General Discussion

Nika

(546 posts)

142. I submit they communicate, have culture, and by virtue of that operate within ethical guidelines

Wed Jun 26, 2013, 04:50 PM

Jun 2013

they have developed. This is no anthropomorphism on my part. It's more like a case of species-centric thinking on your part. Sorry to have to tell you this, but our species is hardly the smartest one on the planet, just one of the smarter, and definitely the most ruthless and violent one.

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Humans are NOT superior to the other species. [View all] darkangel218 Jun 2013 OP

What bible gargle are you talking about? HappyMe Jun 2013 #1

Where they claim "god" created animals to serve humans. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #3

Search on "dominion over animals" - pretty creepy if you ask me. DreamGypsy Jun 2013 #13

I guess I always throught there was a difference between life long demo Jun 2013 #68

Not much difference in the definitions... DreamGypsy Jun 2013 #82

Almost as creepy as "stewardship" LanternWaste Jun 2013 #74

At least "stewardship"--a more accurate translation I believe-- truebluegreen Jun 2013 #83

So we shouldn't ride horses, HappyMe Jun 2013 #17

I havent said that. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #35

You do realize that your op pretty much contradicts this argument, right? Drahthaardogs Jun 2013 #154

Than how do you explain the pollution and exctinction of other species?? darkangel218 Jun 2013 #155

I could consider this more closely if the dog wasn't humping my leg. rug Jun 2013 #2

:p darkangel218 Jun 2013 #4

LOL! randome Jun 2013 #5

!!! pinboy3niner Jun 2013 #6

What rug said Puzzledtraveller Jun 2013 #7

And...second laugh of the day! randome Jun 2013 #10

Someone has to say DUzy panader0 Jun 2013 #11

DUzy! HappyMe Jun 2013 #20

DUzy, says me... n/t susanna Jun 2013 #130

We are the only species that can consider whether we are superior or not. randome Jun 2013 #8

Bullshit!! we are not!! darkangel218 Jun 2013 #14

with the capacity to engage higher functioning.....it is a distinction. nt galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #22

I'm sorry. HappyMe Jun 2013 #25

A mother lioness will think the same for her cubs. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #47

People have been hunting and fishing since forever. HappyMe Jun 2013 #48

They "hunt" and "fish" too. Like i said, thats not what i was refering to. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #52

We use our intelligence for other than abuse, you know. randome Jun 2013 #28

I dont disagree with you on that. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #59

Not as much as I would like to see. randome Jun 2013 #67

Agreed 100%. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #70

Nature might be running out of patience, though. randome Jun 2013 #75

The answer is that only a human would be conserned with such things... Deep13 Jun 2013 #58

And we are the only species that spends hours and hours watching kitteh videos pinboy3niner Jun 2013 #18

So, do you feel pet owners are in effect, like slave owners? quinnox Jun 2013 #9

Sad that our country had laws protecting animals before child labor laws joeglow3 Jun 2013 #27

I think either the SPCA or maybe Humane Society was formed life long demo Jun 2013 #71

SPCA was created in Britain by PM William Wilburforc LanternWaste Jun 2013 #79

Don't animals belong in the wild? n/t alp227 Jun 2013 #119

Nature is cruel. Brickbat Jun 2013 #12

Correct. But let nature be nature!!! darkangel218 Jun 2013 #19

"For the good of humanity"? Brickbat Jun 2013 #23

You refer to as nature, when we go and destroy habitats and forests?? darkangel218 Jun 2013 #39

How can it not be nature? Dr. Strange Jun 2013 #64

Then there is something wrong with us, if we feel its ok to destroy the planet for our silly shit. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #69

The planet was here long before humans... SidDithers Jun 2013 #72

With what kind of life on it, or any? nt truebluegreen Jun 2013 #84

Yup. With some kind of life on it... SidDithers Jun 2013 #89

If we manage to engender runaway warming, probably not. truebluegreen Jun 2013 #93

Earth abides... SidDithers Jun 2013 #95

As I said truebluegreen Jun 2013 #97

Does a tree need more branches? Dr. Strange Jun 2013 #76

Superior perheps from your personal exeprience. Can you say the same for your fellow humans though? darkangel218 Jun 2013 #96

How about "silly shit" like electricity and modern medicine.... Pelican Jun 2013 #159

So, are we part of nature or not? nt Deep13 Jun 2013 #98

yeah, we are. we may well not be better than other species but cali Jun 2013 #15

Thats the point. The way humanity is going about treating othet species is downright messed up. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #21

Maybe, if we can get real climate change action in place, it will inspire us... randome Jun 2013 #40

This is true. dolphins and whales have larger and more complicated brains than human beings Nika Jun 2013 #16

"Operate in a very ethical manner"?!? You don't know your cetaceans, do you? X_Digger Jun 2013 #43

I knew that was basically correct, I just couldn't remember exactly what I'd read before. randome Jun 2013 #78

I know that like us, dolphins can be just as conflicted and do exactly what you say. Nika Jun 2013 #126

So they're ethical because they do unethical things? Umm... X_Digger Jun 2013 #131

Humans are generally ethical beings who do unethical things. Nika Jun 2013 #132

Doing 'unethical' things is no proof of being an ethical being. X_Digger Jun 2013 #133

Tursiops truncatus, the bottle nosed dolphin is very strong and has 188 sharp conical teeth Nika Jun 2013 #136

We're talking ethics. X_Digger Jun 2013 #137

I submit they communicate, have culture, and by virtue of that operate within ethical guidelines Nika Jun 2013 #142

No, that's anthropomorphism. X_Digger Jun 2013 #143

I grasp the concepts of culture quite well, thank you. Nika Jun 2013 #144

Yep. Lucinda Jun 2013 #44

We are superior, and it is precisely because we are superior that we have an obligation geek tragedy Jun 2013 #24

This. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #147

"I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself, panader0 Jun 2013 #26

What other species do you know that can shave their own balls? Major Nikon Jun 2013 #29

well yes there's that however azurnoir Jun 2013 #57

You comingle two different points joeglow3 Jun 2013 #30

Fuck if i feel superior. Speak for yourself. nt darkangel218 Jun 2013 #41

The fact that you had the coherent thoughts and ability to type this message make it so joeglow3 Jun 2013 #51

Im not trying to sound like anything, im making a freaking point! darkangel218 Jun 2013 #54

Do you lecture other species when they destroy a species? joeglow3 Jun 2013 #88

They only destroy other species for food or shelter. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #94

You didn't answer his question. Would you lecture a cat, to try to stop it from hunting for fun? nessa Jun 2013 #105

Cats hunt for "fun" because most dont need to eat what they catch anymore darkangel218 Jun 2013 #115

I agree about shooting animals for fun.. but why can't we explain to any cat that he/she.... nessa Jun 2013 #120

i take it you don't have pets, then? Sissyk Jun 2013 #31

Huh?? darkangel218 Jun 2013 #73

My cat rules me, I already know she's superior. Neoma Jun 2013 #100

My leg fell asleep while reading this Tree-Hugger Jun 2013 #32

Couldn't agree more we are just as much animals Arcanetrance Jun 2013 #33

Well I'm not the one who drinks from the toilet. (nt) Nye Bevan Jun 2013 #34

Yah, because you force your dog to be indoors. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #42

Humans are domesticated. Neoma Jun 2013 #102

"fend for themselves"... SidDithers Jun 2013 #36

We humans can control ourselves. We aren't like other predators. n/t alp227 Jun 2013 #118

The only thing that matters to most Humans is a mirror. BlueJazz Jun 2013 #37

Awesome. Almost snuck right by me. Reminiscent of Ecclesiastes: HardTimes99 Jun 2013 #150

Why thank you. That's very kind of you. BlueJazz Jun 2013 #152

we may still be a part of nature DonCoquixote Jun 2013 #38

So we should use our counciosness to abuse and destroy others?? darkangel218 Jun 2013 #49

no, because abusing others DonCoquixote Jun 2013 #122

Whatever "sentience" is... hunter Jun 2013 #62

I hope my grandchildren DonCoquixote Jun 2013 #123

We are the only animal I know that fouls its own nest, truebluegreen Jun 2013 #87

Mark Twain said once if you could get a cross between cats & people, it would improve people, but raccoon Jun 2013 #45

I will stipulate that you're not. nt Dreamer Tatum Jun 2013 #46

!!! zappaman Jun 2013 #50

Do you hunt, zappaman? darkangel218 Jun 2013 #56

No. n/t zappaman Jun 2013 #77

Ironic. nt darkangel218 Jun 2013 #80

If you say so. n/t zappaman Jun 2013 #81

I am not, AND NIETHER ARE YOU. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #55

. Deep13 Jun 2013 #99

"We took over this planet, destroying it lil by lil." Deep13 Jun 2013 #53

Depends on what metric you use, I suppose. reflection Jun 2013 #60

Same for the other species. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #66

I thought self-delete was your best friend. RiffRandell Jun 2013 #61

We are only important because we tell ourselves we are. Tierra_y_Libertad Jun 2013 #63

Where is the unbiased evidence that humans are superior? DreamGypsy Jun 2013 #65

I certainly won't argue that that we better or worse or equal to animals LanternWaste Jun 2013 #85

Jim Mason writes about what I think you're trying to express. CrispyQ Jun 2013 #86

If I fall down a well, Lassie can go get help, but its humans that will save me onenote Jun 2013 #90

I think we are the aliens we have been searching for and do not belong. glinda Jun 2013 #91

We don't deserve to live on our own planet, Quantess Jun 2013 #92

I think it's more of a cultural problem than an overall human problem. Neoma Jun 2013 #103

That, too. But I see it more of a problem with short term selfishness, Quantess Jun 2013 #107

Jane Goodall calls the "but I have so little impact!" Neoma Jun 2013 #108

Maybe not, but I certainly enjoy a few when served between 2 pieces of bread. nt jmg257 Jun 2013 #101

Human meat? ew! Quantess Jun 2013 #110

lmao!!!! darkangel218 Jun 2013 #114

Look around you. Who's smarter your dog or you. All they can to do is bark and try and hump demosincebirth Jun 2013 #104

Do less smart humans have less value? Nt xchrom Jun 2013 #106

When your pet ferret (or whatever) is sick, do you take it to a dolphin (to which you are not bike man Jun 2013 #109

True, but you have lost sense of the bigger picture. Quantess Jun 2013 #111

I see you've met DU's denial brigade. flvegan Jun 2013 #112

Get back to me when you have a discussion about quantum physics with a chimpanzee liberaltrucker Jun 2013 #113

Get back to me when you can physically do what some animals do. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #116

actually,we do stuff better DonCoquixote Jun 2013 #125

Yah, by industrilizing the environment, polluting and destroying it. darkangel218 Jun 2013 #149

Not always DonCoquixote Jun 2013 #156

No, we build machines and fly. Then we build different machines and swim. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #148

Then we form armies and destroy one another. "Progress?" Pfft! - nt HardTimes99 Jun 2013 #153

Also, what does it matter what humans can do, Quantess Jun 2013 #117

Being intelligent does not equal being smart liberaltrucker Jun 2013 #139

We had a blast fishing this weekend. ileus Jun 2013 #121

Agreed MNBrewer Jun 2013 #124

er, when we act with wonton disregard for anything except ourselves, we ARE 'fending for ourselves'. Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #127

Biologists confirm that. All species are of equal importance ErikJ Jun 2013 #128

Bacteria were here long before us and will remain long after we're gone. RedCappedBandit Jun 2013 #129

Define "superior", please. OldEurope Jun 2013 #134

By exterminating them? darkangel218 Jun 2013 #138

How many dogs have made it to the moon? badtoworse Jun 2013 #135

That we are having this discussion kinda proves you wrong. nt Demo_Chris Jun 2013 #140

This message was self-deleted by its author darkangel218 Jun 2013 #141

I'm no Fundie, but I can't help but disagree with that to a point. AverageJoe90 Jun 2013 #145

Consider your natural world. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #146

Shakespeare, as is so often the case, gets right down to it HardTimes99 Jun 2013 #151

LOL inwiththenew Jun 2013 #157

Agreed. And Americans are NOT superior to the other peoples. Taverner Jun 2013 #158