Who do you save?

[Newbunkle]

All living things are equal.

Nah, a lot of people are worse than animals.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I also find it quite sad that people would choose an animal over another human being. Its actually quite a selfish choice in my opinion...to choose to save an animal over a human. I would certainly want someone, even one of you to care enough to say, save one of my own kids over a pet, or even another anonymous poster here in the OT over some animal. No matter how much I disagree with anyone on these boards I would still choose them over my pet without question.

Ok, lets put it to you this way:

You can choose who to save. Your kid, or 2 kids of the same age in Africa (or any remote country for that matter, location isn't important).

I think that if you're honest you'd save your kid (at least I would). So, in effect, do you hate humans because you made 1 more human die than would be necessary?

edit: Answering the OP I chose to save the pet because I have an emotional connection with it. Simple enough.

 

[JollyRoger]

My pet is human and well trained in all respects, so I would save her.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

Do you honestly believe that, or are you just parroting some witty saying?

Nah, a lot of people are worse than animals.

I meant pure equality, that is natural to nature (ouch). To say that something or someone is worse or better, or equal [in rights], you must have a point of view. There are no such things in nature, there are only pure equality and balance.

Humans overuse their ability as species to bypass natural balance and equality, and they will pay sooner or later.

 

[MobBoss]

Before you have any right to lecture the rest of us, perhaps you should start putting your money (and relative to much of the world's population, you have a whole hell of a lot of it!) where your mouth is and sell off your microwave, TV sets, computer, cancel your cable, stop eating out, etc. and give all that money to charity or offer to adopt a bunch of foster children? Why is it wrong for us not to surrender our loved pets and right for you to live in a castle of smug self-righteous satisfaction?

Not lecturing, just stating a fact. And I am not talking about all that other gobblygook you are talking about...in this particular case I do put my money where my mouth is: I would sacrifice my pet to save another human being.

Which is what we are talking about isnt it?

Ok, lets put it to you this way:

You can choose who to save. Your kid, or 2 kids of the same age in Africa (or any remote country for that matter, location isn't important).

I think that if you're honest you'd save your kid (at least I would). So, in effect, do you hate humans because you made 1 more human die than would be necessary?

edit: Answering the OP I chose to save the pet because I have an emotional connection with it. Simple enough.

Emotional decisions arent always the right decision.

Again, how could you look me in the face if you let one of my kids die simply to save your own pet? How could you live with yourself?

And you know, the more I think about it, the more this sounds like that decision in 'The Box' where if you push the red button, some stranger dies, but you get a crapload of cash.

Looks like a lot of people would be pushing that red button.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

I meant pure equality, that is natural to nature (ouch).

What does that even mean?

 

[bhsup]

Wow, I'm kind of surprised Mobby is taking a lot of heat for his position. I fully understand his POV because as I've said, I -know- humans should always come first. It's just that I don't think I could abandon a beloved "member of the family" for a total stranger.

 

[amadeus]

...in this particular case I do put my money where my mouth is: I would sacrifice my pet to save another human being.

No, only in this particular hypothetical case. But in real life, you haven't put your money where your morality is.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Emotional decisions arent always the right decision.

Again, how could you look me in the face if you let one of my kids die simply to save your own pet? How could you live with yourself?

And you know, the more I think about it, the more this sounds like that decision in 'The Box' where if you push the red button, some stranger dies, but you get a crapload of cash.

Looks like a lot of people would be pushing that red button.

You never addressed:

You can choose who to save. Your kid, or 2 kids of the same age in Africa (or any remote country for that matter, location isn't important).

Who would you save?

 

[Azale]

Sad Western degeneracy.

I'm inclined to agree.

 

[Karalysia]

We don't crucify people to celebrate Christmas. So we're still better.

 

[Verarde]

How can you save a pet over a human, even if it is a stranger?! For all you know, they might give you a cash reward. The pet might bite or scratch.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Wow, I'm kind of surprised Mobby is taking a lot of heat for his position. I fully understand his POV because as I've said, I -know- humans should always come first. It's just that I don't think I could abandon a beloved "member of the family" for a total stranger.

I understand his POV, that's not the problem.

I think Mobby is taking heat for statements like: how could you live with yourself and such. It seems he does not get my/our POV. Which I suspect is not that far off his own, but that's what I'll try to explain to him.

 

[MobBoss]

No, only in this particular hypothetical case. But in real life, you haven't put your money where your morality is.

If you want to compare charitable contributions over a lifetime I'm game. Like I have said before, I have put homeless people up in my house before, and my wife and I have supported homeless ministries and even fed homeless in downtown Tacoma. Not to mention other financial type of charitable aid we have given.

No, I am not a monk in real life, but neither am I a scrooge. And I sure as hell havent said anyone needs to sacrifice everything to support others, so I dont know where you are getting my 'morality' from in this particular case.

All I have said is that saving ones pet because of emotional ties to the animal as opposed to saving a person is indeed a selfish act.

In regards to that hypothetical I indeed 'walk the talk'. So take your morality angst elesewhere. You dont know enough about my real life to judge me to that extent.

And no one who says they will save their pet has answered this to any real extent:

Again, how could you look me in the face if you let one of my kids die simply to save your own pet? How could you live with yourself?

 

[amadeus]

If you want to compare charitable contributions over a lifetime I'm game.

Go ahead; I don't care. This isn't about the amount of charity anyone has given, it's about lecturing people and having a holier-than-thou attitude while doing so.

Again, how could you look me in the face if you let one of my kids die simply to save your own pet? How could you live with yourself?

Pretty easily.

 

[Lillefix]

Sad Western degeneracy.

I read this book about an American teaching English in some "small" city in the middle of China. He described he once saw an accident with a motorcycle, where someone was badly injured. No one except him seemed to care about it and they either just passed without caring or stared at him without helping. He said he had seen the same thing happen in America, and over there people rushed to help. So no, I don't agree.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

And no one who says they will save their pet has answered this to any real extent:

Again, how could you look me in the face if you let one of my kids die simply to save your own pet? How could you live with yourself?

No one answered because that's not what the OP states.

"A total stranger human being. You know NOTHING about this person other than it is an adult that has never, ever been a part of your life in any way. Gender cannot be determined."

Please don't forget about my other post

"You can choose who to save. Your kid, or 2 kids of the same age in Africa (or any remote country for that matter, location isn't important).

Who would you save?"

 

[Ecofarm]

The money I spent on my dog could have saved many anonymous people.

Great post. Rings true as a bell and cuts right to the bone.

Ok I changed my mind. Kitty is on my lap and purring. I could'nt abandon her.

haha

I can imagine how whipped you will be with a girlfriend.

I regard many humans as pets whereas that owl I hang out with isn't actually a pet or a best friend but an extension of my being.

Wow. I can't believe I just saw an intellectually interesting statement on CFCOT. I totally get it.

Pet or your ex-wife?

Which x-wife?

Not true. PETA hates pets for the same reasons Ecofarm hates them.

Let's not forget, I hate PETA.

Funny considering that care for pets is one of the major inspirations for support of animal welfare in many people, but there you go.

If we need to own nature to have empathy with it, we're screwed anyway.

For me are strangers replaceable. Not my hamster.

haha

What about the spider in my apartment? Should I save him instead too?

I meant pure equality, that is natural to nature (ouch). To say that something or someone is worse or better, or equal [in rights], you must have a point of view. There are no such things in nature, there are only pure equality and balance.

Humans overuse their ability as species to bypass natural balance and equality, and they will pay sooner or later.

Ecocentrism and I agree.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

What does that even mean?

Take a life of a wild animal or a savage tribe as an example. There are basic laws you can't escape. You'll die, you can't take without giving, the larger the group you belong to the weaker are you, your life depends on creatures some of which you've never met, you or your group can't always be a winner.

Maybe such logic is the cause of sacrifice traditions in ancient cultures. The way they tried to save natural balance with humans.

Ecocentrism and I agree.

Yes .

Good there are other people here with such worldview, because Civilization is too utilitarist game ...

 

[RedRalph]

Why would I save the human when he might turn around and rape me?