Y'know, I've always thought that, if anything ( human baby, ferret,
earthworm) cries when you put it down and quiets when you pick it up, it is
showing a preference for human contact.  So, training it to "shut up" is
training to shun human contact.  Or at least, not to desire it.  Is this
what we want of our children and ferret pets?  Not to want to be with us?
Karen
[Posted in FML issue 1402]