making a dino

[bandersnatch]

Actually, brain size doesn't matter in relation to intelligence.

This is both true and untrue.
You are correct, brain size does not necessarily matter, but there's a certain point where a brain is incapable of a certain level of intelligence because the brain is too small. Our brains are as high-functioning as they are because our little waddling furry ancestors went from eating mostly plant-material to eating TONS of fatty red meat, and the fat went straight to the brain. The more fat there is, the more brain matter there is to store information, and the more room there is to form neural pathways.

[Kadesh]

 I'd just like to add that there are exceptions to every rule. Just because one spider can do all that.. doesn't mean any others of the same type could.

[Petling]

But not everything needs storage. We are just unique like that, almost all of our intelligence is learned. While many animals are functioning on purely instinctual knowledge. Like that spider, nobody taught it how to hunt, or use the process of elimination, it got that purely on it's own, from it's instinct.

I'm not saying you are wrong, snatch. There are just too many forms of intelligence to judge all by one single standard.

[Kadesh]

 But without storage... or memory... They wouldn't be able to do anything once they'd done it. They'd have to relearn every single thing they did every single time they did it....

[Petling]

True, that's why it has all the scientists in an uproar, they can't figure it out. I wish I could remember the name of the documentary, give you some links.

[Kadesh]

 As I said..... there are exceptions to every rule. Seems like this spider might be one.

[bandersnatch]

But not everything needs storage. We are just unique like that, almost all of our intelligence is learned. While many animals are functioning on purely instinctual knowledge. Like that spider, nobody taught it how to hunt, or use the process of elimination, it got that purely on it's own, from it's instinct.

I'm not saying you are wrong, snatch. There are just too many forms of intelligence to judge all by one single standard.

Yes, everything needs storage.
or else you run out of room to put the things you learn. Do you see? I'm not disagreeing with you. I do agree intelligence is an abstract concept that's extremely hard to judge. But when talking about sentience, that is, self-awareness on the level that only humans and possibly dolphins and apes possess, there is a certain size required for the brain so that it can store not only the potential to be sentient, but anything else an individual learns in their life.
See?

[Petling]

Yes, but let us just civilly agree to disagree.

[Kadesh]

 What size would be correct for most things, then? Isn't the average human brain 3 or 5 pounds? (Can't remember) And why is it.. if we all have about the same sized brain... there are such dumb people out there?

[Petling]

Cuz they are genetic backwash, out in the animal kingdom they would have been eaten, so they couldn't pass on their genes, but technology has allowed them to survive. & I'm not talking about disabled people, half of them would survive better than my own siblings if forced out into nature.

[Kadesh]

 No.. handicapped and disabled do not make them stupid. And you're right again, Pet... they are backwash. Guess I just didn't think that through before I posted. 

[Petling]

Lolz, it's okay.

[ImmortalKain]

I was thinking more along the lines of genetic excrement, but backwash works  I know a few people like that 

[bandersnatch]

What size would be correct for most things, then? Isn't the average human brain 3 or 5 pounds? (Can't remember) And why is it.. if we all have about the same sized brain... there are such dumb people out there?

Because it only stores the potential to be sentient. Intelligence and sentience are seperate, though often related, concepts.

[Kadesh]

 As are common sense and intelligence. My uncle is brilliant... but doesn't have the common sense of a fruit fly.