Important issue regarding cows!

[BiG D]

An interesting debate cropped up on IRC tonight. Well maybe not interesting, but we need some outside opinions.

Is this cow sitting, or is it lying down?

To prevent any bias, I'd ask that anyone who was around for the conversation refrains from voting...

 

[T-Bone]

For something to sit, IMO, it would only use one pair of appendices. However, the cow is clearly using all its appendices, therefore IMO, it is lying down.

 

[SgtFury]

Im in agreement with T bone.... even when a dog sits it does so on its back legs not both legs.

 

[VibroAxe]

I agree with Tbone, I reckon it's lying down

 

[pHatBambi]

That is one lying cow.

 

[thatbloke]

Surely you mean appendages and not appendices T-Bone??? and that is most definitely a lying cow.

 

[Ronin Storm]

To sit one must be able to operate one's hind quarters separately to one's forward appendages, or so I'd assert. A dog can do that. A human can do that. A frog can do that. But a cow cannot. That'd be an argument for lying down.

However, the cow is rather attentive, with a raised head, and lying down often implies a wish to doze or sleep. A cat takes this same posture as a form of more settled sitting, in that a cat shows a "resting on belly, head up" posture and a "lying on side, head down" posture. I think you could argue that the former is "sitting" and the latter is "lying". Using that as one's premise, you could argue that the cow is sitting.

I believe the latter argument in this case. The cow is sitting.

 

[Twisto]

Im of the opinion that to lie down, you must place your whole body (Including the head) on the floor.
Whereas to sit down is more in line with trying to be comfortable, in which sitting plays a major role.The cow does appear to be taking a break from a possibly heavy milking session.

I vote sitting.

 

[Taffy]

It must be tough being a cow. I think it's sitting down cow-style, in other words "I can't be asked to get into that awkward postion that dogs use so i'll just sit on my 4 stomachs"

Have you ever seen a cow sit like a dog? No, so that is the sitting position of a cow. Each animals way of sitting is different surely? For example, have you ever seen a cat sit like a bird, or a dog sit like a human?

 

[Piacular]

The act of sitting must be applied relatively to different species!

That cow is in fact Cow Sitting.

To be Cow Lying, he must be on his side .

(Lols, I didn't read Taffy's post until I'd finished this one, so it appears I agree with the Taffster ).

 

[pHatBambi]

Sam what have I told you about cow tipping!?

Just to mix things up a little. Could there be an arguement that the cow could be lounging?

 

[Taffy]

You always have to complicate things don't you Bambi?
To be lounging you surely have to be in the presence of a lounge?

 

[Birdy]

being from the countryside that cow is lying down. They dont sit and they dont lie on there sides(unless provoked!!) so the cow is lying down. and looking cool i might add

 

[Taffy]

I didn't realise that they even had phone lines in the country!

 

[Birdy]

it is a bit of a time warp but its not that bad!!! just imagine last of the summer wine!!

 

[Taffy]

Thats one of the worst programmes i've ever seen!

 

[BiG D]

 

[KillCrazy]

Maybe the cow is just kneeling?

 

[T-Bone]

However, the cow is rather attentive, with a raised head, and lying down often implies a wish to doze or sleep.

Well, if you're going to use that argument you must take note of the fact that cows, in fact, sleep standing up. So, if you were to take that onboard it would be impossible for a cow to wish to doze or sleep in this position at all.

Im of the opinion that to lie down, you must place your whole body (Including the head) on the floor.

Also saying having the head up but the body down is sitting is absolute balderdash

Think about an old television cliche. The girl, lying on her bed with her head at the foot of the bed on the phone. Her head would be up as she is using the phone, yet the rest of her body is making contact with the bed. Does that mean she is merely sitting down because her head is up?

[EDIT:- I mean this position]

Surely you mean appendages and not appendices T-Bone???

Yes, yes I did

That cow is in fact Cow Sitting.

To be Cow Lying, he must be on his side .

So does that mean that the person in this diagram isn't lying down, but sitting?

That cow has clearly slipped as that position, if sustained, would damage the cows internals just like if a horse lies on it's side it crushes it's lungs after about 4 hours.

Maybe the cow is just kneeling?

lol, but no

 

[Piacular]

The cow in the latest image looks very ill, it is therefore not sitting, but puking .

Either that or the cow has been caught mid process from standing to Cow Sitting.

Ze cow cannot remain in zis state for long and it iz zerefore only tranzitory.