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Cat teeth: search trumps experience

Posted by: Stephen Baker on December 04

We’re watching the cat eat her breakfast ever so slowly, and my son says it’s weird that cats don’t have molars. No molars? I say. We disagree. The answer is standing on four furry paws about three feet from us. But instead of picking her up and prying open her mouth, he runs to the computer and runs an image search on “cats’ teeth.” (He probably didn’t use the apostrophe, but that’s for another post…)

cat_yawning_canine_teeth.jpg

The point is this: Search is replacing the knowledge we gain from experience: the tactile, slightly risky, scratched fingers variety. We can learn more facts this way, but do they mean as much to us? One final point is that none of the pictures he found really showed me the back of the mouth. So the question’s still unanswered. And I don’t feel like wrestling with the cat and getting my work clothes (as they are) hairy.

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Reader Comments

Rose

December 5, 2007 03:19 PM

True, indeed. Google search might just be the new national past-time, considering how pervasive its usage has become. Admittedly, when I need a quick factoid, Google is my first line of defense. 'Hands-on' learning - what's that??

chris

December 6, 2007 06:09 PM

True, but this is expected. Before doing any experiment, it's good to learn what's already been done.

Unless you just feel like getting a bloody finger.

effinglibrarian

December 24, 2007 04:37 PM

absolutely true: I once heard someone say, "just Google Mapquest." (I shouldn't need to explain how wrong that is.)

YP LIEN

April 22, 2008 08:48 PM

your cat seems have some problem of the teeth. the color of the upper molar is different from other teeth. Is it caris or tartar? maybe you should bring the cat to visit the vet.
By the way, I need a "angry cat" picture for my homework. Do you mind if I using your photo?
Thanks a lot.

simeon

May 22, 2008 10:26 PM

That was weird my cat is the nicest cat in world

Diane

August 24, 2009 05:50 PM

I think my little cat's teeth (fangs) are so cute. I had my phone/camera set up the other day ~ yawned...and my cat yawned and I snapped a pic and have it on my phone wallpaper. I laugh every time I open my phone to make or receive a call.

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In Blogspotting Senior Writer Stephen Baker and Associate Editor Heather Green take a look at how cutting-edge technologies are changing business and society. Whether its blogs or wikis, data crunching or data targeting, technology’s advances are reshaping the world that we live in.

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