JWHITE%MAINE.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA (09/21/85)
From: JWHITE%MAINE.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA (Jim White) Mr. Miller writes, > What makes us think that any other species out there would have any > interest at all in a bar? Granted, they seem to be fairly universal > earth customs, but why would an alien species have a desire to get > inebriated? Neither social concourse, nor meeting at the local bar, should be considered a purely Human, or even Terran behaviour trait. Human beings are basically social creatures. Sure, one can find examples of people who are loners, but they are rare and even the most resolute can seek comfort in knowing that he or she is but one of billions. Most other animal species on earth are social; ants, bison, lions, wolves....... and on and on ad nauseum. I don't think that it is unreasonable the we might more closely resemble an intelligent creature from another world, then an ant, or a bee. Although the ants and bees are very different from ourselves, they are still social, and probably have their own analog, to our 'watering hole'. With respect to the alchohol, it is simply a mind altering drug. It is not unreasonble to believe that other intelligent species have their own 'poison'. The desire to 'get away from it all', may be a common trait amoung sentient life forms.Aside from that, we've all seen the way a Cat reacts to Catnip. You don't even have to smart, or a biped, to enjoy a 'buzz'.