Empathy for animals

[Aspergers Girl]

Do any of you get intense empathy for animals? I cried tonight when it showed an ad on TV about a pig trapped in a cage or a slaughterhouse, how cruel it was I just felt so much sadness looking into the pigs pained eye. There is a soul in there and it looks so tourmented.

Its enough to put me off eating meat, it really upset me and I can't stop thinking about it.

[lotusblossom]

yes I am the same, I even got so interested that I want to study animal thinking for my phd, I want to do it with this dept:

http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/cmvcr/Home.html

If you read some of their articles they have found out so much interesting things about how animals think.

The more I find out about animals the more I realise how like us they are and the more against animal suffering I get.

[Aspergers Girl]

I agree. What gives people the right to treat fellow creatures of the earth like that? It's wrong. They could at least let the animals live in a free range environment that maybe shows a little bit of empathy for the poor animals. Man it's horrible thinking about it. Even if you donate money it doesn't seem like enough.

Human beings are cruel. In many ways,  higher intelligence has made people monsters.

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

I dislike the mistreatment of animals. Not sure whether what I feel is empathy or not.

Do animals have empathy for me though? lol

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Human beings are cruel.

All of nature is red in tooth and claw, AG. It isn't only humans.

I've yet to see any Lion donate to the Gazelle Benevolent Fund.

[Aspergers Girl]

Human beings are cruel.

All of nature is red in tooth and claw, AG. It isn't only humans.

I've yet to see any Lion donate to the Gazelle Benevolent Fund.

Thats where the intelligence comes in. Lions have to kill to eat. It's all they know. Humans kill for sport, or kill to eat keeping the animals in terrible conditions.  I would never call any creature "cruel" apart from humans.  The closest is probably pecking order in hens.

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

I would never call any creature "cruel" apart from humans.

Tribes of Chimps have been known to make war on other tribes of chimps... together with associated nastinesses to the losing side.

Perhaps associating the word 'cruel' with 'consciousness' is hiding what I mean. What animal has compassion for another animal? Apparently only humans (and perhaps certain whales). Most animals simply do not care and see other animals as objects to be used.

I do not think animals can decide to be cruel like humans can... however, predators are very unthinkingly cruel to their prey. They have no compassion for other species whatsoever.

[Aspergers Girl]

I would never call any creature "cruel" apart from humans.

Tribes of Chimps have been known to make war on other tribes of chimps... together with associated nastinesses to the losing side.

Perhaps associating the word 'cruel' with 'consciousness' is hiding what I mean. What animal has compassion for another animal? Apparently only humans (and perhaps certain whales). Most animals simply do not care and see other animals as objects to be used.

I do not think animals can decide to be cruel like humans can... however, predators are very unthinkingly cruel to their prey. They have no compassion for other species whatsoever.

Well what do you expact, they have to kill to eat, they do whats best for them. The don't choose to be cruel. They just do what their instinct tells them to.

[Elselia]

Hmm...  I'm not sure if I feel empathy for animals.  Is it empathy for animals if you feel emotionally attached to tropical fish the same way most people feel about cats?

I don't see a lot of animals where I live, except for household pets.  I've liked all my pet dogs and cats and they've all liked me back.  Other people's pets too.  Not sure if that's because I worked in a pet store and know how to interact with them, etc.  ...But I don't feel any particular connection with cows, horses, monkeys, iguanas, pigs, chickens, pigeons etc, generally.  Is that what you meant?

[Aspergers Girl]

Hmm...  I'm not sure if I feel empathy for animals.  Is it empathy for animals if you feel emotionally attached to tropical fish the same way most people feel about cats?

I don't see a lot of animals where I live, except for household pets.  I've liked all my pet dogs and cats and they've all liked me back.  Other people's pets too.  Not sure if that's because I worked in a pet store and know how to interact with them, etc.  ...But I don't feel any particular connection with cows, horses, monkeys, iguanas, pigs, chickens, pigeons etc, generally.  Is that what you meant?

No not a connection thing, just very high respect for animals, and sadness for them if they're hurt.  I don't connect with Iguanas but I look at them with respct and think they're have rights as creatures on this earth. If one was hurt I would feel bad for it.

[AspieNZ]

I couldn't watch that program. I was having dinner at mum's, eating in the other room when I heard one scream. I felt the terror in its voice and had to block my ears. I know they normally screetch but this one sounded like it thought it was gonna die.

[lotusblossom]

I would never call any creature "cruel" apart from humans.

Tribes of Chimps have been known to make war on other tribes of chimps... together with associated nastinesses to the losing side.

Perhaps associating the word 'cruel' with 'consciousness' is hiding what I mean. What animal has compassion for another animal? Apparently only humans (and perhaps certain whales). Most animals simply do not care and see other animals as objects to be used.

I do not think animals can decide to be cruel like humans can... however, predators are very unthinkingly cruel to their prey. They have no compassion for other species whatsoever.

In psychology and science they have done some terrible experiments on animals - for example teaching a chimp sign language then when the funding ran out sending it for Hep C experiments. In farming chickens (battery) are kept in a cage the size of an A4 paper.

I have never seen a lion keep gazelles in such conditions.

Animals kill their prey free range.

Saying animals are cruel is a poor excuse for human behaviour as people would not abandon their offspring at birth just because some animals do.

I dont think there is excuse to be cruel or inflict fear and pain on others of any species, I think others lives should be treated with kindness and respect.

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Saying animals are cruel is a poor excuse for human behaviour as people would not abandon their offspring at birth just because some animals do.

Actually, it happens really often in both developing and developed countries. And don't get me started on abortion - abandoning offspring before they've even laid eyes on them

I'm not excusing human behaviour in the least. And neither am I about to demonise people... even if some people eat their raw fish while its still moving... many animals eat living prey too.

The question that is obviously developing in this thread is... Is cruelty dependant on awareness?

[lotusblossom]

Saying animals are cruel is a poor excuse for human behaviour as people would not abandon their offspring at birth just because some animals do.

Actually, it happens really often in both developing and developed countries. And don't get me started on abortion - abandoning offspring before they've even laid eyes on them

I'm not excusing human behaviour in the least. And neither am I about to demonise people... even if some people eat their raw fish while its still moving... many animals eat living prey too.

The question that is obviously developing in this thread is... Is cruelty dependant on awareness?

I will correct myself then, people would not think it ok to abandon their offspring 

I think lots of things in life are cruel or commit torture but I still think its not ok and I will work toward a kinder more compassionate life for all.

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

I will correct myself then, people would not think it ok to abandon their offspring 

Without wanting to open a can of worms... Many people think its OK to kill a Foetus just because it isn't called a 'baby'.

I wouldn't put it past some cultures to not recognise what we would consider morality in this regard, and actually think it OK to abandon offspring under certain circumstances... female child/deformed child/etc... I don't know this though. However, I imagine it is likely.

I think lots of things in life are cruel or commit torture but I still think its not ok and I will work toward a kinder more compassionate life for all.

I totally agree. I'm not supporting cruelty in any way. I've reported cruelty to animals before. However, if the question is... 'Is cruelty dependant upon awareness?' I do not know quite whether I would have to conclude 'yes', or 'no'. Is 'cruel' the action or the intention? Hmmm. It is not a simple question.