• Lumidaub@feddit.org
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    16 hours ago

    Weirdly, the notion that swans are particularly aggressive is one I learnt on the English-speaking part of the internet (so I instantly assume it’s an USianism). Any references to swan behaviour that I can find in German talk about how they’re associated with calm and serenity.

    • brisk@aussie.zone
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      5 hours ago

      I’ve hung out with swans heaps in Australia and they’ve been almost entirely chill bros who will take food if offered but won’t harass you for it. I wonder if different species have different demeanours, like how Canada geese are known for being especially aggressive.

    • cazssiew@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      In my experience it’s more of a specifically British phobia. They have these sayings about swans breaking arms…

    • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
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      10 hours ago

      i have to wonder if americans uh, get them confused with geese… Because geese can absolutely have a tendency to actively harass you, while swans don’t get close enough to interact with us in the first place.

      Unless american swans are just suffering from lead poisoning like the general population?

    • rumba@lemmy.zip
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      11 hours ago

      That’s because the Germans have enough sense and morals to leave them alone :)

    • lad@programming.dev
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      11 hours ago

      Don’t know, I’ve seen swans being total assholes in Finland, in Estonia, in Czechia, so maybe in Germany around Baltic shore they are also not seen as calm

      There are a lot of animals that are seen completely not how they are, based on vibes, like wise owls, or cunning snakes, etc