Quote from: marrerom on Oct 11, 2016, 03:06:33 AM
I think this sums up why we disagree. You are arguing that being the superior predator means fitting in with the ecosystem and having a balance between predator and prey, yes? Hunting responsibly, etc. Whereas I am arguing that a superior predator would wreck any ecosystem its in because its such a perfect killing machine.
You have been raising many good points. I think we were just thinking differently on what "Predator" means.
Technically, neither of them are showing predatory behaviour in the films as they weren't really shown eating their prey (maybe that Alien in AvP-r might've been eating that guy after killing him in the pool, when it was repeatedly slamming him with its inner mouth.)
We know Predators eat meat because City Hunter ate beef, so they do probably hunt things for food. But they weren't preying on us as a natural predator does. In fact, their behaviour (while mirroring our sports hunting) can also be compared to when predatory species kill other predatory species for competition or just for the sake of it. Lions kill hyenas and just leave them to rot. I'm sure there's more examples.
Predators hunt other dangerous species without being shown eating them, and chances are that many of those are predatory, like us.
I think the question of this thread may be a bit vague as neither species has shown true predatory behaviour in films. We know in the AvP 2 game, as a chestburster, you gotta find some cat to feast on to grow into an Alien. That's an example of true predation.
I guess best way to sum it up is that we don't really know for sure. We only have bits and pieces from isolated cases shown in the various media of this franchise. Meanwhile we're debating on who is more deadly to civilization or who can destroy an ecosystem better etc.
I think perhaps they're both very good at what they do, both are very effective "predators" in their own right. Both have carved a niche and thrive in the galaxy, proving to be highly succesful species. As far as evolution is concerned, that's what makes a "good predator," the one that survives, regardless of strengths and weaknesses.
The thread might as well ask "who is the better predator, a lion or a hyena?" Because that's what it's like, and it concerns two natural enemies.