Goat-see

February 1, 2005 11:18 AM

Tennessee Fainting (or Myotonic) Goats.
posted by mudpuppie (31 comments total)

We have the coolest shit in Tennessee.......
posted by Pressed Rat at 11:22 AM on February 1, 2005 [1 favorite]

I went and saw some fainting goats in northern California, them fuckers didn't faint once. I hope the ones in Tennessee got their shit in better order than the west coast ones.
posted by Divine_Wino at 11:30 AM on February 1, 2005

However, myotonia is no longer considered a defect. Myotonia occurs in the muscle fiber... not as a function of the central nervous system.... and causes no problem for the goats.

Can't imagine it makes them good prospects to survive predator attacks.
posted by 327.ca at 11:35 AM on February 1, 2005

I just know that "myotonia" tag is going to be one of our most popular. Awesome.
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:37 AM on February 1, 2005

These goats are fucking maniacs!
posted by sklero at 11:41 AM on February 1, 2005

These maniacs are fucking goats!
posted by dfowler at 11:46 AM on February 1, 2005

My family had about fifteen of those goats when I was a kid and my friends and I used to play "Sneak attack the goats and see how many you get to fall over."

Good times.
posted by amandaudoff at 11:55 AM on February 1, 2005

I love metafilter. Where the fuck else would I hear about this shit?
posted by fungible at 11:56 AM on February 1, 2005

From the first link (emphasis added):

The other theory is that the origin of the Myotonic goat can be traced back to four goats brought to Tennessee by a man named John Tinsley from Nova Scotia, or possibly Canada, in 1880. Their unique trait was first exploited by sheep ranchers. They would put some of these Fainting Goats in a herd of sheep. When a predator made its presence known the goats would, of course, faint and the herd would be able to escape while the predator focused on this easy prey. This is, in fact, the origin of the term "scapegoat".

According to Merriam-Webster (and others) , that's not quite right. I wonder how these spurious folk etymologies arise?

Anyways, these are indeed cool goats.
posted by mhum at 12:04 PM on February 1, 2005

I like goats.
posted by scratch at 12:05 PM on February 1, 2005

MetaFilter: These are indeed cool goats.
posted by goatdog at 12:06 PM on February 1, 2005

I love metafilter. Where the fuck else would I hear about this shit?

Somebody was not on the intarnets two years ago, eh?
posted by naxosaxur at 12:06 PM on February 1, 2005

My family had about fifteen of those goats when I was a kid and my friends and I used to play "Sneak attack the goats and see how many you get to fall over."

Sorta like goat bowling? Interesting alternative to cow tipping, to be sure.
posted by ChrisTN at 12:06 PM on February 1, 2005

. . . or say "Monkeyfilter, last October".
posted by spock at 12:17 PM on February 1, 2005

Goatfuckers...
posted by bardic at 12:21 PM on February 1, 2005

ChrisTN- It involved getting about five kids together and hiding in the bushes around the goat pen before simultaneously running towards the cluster of goats and screaming like banshees. Most of them would just freak out, stiffen up and fall over. The whole thing lasted about five minutes, but what a five minutes it was.
posted by amandaudoff at 12:26 PM on February 1, 2005

I saw the title in my RSS reader and VERY carefully clicked the link in a VERY small window.

/gunshy
posted by letitrain at 12:29 PM on February 1, 2005

They've got these goats at some of the farms/petting zoos around here in East Tennessee. It's fun to see 'em fall over, but you wince whenever they stiffen up while running. I had no idea they were a Tennessee thing, though...
posted by PantsOfSCIENCE at 12:30 PM on February 1, 2005

Enough with the Hillary jokes already!
posted by HTuttle at 12:32 PM on February 1, 2005

Incidentially, much like the Tennessee Walking Horse, while they originated in the state, they most definitely have crossed borders. We had them in Texas and I remember hearing about breeders all over the place...they're easy to keep as far as livestock go, so I assume that would be part of the appeal.

Not to mention the obvious "easy to catch" factor.

(Wow, I know too much about these goats.)
posted by amandaudoff at 12:34 PM on February 1, 2005

Shouldn't that one page be titled, "Fainters' Inaction"?

Baaaaaaaaaaa.
posted by Mike D at 1:05 PM on February 1, 2005

They've got these goats at some of the farms/petting zoos around here in East Tennessee.

I've obviously been spending too much time in Middle Tennessee, having never seen one of these. I'm coming to visit you, PantsOfSCIENCE, and we're going to a petting zoo! Whee!!!
posted by ChrisTN at 1:31 PM on February 1, 2005

Ooooh you guys are so much more hardcore than me!! I guess I'll have to quit my job and read everything everywhere just to keep up with you!
posted by fungible at 1:58 PM on February 1, 2005

There's a Glenn Reynolds joke hiding in here somewhere.
posted by maudlin at 2:10 PM on February 1, 2005

It would probably be a bad idea to cross-breed Myotonic goats with these. (The goats, not the tree. That would present its own complications.)
posted by John Smallberries at 2:40 PM on February 1, 2005

based on PantsOfSCIENCE's zip code and occupation, i'm going to assume we attend the same university.

i must say i don't believe i've seen this type of goat before.
posted by y0bhgu0d at 2:40 PM on February 1, 2005

Cross 'em with penguins and the RAF could have a lot more fun. Not only would the penguins fall over backward, they wouldn't get back up...
posted by five fresh fish at 3:10 PM on February 1, 2005

I'm from East TN and I had no idea about these guys. Damn!!

Currently living in the Comoros Islands where every village is chock-full of goats that are constantly wandering in front of my piece of shit car. I'm glad that they don't have this myotonia problem.
But, that doesn't stop them from getting eaten
pic on bottom left

By the way, can anybody tell me why goats have square pupils??
posted by pwedza at 3:15 PM on February 1, 2005

John Smallberries' link is awesome. Goats in trees! Who knew?

No wonder the Chinese have a proverb saying "If you don't have any worries, keep a goat!"

Did anyone else feel compelled to sing this to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands"?
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:34 PM on February 1, 2005

Let's fucking see more of these shitfucking goats! Fucking yeah!

Shit! Fuck! Shit! Fuck! Shit!
posted by kcds at 5:52 AM on February 2, 2005

Whoa. On-line Tourette's syndrome. Go back to your meds, man!
posted by five fresh fish at 9:07 AM on February 2, 2005