Zebras are jerks

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I love how they describe this zebra. Isolated. Angry. Always pissed off.

Well I suppose he should be. He's not like the other zebras and it turns out zebras are close-minded assholes. The wildlife photographer in Kenya says his physical differences (he's more like a donkey and he even has SPOTS on his back) are vast compared to the usual, simple striped differences amongst zebras.  He has scars probably from all the times he's tried to insert himself into a community that consistently rejects him over differences that he didn't elect. He never gets laid.

As a member of an evolved and superior species, I went AWWWWW.  Did you?  Those other zebras are jerks.  I think that my instinctive sad and sorry feeling for this ostracized fella is about having enough perspective to know that his GLORIOUS spots are a rare and beautiful sight and that the other zebras are idiots.  His differences are of a genetic origin that has a cosmetic consequence, but his culture imposes much, much more judgement than just having spots would warrant. I'm sure it's some evolutionary coded instinct that causes them to reject any animal that might risk the survival of the species.  From a scientific perspective, however, this genetic anomaly perceived through a larger lens might have served to strengthen the line somehow, but zebras are known for not valuing the big picture and don't have genetic counseling so they shun instead.  Jerks.

You know they aren't the only species that has an extreme reaction to difference - all of them do it.  Watch Animal Planet and then get all smug about how we are superior because of our big brains and opposable thumbs, but don't kid yourself into thinking we make use of those big ol' brains.   We have an instinct that says leaving that zebra out is wrong and that's A HUGE difference between us and other animals - not that we have that instinct, but that we ignore our instincts.  You won't see a dog second guess his gut about a person. Or a zebra I guess.  Funny how anthropological knowledge and an endorsement of our own superiority (which we usually attribute to our capacity for morality) as a species doesn't translate into empathy or inclusion in our own community, where bullying among children and adults, venom over politics and a complete disregard for civility over differences are clearly a problem.  Something to think about maybe.