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Mime-Version: 1.0 Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 10:52:54 -0400 To: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk From: cfrailey@jcccnet.johnco.cc.ks.us (Carl David Frailey) Subject: Re: Errors in Jurassic Park (Movie) Status: O Jurassic Park was beautiful science fiction. It was enjoyable to see creatures moving around that one is familiar with only as skeletons. My objections to the science presented was the view of velociraptors as malicious, vindictive humanoids. Animals place great value on self-preservation. Their only objectives are feeding and reproducing. When placed in unfamiliar circumstances, they err on the side of caution and never attack foolishly againts great odds (that is for humans who are driven by belief systems). Pride and arrogance to the point of personal injury are not normal animal characteristics. The park had only been in existence for a few years and yet there were full-grown dinosaurs. The large sauropods probably required several decades to reach sexual maturity or the size represented in the film. These creatures had very small brains (even if large compared to modern reptiles). Very little problem-solving would have been possible. An opposum is a comparative genius. I enjoy the film but do so remembering that they filled in anatomical and behavioral characteristics that cannot be known (e.g., frills and spitting venom, night-feeding, herding). This is the fiction part of science fiction. The visual presentation of the dinosaurs is the most compelling part of the movie (certainly not the actors). Regards, >One of our local Jr. High Schools will be screening 'Jurassic Park' for >their Earth science classes. As a follow-up to the film they will be >looking for and discussing scientific errors in the film (they just did >this for 'Apollo 13' and it really got the kids interest). > >Can anyone provide me with any print references or personal observations >regarding the scientific accuracy of the film that I can pass along to >Valley Stream Jr High School? > >Please feel free to respond directly to me if this doesn't seem of >sufficient interest for paleonet bandwidth. > >Thanks for your help! > >Sincerely, >JBB > >J Bret Bennington >Department of Geology >114 Hofstra University >Hempstead, NY 11550-1090 >516-463-5568 >FAX: 516-463-6010 >E-mail: geojbb@vaxc.hofstra.edu
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