Re: A More Reasonable Interpretation of the Evidence


Jim McGinn wrote:
Lee Olsen wrote:
Jim McGinn wrote:


Let's keep it simple. Yes or no, IYO, did lion sized (or bigger)
predators exist in the earliest (late miocene) years of hominid
evolution?

Yes.

Why do you think Lee wishes beyond hope to not believe this?

"You're a chicken*** phoney, afraid to quote me directly."

"I see your arguments have disintegrated from simple misinformation to
just plain lies.

Message-ID: <1165382392.924931.265...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Lee: "Apiths were victims of bear-sized hyenas, why not? Saber-tooth
cat bait also. But not lion, I don't think there is any evidence for
those mixing with apiths, maybe late boisei at best."

What part of the simple statement "cat bait" are you too stupid to
understand? As for your imaginary late Miocene lions, cite fossil
evidence for them."

IOW, show where lions, not saber-tooth cats or leopards, were eating
apiths. Hard evidence exists that leopards were killing or scavenging
apiths at Swartkrans for example. You need to be specific. It matters a
great deal if lions were involved. Lions evolved relatively late, if
there were no lions present at many of these sites, it would be hard
for them to kill anything, let alone apiths.

The issue was whether or not A'pith would have been confined to treed
habitat. As to whether or not the exact predators involved have the
label of lion or some other label I don't give a flying ***


No, you simply backed down from what you first said.
Message-ID: <1165297102.665010.205640@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
JimMcGinn: "When lions and hyena came into their habitat they had to
get high in trees to survive."

They?

Jim McGinn: "Both" (Meaning Homo). Which is it and how many times are
you going to change your position? My objection was to both. But I did
agree about Lucy being---"cat bait" remember? But another problem was
your statement that "Sabertoothed lion" (no such thing) were bigger and
that was supposed to be a problem and you also proclaimed the lions
speed was also a factor.

You are wrong on both counts. Saber-toothed cats were very specialized
animals. They wouldn't have evolved giant canines just to stab a tiny
apith. They were geared for giant slow moving creatures. They had
bob-tails, further indication they were slow ambush hunters. The only
way they would be a threat to a hominid is if hominids were wandering
around in tall grass or thick bush, otherwise they could be seen a
mile away and would never be able to catch Lucy. As long as she stayed
out of the ambush zones (and stayed near trees), saber-tooths would
have been no problem. Lions weren't around early, so no matter how
fast they were, what early apith would care?

All the above demonstrates the lack of thought you have put into
this. The same applies to your sci-fi hypothesis. You were told by
qualified people (Greg Laden, Su Solomon etc.) in 1999 that you needed
to go back to the library. You have made it very clear you didn't take
their advice.

.