Talk:1664: Mycology

Sounds like a reference to the parasite that infects cats and migrates to humans/rats/mices that make them likes cats so that the parasites can infect other cats. The parasite has been very successful in history ( Toxoplasma gondii ) 173.245.52.64 14:17, 6 April 2016 (UTC)

I just heard that urban legend the other day. Unfortunately, Googling doesn't turn up anything for me to cite. Still, I feel like that is what the comic is referencing. Suspender guy (talk) 18:13, 6 April 2016 (UTC)

What "urban legend"? Toxoplasma gondii behavior is described on wikipedia, with references. Only it's not really "like" cats as much as not fear them. -- Hkmaly (talk) 11:42, 7 April 2016 (UTC)

At first glance, this seems like a beneficial method to promote the spread of the fungus. However, I believe this to be an evolutionary dead end. Everyone affected will be easily identified by their desire to study fungus. And their research will eventually reveal efficient ways to kill the fungus without harming the host. Plus, the behavior modifier doesn't cause the host to want to study that particular fungus, but just fungus in general. So the human hosts won't have any instinctive or intellectual need to protect the fungus from eradication. 108.162.216.72 20:50, 6 April 2016 (UTC)SiliconWolf

This reminds me of Captain Higgins, the parasitic flatworm. --108.162.216.92 22:46, 6 April 2016 (UTC)

Isn't the title text almost the same argument as Michael Pollan's Botany of Desire? 108.162.215.126 23:21, 7 April 2016 (UTC)