NationStates Jolt Archive

Humans are the only mammals in which:

1. The males have nipples.

2. The females develop nipples before they are pregnant.


Answer me this and you will win a handsome reward.

Humans are the only mammals in which:

1. The males have nipples.

2. The females develop nipples before they are pregnant.


Answer me this and you will win a handsome reward.

well, since both of those are false it seems like your "reward" is just a vapid sucker's bet.

We're inherently female.

By the way, your two facts are false.

Well that was too easy... but it looks like people beat me to it.

With Bottle having got the spurious information out of the way I'll answer the first question: because men* can lactate and so feed their young, thus increasing the chance of their survival.


* assuming that this is to what the 'we' refers.

You still have to admit that it's a thread title you never thought you'd ever see.

I can lactate?

Because the aliens who genetically engineered us had a warped sense of humor. :D

I can lactate?

I actually heard a story about that! There was this guy who was a prefessional hockey player and he discovered that the reason his features were becoming increasingly effeminate and why he was lactating was because he had an excess of Prolactin hormone.

I can lactate?

Certainly with hormonal encouragement. There are also some cases of spontaneous lactation taking place without outside artificial hormonal stimulation - normally in cases where the mother is not present to care for the infants.

Whoah

Eww

This reminds me of Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Jeff Foxworthy was talking about when this lady told him a story that happened to her cousin. He was driving down the road with another guy in the car when a beaver ran out in front of him. He hit the beaver and knocked it into a ditch. He and the other guy get out, planning to take the beaver and get it stuffed. Unfortunately, the beaver was only unconscious and when he picked it up it bit his nipple off.

Only tangentially related, but ah well, good story ne ways.

Dude, chill. It's rare.

well, since both of those are false it seems like your "reward" is just a vapid sucker's bet.
I'll take that bet.

The reason that humans, both male and female, have nipples is simple. Or not really, but thats always a good starting sentance. The real question is, why shouldn't we have nipples? They don't cause any harm, they don't get in the way, they cause no evolutionary disadvantage. And there are potential uses, they are erogenous zones (and erogenous zones are both useful and fun and essential to mating). Now, given that nipples neither provide a disadvantage to survival or a prefered allele in a potential partner (would you really choose/ spurn someone because of nipples), then you see that far from being anomolous or unnecessary, nipples are almost essential, a logical certanty if you will. Nipples, and our extraordinary development of them, is what sets us aside from lesser animals. We have nipples... therefore we are. Nipples must now, and ever after, exist.


What? You really think my answer was dumber than his question?

I'll take that bet.

The reason that humans, both male and female, have nipples is simple. Or not really, but thats always a good starting sentance. The real question is, why shouldn't we have nipples? They don't cause any harm, they don't get in the way, they cause no evolutionary disadvantage. And there are potential uses, they are erogenous zones (and erogenous zones are both useful and fun and essential to mating). Now, given that nipples neither provide a disadvantage to survival or a prefered allele in a potential partner (would you really choose/ spurn someone because of nipples), then you see that far from being anomolous or unnecessary, nipples are almost essential, a logical certanty if you will. Nipples, and our extraordinary development of them, is what sets us aside from lesser animals. We have nipples... therefore we are. Nipples must now, and ever after, exist.


What? You really think my answer was dumber than his question?

If you grab someone by the nipple in a fight you can completly disable them. I consider that an evolutionary disadvantage.

If you grab someone by the nipple in a fight you can completly disable them. I consider that an evolutionary disadvantage.
Less so than say, testicles outside the body.

Anyhow, sabre toothed tigers never identified the nipples as a weak spot. So it never became an evolutionary disadvantage.

Less so than say, testicles outside the body.

Anyhow, sabre toothed tigers never identified the nipples as a weak spot. So it never became an evolutionary disadvantage.

Well. When the clothespin creatures of Zeplon-6 invade we'll see who has the advantage.

If you grab someone by the nipple in a fight you can completly disable them. I consider that an evolutionary disadvantage.

If someone choped off your head in a fight it would also disable you.

There are many other vital spots that, if messed with, are a disadvantage in a fight. If the nipples weren't there, then they would use something else to their advantage. It doesn't mean that nipples are an evolutionary disadvantage because of that.

....you could say the whole body is if you want to think of it that way.

If someone choped off your head in a fight it would also disable you.

There are many other vital spots that, if messed with, are a disadvantage in a fight. If the nipples weren't there, then they would use something else to their advantage. It doesn't mean that nipples are an evolutionary disadvantage because of that.

....you could say the whole body is if you want to think of it that way.

The only evolutionary advantage that the human body has to offer is the brain and its keen intellect.

But the body is necessary for the mind to interact with things in this world. The mind also has it's limits. I don't think of anything as a disadvantge, because everything we have could be used against us or in our favor.

I was taught that the first stages of development in the womb, during which nipples begin to form, are the same for both sexes. In essence, we all start development as females, and it's only after a bit of time that your gender starts to have an impact on what features emerge.

If someone choped off your head in a fight it would also disable you.

Unless you're a chicken, which proves they are genetically superior!
All hail our chicken overlords!

Anyhow, sabre toothed tigers never identified the nipples as a weak spot. So it never became an evolutionary disadvantage.
You don't know that for sure, Spoffin.

It's possible that there was an entire sub-branch of humanity wiped out because they had especially sabertooth-tasty nipples. We could simply be the rejects left alive because we had unpleasantly-flavored nipples.

Unless you're a chicken, which proves they are genetically superior!
All hail our chicken overlords!
Whats that Mr. Chicken?
You want me to do what to Colonel Sanders?
But that would be bad!
You're right, it would be fun as well.
But we'll need money for it.
Hold up a Chick-Fil-A?

TO THE CHICKEN-MOBILE!

Men are just really retrofitted women. All fetuses begin as female by default, and then stay female or become male. It might interest you to know that from a design perspective, females are actually more practical. The separated urethra and reproductive organs, for instance, are more useful, as is the fact that our nipples and mammary glands are fully functional.

Otherwise, I can't help you.

This reminds me of Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Jeff Foxworthy was talking about when this lady told him a story that happened to her cousin. He was driving down the road with another guy in the car when a beaver ran out in front of him. He hit the beaver and knocked it into a ditch. He and the other guy get out, planning to take the beaver and get it stuffed. Unfortunately, the beaver was only unconscious and when he picked it up it bit his nipple off.

Only tangentially related, but ah well, good story ne ways.


I saw that. It was a very good show! Me and my friend's laughed for hour's at this joke!

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_093.html

You don't know that for sure, Spoffin.

It's possible that there was an entire sub-branch of humanity wiped out because they had especially sabertooth-tasty nipples. We could simply be the rejects left alive because we had unpleasantly-flavored nipples.

LOL :D

I tend to think the nipple is not a severe combat disadvantage, as the real crippling effect comes from a pinch. Pinching is not the most practical of attack forms (takes too much time and precision) so there wouldn't be much advantage.

Should the saber rip the nipple off I imagine our natural pain-killers would kick in, and a strike to the nipple doesn't hurt a guy more than any other part of the torso.

So I see no significant disadvantage, and feel lucky that my anscesters didn't have saber-tasty nipples, as that woulda sucked.

You still have to admit that it's a thread title you never thought you'd ever see.

actually, i'm pretty sure its come up at least twice before. nothing on general is ever really original anymore, unless it is the first post about some new and unique event.

I can lactate?
only at a young-teenage age.

Male cats have nipples too.

only at a young-teenage age.

So, um... Men can Breastfeed? or do we just dribble?

Male cats have nipples too.
See posts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 please.

So, um... Men can Breastfeed? or do we just dribble?
either way, i would love to see someone try. hell, you could sell tickets to it.

So, um... Men can Breastfeed? or do we just dribble?
Man Boobs (Moobs!) (http://www.thebearrocks.com/galleries/gallery_26/gallery.asp)

I pity the fool ... - Mr. T

Ahhhh!!!!!

Images burnt into brain, must get them out!!!!

:eek: :mp5:

seriously though, that's freakin sick. How could you do that to someone?!? The trauma!


... so man-boobs are required for man-lactation?

Why do we have nipples? Because they're purdy! (well someone had to say it)