From the link: "Amazingly, humans who get similar extensive practice never develop the optimal strategies that the pigeons pick up. This doesn’t mean that pigeons are “smarter than humans” as some news stories have claimed, but it does mean that the two species approach probability problems in different ways. We suffer because we overthink the problem."

@ByrdBrain - I have read that some Deep Ecologists have said the world should let the AIDS epidemic run its course for the sake of population control, but most people who think the population should be controlled would argue that it should be done in a way that doesn't cause tremendous suffering and social disruption(e.g. Africa).

btw - interesting conversation taking here, you've all pointed out things that weren't immediately obvious to me, but which are good point.

You mention how the first two people contracted aids, but not the second two. I'm not pointing that out to be snarky, just wondering what that says about us...