Learning Xenophilia

[chaoticidealism]

I've already talked about this a bit, here:
XenophiliaBut let's get back to it. Here's my question: People like to try to connect with animals, who have very different minds. But they are frightened or defensive when they try to connect with people who have only slightly different minds, whether that is because of a difference in culture or

Comments

[fishlivejournal]

xenophobia is perfectly rational if you have no other information: when in doubt, assume that the unknown will kill you, and you won't get killed. And as you've correctly deduced, the simplest solution is to learn about them so that you can confirm that it isn't a threat (or that it is, of course).
It's also possible that the uncanny valley also harks back to when we weren't the only species of humans around!

Ransom may not see the need for pets, but remember in That Hideous Strength where the mice live in his house, and clean up the crumbs for him? There are other relationships possible.