If Humans Hibernated Where Would We Be?
By Brian
@wolfie34 (26770)
United Kingdom
February 25, 2008 2:20pm CST
We know that some animals like to hibernate in the winter, but have you ever wondered what would happen if humans hibernated?
I love my sleep too much and can easily sleep ten hours, maybe it's CFS, but any less than 9 and I am a very grouchy, grumpy wolf.
But I was thinking what if humans hibernated, what impact would that have on the world?
No wars during hibernation! Is one thing that springs to mind. And by the time hibernation was finished would we know what the war was all about in the first place?
The world would cease to function between October and March, what are the implications of humans hibernating in these months?
No Christmas! No cold months to endure, but then people living in Australia would be hibernating in June to September? Am I right? That is your winter
How confusing would it be if that happened?
Can you think of any other implications hibernation would cause?
8 people like this
13 responses
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
25 Feb 08
Actually this is a scary thought Wolfie. Not all of us would hibernate. Think about the temperate climates, those humans there have no need of hibernation. Then each of our cycles would be different as in length of times we hibernate. For instance our mountain black bears can wake up mid winter if it is warm enough to do so, and if awaken prematurely can be quite cranky. I mean they are really P*issed off. Here in the states we would have the northern half going to sleep long before the southern half and boy could we play havoc with our northern relatives. Actually the implications given human nature as it exists now this would be a very very scary situation indeed.
1 person likes this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
25 Feb 08
When I lived in oregon I felt like I hibernated in winter. All it caused me was depression and misery. I am so glad Im out of that gad awful rainy place. I got sun shine now. and smiles. No more hibernating for me. I used to sleep 12 or 14 hours a day and still feel tired. luv ya Wolfie. Im glad your not a grumpy wolf :)
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
3 Mar 08
When I was in Morocco something similar actually does happen... between oh... 1 - 3 everyday EVERYTHING shuts down and everyone takes a nap. Want to go to the internet. Un uh. Want to go to the local butcher, un uh. Want to get your hair cut, un uh.
In Marrakech (GOD is it hot there) the place is pretty much shut down all day and then everyone is up all night but you go north into Rabat, Casablanca, Esouira, Fes, etc... it's just funny how it works.
Lunch/Nap/Back to work.
Thanks
Zelo
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
4 Mar 08
wow, you make hibernation sound like a useful plan to solve the world's crisis! I was just going to answer, given the time of year, that if we humans hibernated we would be - in bed!
I can not think of anything to add to your interesting discussion.
@raydene (9871)
• United States
25 Feb 08
Honey since we live in different parts of the world I would assume we would hibernate at different times..So what would prevent the non hibernators from coming and bumping off the hibernators in their sleep..The NE Native Americans taught the settlers to make not of where the bear hibernated so they could go kill it for food during a bad winter..
oxxoxoxoo
@rsa101 (40952)
• Philippines
26 Feb 08
I cannot imagine the no war scenario. Just as you've said it if Australia would have different winter season then they could easily sneak to US and invade the US haha since US are all hibernating at a different time as Australia. But on the ligher side of things It would be an experience sleeping for several months and then waking up after it. I think we humans would need to eat lots of food for that that is why we human would all be fat or else you would not be able to survive your hibernation. Oh no that would be a problem for my wife who has a very fast metabolism even though she ates that much she doesn't get fat at all because of her unusual fast metabolism.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
25 Feb 08
Lawyers, not being fully human would stay awake and rob us blind in our sleep. Hmmm, not much difference then!
all the best urban
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
26 Feb 08
Hybenation would mean planning to survive the winter months. A lot of us don't really plan and just takes one day at a time. Some of us really hate to plan and even save for the rainy day so to say. But if we hibernate, we would be force to save for those months wherein we hybernate and we need to plan. One has to work double time too because of hybernation.
@sabbathandruth (567)
• Canada
25 Feb 08
UMMM BESIDES for the fact that we cant hibernate its impossible for our bodies but if it were possible
the only downside would be missing time time is already short as it is!!!
@dont_pick_your_nose (2279)
• Australia
26 Feb 08
Woo Hoo i still get to sleep and wake up in time for christmas. I dont like the cold months much anyway! I like the idea of hibernation imagine rolling into work all sleepy 3 months later like what did we miss. It would cut out 3 months of the year for sales and construction. good question, keep thinking them up.
@Deea48 (1166)
• United States
26 Feb 08
Well the 1st thing I thought of, was what if someone was due to have a baby during hibernation. Does the baby keep till it is over, would there be huge hibernation babies and then normal babies during the months we're not hibernating. Or would we be like the bears and have all our babies seasonly. hmmmm....I wonder
