let's be clear about this; your lack of empathy makes it clear that, to you at least, "the soul of the other" is ALWAYS invisible. Your attempt at poetic license is betrayed by your history of sociopathic postings.

Posted by jambalaya on February 24, 2011 at 8:55 AM

a) the squid thing is called "countershading", if anyone wants to research it further, and

b) You know those "bad Hemingway" contests out there? It's time for the (possibly redundant) "bad Mudede" contest. I see a great need.

Posted by Catherwood on February 24, 2011 at 9:05 AM

Is 'sociality' a word? Not trying to nitpick, it's an honest question.

Posted by Ken Mehlman on February 24, 2011 at 10:33 AM

I saw "Socialist" and knew it was Mudede.

Why does he live in the US again?

Posted by balmonter on February 24, 2011 at 10:36 AM

So if Mudede is the George Costanza to Dan Savage's Jerry Seinfeld then that would make Lindy West Elaine, but who's Kramer?

Posted by Ken Mehlman on February 24, 2011 at 11:05 AM

I've never understood why they let professional poker players hide behind sunglasses and hats and sweatshirt hoods and headphones, but I mostly don't understand why professional poker is on television, on one channel or another, at any given time of day. Or ever.

Posted by Dougsf on February 24, 2011 at 12:18 PM