I think you are on to something Alan. I know the next bit might seem like it is not canoe related, but in actuality, it is totally canoe related, and probably explains why a lot of us go wilderness canoeing.
In my first year psych class, many moons ago, we looked at the rat studies conducted by John Calhoun. Basically, he overpopulated a rat cage, but provided them with plenty of food and water, but just put too many rats in one place. I will let AI describe the results:
Psychological and social collapse
I like Thomas Jefferson's idea - land ownership centers on a widespread distribution of small, independent family farms, with farmers owning their own land to cultivate virtue, independence, and a strong republic. Of course this idea would not work in the modern context, but it sure sounds good.
I think many of us crave time away from humanity, a reconnection with nature, an escape from the actual rat-race, and the perfect vehicle is a canoe. This thread was started because the OP was concerned that violence normally associated with cities was brimming over into areas of solitude. That would concern me too. The reasons guns became involved in the discussion is because some people see them as the first line of defence against the rats dressed in human clothes. Some people are very opposed to guns. I don't know what the answer is, I guess it's a you do you kinda thing.
In my first year psych class, many moons ago, we looked at the rat studies conducted by John Calhoun. Basically, he overpopulated a rat cage, but provided them with plenty of food and water, but just put too many rats in one place. I will let AI describe the results:
Psychological and social collapse
- Behavioral sink: Calhoun's experiments provided rats with unlimited food and water but restricted space. The rat population would initially boom, but then descend into severe psychological disruption and pathological behavior.
- Hyper-aggression and violence: Rats will become extremely aggressive, leading to frequent fighting that can cause serious injury or death. Dominant rats will engage in bullying, and overcrowding can trigger hormonal changes that increase aggressive behavior in males.
- Maternal breakdown: Mother rats may stop building proper nests, neglect their young, or even attack them. The constant stress of overcrowding interferes with normal caregiving instincts.
- Increased anxiety: A 2012 study published in PubMed found that chronic overcrowding increased anxiety levels in rats, which was measured by observing their behavior in different test environments.
- Social withdrawal: Rats may become withdrawn, anti-social, or excessively fearful. Some may compulsively hide or develop repetitive, abnormal behaviors like bar-chewing.
I like Thomas Jefferson's idea - land ownership centers on a widespread distribution of small, independent family farms, with farmers owning their own land to cultivate virtue, independence, and a strong republic. Of course this idea would not work in the modern context, but it sure sounds good.
I think many of us crave time away from humanity, a reconnection with nature, an escape from the actual rat-race, and the perfect vehicle is a canoe. This thread was started because the OP was concerned that violence normally associated with cities was brimming over into areas of solitude. That would concern me too. The reasons guns became involved in the discussion is because some people see them as the first line of defence against the rats dressed in human clothes. Some people are very opposed to guns. I don't know what the answer is, I guess it's a you do you kinda thing.
