Short Necked Giraffes
I once started an argument about short necked giraffe’s.
Canberra Zoo, Jamala Wildlife Lodge is an amazing part of our country. If you haven’t been I highly recommend it. Alyssa and I were fortunate to stay there in 2015 and had an absolute blast. We booked into the giraffe room and were greeted by Hummer the giraffe right outside the sliding doors that led to our deck. We even got to hand feed Hummer. It was a breathtaking moment for us as a couple and a phenomenal connection to nature and animals.
Our overnight booking included a feast in the main hall with other visitors as well as behind the scenes tours of the zoo and up-close encounters with other animals. Did you know that when you pat a dingo that they have no scent and your hands don’t smell?
Anyhow, at our dining room event I brought up the history of the short-necked giraffe as a bit of a laugh. Placed just enough truth into it to make it seem legit to see how the 20 or so people in the room would react. We had people from all over the country. Some from ‘Mosman NSW’ who you could spot a mile off as they looked like an avatar for upper Sydney living.
I delivered my statement to the group from a position of truth, no smile, just ‘fact.’ It went a little like this…
Opening question: Has anybody heard about the short-necked giraffe?
People put down their wines and listened.
The statement lie: “The short-necked giraffe was around a long time ago. At the same time there were short-necked giraffes there were also long-neck giraffes. What happened was the food source, trees, where giraffes would eat would have their bottom leaves eaten first and as the trees grew the short-necked giraffes couldn’t reach their food source. It was natures way of ‘survival of the fittest’. Shortly after as the short-necked giraffes had zero access to a food source they perished, died off and the long-neck giraffes we see today became the only dominant species on the planet.”
What was most interesting following this statement is that everybody in the room (even the zoologists) had an opinion on the short-necked giraffe (that may never have even existed). My statement was a creative one, a gaff after a few wines and feeling a little humorous on the night (and wanting to break the ice with the group).
Yet everyone now had an opinion.
And the fight was on for truth, for lies, who was right and who was wrong whilst I sat back quietly and had a few chuckles… It was like throwing a cat among the pigeons and watching a human psychology live. Some questioned, some argued (looking at you Mosman) and the conversation opened opportunities for deep reflection and thought.
Reminds me of the nightly news from the mainstream media when they put an ‘idea’ out there (whether it’s real or not), just how quickly people form an opinion and then fight for their life to defend it.
We’re a little off track for a budget blog, so what’s the point to this? The point is don’t miss out on YOUR life whilst you are stressing about money. Plan for adventures. Build your dream home. Live in harmony with one another but choose to budget effectively so you don’t miss out!
Cherish the amazing moments you have with your family, and don’t forget to have a gaff and a giggle along the way…
This adventure cost around $2,000 for one night stay for a couple (it was the cheapest room). We had a phenomenal adventure with Hummer, the long-necked giraffe. For higher costs you could have stayed with the lions (and yes, they roared at sunrise much to the despair of guests). Food was great, short-necked giraffe conversation was intensely interesting, and it was a moment we will cherish for the rest of our lives.
In closing: did you know that in the theory of evolution (which is fake by the way) the following is stated: There were 2 types of giraffe, the short-neck ones and the long-neck ones, but the ones that survived were the long-neck ones.
For fans of Monty Python, consider Anne Elk (played by John Cleese) and her ‘theory’ of the Brontosaurus (which is her theory, and she owns it, *cough*). It’s easy to see the hilarity in the opening comment “has anybody heard about short-necked giraffes” and then ‘factual’ backup provided by me. Video reference here.
What I didn’t foresee was the way this information would have been interpreted in the room from a bunch of strangers. It’s interesting how we can be made to believe things – even the silly things – when somebody delivers it to us as ‘factual’ and ‘true.’
Always use your discernment with the information you are granted daily and budget wisely. Your life depends on it!
