Empathy for animals

[Elselia]

Without wishing to seem too necropost-y,

I think cruelty (the word, by itself, outside of a context) should be referring to intention.  I can't think of an example where someone could accidentally be cruel to someone else.  They could do them grievous bodily harm, or cause emotional abuse, but I couldn't call it cruelty until it was deliberate to some degree.

Going by what I remember of criminal law (where actus reus=the act, and mens rea=the intention), though, the mere state of being aware that your actions "could" result in death/gbh is sufficient intention.

There's an example in the literature where a man walked into a jewellery store with a loaded gun with the safety catch off (it was a holdup situation).  He claims he had no intention of firing the gun, but when a shop assistant tried to jump on him to hold him down, the gun fired accidentally and killed another person.  In that situation, the guy knew enough that he was creating a situation in which death/gbh COULD result.  Among other precedent that this case represents, it stands for the fact that someone doesn't have to "intend to pull the trigger" - they just have to "intend to create a situation where death is a real possibility" in order to be considered having intention at the level of murder.

General note:
Killing alone = manslaughter (ran over someone accidentally)
Killing + intention = murder (ran over someone deliberately)

So with regard to animals.  If you did an act that didn't specifically include "I want to kill this animal," but you knew it would be LIKELY to result in killing or gbh to the animal, I'd consider that intentional.

[TheException]

I have more empathy toward animals than humans. But I seem to have little issue with slaughterhouses or chicken farms. Which now that I think about it, is kinda weird.

[Wittgenstein]

I have a lot of emphathy, sympathy for animals. I'm a vegetarian myself, and I don't understand how a civilized being is able to just look away while all this killing is going on. What for? It's all jut for luxury's sake and nothing more. We've reached a level of existence where we could live off of many many substitutional goods in order to stay healthy, and mainly survive.
Killing for survival is nessesary, whereas needless, pointless killing for luxury is just wrong, and I don't honestly understand our society for not doing something against it.
I'm able to understand animals better than our own kind, at these points, which got me thinking lately...

Our condition, if I may call it that, somewhat resembles the way animals act and "think". All they care about is survival, reproduction and, unconciously, to be happy, really. If it wasn't for the civilized world around us we'd be a perfect fit into the animal kingdom. Now I'm not saying we'd have an easy living there; we'd have to fight our way through each day and night in order to make it, but at least we'd have a place to be...

[Rocket]

I'm trying to become vegetarian myself but it's hard because I love chicken. I also eat turkey hotdogs (I'm not Jewish or anything. I just don't like pork anymore. And please don't tell me about that stuff about pork hotdogs, 'cause I already know and I've read "The Jungle".) And I don't get why a person won't get in much trouble for shooting pigeons, but if they hit a hawk, they get in so much trouble.

[EllieC]

I'm a vegetarian myself for about 10 years now. At the time, I was 12 so everyone assumed it was just a phase I was going through. I used to believe that it was "cruel" to eat animals but my real reason for remaining veggie is the fact that I have an intense fear of meat. I don't like the colors, smells, tastes or textures of certain meats. Even as a child, I would only eat chicken, sausages and fish, before I decided to be a veggie at 12. I still drink milk and eat yogurts, cheese and eggs (but only free range). And I also eat meat substitutes such as Quorn chicken and burgers to ensure I'm getting some protein. I sometimes find it difficult to go to restaurants given the lack of choice on the menu, but what can I do?
The thing I find most difficult about being veggie, is occasionally I come home from college only to find my entire family around the table eating KFC. They practically try to "force" me to eat chicken wings.
Even on Christmas, my sister asks "Would you not eat meat just for one day?" To which my reply is: "Try being veggie for one day". I'm happy enough eating my lentil and bean roast or roasted peppers. 
 

[Benjamming]

I'm empathetic toward animals, but I'll still eat them.
Farming and agriculture was the basis of everything we have today - Civilization was just something to do with our hands.
Many, many animals express both cruelty and altruism. Chimps will murder a rival groups young, and sometimes eat them. They will also protect the young of their own group (not just blood relations either) to the point of death. Chickens will warn others if they see a predator, but if they're alone they stay quiet.
My stand is that if you want to be a vegetarian, that's fine. Eating meat is fine, too. The reason for cruel farming practices is to satisfy demand, so if herbivores and carnivores both try to consume less the chickens will have room to play. I eat free range eggs for ethical reasons, but they taste better too.

Incidentally, I remember the ad with the pig. It was pretty horrible.

[writer2036]

I am very empathic towards animals. I have a Burmese cat called Molly. I can't stand animal cruelty either. I also couldn't eat a chicken if I had already been introduced to it when it was still alive. I'm not a vegetarian though.

[aspiecannondale]

Yes, that's why I've been vegan for the last 9 years, don't  force my values on meat eaters but they (sometimes) want to challenge me on it like "plants have feelings to" OR what about all the animals who die growing your soy grain etc,  I  try to explain to them yes animals do die for my food though many more die for yours eg    inefficiently  growing grain to feed  production food animals. The ratio varies depending on the food animal /type of grain  grown etc etc though I do believe   for a given size of land you can feed 8 vegans for every 1 meat eater. though it's a futile argument debating with these boorish  people.

[Dwighk Sr.]

I can't feel empathy for animals because sometimes I have to shoot cows so people can eat hamburgers and s***.

[aspiecannondale]

I can't feel empathy for animals because sometimes I have to shoot cows so people can eat hamburgers and s***.

Perhaps you have it and your not yet aware of it, you'd be surprised how many (ex) abattoir workers  who are now vegan.

Oh if your thinking of going veg or vegan their are some awesome meat substitutes and not so (vile).

[Tortoise]

I have tremendous empathy for animals. I think I always have had actually, even as a small kid of ca 4. I have my fave animals and then there are animals I would never want as a pet, but I never ever fail to feel sick to the core when I see an animal being mistreated. Species matter not at all.

I even feel sorry for plants, and the tradition of x-mas trees make me sick; taking in a tree for a few days to see it die? Madness. My feelings for animals are way stronger than the ones I have for plants but I value all life.
I cried when my cactus whithered. I'd had it for 24 years...   

[Aspergers Girl]

I always feel really sad and apply human emotions to plants too.

[aspiecannondale]

but I never ever fail to feel sick to the core when I see an animal being mistreated.


Ditto I remember in grade 3 or 4  we went on  a excursion to the circus   all of my class mates/teachers  "enjoyed" the experience I was horrified, this planted the seed to  go vegetarian than vegan.

[aspiecannondale]

Its enough to put me off eating meat


Do it Fiona it's not as hard as you think it's not like you live in France  or Spain, being veg   (so I've heard)  in NZ is relatively easy.

PS now that I've recovered from my mental break down  I might just  for fun put up a photo.

 I read on WP  you like Aussies yeah ?