Qre:us
New member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2008
- Messages
- 4,890
If an animal is in obvious pain or trouble, I try to do something about it. If small, slow animals are in the road, I move them out of the road if possible. A few animals that people are afraid of are animals I will happily allow to live in proximity of my home because I know we will both benefit from doing so. (For example, if a rat snake decided to live under the deck, I would not hurt it or chase it out. The rat snake cuts down on any rodents that might cause problems for me and keeps the snake fed and sheltered. I've been known to let spiders live in the house because they will eat earwigs and roaches.)
I'm not. I have no qualms about eating meat. Though I feel awful for the autrocities that many of our food animals go through.
Generally, no. Not because of a principle, though.
Have I? Yes. Do I do so usually? No. Whether or not I kill it depends on the species of bug.
Do I think of them? Yes. I feel badly for wild animals kept in captivity, though I understand some of them cannot be released because of their strong imprint on human beings (because they were orphaned and raised by people, for instance). Zoos and aquariums tug at my heartstrings. At the same time, I understand how important it is to teach people about these animals so they are respectful for their brethren in the wild.
I don't condone hunting for sport and fish that are not intended to be eaten should be released. However, I fully condone hunting and fishing as a means of providing food for yourself and your family.
As for animals in pet stores that are not taken care of properly, puppy/kitten mills, while I want to "rescue" them, I know that that is not the way to get this behavior and business to stop. In order to stop this sort of thing, there needs to be boycott so these people cannot continue their business and reporting to the appropriate authorities.
I keep fish. Never more than should properly fit in the tank.
Yes.
I don't know what to say for these animals. On the one hand, we use these animals to help save other human beings or gain a greater understanding of ourselves and other animals. On the other hand, I feel bad that these test animals are likely subjected to experiments that cause them considerable stress and sometimes pain.
Thank you for taking the time to address all those specific questions. It's rare we ever think about our inaction in certain areas of life, at least most people, so it's enlightening when people consider not only why they do what they do, but, why they don't do what they don't do. The latter is my inquiry for this topic. Most people's response is, well, it's cuz I don't do 'em, and they stop their thought there. So, thanks for that exercise in exploration.
I don't have any justification other than: my species > any other species.
The thing is, relativism. This comparison is not an objective absolute. You spoke earlier of having a dog, and I clicked on your profile, cute pup. So, for you, in some instances, other species> my species. But one word that you hit on, is insightful, I think, 'my'. What is mine, important to me > others. In this case, your dog is your own, feeding it, loving it, giving it shelter overrides, say, helping someone of your own species, say, across the oceans who may need the same things you provide for your dog.
Hence, my earlier question to you, me, us all:
Is it merely a question of conscious selfishness on the part of us humans?