| Author | Message | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 740 Registered: 6-2006 |
I have a friend who was shocked the first time she saw me interact with my cat, and still treats my cat differently than she would any other cat. But my cat is completely normal (inasmuch as any cat is normal). Why? | ||
| Bodo (Bodo)
New member Username: Bodo Post Number: 1917 Registered: 2-2001 |
I remain absolutely convinced that cats invented the concept of "I meant to do that." She treats your cat differently because of your actions? Would you consider your interactions with your moggy to be completely normal? Did said interaction involve talking to kitty? Stroking him/her/it? Touching it in some other way? Has your cat been trained to do something not typical amongst kitties, e. g. using the toilet in lieu of the litterbox (I wish I'd done that with ours back when)? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 747 Registered: 6-2006 |
I remain absolutely convinced that cats invented the concept of "I meant to do that." indeed She treats your cat differently because of your actions?no Would you consider your interactions with your moggy to be completely normal?yes Did said interaction involve talking to kitty?yes Stroking him/her/it?no Touching it in some other way?no Has your cat been trained to do something not typical amongst kitties, e. g. using the toilet in lieu of the litterbox (I wish I'd done that with ours back when)?no | ||
| Bodo (Bodo)
New member Username: Bodo Post Number: 1919 Registered: 2-2001 |
Relevant whether it's Cali-jo or Dammit? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3165 Registered: 12-2000 |
Dogs have owners, cats have staff When you talk - are you instructing her to do something? Asking if she has done something? Asking her opinion? | ||
| Image (Image)
New member Username: Image Post Number: 871 Registered: 4-2005 |
Relevant what you say? Does your cat react to you in some way your neighbour finds suprising? If so, was this just random chance? Or does your neighbour react to something you said/did? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 750 Registered: 6-2006 |
Relevant whether it's Cali-jo or Dammit?yes Dogs have owners, cats have staff very true When you talk - are you instructing her to do something?yes Asking if she has done something?no Asking her opinion?no Relevant what you say?yesish Does your cat react to you in some way your neighbour finds suprising?no If so, was this just random chance? n/a Or does your neighbour react to something you said/did?yes | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 70 Registered: 11-2006 |
Did you tell the cat to do something? Not to do something? Did the cat comply? Would most cats comply? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 759 Registered: 6-2006 |
Did you tell the cat to do something?yes Not to do something? no Did the cat comply?no, but irrel Would most cats comply?probably not | ||
| Mani (Mani)
New member Username: Mani Post Number: 172 Registered: 10-2006 |
Is he impressed by your cat? Does he think it understands human language especially well? Did the cat do something in response to what you said? Or it just did something that seemed to be in response to what you said? Or was his reaction simply because of what you said? and not because of what the cat did? Did it do something weird? Something bad? naughty? Something good? Something clever? Something that seemed clever? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 763 Registered: 6-2006 |
Is he impressed by your cat?not especially Does he think it understands human language especially well? no Did the cat do something in response to what you said?no Or it just did something that seemed to be in response to what you said? no Or was his reaction simply because of what you said?yes and not because of what the cat did?correct Did it do something weird? Something bad? naughty? Something good? Something clever? Something that seemed clever?none of this, and irrel | ||
| Mani (Mani)
New member Username: Mani Post Number: 175 Registered: 10-2006 |
You told the cat to do something: or perhaps you told the cat not to do something? You told the cat to do something which he believes normal cats can't do? Is his special treatment of your cat completely serious? Or more something of a joke between you and him? | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 72 Registered: 11-2006 |
Were you serious when you told the cat to do something? Or was it more a joke? Would what you said make it seem the cat was dangerous? had special powers? Did the person think your cat was special? In a positive way? Negative way? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 765 Registered: 6-2006 |
You told the cat to do something: or perhaps you told the cat not to do something? I told the cat to do something You told the cat to do something which he believes normal cats can't do? no Is his special treatment of your cat completely serious?yes Or more something of a joke between you and him? no Were you serious when you told the cat to do something?yes Or was it more a joke?no Would what you said make it seem the cat was dangerous?no had special powers? no Did the person think your cat was special?no In a positive way? Negative way? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
New member Username: Lynne Post Number: 3204 Registered: 12-2000 |
From earlier answers I presume the cat didn't do what you asked? Did you expect him to do it? Shut the door? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 767 Registered: 6-2006 |
From earlier answers I presume the cat didn't do what you asked? correct, but irrel Did you expect him to do it? irrel, but yes Shut the door?no | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 75 Registered: 11-2006 |
Did what you say reveal something about the cat's past? about some physical trait the cat has? Would what you instructed the cat to do be something that people would instruct cats to do? Other animals? Other people? Did the other person get a mistaken impression about the cat? That it could do something they didn't think it previously could? Did you tell the cat to do something that would involve it physically performing a task? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 769 Registered: 6-2006 |
Did what you say reveal something about the cat's past?no about some physical trait the cat has? no Would what you instructed the cat to do be something that people would instruct cats to do? yes Other animals?some, yes Other people?yes, to a lesser extent Did the other person get a mistaken impression about the cat?no That it could do something they didn't think it previously could?no Did you tell the cat to do something that would involve it physically performing a task?yes | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 76 Registered: 11-2006 |
Did the person have a mistaken impression about the cat before you said something? Is there something unusual about the other person? About their previous interactions with cats? Would an average person have been similarly shocked? If you had said the same thing to a dog, would the person have reacted similarly? Other animal? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 770 Registered: 6-2006 |
Did the person have a mistaken impression about the cat before you said something? no...with a teeny tiny ish Is there something unusual about the other person?unusual? no. but not extremely common either. worth exploring About their previous interactions with cats? no Would an average person have been similarly shocked? possibly, it depends If you had said the same thing to a dog, would the person have reacted similarly?Hard to answer, as I would almost never encounter a reason to say the exact same thing to any dog, or any animal other than my cat...but in the very unlikely case that I would, he would have been shocked, yes Other animal?ditto | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 77 Registered: 11-2006 |
Does the person have (or had) any relevant medical condition? Is it crucial/important to solving the puzzle that we find out the specific task you asked the cat to perform? Or would other tasks have elicited the same shock? Any task? Was the person shocked by what you said? The tone with which you said it? Or the cat's reaction? Does the task involve: Performing a trick? Getting something? Going somewhere? Eating/drinking something? Playing with something? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 772 Registered: 6-2006 |
Does the person have (or had) any relevant medical condition? no Is it crucial/important to solving the puzzle that we find out the specific task you asked the cat to perform? noish. some of the words I said are relevant, however Or would other tasks have elicited the same shock?yope or FA Any task? yope or FA Was the person shocked by what you said?yes The tone with which you said it?noish Or the cat's reaction? no Does the task involve: Performing a trick? Getting something? Going somewhere? this Eating/drinking something? Playing with something? | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 81 Registered: 11-2006 |
Did you tell the cat to go somewhere at home? Outside? Do you often give the cat this command? Was the person shocked by where you told the cat to go? Did the person not think that cats would normally go where you told it to go? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 773 Registered: 6-2006 |
Did you tell the cat to go somewhere at home?yes Outside? Do you often give the cat this command?yes Was the person shocked by where you told the cat to go?no Did the person not think that cats would normally go where you told it to go?no | ||
| Bodo (Bodo)
New member Username: Bodo Post Number: 1920 Registered: 2-2001 |
Just to confirm something, is the relevant bit about what your friend witnessed what she heard? Saw? Was it Dammit? Cali-Jo? Did your friend realize you were talking to the cat? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 774 Registered: 6-2006 |
Just to confirm something, is the relevant bit about what your friend witnessed what she heard?yes Saw?no Was it Dammit?yes Cali-Jo?no Did your friend realize you were talking to the cat?yes | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 84 Registered: 11-2006 |
Did you tell the cat to go to a specific room? Do you ever expect the cat to perform the task in the past when you gave the command? Is it a command that normal cat owners would give? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 781 Registered: 6-2006 |
Did you tell the cat to go to a specific room?noish Do you ever expect the cat to perform the task in the past when you gave the command? yes, but irrel Is it a command that normal cat owners would give?yes | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 85 Registered: 11-2006 |
Would the person be surprised to hear any cat given the command by the owner, or just when you give your cat the command? Is solving this puzzle just figuring out the command? Did you tell the cat to go to the litter box? Somewhere else only a cat would go? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 782 Registered: 6-2006 |
Would the person be surprised to hear any cat given the command by the owner,no or just when you give your cat the command? yes Is solving this puzzle just figuring out the command? noish Did you tell the cat to go to the litter box? no Somewhere else only a cat would go?no | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 90 Registered: 11-2006 |
Was he more surprised because it was YOU giving the command or because you gave the command to that specific cat (ie, would he have been surprised if you gave the command to a different cat)? Was the person surprised because he didn't think the cat would fit where you told it to go? didn't think your cat belonged there? realized something about your cat he didn't know before? Was he rational in being surprised? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 783 Registered: 6-2006 |
Was he more surprised because it was YOU giving the command no or because you gave the command to that specific cat yesish(ie, would he have been surprised if you gave the command to a different cat noish)? Was the person surprised because he didn't think the cat would fit where you told it to go?no didn't think your cat belonged there?no realized something about your cat he didn't know before? noish Was he rational in being surprised?yes | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 92 Registered: 11-2006 |
So there is nothing special about your cat (aside from that every cat is special)? The place you told your cat to go is nothing special? You telling the cat to go there isn't unusual? The man who heard you tell the cat to go there is surprised? And rightfully so? Is this an accurate summary? Did he have any preconceived notions about your cat that proved wrong? Cats in general? Would he have been surprised at many other commands you would have given to that cat? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 784 Registered: 6-2006 |
So there is nothing special about your cat (aside from that every cat is special)? Yes...ish. There is something about my cat that caused the suprise, but its nothing really "special" Not extremely common, but not special The place you told your cat to go is nothing special? correct You telling the cat to go there isn't unusual? yes The man who heard you tell the cat to go there is surprised?It was a woman, but yes And rightfully so? Yes with a tiny ish Is this an accurate summary?pretty much Did he have any preconceived notions about your cat that proved wrong?yope Cats in general?no Would he have been surprised at many other commands you would have given to that cat?Quite possibly | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 94 Registered: 11-2006 |
Is the "special" thing about your cat physical? Do all/most cats of its type possess the trait? Was it born that way? Did the woman know your cat had the trait before the command was given? Could she tell just by looking at it? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 787 Registered: 6-2006 |
Is the "special" thing about your cat physical? no Do all/most cats of its type possess the trait? yope Was it born that way? no Did the woman know your cat had the trait before the command was given?NO...ish Could she tell just by looking at it?no | ||
| Puzzlicious (Puzzlicious)
New member Username: Puzzlicious Post Number: 96 Registered: 11-2006 |
Is the special trait a negative thing? Positive? Neither? Is it something that developed or happened at once? Was the cat born with it? Could the woman tell by where you told the cat to go that it had this trait? | ||
| Bodo (Bodo)
New member Username: Bodo Post Number: 1923 Registered: 2-2001 |
I can't help but feel that the name Dammit might be relevant; was your use of the cat's name part of what surprised her? Did she think you were cursing at the cat (e. g. "Dammit, get out of here!")? I once ran a puzzle about how we should've named our cat Button, short for "Butt in your face". | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 791 Registered: 6-2006 |
I can't help but feel that the name Dammit might be relevant; was your use of the cat's name part of what surprised her?YES!!!!!! Did she think you were cursing at the cat (e. g. "Dammit, get out of here!")? YES!!! I was wondering why no one got to this sooner! I thought this thing was a goner when it was asked if it was relevant whether it was Dammit or Cali-jo!!! The exact command was "Dammit! Come here, Dammit!! I once ran a puzzle about how we should've named our cat Button, short for "Butt in your face".Cute. Dammit was originally named (by my dad) Pita...for pain in the ass. Now, just tell me how and why my friend still treats my cat differently, even after I explained that I wasn't cursing at him, his name just happens to be a curse word | ||
| Bodo (Bodo)
New member Username: Bodo Post Number: 1925 Registered: 2-2001 |
I also wondered why no one else was pursuing the name thing. And I should point out that I stole the Button thing from a comic strip--Rhymes with Orange. So she interacts with the Dammit-moggy in a different fashion because of his name...when she talks to him? Pets him? Talks about him? Does she avoid using his name? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 793 Registered: 6-2006 |
So she interacts with the Dammit-moggy in a different fashion because of his name...when she talks to him?yes Pets him?no Talks about him?yes Does she avoid using his name?yes! Why? | ||
| Bodo (Bodo)
New member Username: Bodo Post Number: 1927 Registered: 2-2001 |
'cause onnaccounta it's a bad word? Is she a Friend (a. k. a. Quaker)? Or a nun/sister/religious personage? PETA member? Moggy-lover? Kitty-trainer? | ||
| Beccaann (Beccaann)
New member Username: Beccaann Post Number: 795 Registered: 6-2006 |
'cause onnaccounta it's a bad word?well, yes... Is she a Friend (a. k. a. Quaker)?no, but Or a nun/sister/religious personage?no, but close enough really PETA member? Moggy-lover? Kitty-trainer?none of these ************SPOILER*********************** My friend is a very religious person who never uses curse words and is especially opposed to the word dammit (most often when the word god proceeds it, though) because of its religious connotation. Not knowing the name of my cat she heard me yell out "Dammit! Come here Dammit!" and was shocked that I would swear at my cat! I explained that Dammit was his name, and that relieved her, but she still wont use his name because of her beliefs on swearing. Good job, Bodo, you just solved all of my puzzles!! I just can't think up new ones fast enough lately!!! |
