Animals vs humans round 2

[livingzuid]

I was enjoying our previous debate started by Fifi. Not sure if we were done!

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.

I think what Lily means is that just thinking you are right doesn't necessarily make you right. Though I will admit that the argument is a little weak.

I don't think I'm right. I have never at any point said I am right and Team Human are wrong. I've talked about what my own reaction to the situation would be and why. You are right to do what's right for you and I entirely respect your decision to save the stranger and I don't believe it's too much to ask that you extend me the same courtesy. I do not respect the position taken up by many posters here that because I don't choose to do the same as they would that I am reprehensible/immoral/evil etc.

Keeping No I wouldn't, my child would still be dead either way. They would still have put a family member above mine and I would've done the same in their situation, in both cases.

Yes, I get the sentiment. Thank you Urgent. But am finding the execution very amusing.

Totally agree with you SharpLily

Would you struggle to choose between your dog or your child Urgent?

'We're all losers here'

Brilliant!

"I entirely respect your decision to save the stranger and I don't believe it's too much to ask that you extend me the same courtesy. "

So it's not possible to disagree with someone? I have not said anyone Team Pet is evil. But yes, it do believe such a stance is immoral and reprehensible. And I have no respect for the decision.

Although I have lost a proportion of my weekend.

I'm touched to know you checked to see if my posts had been deleted, ivy!

While I'm here, I am going to have to point out that people (including teenagers) have been arguing over "my pet or a strange human" philosophy questions since the dawn of the internet. As far as I remember, the younger the audience, the more the threads incline towards the animal, and there was always a coterie of people ready to display their nihilism and cool misanthropy.

As the audience increases in age, people start tipping towards the human's side, as they start empathising more with the hypothetical bereaved family.

Secondly, what percentage of people support the death penalty? Isn't it 40% or more, according to the Daily Mail? If you are of the opinion that some crimes deserve death, I would imagine that you would immediately consider such offenders when posed with a question about "your cat or a stranger"?

In fact, given the amount of threads on Mumsnet advocating vigilante justice every time a notorious killer of a child is released, I'm surprised it's not more than 40%!

No, Mardy, you haven't, but Mary did use that exact word - 'evil'. I certainly haven't noticed Team Animal calling any of Team Human the same.

It is entirely possible to disagree with someone, but is much better done without the insults.

OK buggering off for a bit to lower my blood pressure.

I certainly haven't noticed Team Animal calling any of Team Human the same.

Because you have no argument against us.

Or maybe because we're more polite?

I have no argument to make in that I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. As I've said a number of times, I believe I'm entitled to my position and you are entitled to yours. Go back to the beginning of thread 1. It is very, very clear where the mud slinging and unpleasantness originated.

Actually, thinking about it, morally I would see leaving the human as something akin to murder. That's just my opinion though. Is murder always evil?

Slight clarification: we're talking from 13 upwards here. Eight year olds weren't (supposed to be) on the forums.

Keeping I would save my kids but both myself and they would be devestated over our loss.

"As I've said a number of times, I believe I'm entitled to my position and you are entitled to yours. "

Correct. And posters are entitled to disagree with each others' opiniongs.

"if they left a child to die and saved their pet, that would, in my opinion, make them evil".

Yep, thinking about it, I'd go with evil too.

Right, I really do need to go for a bit now.