Albert Herdianto Widjojo
Noticing Susie and Blue on the back porch who were eyeing and ready to pounce on something, I tried to pay attention to what they were watching. Apparently, they were watching the chameleon who was stepping carefully on the garden ornamental plants.
Noting that there would be potential victims for both, I immediately moved so that the chameleon went away. I knew that it would not escape Susie’s claw if she lunged. So even though Susie seemed to protest my actions, I still felt sorry for the chameleon. Without delaying my movements then the chameleon ran quickly to climb bonsai in the corner of the garden. After I put Susie and Blue in the house, I immediately returned to the terrace to check whether the chameleon was still there, and so it was. The creature was still there while disguising itself as the root of the tree while its head is green like a leaf.
A little thinking about his ability to defend himself by adapting, I feel there are pros and cons about chameleon as a parable for the attitudes of certain people, both positive and negative. What about your opinion?
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You think chameleon or nickname for certain people means
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Yes
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No
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Positive
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Negatives
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Can be both
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Users voted 12 times.
Q: You think chameleon or nickname for certain people means
No (1 votes) – 8%
Negatives (3 votes) – 25%
Can be both (8 votes) – 67%
I agree with Alex, it is very subjective.
I agree with you and Alex too… Thanks for your pov, dear friend.
I think whether a term is pejorative or not depends less on the word and more about the person using it…
Yup! I totally agree with you about it, but how if it already be a middle name for someone.
it could mean someone who is at home anywhere or it could mean someone without loyalties, depending on usage. the word itself has no innate human connotations…
I agree that the word has no innate human connotations even though it has been formed as a perception for certain models.
Since it has no clear human context, it remains neutral until used and therefore contextualized
Users voted 10 times.
Q: You think chameleon or nickname for certain people means
No (1 votes) – 10%
Negatives (3 votes) – 30%
Can be both (6 votes) – 60%
People with such characteristic/nicknames are usually depicted as vilians or at least untrustworthy in dramas. They’re quick to adapt, you know they’ll abandon you the moment something is amiss…
It’s nice to get a viewpoint from a drama expert. That’s important pov.
I’m still a billion dramas away from unlocking the “drama expert” title… lol
Important or not, depends on your pov 🙂
I want to see a kind of phenomenon from all the responses here to see how that ability is nature for chameleons but a rotten behavior to people.
Yikes lol was my first response, but then I calmed down lol. I will not say it is cute lol. Creatures like lizards creep me out. I will not pet them lol. I know I am silly!
Your openness and humor are very comforting to my heart, LaJenna.
There is a great Woody Allen movie (Zelig) that address the concept of a human Chameleon. Or the more modern “Catch me if you can.” Also dealing with human Chameleon.
In both cases, their behavior and end game were perceived as negative.
I caught a good point in your perspective, Doc!
Actually, I want to see how we compare instincts to survive from one type of living thing in this case to chameleons that compare with if that ability is used as the way people to behave.
Maybe there should be a kitty move to catch the perpetrator of “Catch me if you can.” like corruptors or bad entrepreneurs.
Interesting point, Albert. We are willing to accept the fight for survival in people, but not companies.
For me personally, the ability to adapt to chameleons is their strength and uniqueness, also in people. That ability or nature is actually neutral, which means it can be positive or negative depending on how we use it. It will always be negative when that trait is used to seek profit only, whether it is for people or companies. There is a saying in Indonesia, “Where the earth is stepped on, there the sky is upheld.” which means we have to adjust wherever we are but without leaving our true self, identity, philosophy, and the right principles that must be a compass to hold fast.
Chameleons adaptations to environmental conditions help them survive. That’s a good thing! I dont like people wich act like chameleons and adapt to whoever they are around. That’s a bad thing in my humble opinion!
So, what you mean is that it’s a unique and good ability for that creature but it’s not appropriate to be a human character, right?
That’s what I think! But others may appreciate this ability for people as well. I do not! I want people to be what they are, in any situation!
I am glad that you have a clear attitude that a person must have character and principles as a compass to go through various aspects of life.
I have never seen a chameleon in real life in the wild. How awesome to have such creatures in the wild. That photo is so cool with his green head and brown body.
I have met the human kind though, my ex was one. 😉
Is there really no chameleon in your area, Kim? Of course besides its creature whose in form as a human.
(which I dare not to ask further)…
No, they are not in my area, or most of the USA in fact. They like it warmer and more tropical than our states.
I think it’s unfair. They should have envoys or ambassadors there.
We can buy them as pets, and are in the pet stores, but not wild.
Ah really? Very interesting. They sell chameleons at pet stores?
Yes, they do. $79.00 at Pet Smart. https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/live-reptiles/snakes-turtles-and-more/veiled-chameleon-4151132.html
I doubt that the chameleon would survive the cat’s attack. I think that the nickname is meant more in a negative sense.
Certainly! I often find Susie playing with lizards or chameleons on the porch, or just leaving them after satisfied playing with until they die.
Ouw. Thank you for your perspective, Vidocka.
Our Miki is usually playing with the mouse. He’s a very good hunter
I am very confident in Miki’s abilities!
I do not know the character of chameleons so I do not know how it affects people … I decided to influence positive and negative …. I’m not sure … you will tell me dear friend
Chameleons are unique creeping animals that are skilled in masquerading as a means of self-defense or for survival. He always follows the color and style of the place where he stops when he feels there is danger. In addition, both eyes are independent and each can see 360 degrees. People nicknamed chameleons are often considered negative because they are considered sycophant, flatterer, yes-man, avonturir, etc.
It changes colors and adapts to the environment I knew … but that’s negative, but I did not know … thanks for the complete information Albert
Thank you for your open and sincere answer, my dear friend.
For animals, like the one you talked about, it is their survival of course. But I have known of humans using a disguise for other negative reasons.
Those humans you talk about are sociopaths!!
Your point of view is interesting, Ayala. Will you explain the reason and would you say your own opinion about that nickname to certain people?
Do you mean that the nickname of chameleons in people tends to be negative?
I think it tends to be negative in humans, most of the time.
Very interesting. Thank you so much for your point of view, Carol.
…. But not always. I speak from personal experience. So I am probably biased.
No problem, Carol?. I just try to understand the tendencies and reasons. Thanks