Discussion Animal abuse vs Human abuse

[echolalia]

This is a really heated topic. I was reading a thread on Reddit of how people were able to watch the Netflix documentary on Jeffrey Dahmer without flinching but bawled their eyes out when seeing Don't F*ck With Cats.

I was a little troubled by this. I understand animal abuse is horrible and in no way condone it. That being said, I can't see it as worse than someone being killed and tortured. To me, they are equally as bad.

 

[Superdeterminist]

In my opinion, we should assume that it is as bad as human abuse, as long as we can't prove otherwise. Yes it's an uncertain conclusion, but for the sake of suffering, we should give them the benefit of the doubt. For some animals like bivalves, it may be more reasonable to doubt that they suffer. I personally used to be vegan; however I no longer am (for reasons I can't explain). I am disgusted with myself for returning to nonveganism, however I don't believe in free will, so that's why I do not constantly beat myself up about it. I consider heterotrophy in general to be a grave issue, the same as when I used to be vegan. But now it feels idiotic to preach about it because I am participating in the abuse once more. Yes, I do consider eating animals to be abusive. It's literally killing them. If that's not abuse then nothing is. And of course they usually suffer A LOT before dying.

 

[Georg]

Less bad. But it depends on the animal. Some small animals, especially insects aren't able to feel pain I guess

 

[endofafoxtwo]

Humans are animals. However I would say nonhuman abuse is worse because they are innocent. There's no justifying it. I still voted equal though, because fundamentally neither should ever be abused.

 

[NumbItAll]

It's hard to measure exactly but my impulse is to vote (non-human) animals since they have no voice, they can't organize for rights, they're just at the mercy of whatever happens to them. Factory farms are probably the worst example. There is plenty of suffering to go around for all sentient life though.

 

[Skathon]

"Animal abuse vs animal abuse"? The title is absurd. Humans are animals.

 

[SoftWorries]

This topic is called carnism. There is a book called "Why we love dogs, eat pigs and wear cows" that goes in depth about it.

Dogs and cats are under a similar protection umbrella as children. That's why it's more painful for many people to hear about cats verses adult humans.

 

[Hirokami]

I say "both" as neither deserve to be abused, but humans at least have a voice and can speak out against their abuse. In most cases, when a nonhuman animal gets abused, they have to depend on a human to protect them ... Assuming the human will in the first place. If you're a cow, chicken, or pig you're basically fucked, though.