Treecat Social Dynamics

We don't have a good definition of sentience, nor do we have a good meter stick to measure it. It is the same with consciousness - which includes sentience. So, there will always be a danger in categorizing species other than ourselves because we tend to take humans as the baseline.

Interestingly enough, we are venturing into the realm of philosophy and the realm of the great thinkers. One position from philosophy throws in the belief of a higher power to be the deciding factor of true consciousness and sentience, which would set man apart from the rest. It also coincides with the Bible regarding God's gift to man which is the spirit of man, the Holy Spirit, and God's decree for man to go forth and take dominion over the Earth. But I digress.

Does anyone, anyone who is at least familiar with the Bible and it's teachings, consider the time before Babel when man spoke one language? It is said man became so advanced because of one common language that God decided to scatter the languages amongst the winds. No more common language. You all know the story of Babel.

Treecats speak one language - scratch that, the author says it isn't a language - or rather they have a common "vehicle" which can only be described as communication. Since they have not advanced as much in the sciences, perhaps that is a true indication their communication isn't language.

At any rate, with only one standard "language" - instead of two or more to confound understanding - why hasn't the species advanced themselves further and taken to the stars, and yadda? Does the answer to my question lie in the error of judging advancement by space travel, instead of the treecat's apparent peace with one another? Perhaps treecats are the more advanced, having gotten the true existential priorities of life correct and created their own Shangri-La. That is until two-legs arrived and disturbed the peace.

Are treecats spiritual? Is the notion of a higher power beyond a treecat's understanding?

Theemile wrote:

cthia wrote:****** *

It isn't beyond a treecat to become criminal. How should a treecat be punished? Should they be imprisoned like a two-leg? If they are going to be citizens they can't be allowed to break the law. We already know they can steal.

Can we apply "two-finger discount" to treecats?

LOL

I believe 2 punishments have been mentioned - Banishment and Corporal. There was mention of a mentally damaged treecat who... abused?... kittens and was permanently removed from society for his crimes.

I would think, being a communal culture, that 4 fingered discounts don't fully exist, but there probably are some societal lines drawn to curb bad behaviors. Attitudes like hording would be highly discouraged.

4 finger discounts? LOL That's twice the sale price of free. LOL

We know they exist because the Cats weren't exactly borrowing celery in the beginning. Remember, they were caught red-handed. Literally red-handed with infrared by Stephanie. So, that type of discount exists for sure. But perhaps not within the clan itself. How can you steal from a species who know you're guilty? But! Stealing from the celery-rich and giving to the celery-poor is doable. It's the Robinhood complex. I wonder what the name of the scout was who led the expeditions. Sir Robin of Sphinxley? LOL

Banishment? Removed from society? What does that mean? Is there a Simba out there plotting revenge?

Wait! What? Abuse kittens?

Could there be a Brotherhood of the Traveling Cats plotting revenge? Could these Cats find the mind-glow of Mesans delectable, since the Cats themselves are such strays, straying so much away from norms?

Theemile, what book did this happen, because OMG, I think I missed Treecat Wars! Whaaaat?!

Cover Summary


The fires are out, but the trouble's just beginning for the treecats

On pioneer planet Sphinx, ruined lands and the approach of winter force the now Landless Clan to seek new territory. They have one big problem—there's nowhere to go. Worse, their efforts to find a new home awaken the enmity of the closest treecat clan—a stronger group who's not giving up a single branch without a fight Stephanie Harrington, the treecats' greatest advocate, is off to Manticore for extensive training—and up to her ears in challenges there. That leaves only Stephanie's best friends, Jessica and Anders, to save the treecats from themselves. And now a group of xenoanthropologists is once again after the great secret of the treecats—that they are intelligent, empathic telepaths—and their agenda will lead to nothing less that treecat exploitation.

Finally, Jessica and Anders face problems of their own, including their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction that seems a betrayal of Stephanie Harrington, the best friend either of them have ever had.

cthia wrote:4 finger discounts? LOL That's twice the sale price of free. LOL

We know they exist because the Cats weren't exactly borrowing celery in the beginning. Remember, they were caught red-handed. Literally red-handed with infrared by Stephanie. So, that type of discount exists for sure. But perhaps not within the clan itself. How can you steal from a species who know you're guilty? But! Stealing from the celery-rich and giving to the celery-poor is doable. It's the Robinhood complex. I wonder what the name of the scout was who led the expeditions. Sir Robin of Sphinxley? LOL

I didn't bother to go back and check, but I'm pretty sure she caught him mauve handed using UV. Weren't the previous attempts to catch celery "thieves" red handed failures because the 'cats can see into the near infrared and avoided stepping into the IR beam "tripwires"?

Also, the fact they were taking the celery doesn't imply they had a concept of ownership and theft. If I said a deer raided my garden and stole my vegetables I don't think that deer actually have a concept of theft (That said, I suspect the 'cats do have a concept of personal ownership; even if they don't necessarily apply it to unharvested food. And therefore probably did have a concept of theft. I'm less sure that they've have viewed taking celery from two-legs back then as theft)

cthia wrote:

Theemile wrote:
I believe 2 punishments have been mentioned - Banishment and Corporal. There was mention of a mentally damaged treecat who... abused?... kittens and was permanently removed from society for his crimes.

I would think, being a communal culture, that 4 fingered discounts don't fully exist, but there probably are some societal lines drawn to curb bad behaviors. Attitudes like hording would be highly discouraged.

4 finger discounts? LOL That's twice the sale price of free. LOL

We know they exist because the Cats weren't exactly borrowing celery in the beginning. Remember, they were caught red-handed. Literally red-handed with infrared by Stephanie. So, that type of discount exists for sure. But perhaps not within the clan itself. How can you steal from a species who know you're guilty? But! Stealing from the celery-rich and giving to the celery-poor is doable. It's the Robinhood complex. I wonder what the name of the scout was who led the expeditions. Sir Robin of Sphinxley? LOL

Banishment? Removed from society? What does that mean? Is there a Simba out there plotting revenge?

Wait! What? Abuse kittens?

Could there be a Brotherhood of the Traveling Cats plotting revenge? Could these Cats find the mind-glow of Mesans delectable, since the Cats themselves are such strays, straying so much away from norms?

Theemile, what book did this happen, because OMG, I think I missed Treecat Wars! Whaaaat?!

Cover Summary


The fires are out, but the trouble's just beginning for the treecats

On pioneer planet Sphinx, ruined lands and the approach of winter force the now Landless Clan to seek new territory. They have one big problem—there's nowhere to go. Worse, their efforts to find a new home awaken the enmity of the closest treecat clan—a stronger group who's not giving up a single branch without a fight Stephanie Harrington, the treecats' greatest advocate, is off to Manticore for extensive training—and up to her ears in challenges there. That leaves only Stephanie's best friends, Jessica and Anders, to save the treecats from themselves. And now a group of xenoanthropologists is once again after the great secret of the treecats—that they are intelligent, empathic telepaths—and their agenda will lead to nothing less that treecat exploitation.

Finally, Jessica and Anders face problems of their own, including their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction that seems a betrayal of Stephanie Harrington, the best friend either of them have ever had.

It's been awhile since a complete re-read, So I'm not certain where it was at. It was an idle thought from a treecat POV about humans being evil and it's possible for a treecat to become evil as well because of treecat X, who became broke mentally and was caught "hurting" kittens, and was hunted and killed by the tribe's scouts and hunters iirc.

cthia wrote:

Theemile wrote:
I believe 2 punishments have been mentioned - Banishment and Corporal. There was mention of a mentally damaged treecat who... abused?... kittens and was permanently removed from society for his crimes.

I would think, being a communal culture, that 4 fingered discounts don't fully exist, but there probably are some societal lines drawn to curb bad behaviors. Attitudes like hording would be highly discouraged.

4 finger discounts? LOL That's twice the sale price of free. LOL

We know they exist because the Cats weren't exactly borrowing celery in the beginning. Remember, they were caught red-handed. Literally red-handed with infrared by Stephanie. So, that type of discount exists for sure. But perhaps not within the clan itself. How can you steal from a species who know you're guilty? But! Stealing from the celery-rich and giving to the celery-poor is doable. It's the Robinhood complex. I wonder what the name of the scout was who led the expeditions. Sir Robin of Sphinxley? LOL

Banishment? Removed from society? What does that mean? Is there a Simba out there plotting revenge?

Wait! What? Abuse kittens?

Could there be a Brotherhood of the Traveling Cats plotting revenge? Could these Cats find the mind-glow of Mesans delectable, since the Cats themselves are such strays, straying so much away from norms?

Theemile, what book did this happen, because OMG, I think I missed Treecat Wars! Whaaaat?!

Cover Summary


The fires are out, but the trouble's just beginning for the treecats

On pioneer planet Sphinx, ruined lands and the approach of winter force the now Landless Clan to seek new territory. They have one big problem—there's nowhere to go. Worse, their efforts to find a new home awaken the enmity of the closest treecat clan—a stronger group who's not giving up a single branch without a fight Stephanie Harrington, the treecats' greatest advocate, is off to Manticore for extensive training—and up to her ears in challenges there. That leaves only Stephanie's best friends, Jessica and Anders, to save the treecats from themselves. And now a group of xenoanthropologists is once again after the great secret of the treecats—that they are intelligent, empathic telepaths—and their agenda will lead to nothing less that treecat exploitation.

Finally, Jessica and Anders face problems of their own, including their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction that seems a betrayal of Stephanie Harrington, the best friend either of them have ever had.

Theemile wrote:It's been awhile since a complete re-read, So I'm not certain where it was at. It was an idle thought from a treecat POV about humans being evil and it's possible for a treecat to become evil as well because of treecat X, who became broke mentally and was caught "hurting" kittens, and was hunted and killed by the tribe's scouts and hunters iirc.

Thanks. I'd sure like to read that, so if anyone else recalls it, I'd be tickled pink with gratitude.

Of course it begs the question of what type of mindglow an evil treecat would like. Would an evil treecat find a malignant mindglow appealing?

In regards to the common BAM! TREECAT LIGHTNING!, we're generally familiar with freakish lightning.

I'm also as curious as any cat as to how a cat lost his marbles. Perhaps it was a result of "losing his mind." LOL

Theemile wrote:It's been awhile since a complete re-read, So I'm not certain where it was at. It was an idle thought from a treecat POV about humans being evil and it's possible for a treecat to become evil as well because of treecat X, who became broke mentally and was caught "hurting" kittens, and was hunted and killed by the tribe's scouts and hunters iirc.

Thanks. I'd sure like to read that, so if anyone else recalls it, I'd be tickled pink with gratitude.

Of course it begs the question of what type of mindglow an evil treecat would like. Would an evil treecat find a malignant mindglow appealing?

In regards to the common BAM! TREECAT LIGHTNING!, we're generally familiar with freakish lightning.

I'm also as curious as any cat as to how a cat lost his marbles. Perhaps it was a result of "losing his mind." LOL[/quote]

I believe that's in the Honor/Nimitz bonding story in Beginnings.

Rid the forest of hexapumas?

Treecat's now have the means to rid their communities of hexapumas. Man certainly wouldn't have lions living in his communities. Should the treecats take advantage of who they know to rid the forest of hexes? At what cost to the forest?

Meyerdahl

Meyerdahl was a planet in the Solarian League, the inhabited world of the Meyerdahl System.

It was colonized around 500 PD, and the Meyerdahl First Wave genetic manipulation was designed to adjust the settlers to the new environment. (SK1, HH9)

By the beginning of the 16th Century PD, it was an extremely domesticated planet with all predators dangerous to humans having been banished to isolated tracts of wilderness which were overseen by the Meyerdahl Forestry Service. Meyerdahl was also the planet from where the Harrington Clan originated: Stephanie Harrington was born and lived in the city of Hollister until she was nine T-years old. (HHA1.1: ABF)

Its population was about six billion when the Harringtons left for Sphinx. (SK1)

cthia wrote:Rid the forest of hexapumas?

Treecat's now have the means to rid their communities of hexapumas. Man certainly wouldn't have lions living in his communities. Should the treecats take advantage of who they know to rid the forest of hexes? At what cost to the forest?

I don't remember any mention of a hexapuma den inside a clan's range.

In the same forest doesn't count. Man certainly has not killed all the lions living on this planet. Why should treecats kill all hexapumas?

ThinksMarkedly wrote:

cthia wrote:Rid the forest of hexapumas?

Treecat's now have the means to rid their communities of hexapumas. Man certainly wouldn't have lions living in his communities. Should the treecats take advantage of who they know to rid the forest of hexes? At what cost to the forest?

I don't remember any mention of a hexapuma den inside a clan's range.

In the same forest doesn't count. Man certainly has not killed all the lions living on this planet. Why should treecats kill all hexapumas?

Not inside their range or backyard, but they certainly encounter them while going to the mall. Nimitz was returning from the mall - Honor's property - when they encountered the hex. No?

cthia wrote:

ThinksMarkedly wrote:
I don't remember any mention of a hexapuma den inside a clan's range.

In the same forest doesn't count. Man certainly has not killed all the lions living on this planet. Why should treecats kill all hexapumas?

Not inside their range or backyard, but they certainly encounter them while going to the mall. Nimitz was returning from the mall - Honor's property - when they encountered the hex. No?

I believe Nimitz and Honor's story was Peak Bears migrating outside their territory due to abnormal weather conditions. Dead shot Honor put an end to their wanderings.

Stephani's story was the Hexapuma.