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Comment by Biganon | Hacker News Reader

I wonder if the group studying an animal slowly evolves to resemble this animal

That's interesting. I first read your comment, and I thought you were referring to the personalities of those studying an animal gradually changing as they unconsciously model their own behavior after that animal. This seems highly plausible to me.

But then I re-read it, and the second time it seemed to mean that the members of a group studying a certain animal would self select to favour those who are fascinated by and admire that animal. This also seems highly plausible to me.

Either way, it seems fitting that the world of shark study is full of "apex predator" researchers.

I think some of it is self-selection, but I also think some of it is a filtering effect based on the much more competitive and stressful atmosphere. Getting funding and permits and equipment to study sharks is a way more stressful process than walking around in a field collecting bugs. Not that collecting bugs is always easy, but the barrier to entry is way lower.

Good insight. I have thougbt the same or similar.

>I wonder if the group studying an animal slowly evolves to resemble this animal

IOW:

I wonder if the group studying an animal slowly evolves to look like this animal

likely

They smell like the animal much quicker. Presumably this results in some correlation in their gut flora

> They smell like the animal. Presumably this results in some correlation in their gut flora

Frankly, this claims are starting to be a little offensive.

Biologists take baths also when needed. Exactly the same as any other people. This would be not different than claiming that people that breed pigs, ends looking and smelling like pigs. Is not a productive way to drive this kind of conversations.

I started watching harp videos and they're all so calm and composed, like harp music lol. I really wonder if they're attracted to the harp because they're harp-like or if they became harp-like because of playing the harp.

The idea that you can change your personality just by choosing a field of study is for some reason very appealing to me.

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