"They flew on in the Ythrian silence which could be so much more companionable than human chatter." (p. 592)
"Mainly the passengers sat mute, preparing their kits or thinking their thoughts. Merseians never chattered like humans."
-Poul Anderson, A Circus Of Hells IN Anderson, Young Flandry (Riverdale, NY, 2010), pp. 193-365 AT CHAPTER THIRTEEN, p. 286.
If I had asked, "What do Ythrians and Merseians have in common?," then you might have replied that both species breathe oxygen. However, another common factor is that neither of them is descended from monkeys. Poul Anderson imagines not only extraterrestrial physiologies and psychologies but also every detail of social organization and everyday habit. Merseians touch tails. Ythrians need space to spread their wings. Neither species chatters.
12 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Well, I'm sure Merseians and Ythrians will CONVERSE with you if a topic of interest worthy of being discussed comes up. And, recall how many Merseians became fans of the Terran game of chess. So I'm sure Merseian chess players will happily talk about the Caro-Kann Defense or the Ruy Lopez Opening. And many other chess related matters.
Ad astra! Sean
Human conversation has many functions. One of them is what you might call "social grooming".
Apes groom each other physically -- and dogs and cats lick each other, often on the ears.
Human "chatter" is an equivalent, a social touching of bases and give-and-take.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Yes, I can see that "social grooming" aspect in human chattering. But so much of that chattering seems to be so trivial or even irritating.
Ad astra! Sean
A woman acquaintance was caught between two contradictory conversational customs. At a bus stop, a man "chatted her up." She replied politely but without responding to the chatting up. Older women present were scandalized that she responded politely instead of telling him to get lost! She just wanted a quiet life.
Kaor, Paul!
I would be more like that lady you mentioned, try to be polite but non-encouraging of unwanted conversation.
Ad astra! Sean
Earbuds are a great innovation...
Note that in the context we evolved in, you rarely spoke to strangers. Nearly everyone you talked to every day would be a relative and/or member of your immediate social reference group.
You -had- to get along with them; and it was a massive advantage to know them well.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Or sometimes I just turn my hearing aid off if chatter and noise gets to be too much!
Agree, about the need we all have of getting along at least with one's "immediate social reference group."
Ad astra! Sean
Interpersonal dynamics are different in small groups where you -need- to get along with everyone.
The analogy today would be a small combat unit in an isolated outpost.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And it would not even be necessary to LIKE every person in one's "immediate social reference group," it's enough to simply get along with them.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: it is necessary for them to trust you and you to trust them.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree. And STRANGERS would be regarded by me, at least at first, with a certain reserve and wariness. As would only be PRUDENT.
Ad astra! Sean
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