I'm sure a lot of us have observed how even the mildest "Casper Milquetoast" can go from zero to beast when he feels his territory's boundary is being violated. From my experience it is NOT just an inconvenient discomfort to most people, it is primal. I'm betting it is so engrained in our genetics that we may never get it "bred out" of our genes.
If it is indeed a primal instinct that would mean that even Neanderthal or Cro-Magnon had a mental area where he kept track of his territory boundary. Something he referred to when the guy from the cave next door started throwing used brontosaurus rib bones too close.
So when did we start building fences? Did Grog line up rocks along his property line and beat his chest anytime someone else got too close? Although a hilarious thought, I believe he did. I believe the drive to protect our boundary has been with us just as long as the urge to pee.
So deeds and fences and surveyors and bounds are all probably just our "civilized" and accepted way of beating our chest. There is no need to charge at the large male next door with our fur raised, baring our incisors and beating the ground anymore. We're civilized.
Maybe.
I've read plenty (too many) news stories that ended badly when neighbors disagreed about a boundary location. The animal is still with us, and still within us. The most uncomfortable I am about my duties as a land surveyor is when I "present the bounds" I have determined, with both the client and adjoiner present. It can get sticky.
Think about it next time you encounter someone whose mental location of his boundary disagrees with the findings of your survey. You have an uphill position in this argument. And you may not be arguing with a 21st. century human being...you may be arguing with an animal that has honed his territorial defense over the millennium of evolution. Tread lightly. 😉
Feed the BEAST! :pissed:
> I'm sure a lot of us have observed how even the mildest "Casper Milquetoast" can go from zero to beast when he feels his territory's boundary is being violated. From my experience it is NOT just an inconvenient discomfort to most people, it is primal. I'm betting it is so engrained in our genetics that we may never get it "bred out" of our genes.
Territoriality is a pattern of behavior that we as a species inherited from truly ancient non-mammalian ancestors. That evolutionary fact isn't apt to head off into the sunset any time soon.
That's not to say that that the engineer who came out one day to object to me setting up a GPS receiver in a PUBLIC STREET in front of his personal territory santified by the laws of the State of Texas and the Common Law as recognized by Texas Courts wasn't one particularly odd lizard.
I'm going to say that most of the few borderline-crazy clients I've had were all unnaturally obsessed with the idea of their territory, independent of all practical considerations. I've come to recognize it as an indication of derangement.
Couldn't agree more.
But what amuses(?)me is when I ask an owner where he considers their boundary to be and if they know then why 'there'?
Then I proceed to establish the boundary is about a foot in the next door neighbours land.
Ooops!!!
What has long been contented occupation and he swore was his boundary (the fence) an hour ago has suddenly turned feudal and the swords are drawn.
Doesn't help when I suggest as the fence has been in its place for at least 60 years according to previous survey, and the neighbor would win an adverse possession claim, not made any easier by the fact the aggrieved owner had done nothing to check his boundaries when he bought about 15 years past.
Such is the nature of some minds when it comes to 'our' patch of land.
Kent that too is a valid comment for here re the road areas in front of a house.
“The most uncomfortable I am about my duties as a land surveyor is when I "present the bounds" I have determined, with both the client and adjoiner present. It can get sticky.”
I can certainly attest to that. After laying out literally thousands of houses in Central Florida I have had my share of “issues” concerning bounds. Of course most arise because the majority of “Homesteads” are 30’ wide houses on 40’ wide lots, or 40’ wide houses on 50’ wide lots, both with 5’ side setbacks. So, with 10’ separating structures we have A/C pads, pool pumps, old refrigerators, etc. alongside each house as well as do-it-yourself issues with sprinklers to contend with, not to mention those weekend warriors who can “build my own damn fence”. In other words, situations ripe with encroachments thus disagreements.
It has been my experience (on many occasions) that a little diplomacy with some friendliness and humor thrown in can usually resolve these type disputes.
Ain’t it fun?
As a side note: By the looks of your Avatar recent negotiations associated with some sort of boundary dispute did not go well. Obviously all your earthly possessions are “bound” (sorry, couldn’t help it) to your motorized bicycle and it appears you are once again going off in search of Barnum & Baily’s traveling road show.;-)
It's all fun and games until...
...the fence dispute gets you executed for treason 😉
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kett%27s_Rebellion
If you wanna get really crazy and start talking evolutionary theory, in some really oversimplified terms: the brain is really just metasticized scar tissue at the end of the spinal column. And wherever back there it was we diverged from birds and lizards... we didn't throw out that brain and replace it with something entirely different, it was just built upon. So we're all still walking around with some lizard/fish/crustacean grey matter at the core.
All that said- "higher intelligence" isn't necessarily a totally adaptive trait either, as far as I'm concerned.
Clinton Cash
> As a side note: By the looks of your Avatar....
That's actually Pop's oldest brother Clinton. He was once a clean-cut college grad with his eye on public service. He was hired by the Harry Truman Campaign as a an accountant.
No one knows the real story, but some campaign money came up missing and Uncle Clint spend the rest of his days prospecting for uranium in the deserts of Utah...under an assumed name. :bored:
Yeap, fences and the like are the human equivalent of animals marking territory.
What's the name of that movie
Where the guy lives all alone out in nature up in Alaska or northern Canada and he finally realizes he needs to mark his territory. He brews up a few gallons of coffee and proceeds to run around peeing on everything he can find near the outer reaches of the area he wants to keep relatively varmint free. The animals can understand this and begin to be less bothersome.
Never Cry Wolf
> Where the guy lives all alone out in nature up in Alaska or northern Canada ....
That's it
Thanks. I remember seeing it at the theater on the big screen.
That's it
Yeah, who knew Opie's little brother Frog would wind up in the great north woods? :pinch:
Man's "land boundary" gland - hippocampus
Apparently my parents' insistence I am brain damaged may have some basis in fact.
I never, and I mean never, automatically know where I am at any time. I get lost in the town I've lived in for 20 years if I'm not paying attention.
My wife, on the other hand, has a very developed sense of both direction and distance that runs on autopilot.
GPS navigation is an absolute must have for me. I can't blame it on my wild misspent youth, as I've always been this way.
Man's "land boundary" gland - hippocampus
You must have trained at the same spatial school as my ex-wife and her current husband. But, the worst case for which I have personal knowledge involved the girlfriend of my former sweetie's brother. She knew how to get to work from her house. She knew how to get to her boyfriend's house. If she was at work and was supposed to go to her boyfriend's house she would have to drive to her house and go from there. He might be just a few blocks away but she would have to drive most of the way across the city and back to get there.
Man's "land boundary" gland - hippocampus
> Apparently my parents' insistence I am brain damaged may have some basis in fact.
>
> I never, and I mean never, automatically know where I am at any time. I get lost in the town I've lived in for 20 years if I'm not paying attention.
>
> My wife, on the other hand, has a very developed sense of both direction and distance that runs on autopilot.
>
> GPS navigation is an absolute must have for me. I can't blame it on my wild misspent youth, as I've always been this way.
The second got lost in our parking lot about a month ago...I kid you not.
Many small land owners have an emotional and unreasonable commitment to some boundary that they have made up in their mind. I understand it, but it is annoying. Their feelings and emotions about the land do not have anything to do with my work.
Give me evidence, actual memories of actual boundaries, I care about that, but your feeling and unexpressed and unwritten possible thoughts between neighbors, with no evidence, and the other guy disagreeing...that makes my head hurt.
It is one reason that I like corporate clients: Get the title clear of any problems. That is all they care about. Give up half a foot there, or whatever, as long as it is build-able, they do not typically care.