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Artwork (Traditional) / All
Species Rat
Size 458 x 690
File Size 128.8 kB
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This is the second Joker card for the Endangered Ark card deck, featuring the brown rat.
It is a very adaptable and intelligent animal, and as a species, thrives in proximity to man. While they likely originated in the plains of Asia, China and Mongolia, the brown rat rapidly spread throughout the rest of the world in the Middle Ages by stowing away on boats and following human migration trails. The brown rat first appeared as early as 1553 in England, and today, it is speculated there is 81 million brown rats in the UK, making it 1.3 rats per person.
The rat lives everywhere that humans do, with few exceptions. Alberta is a note-worthy example--it took the brown rat until the 1950's to reach Alberta. Upon it's arrival, the rat was aggressively eliminated by a united effort to remove the animal and over 60 tonnes of arsenic trioxide was spread along the Saskatchewan border. By 1960, the number of rat infestations dropped to less than 200 per year. Currently only zoos, universities and research facilities can keep rats in Alberta, and a fine of $5000 or 60 days in jail is in effect for anyone keeping illegal pet rats.
It is a very adaptable and intelligent animal, and as a species, thrives in proximity to man. While they likely originated in the plains of Asia, China and Mongolia, the brown rat rapidly spread throughout the rest of the world in the Middle Ages by stowing away on boats and following human migration trails. The brown rat first appeared as early as 1553 in England, and today, it is speculated there is 81 million brown rats in the UK, making it 1.3 rats per person.
The rat lives everywhere that humans do, with few exceptions. Alberta is a note-worthy example--it took the brown rat until the 1950's to reach Alberta. Upon it's arrival, the rat was aggressively eliminated by a united effort to remove the animal and over 60 tonnes of arsenic trioxide was spread along the Saskatchewan border. By 1960, the number of rat infestations dropped to less than 200 per year. Currently only zoos, universities and research facilities can keep rats in Alberta, and a fine of $5000 or 60 days in jail is in effect for anyone keeping illegal pet rats.
Category Artwork (Traditional) / All
Species Rat
Size 458 x 690px
File Size 128.8 kB
I know my history, moron. That's why I said fleas, not rats. The rats weren't the problem. Humans are the problem. Humans are ALWAYS the problem. They provide the perfect environment for certain types of animals to live in, and then act surprised to find them there. And when those animals carry parasites, because humans have made them the perfect hosts for such things, they act surprised when those parasites transfer to them. Rats didn't carry the plague. They didn't spread the plague. Humans spread the plague. Rats just carried the carriers and were taken along for the ride by humans. The rats were just doing what rats do, independent of the actions of humans, and indifferent to their parasites. Humans moved their food and homes around during trade. The rats went with. It isn't like the rats bred sop much that they spread out on their own. No, they spread because they hitched rides on the trade ships and caravans of humans. And they brought their parasites with them. I'm certain they would have preferred not to have parasites.
Take some history lessons. Globalization leads to the spread of disease and death. Always has. Always will.
Take some history lessons. Globalization leads to the spread of disease and death. Always has. Always will.
It is human nature to expand our borders and travel. Just as it is the rat's nature to hitch along. Did the traders and migrants traveling from Asia know that their vessels carried a plague that would wipe out their brethren? No, they didn't. True, Europe at the time was not the most hygienic of places to live, but that's what was expected for that time period with the limited knowledge and technology available. So really, it was not humans that were the problem, or rats (I wasn't blaming rats, you can hardly blame someone for doing something they didn't even know about). It was an event that was just bound to happen, because of they way the world worked at the time. I was merely correcting you that fleas were important to this historical equation.
It is human nature to think that we're supreme and masters of all we survey. It is human nature to push further than we can control and grasp for what we cannot hold on to. It is human nature to destroy that which does not submit to our world view. It is human nature to destroy and alter that which is inconvenient. And it is human nature to kill anything that gets in our way.
Did they know? No. Did they care? No. Greed, money, profit, exploitation, wealth... These they cared about. Diseases were an inconvenience to be dealt with. They brought the plague on themselves. Their 'enlightened' views only served to damn them once the diseases rolled in. It was, in a way, inevitable.
And your point about the fleas was poorly made, as, regardless of your accuracy, you made a personal attack with it that negates the impact of the statement. "Take some history classes." can only be taken one way, and you REALLY don't know who you're dealing with if you feel it was justified.
On the other claw, thanx for starting drama where it wasn't needed. Always a way to win friends and influence people.
Did they know? No. Did they care? No. Greed, money, profit, exploitation, wealth... These they cared about. Diseases were an inconvenience to be dealt with. They brought the plague on themselves. Their 'enlightened' views only served to damn them once the diseases rolled in. It was, in a way, inevitable.
And your point about the fleas was poorly made, as, regardless of your accuracy, you made a personal attack with it that negates the impact of the statement. "Take some history classes." can only be taken one way, and you REALLY don't know who you're dealing with if you feel it was justified.
On the other claw, thanx for starting drama where it wasn't needed. Always a way to win friends and influence people.
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