Ever encounter a coral snake?

[Sigarms]

We raise dogs as pets, whereas other cultures consider them as a delectable food source.

And in some cultures, it's acceptable to eat your enemies on walking on two legs.

Perhaps it's OK if you gave thanks for the food they are providing

The reality is man is only on top of the food chain only due to his brain.

 

[strantor]

è¿*eciprocation as the criteria?.....hmm....you might be on to something, perhaps è�Ÿersonification is even a bigger criteria. Letç—´ remember millions of people had pet rocks in the 70ç—´. (Not much reciprocation there! )
Humans tend to personify just about any animal, especially the furry and baby ones (é��heyæ±*e my children?. Humans are programmed that way. Heck, people also do that with their vehicles and tractors too (é��he old girl runs well, but sheç—´ a little sensitive on cold mornings, etc..?.

Well I wasn't around for pet rocks either, but I suspect it was joke/fad and nobody actually talked to their pet rocks when they were alone. I talk to my dog, even my chickens.

To explore the issue of personification vs reciprocation, let's do a little thought experiment: you have 3 things and must burn 2 of them to ash. One of those ultra-creepy true-to-life baby mannequins, a picture of your father, and a random stray dog who wants you to play fetch with it. Which will you not burn?

 

[Jstpssng]

Well I wasn't around for pet rocks either, but I suspect it was joke/fad and nobody actually talked to their pet rocks when they were alone. I talk to my dog, even my chickens.

To explore the issue of personification vs reciprocation, let's do a little thought experiment: you have 3 things and must burn 2 of them to ash. One of those ultra-creepy true-to-life baby mannequins, a picture of your father, and a random stray dog who wants you to play fetch with it. Which will you not burn?

I talk to my dog because he listens. I call to my chickens when letting them out, telling them to get back in the pen, or on occasion to warn them what's going to be for supper if I don't start seeing more eggs. I've even been known to talk to my plants, while sitting on the tractor with the mower on; again, telling them what's going to happen if I don't start seeing some produce.

 

[CobyRupert]

Well I wasn't around for pet rocks either, but I suspect it was joke/fad and nobody actually talked to their pet rocks when they were alone. I talk to my dog, even my chickens.

To explore the issue of personification vs reciprocation, let's do a little thought experiment: you have 3 things and must burn 2 of them to ash. One of those ultra-creepy true-to-life baby mannequins, a picture of your father, and a random stray dog who wants you to play fetch with it. Which will you not burn?

You may be right. That reminds me of the thought experiment where you’re a fireman searching a burning medical building. You only have time to either grab a 5 year old child hiding in the corner or a package of 500 frozen embryos from a freezer.
500 children vs 1 child. Should be an easy decision right? But I’m pretty sure EVERYONE (no matter what they claim their beliefs are about when life begins) is going to grab the 5 year old.
I guess it proves your point that reciprocation will win over personification even when it’s 500 to 1.

 

[Diggin It]

I talk to the birds, toads, frogs, lizards, worms.

I don't worry too much .... until they talk back.

'Course, there are the Mockingbirds.

 

[YanmarFever]

I talk to the birds, toads, frogs, lizards, worms.

I don't worry too much .... until they talk back.

'Course, there are the Mockingbirds.

I only talk to myself when I want an expert opinion....

 

[strantor]

You may be right. That reminds me of the thought experiment where you’re a fireman searching a burning medical building. You only have time to either grab a 5 year old child hiding in the corner or a package of 500 frozen embryos from a freezer.
500 children vs 1 child. Should be an easy decision right? But I’m pretty sure EVERYONE (no matter what they claim their beliefs are about when life begins) is going to grab the 5 year old.
I guess it proves your point that reciprocation will win over personification even when it’s 500 to 1.

Yeah that's a perfect example. I've been asked that scenario before and I answered it a different way, but I think think what you said is a better answer.
It adds another layer to the related moral quandaries.
We favor creatures which can reciprocate with us.
We choose the child over the embryos because it can make an emotional plea to us.
We prioritize a cow over a coyote because of the value it affords us.
Seems maybe our priorities are actually all about us, not surprising. We are pretty self centered.
When we condemn those who arrange dog fights, are we really just being arbitrary and self righteous?
I don't know but I would rather be arbitrary and self righteous, than to condone the brutalization of animals that I naturally empathize with, and which I can clearly identify as being in terror.

What was this thread about? A snake? How did it get this deep? Ah, whatever; the snake has had it's 10 minutes posthumous fame.

 

[Sigarms]

Yeah that's a perfect example. I've been asked that scenario before and I answered it a different way, but I think think what you said is a better answer.
It adds another layer to the related moral quandaries.
We favor creatures which can reciprocate with us.
We choose the child over the embryos because it can make an emotional plea to us.
We prioritize a cow over a coyote because of the value it affords us.
Seems maybe our priorities are actually all about us, not surprising. We are pretty self centered.
When we condemn those who arrange dog fights, are we really just being arbitrary and self righteous?
I don't know but I would rather be arbitrary and self righteous, than to condone the brutalization of animals that I naturally empathize with, and which I can clearly identify as being in terror.

What was this thread about? A snake? How did it get this deep? Ah, whatever; the snake has had it's 10 minutes posthumous fame.

ANY way you cut, very well said...

The way I see it, ultimatley we all be 6' under in given time to any living life, perhaps then the answers will come to us.

The bigger question which I can't still figure out is why God made yellow jackets:laughing:

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Yeah, and the mosquitoes keep asking themselves why God put hands on a man and a tail on a cow.

 

[strantor]

The bigger question which I can't still figure out is why God made yellow jackets:laughing:

If there is a God (I suspect there is) then he probably made yellow jackets to keep us from being too comfortable. Too much comfort isn't good for us. The same reason when my daughter starts driving, the vehicle I will give her will be just good enough to get her to work and school, nothing more. I will look for something with body damage, maybe 2 or 3 mismatched quarter panels. She will have sufficient motivation to work toward something better.

Or, is it predictably human of me to assume God made yellow jackets, mosquitoes, and cancer just to be a thorn in my side? Maybe the doctrine reinforces such a human-centric view? Did the yellow jackets have a messiah too? Will there be yellow jackets in Heaven? If there was only one messiah and he was human, then maybe we are the center of the universe and our arbitrary lines are totally justified and not self righteous at all.

Ok. Lunch and quack philosophy hour concluded.