Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Proof That Nature Hates A Fraud

Posted by timothy on from the type-r-sticker dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Scientists have known for years that insects and animals use distinct markings as status badges. Now, by staging wasp fights, researchers have learned that cheaters never win. Wimpy wasps painted with the markings reserved for a leader get beat up. Even if the fakes win, they still get harassed afterward. The study leader likened it to what might happen to a 97-pound weakling who walks around wearing a black belt. Sooner or later ..."

4 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Been there by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Just before my first day at Junior High, my older sister told me to put a big-ass comb in my pocket. This was a status symbol back then.

    But, people kept grabbing the comb and tossing it all over the place. I couldn't do anything about it. I was not strong enough (back then) and did not have enough buddies to help. The fact that I could not get the comb back was an ad for further abuse. No more status combs for me.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  2. other way around? by 1nv4d3r · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Do 'leader' wasps that are painted to look weak still get respect?

  3. beer-quiche game by k2enemy · · Score: 2, Interesting
    sounds similar to a frequently used pedantic game in game theory called the beer-quiche game. basic idea is that a wimp can send a signal of being tough by drinking beer rather than eating quiche (which he prefers) in order to avoid getting beaten up.

    as always, google has more info

  4. Re:Natural Loophole ? by Forbman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Well, if you go into a commercial chicken house, and paint red spots on a couple of chickens, those chickens will get pecked to death (oddly enough, they don't do it if they're coverd with shit). With my own chickens, they seem to like pecking at my preety, shiny wedding ring. It's not bad when they're 3 weeks old, but by the time they're 8 weeks old, they're big enough that it starts to hurt.

    Our sheep, we tried putting coats on them this summer. Well, we didn't get them all coated. The ones that were coated were ostracised by the rest of the flock... But once we got them all coated a couple of weeks later, they all seemed to realize quickly that they all had coats on, and they adjusted soon enough amd were back to behaving normally.