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.

Again Greythorne, I don't take my pets with me on school trips.

I don't do residential trips anyway because I am a carer and therefore can never have a night away from home. Plus I have to inject a diabetic cat with insulin twice a day.

Sharp. I would probably put non Christians before Christians. So there would be occasions where I would put non family before family. I would pray quickly and hope that God would take care of the Christian ones. Realise that I may be utterly unique on that one, and get called all sorts!

'It certainly wouldn't apply to the extent that I'd let another human die in its place.'

and that's completely fair enough, other people clearly feel differently. You can think those feelings are wrong, but I don't think you can change them. If you understand their feelings are different though you can understand (not agree with) their viewpoint on the whole fire/stranger/dog thing.

Nailing colours to the mast here, as someone who has frequently put animals before family ....abandoning family events to handle a rescue etc. I adore my cats and dogs (and actually probably couldn't save them all if there was ever a fire - which is a terrifying thought.

All that said.... I would still save the stranger, because I know I could never look their parent/partner/child in the eye and tell them I left their loved one to die in order to save my cat. I just could not.

'Do you ever organise school trips off school property?

You prioritizing of pets above children is highly relevant to your ability to do your job.'

Probably not to her house! Don't be ridiculous.

I hope I am the one walking past the building too Outraged. I warn you though that I am not particularly physically strong

'Nobody ever gave birth to a Jack Russell did they!'

There is a point there about adoption that I'll leave.

I do know what you're saying, that for you an animal can never be family.

What I'm saying is; there are clearly people who disagree. It's clear from this thread that they do consider the pets family. Denying that is pointless. They do feel that way. Fact.

You can find that hateful, but you can't deny that they feel that. You have to accept (not like or agree with) that they value the dog as a family member. If you accept this, you can understand (again not like or agree with) their choice re. stranger/fire/dog.

You'd let achilddieover an animal.
Absolutely if it was my dog vs a random child.

What does that really say aboutyouAKAK81?
It says that I really couldn't give a shit about some stranger but that I love my dog. Sue me.

No outraged.

I couldn't understand their view point. As I said, I find the idea of taking your dog as part of the family to that extreme an unreasonable concept.

I'd have nothing but contempt for any person who actually committed the act of saving the pet over the person. It would just be unforgivable.

Binkybix I think I would save the dog, yes. I see my dog as a member of my family, and I would save her over someone outside of my family.

I really think I need to make the most of being this evil, selfish person. Any suggestions? Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.

'No outraged. I couldn't understand their view point.'

If you accepted that they value the dog as a family member you could understand their choice.

'As I said, I find the idea of taking your dog as part of the family to that extreme an unreasonable concept.'

I know. I'm not suggesting you change your view. You can still find it unreasonable. I'm saying you need to accept the fact that those are their feelings.

I find racism unreasonable. I accept as a fact that some people are racist. I don't like it, it's hateful, but it's a FACT that some people feel that way.

Given the choice to save someone of the same race or a different race they'd make a choice that I don't agree with. I'd understand why they made that choice though. I understand what their beliefs are, I just don't agree with them.

everlong, Urgent may have refrained from mentioning adoption in relation to your previous comment; but as the uncle of a young girl who happens to be adopted, I most certainly won't. Just because someone isn't related by blood, doesn't mean they aren't family. By that logic, my niece isn't my niece or my sister's daughter; and it's a good job she doesn't use this site as that would probably result in a very angry rant on her part. But regardless, I find that comment incredibly rude, offensive and distasteful.

In order for you to argue your point, you need to understand that dogs are family to many people, including me. You also need to understand that nothing you can say will change that.

I can't help noticing that when several Team Animal people were asked about situations (in the course of their jobs etc) in which they might be responsible for other people's kids they avoided it by introducing some side issue.

Make of that what you will.

Anyone from the save animal camp want to say categorically that the position they have stated here would never be applied if looking after someone elses children?

Surely that is easy to say isn't it?

Oh no, everlong, I've known I was evil from being a small child, being called it on here doesn't bother me, but it might upset others who aren't.

'Well we go back to the old evil and worse word don't we?'

Which bit is evil? Let's assume we understand the choice; they save the dog because they truly value it as family. That can't be evil. Choosing ones family over strangers cannot be evil.

So is it evil to feel a dog is part of your family? Well, no.

There is no evil for me in either choice.

'I can't help noticing that when several Team Animal people were asked about situations (in the course of their jobs etc) in which they might be responsible for other people's kids they avoided it by introducing some side issue.'

Where?

Don't understand the latest post from Urgent, Quote: Urgent may have refrained...???