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One widely known tip for disciplining unruly tiny people is colloquially known as the “tarax technique” (short for “taraxacum” - the scientific name for dandelions). This technique entails gently blowing on a tiny pet’s face from a close distance until they comply with a given command or refrain from a given behavior. This method of behavior modification is generally regarded as effective because it immediately reduces aggression and rebelliousness without causing permanent injury; a difficult feat given the vast strength imbalance between our species. Scientists speculate that this form of light punishment is effective due to the evolutionary biology of our miniature humanoid cousins, homo parvulus.

We and tiny people both evolved from a common ancestor millions of years ago, but homo parvulus developed different survival adaptations; becoming expert at foraging, hiding from predators, and using their modest size to find shade and displace body heat - a crucial survival advantage in the arid climates where their species evolved. Additionally, the gestation period of homo parvulus is a mere 30 days compared to the nine months it takes to produce an additional human, allowing their population to quickly swell and compensate for those lost to predators. And though being very small and plentiful served their species well in the ancient past, homo parvulus was nearly out-competed to extinction as homo sapiens developed societies; markedly growing their physical size and developing hunter-gather settlements where males traditionally stalked large prey and females traditionally gathered water and foraged for fruits and legumes until they eventually discovered miniature humanoids who proved to be an excellent source of protein around twenty thousand years ago. Our ancestors consumed homo parvulus for the next few thousand years as human females developed better techniques to lure, trap, and find the elusive but highly sought after food source. Then, in a cultural shift that scientists still struggle to understand given their lack of language and questionable intelligence, homo parvulus collectively pulled off an ingenious and miraculous feat of self preservation. They managed to domesticate themselves. They discarded their long standing adaptation of concealment and willingly incorporated themselves into human societies; consciously giving up autonomy for relative safety under the protection of their giant cousins.

And so we have existed in a state of symbiosis ever since. The tiny regard us as their masters, and we regard them as loyal pets; providing us entertainment and plentiful labor in exchange for their survival. And this appears to be the likely key in understanding the unusual effectiveness of the tarax technique. By leaning in close and encroaching their personal space, the tiny is reminded of her place in the cosmic pecking order. She is much too small and weak to oppose any member of the master race; we humans. Moreover, gently blowing one's breath directly into the face of a tiny pet may trigger a sort of evolutionary memory, unlocking a deeply hidden fear and serving as a humbling reminder of a distant past when their ancestors were merely food. Additionally, scientists have discovered that one guttural puff of moist warm air from a human can transfer billions of pheromones on the microscopic water vapors within one’s breath, impacting the tiny’s face and signaling her central nervous system to pump massive amounts of serotonin throughout her blood stream. No doubt an evolutionary adaptation which avoids conflict by increasing calm while focusing her mind on the futility of resistance or aggression at such a puny size. While humans have a “fight or flight” mechanism when presented with danger, tiny people appear to have developed a mechanism that can best be described as “surrender or fully comply”.

Another version:

Description

One widely known tip for disciplining unruly tiny people is colloquially known as the “tarax technique” (short for “taraxacum” - the scientific name for dandelions). This technique entails gently blowing on a tiny pet’s face from a close distance until they comply with a given command or refrain from a given behavior. This method of behavior modification is generally regarded as effective because it immediately reduces aggression and rebelliousness without causing permanent injury; a difficult feat given the vast strength imbalance between our species. Scientists speculate that this form of light punishment is effective due to the evolutionary biology of our miniature humanoid cousins, homo parvulus.

We and tiny people both evolved from a common ancestor millions of years ago, but homo parvulus developed different survival adaptations; becoming expert at foraging, hiding from predators, and using their modest size to find shade and displace body heat - a crucial survival advantage in the arid climates where their species evolved. Additionally, the gestation period of homo parvulus is a mere 30 days compared to the nine months it takes to produce an additional human, allowing their population to quickly swell and compensate for those lost to predators. And though being very small and plentiful served their species well in the ancient past, homo parvulus was nearly out-competed to extinction as homo sapiens developed societies; markedly growing their physical size and developing hunter-gather settlements where males traditionally stalked large prey and females traditionally gathered water and foraged for fruits and legumes until they eventually discovered miniature humanoids who proved to be an excellent source of protein around twenty thousand years ago. Our ancestors consumed homo parvulus for the next few thousand years as human females developed better techniques to lure, trap, and find the elusive but highly sought after food source. Then, in a cultural shift that scientists still struggle to understand given their lack of language and questionable intelligence, homo parvulus collectively pulled off an ingenious and miraculous feat of self preservation. They managed to domesticate themselves. They discarded their long standing adaptation of concealment and willingly incorporated themselves into human societies; consciously giving up autonomy for relative safety under the protection of their giant cousins.

And so we have existed in a state of symbiosis ever since. The tiny regard us as their masters, and we regard them as loyal pets; providing us entertainment and plentiful labor in exchange for their survival. And this appears to be the likely key in understanding the unusual effectiveness of the tarax technique. By leaning in close and encroaching their personal space, the tiny is reminded of her place in the cosmic pecking order. She is much too small and weak to oppose any member of the master race; we humans. Moreover, gently blowing one's breath directly into the face of a tiny pet may trigger a sort of evolutionary memory, unlocking a deeply hidden fear and serving as a humbling reminder of a distant past when their ancestors were merely food. Additionally, scientists have discovered that one guttural puff of moist warm air from a human can transfer billions of pheromones on the microscopic water vapors within one’s breath, impacting the tiny’s face and signaling her central nervous system to pump massive amounts of serotonin throughout her blood stream. No doubt an evolutionary adaptation which avoids conflict by increasing calm while focusing her mind on the futility of resistance or aggression at such a puny size. While humans have a “fight or flight” mechanism when presented with danger, tiny people appear to have developed a mechanism that can best be described as “surrender or fully comply”.

Another version: