Q: "I sometimes wonder if my ferrets like me. [They] seem to rather play with each other than me. Do you really think ferrets like people?" A: Only those who don't mind checking the occasional bacula. I have no doubt that ferrets have emotions. However, I must stress those emotions are not human, but ferret emotions. The term for assigning human emotions to non-human animals is "anthropocentricism," or "human centered." While most behavioral scientists seem to be in agreement that animal emotions (human included) fall along a wide continuum, at the present levels of knowledge there is no concrete evidence that suggests those emotions are the same as ours. I certainly think the basic emotions are similar, such as joy-fear, or anger-fright. Maybe even curiosity. But the other ones are difficult to qualify, much less quantify. Love is a can of worms I don't even wish to discuss; I don't even understand it in humans. If you think your ferret loves you, then, as far as I am concerned, it does. Most of the problem is not the recognition of fear or joy in other animals, but in the interpretation of various middle-ground emotions. I've heard people say that a ferret was "getting back at them," or "holding a grudge." Personally, I don't think the ferret would be so mean (not being human) as to resort to primitive higher primate back-stabbing or name-calling rituals. The ferret expresses what it feels. If you get a lick, it's a positive feeling. If you get a bite, then a negative feeling. I'm still deciding about the "lick-lick-chomp." Q: "I've been one of those silent readers for a number of years. I don't post because I am pretty sensitive about things and couldn't stand getting flamed. I've read some bad stuff printed about you. How do you get past it?" A: I wear asbestos undies and use no. 50 fire block. The truth is, I was a photojournalist for 12 years. Not much can be said on the internet that can reach the levels of verbal (and physical) violence which was done to me back then. I am also helped because I am a graduate student now, and if you think you've seen bad flames on the FML, then baby come to my next committee meeting. I will admit that when I first started posting, a few people got to me, but I was lucky enough to either not respond, or be gently reminded by Bill that I was a gentleman. I have caught on since then, and the worst sent my way hasn't even raised a graying eyebrow. Let's face it; if you stand outside, it will occasionally rain on you. Somewhere, someone will not like you much and decide it is their goal in life to make you the target of hate and nastiness. You will be smeared offline, false stories will be told about you, even circumstances invented to further those hateful and nasty goals. Now, you can fight each and every rumor, which takes a hell of a lot of energy, or you can ignore them and hope your reputation speaks for itself. I choose the later because you will never convince those who want to believe hateful and untrue stories or that you are innocent. All you do is become as unclean as those flinging the mud. Besides, a man much wiser than me said, "You can tell the tree by it's fruit." Those who use any excuse to blast other people or spread rumors are displaying a "fruit" that is clearly recognized by others. So to mix metaphors (so sue me), even if the words are hurtful, most of the FML recognize the loudest squeals come from the biggest sows. But it does concern me that the FML is getting the reputation that people will be flamed for stating their opinions. I feel that is horribly wrong, and not because it happens to me. I do think it is pathetic that some people have to build their own self-worth on the attempt to destroy the reputations of others, but that is their problem, not mine. What bothers me is that people who honestly need help become afraid of posting and the ferrets are the only ones harmed. All I can say is you should always post your opinions, and if those occasional people should blast you, just delete the mail without reading it. If it helps, just consider it poisoned fruit from a sick and diseased tree. Delete and forget it. Q: "Are there any published ferret bibliographys?" A: Depends. Have any money? I accept checks. Yes, there are several. However, they are either out of date, incomplete, or both. There is no modern, up-to-date, complete bibliography. Sorry. BUT, it isn't so bleak. You can join me and nearly 50 other people who are working on such a bibliography as I speak. Well, more like as soon as I start the show (real soon). You can join the effort, as well as gain access to a central depository of articles by joining my little group. Just email me with "FELLOW FERRET GEEK" in the subject line and I'll be happy to send you some information. The only requirement to join is the willingness to contribute in some small way; either by title translation, or typing and catagorizing, or by photocopying stuff. Some people will be building a web page, others will be simply donating their newsletter. It is a reference cooperative, nothing more. And *YOU* are invited! You can scan past issues of the FML for more explicit details or write directly. Bob C and 18 Mo' Poofy Poopheads [Posted in FML issue 2797]