• MTK@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    109
    ·
    2 days ago

    Theory: symbiotic relationship. mermaids produce excessive milk at all life stages so the starfish drink it making the starfish well feed and the mermaid milked (which is important in over production of milk)

    You are welcome.

    • sylver_dragon@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      20
      ·
      2 days ago

      Alternate Theory: Mermaid babies look like starfish. That “bra” is actually the normal process for mermaids to carry and feed their young.

    • Mechaguana@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      47
      ·
      edit-2
      2 days ago

      I decided unilaterally that this is canon. Bring in the lorebooks gents we got some corrections and addendums to make.

      Edit: wait so we stabilised that mermaids are ovviviparrous and mammals, like a platipus? The evolution tree needs a few reconsiderations maybe

      • Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        42
        ·
        edit-2
        2 days ago

        I always figured mermaids would be more like cetaceans than fish. Having scales on their tails would be inaccurate, but breathing air, growing hair, and having a horizontal tail fluke are all in-line with mammals/cetaceans.

        Not to mention, it would mean mermaids would have regular genitals (albeit hidden inside a genital fold, to increase hydrodynamics.) It would also mean they’d have normal placental pregnancies.

        So that’s, uhh… a thing to consider.

      • MTK@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        10
        ·
        2 days ago

        Umm man had sex with a fish and some very very unlikely offsprings endedup being the humans of the sea and so they dominating it.

        What evolution do you need?

  • webghost0101@sopuli.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    53
    ·
    edit-2
    2 days ago

    Why would a mermaid even need a bra for?

    Their sexual allure to humans is part of their natural survival strategy.

    Neither starfish or clamps add any support either.

    Makes as much sense as a sentient peacock butterfly covering the eyes on its wings cause its shy.

      • 𝕾𝖕𝖎𝖈𝖞 𝕿𝖚𝖓𝖆@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        18
        ·
        edit-2
        2 days ago

        And, I suppose, to keep Disney’s G to PG rating. Can’t really market a movie to kids and show animated titties, now can you? Also, she’s only 16, so there’s that.

        Then again, why is Ariel only 16 to begin with? I get that she’s a teenager in the source material, but it’s not like Disney has never taken artistic liberties. And it’s not like 18 year olds don’t deal with power struggles with their parents. I was having power struggles with mine at 22.

        • djsoren19@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          7
          ·
          2 days ago

          Also, a non-insignificant amount of the conflict has to do with Ariel having royal responsibilities, which absolutely still works with 18 yr olds.

        • BastingChemina@slrpnk.net
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          edit-2
          2 days ago

          You can, but not in the US or the UK.

          For example Kirikou and the Sorceress, a French animated movie for kids based on West African tales.

          In the movie there is a lot of non-sexualized nudity, which is perfectly normal for people living in a traditional west African village.

          Because of that the movie was never released in the is and the UK despite the fact that it was quite popular in France and Europe.

    • CodexArcanum@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      19
      ·
      2 days ago

      Well, I just found out that manatee mammaries are located in their armpits, so I think we’re going to need to pull up the drawing board on this one. Seems like mermaids need a total do over!

  • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    33
    ·
    2 days ago

    I feel like the classic image the mermaid in my head is clamshells as a bra. However, my extensive mermaid knowledge consists of: ariel, the concept of the undine (which I have never seen depicted and I’m not sure is a mermaid actually, is this something that encompasses mermaids technically? Not really my forte), and decerto, who I have also never seen depicted