News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by mangodrunk on Monday January 09, 2017 @11:48AM (#13357646)
Well, why not stop eating them?
Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by smeyer on Monday January 09, 2017 @11:56AM (#13357719)
This is the route I took. I'm a meat-eater and eat plenty of it (including pork, which someone else mentioned in this thread), but I decided to stop eating octopodes. It feels a little funny compared to people who avoid meat in general or eat all of it, but at least for now it's the only thing I don't eat.
Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by oneeyedpigeon on Monday January 09, 2017 @12:16PM (#13357870)
I bet there are other mammals you 'don't' eat - at least, that you'd refuse to eat. Man is the obvious one, but what about other primates, elephants, giraffes, etc.?

I bet there are more animals that you don't eat than you do, and maybe there are even more that you would not be prepared to eat than you would.

Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by overcast on Monday January 09, 2017 @12:30PM (#13357978)
At the end of the day, if it comes down to me or that animal, I'm choosing me. But that's not the reality for any of us on Hacker News. A lot of us have more money than we know what to do with, we don't struggle feed ourselves, we're not out hunting animals in the woods. We can make choices.
Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by kefka on Monday January 09, 2017 @02:13PM (#13358901)
Not really..

I would consider heating human. I have nothing against another mammal. However, I would require humane treatment of said human (or any animal or byproduct I eat).

I'm not going to pretend I'm some morally superior being. But I'd like to at least reduce suffering of beings. After all, something else must die for me to eat (and I can't live on milk and honey).

Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by Chos89 on Monday January 09, 2017 @05:02PM (#13360233)
This can't be serious
Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by coldcode on Monday January 09, 2017 @12:17PM (#13357874)
I don't care for eating them either. I imagine them someday becoming the dominant species and eating us in return.
Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by logfromblammo on Monday January 09, 2017 @12:25PM (#13357930)
I don't fear that at all. The males die after mating and the females starve to death on their egg brood. So there is no inter-generational knowledge transfer.

They would revert back to natural tool users with each succeeding generation. As an order, they wouldn't even be able to dominate house cats.

Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by overcast on Monday January 09, 2017 @11:51AM (#13357676)
They taste ridiculously good. However I am conscious of it, and I rarely have it.
Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by catwell on Monday January 09, 2017 @12:00PM (#13357755)
Also, they are part of the few edible maritime species whose populations are increasing (http://www.humanosphere.org/environment/2016/05/rapidly-chan...).
Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by deeth_starr on Thursday January 12, 2017 @06:24PM (#13387090)
I believe this is only a current indicator because of less predators. Ie over-fishing.

We don't know, but most studies that look at what does well in acidic oceans come up with jelly fish. Lots of jelly fish.

Yum, heavy metal infused jelly fish...

Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by overcast on Monday January 09, 2017 @12:04PM (#13357778)
Interesting!
Re:Just how smart is an octopus? by kristopolous on Monday January 09, 2017 @02:14PM (#13358905)
Did that 18 years ago. Haven't looked back once.