99 réponses à ce sujet

[BlackwindTheCommander]

Actually Asari look like they have an external ear structure. It doesn't protrude from their heads but if you look at the side of their head there is a structure that could be their version of an ear.

[Chris Priestly]

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

[Reever]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

I can agree with this, have read it somewhere!

[JeffZero]

I stubbed my pinkytoe less than five minutes ago. Sheesh.

At any rate, regardless of how one perceives ears as useful or a hindrance, I think it also deserves to be said that humans being the 'standard issue' of the galaxy is something that I've never much cared for in science fiction. I can totally, 100% see why writers pen things in such a way, but it's always a bit relieving when I see a feature that humans possess and most other races do not in a sci-fi setting.

I mean, look at batarians. How many other sentient races in the Milky Way possess four eyes? And then let's take it a step further and observe the yahg. That's four pairs of eyes. Drell are green and scaly. Hanar are big, stupid jellyfish. There are no other jellyfish-esque sentients out there, so why should ears be the Galactic Standard?

[wepeel_]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

It is very unlikely as the outer ear has functions even though it may not seem like it. For one thing it amplifies sound in the frequencies that are commonly used by us when speaking, and also helps us decide if sounds come from above us or below us. Without it our hearing would be impaired, especially in the 3kHz range.

[rolson00]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

they may not be usful for much but i dont think they will go they will be just there like the pinky toe and th organ that we have that use to digest grass for use

[Cheesy Blue]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

I completly agree with you Chris. Another thing to add to that, get rid of our pinky and ring fingers! What do we use those things for anyway?

[Hathur]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

Actually Chris, we take for granted how useful / important all the cartilage is that makes up that flap of flesh we call our ears. While small and nowhere near as flexible & precise as the ears of other mammals (cats, dogs, deer, etc) they are critical to our ability to have periphreal hearing.

I have a family member who works as an ER surgeon and she told me years ago a gruesome story of a patient who had his ears sliced off by someone (was gang retaliation related violence or something if I recall)... without the actual "ear" (the cartilage and tissue), he couldn't hear things ahead, behind, above or below him with any degree of accuracy... someone could say something behind him and he'd think it could be below, above or even ahead of him.

So while our ears are indeed inferior to many mammals on our world, they are still critical to our function... and seeing as how evolution has not yet seen to ridding us of other even less valuable, obsolete organs & parts, I cannot forsee humans evolving to have our ears change form in anything less than millions and millions of years (assuming our species were to somehow miraculously survive that long of course)... Afterall, our physiology hasn't changed at all in at least 600,000 years, other than miniscule developments to the brain... but our core organs and appendages are practically identical to the earliest sapient humans that walked our earth.

[dreman9999]

BlueDemonX wrote...

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

I can agree with this, have read it somewhere!

This and 2 thumbs on each hand, pinkies have no perpuse.

[patocerda]

Cheesy Blue wrote...

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

I completly agree with you Chris. Another thing to add to that, get rid of our pinky and ring fingers! What do we use those things for anyway?

We musicians are very fond of each of our fingers...

Modifié par patocerda, 16 mai 2011 - 08:48 .

[reno8888]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

lol.  Looks like someone wasn't paying attention in highschool biology class. Humans can't evolve to not have ears unless it improves your chances of reproducing...you can't "grow out of them".   Reminds me of a 7th grade science teacher who thought humans would be completely covered in hair in 100 years....

[patocerda]

 Who said it had to be by natural, evolutionist means?? 

[reno8888]

patocerda wrote...

 Who said it had to be by natural, evolutionist means?? 

So you're saying humans in the future would willingly bioengineer themselves to be earless?  I don't get it.

[Mynoot]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

I don't think so, unless there is some other way for humans to funnel sound into the canal. How many mammals don't have outer ear flaps of some kind? (aquatic mammals notwithstanding).

This along with having two ears helps with our sound directional sense.

Also, for anyone with more knowledge, how many mammals have two bone ears as opposed to three?  Dinosaurs which either did not develop ears or evolved out of them, had two bone ears, but they never developed brainds much larger than a walnut and...well...they all dead now too.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

Most mammals can turn their ears, but that doesn't disqualify their value for humans for funneling sound into the canal to assist with a directional sense and I don't know of any mammal that has an outer covering, but I've only put a little thought across the class.

Mammals have been evolving since the age of the dinosaurs.  We still haven't evolved out of ears with funnels. It's part of our defense and survival mechanism.

Modifié par Mynoot, 16 mai 2011 - 10:05 .

[Halfdan The Menace]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

Priestly,no pointy-eared aliens in the next game eh?

[Homebound]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Personally (so not the opinion of the Devs who are much smarter about this sort of thing than me), I think ears are likely something that we will end up evolving out of eventually.

They are, for lack of a better term, silly in humans. We can't move our ears to focus on sound better (like a cat) that aren't really large enough to be a huge amplifier (like rabbits). They are not covered by external membranes to prevent infection or foreign bodies from entering the ear canal. They hang on the sides of our heads, are used for decoration and get harmed in fights.

I'm hoping that someday, we will grow out of them. I view that krogan, turian, etc species have already done this.

I'd like to get rid of the pinkytoes as well, but that is a different topic.

i wonder how other primates deal with this glaring dificiency.

[Lotto]

I'll bet everything I own that we won't evolve any further than we already have.

[Black Raptor]

reno8888 wrote...

patocerda wrote...

 Who said it had to be by natural, evolutionist means?? 

So you're saying humans in the future would willingly bioengineer themselves to be earless?  I don't get it.

actually entirely possible. While we'll never lose our ears due to evolution by natural selection, intelligent design (by humans ofc, not imagniary friends) could perciviably construct a better version of ears with all of the positives and none of the negatives.

[MadCat221]

Lotto wrote...

I'll bet everything I own that we won't evolve any further than we already have.

Then you will lose everything you own.

Evolution, by nature, ends with extinction.  A species either ceases to exist because it evolved into a new one better suited to its environment, or it ceases to exist because it went extinct.

Modifié par MadCat221, 16 mai 2011 - 10:52 .

[Lotto]

Unless you consider mixed races evolution, you're gonna be disappointed. Good luck with your quest to achieve an earless humanity. Let me know how that goes for you.

[Skilled Seeker]

Batarians have hair when described in the first book. Salarians are based on Greys and Asari are indeed aquatic.

[Black Raptor]

MadCat221 wrote...

Lotto wrote...

I'll bet everything I own that we won't evolve any further than we already have.

Then you will lose everything you own.

Evolution, by nature, ends with extinction.  A species either ceases to exist because it evolved into a new one better suited to its environment, or it ceases to exist because it went extinct.

And species evolve because they are subject to natural selection. It's been a good few years since a human's survival counted purely on his or her genes.

Survival in first world countries is practically guaranteed for any child. Conditions that would've been fatal, now aren't and these conditions can survive through generations because modern medicine is so advanced. Therefore, they cannot be removed from the gene pool by evolution. 

Human intelligence means we can adapt far faster than any other animal. We survived the last Ice age because we could make fur coats to keep warm. We survive now (unlike woolly mammoths for example) because we could adapt our clothing to stay cool. Our brains enable us to survive in places no other animals can even reach. 
We don't need to evolve anymore. Any big changes to the human genome in the future will be by design. 

[Lotto]

Something that should be pretty obvious.

[reno8888]

Black Raptor wrote...

reno8888 wrote...

patocerda wrote...

 Who said it had to be by natural, evolutionist means?? 

So you're saying humans in the future would willingly bioengineer themselves to be earless?  I don't get it.

actually entirely possible. While we'll never lose our ears due to evolution by natural selection, intelligent design (by humans ofc, not imagniary friends) could perciviably construct a better version of ears with all of the positives and none of the negatives.

Sigh.  We aren't being hunted by anything so there's no reason at all that people would do something so radical in altering their appearance as removing ears... its rather laughable to be honest.   Give me a plausible reason why this would happen.    

Edit: thanks for saving me the trouble of responding to madcats ****** comment though

Modifié par reno8888, 16 mai 2011 - 11:18 .

[Lotto]

It won't. Which is why madcat the genius owes me all his sh*t. 

Modifié par Lotto, 16 mai 2011 - 11:12 .