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Elizabeth Burtman's avatar

I, too, wonder why it was designed that way. And I wonder whether the apparently sentimental simulated “nature effects” may actually cause harm in the real-life natural world, for example, by confusing real birds. There’s a fine line between design inspired by nature and design aping nature (my apologies to simians).

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Mark's avatar

With that, I thought of large plate-glass windows. They let the light in, giving us closeness with nature, but they trick birds into thinking there is no barrier. Stained glass doesn't have as much of that problem.

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Elizabeth Burtman's avatar

Also, that’s a prime example of great technological power/great potential to cause harm. If we didn’t have the tech to fabricate massive panes of perfectly clear glass (and for most of history, we haven’t) there would be no problem.

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Elizabeth Burtman's avatar

Yes! Or if you want actual birdsong, what about some thoughtful landscaping for avian habitat?

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Mark's avatar

That was part of the irony! On the way in, I heard a very strange and loud bird call (probably a black cockatoo) and it reminded me I was in *Australia* and the natural wonder of unfamiliar places. Then, I heard this recorded bird chatter and was almost convinced it was more weird Australia stuff.

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