Animals vs humans

[fifi669]

AIBU to think if faced with choosing a pet over a human (even if a stranger), you should choose the human?

The idea was brought up in another thread and put in life or death situation. Building on fire contains your pet and a stranger. You could only save one, who would it be?

I had a dog, Ralph, I cried my heart out when he died 3 years ago. The only dog I wasn't scared of! But I can't imagine leaving a person to die instead, no matter how my heart would break.

[DamnBamboo]

kitten please stop talking to me. You are being highly annoying and childish. You don't care, what I think and vice versa. Jolly good, let's move on.

fifi my uncle was a fireman and once attended a fire in West London where the man in the house had saved his dogs and his electronic gear and not his two children.

When it surfaced that he wasn't able to reach them with him saying something along the lines of 'i can have more kids' he was knocked spark out by one of the fireman there, and then faced charges for failing to attempt to help/help etc.

[KittensoftPuppydog]

A dog is not a piece of fine art. Though mine is very pretty. And they have little or no financial value.
The central question remains - why should you prefer a human? Fine if you do. I don't.

[MaidOfStars]

I don't really have any objection to the minority who might choose to give their life to save their pet - their choice, and not the same one I'd make, but I don't particularly care enough to argue against that (although I very much doubt that, if it came to it, such lofty ideals would be seen through).

I would clearly have an objection if that minority left a child of mine to die while they rescued their pet instead.

And it's somewhat ironic that the minority would gain immensely from the altruism of the majority who would sacrifice their own pets to save the lives of the minority.

As a member of the majority, I don't really see what I'm getting out of this

[Frettchen]

I really don't understand why this thread has become so aggressive. This is a hypothetical situation and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And it really does look like there are plenty of votes for each of the two potential outcomes, so it's not like any of us are in the minority.

[Rinoachicken]

onedog

Now if I was asked random dog vs random person, I think most people would have very little moral dilemma as to which they'd save.

I'm no sure I'd dare ask that question anymore!

[KittensoftPuppydog]

Damnb
Oh give over. This is an open thread.
You never answer anything and you're very rude.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

I don't think anyone needs to get hysterical about babysitters nannies etc

I don't think it's hysterical at all. Anyone who would put a pet before a human should not be left in charge of children or vulnerable adults.

Any pet before any human. Anyone who has to ask "which human? do I like them" is unfit for that kind of responsibility.

[DamnBamboo]

kittens I answer everything.

[LST]

I'd save the random person if it was a random dog. But my dog if it was him.

[KittensoftPuppydog]

My post of 14.47?

[LST]

I used to be a nursery nurse..

[littlemslazybones]

It's not about preference. It's about a social contract where humans help one another in need. It's about the fact that other humans, who do not know you ( or, perhaps, don't even like you) putting their lives in jepordy if you need help.

I don't know, this is new to me, I don't think I know one person who would save a dog over a human.

[fifi669]

As I asked earlier does it stop at dogs? Would you do the same for other pets? No escaping. One will die.

[LST]

I love my cats the same as my dog so yes. But they would need to be actually trapped to not get out. I'd think they would get themselves out of a sticky situation if it were to arise. The tropical fish tank would have to fed for itself though. I'm not arnie after all...

[OutragedFromLeeds]

Back I'm a nanny and I'd save my dog over some people . Shhhh don't tell Ofsted!

[TotallyKerplunked]

My pet, everytime, in fact the only person I'd save in preference would be DS, even DH would come after, monumentally selfish, yep, but then my life doesn't revolve around worrying what other people think of me.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

What is it exactly you want? Wtf makes any of you thimk that you would even be able to think straight or have the physical strength to resue anyone or anything in the event of these fires. Whose calling 999 while your all jumping on and out of these buildings.

There's two reasons for a thread like this.

1- for people to jump up and act all superior

2- to attack those who disagree

NO ONE could know!!! Let's hope it never happens

[SleepyFish]

The only reason we use the term human is to separate ourselves from other animals but animals is actually what we are so to be pedantic the thread title does'nt make sense.
Interesting replies based mainly on emotions I see. Can I ask those of you who said 'humans of course' why? Do you think we have a higher moral status and if so why? Based on what?
Genuinely interested btw, I am writing an essay on ethics/animals.

[KittensoftPuppydog]

This social contract hasn't been much in evidence in a lot of people's lives. Maybe they didn't sign in the right place.
My dog, however, is always there for me.

[BackOnlyBriefly]

OutragedFromLeeds at least in your list you put kids first and only strangers after the dog.

[basgetti]

TotallyKerplunked, you would let your DS lose his father so you could save your pet??

[KittensoftPuppydog]

Exactly what I'm trying to get at sleepy.

[Rinoachicken]

In defence of the OP, the thread came about as the result of another thread which was about the old 'child screaming at my off lead dog' and it became apparent that there was quite a divide between people who thought a dog was more important than a child and vice versa.

Hence this thread rather than hijack that one.

[littlemslazybones]

You say that Kittens but how many people go to war in an effort to protect a whole load of strangers. And this miscellaneous fireman/ woman, they don't know you but they won't be having a debate over whether or not you're worth the effort before they walk into a fire. Or what about the nurse that you see next, no doubt she's been in a shit load of harms way so he/ she can help a load of random's.

[littlemslazybones]

It's not the pay, that's for sure.