Sunday, January 15, 2006
No Kidding
Sometimes I really wonder if I’m just more in tune with animals or if too many people just aren’t paying attention. Once again I find myself stunned that things are news:
Erm...duh?
Dogs apparently need no help lifting the spirits of lonely people. A study has found that nursing home residents felt much less lonely after spending time alone with a dog than when other people joined in the visit. The residents shared their problems and story in “intimate conversations” with the visiting dog, researchers said.
“It was a pretty surprising finding”...
Surprising? Have these people met dogs? Haven’t there already been plenty of studies showing that animals lift people’s spirits? Did I just go back in time?
"They were happier with the one-on-one ... bonding with the animal. It suggests human interaction is not value-added, and might be slightly detrimental."
Yah, no shit. The reason is because humans make all sorts of demands and have all these expectations. Or they cut you off in mid story or roll their eyes and sigh heavily if they’ve “heard this one before”. Lonely people, including seniors, just want a companion who will listen to them. Dogs (and other animals), love unconditionally. And if you’re one of those who think animals are incapable of feelings, (see “moron” in the dictionary first), fine, they are LOYAL unconditionally or they are non expectational, they give unconditionally..WHATever, pick the damn word you feel comfortable with. The point is, they don’t really give a shit what you say, what you look like, what you’ve done, where you’ve been, who you’ve been with, what disease or illness you have...all they want is some quality time with you.
They don’t care if you pet their fur, comb them, talk to them for hours on end telling the same old tales. They don’t care if you feel the need to vent. They don’t tell you to calm down, they don’t try to give you advice, (assvice), they don’t demand things from you, they don’t insist you are required to do something for their friendship or time they spent with you, they don’t talk back, they don’t get smart, they don’t insult, they don’t interrupt, they don’t mock, they don’t spread rumors or gossip...Christ, the list could on and on.
They sit there, or lay there and give you their undivided attention and hold no judgements. Why is this a surprising find? Didn’t we already understand this?
"The next phase of the study, at Saint Louis University, will look at whether robotic dogs popular in Japan have a similar effect on lonely seniors. Researchers will measure both residents’ loneliness and ability to attach to the robotic dog."
Maybe not. I guess some people really don’t get it. A robotic dog is not the same as the real thing. An animal, living, breathing animal can make me feel less lonely on days I’m feeling lonely. An animal, a living, breathing animal can lower my blood pressure and make me laugh and learn empathy and compassion for another living creature. A robot dog will not. I give up on people.
""When they go to a nursing home, they lose all their possessions. They need to belong, love and be accepted. The dog gives unconditional love. They say the most incredible things in the presence of a dog.” (out of order)....(the dog) sits there very nonjudgmental”...
Exactly. I’m not an animal behavior scientist and I figured that out when I was a kid. Dudes, come tell me when you got a real news story about animals...like this one:
Dogs May Be Able To Sniff Out Cancer. Now that is news worthy and study worthy. In the meantime, I’m gonna go play with my non judgemental, unconditional love giving cats until people get a fricken clue about animals.
