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 there has been some serious extrapolating re everlongs comment about nobody having ever given birth to a jack Russell.

There was no inference to the adoption of human children in that post. None.

Back My position wouldn't apply if I was working. If somehow my dog was in the school building while it was aflame and I had to leave her behind to save a child, I would do so. Not because I care for the child more but because I signed a legally binding document and promised that I would be responsible for the child. In my opinion the law is the law, and though I might disagree with it, it is still the law.

"I'd leave your child to die if I had a choice between that and my pet"

"That's fucked up"

"Oh why are you being so mean?! Was it something I said?"

"Er...yes"

"Well there's no call for it. I'm a very sensitive person who loves my doggie (who by the way is poorly). Does that illicit enough sympathy to make you understand that why I'd leave your child to die and take my dog instead?"

"Er...no"

Apologies for that post everyone, I meant 'Outraged may have refrained'

Who are you quoting there, piano?

'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?'

I'll try my best, but I've said all along 'children before my dog'. I've also said 'anyone I love before the dog'.

For me the only people left in the fire would be adult strangers and adults I knew to be 'bad'.

I would apply what I've said here at work and I don't think it contravenes Ofsted guidelines in any way (although it is relevant that I never take my dog to work so it's a moot point).

I can now see why some MNetters are really not keen on dog owners as a whole and why the children and dogs threads go so badly.

I mean wow

UrgentNews thank you for a clear and straight answer. And of course I'm pleased to hear what the answer is too though I suspected all along that would be the case.

everlong and Alis- I have taken in my dog just as a human might adopt another human. You said that dogs can't be family because no human has ever given brith to a dog, well some humans have kids yet have never given birth. Someone does not need to be born into a family to be a part of it, no matter their species.

I actually prefer cats to dogs.

Where did I say that Maryz? I said that my niece was adopted, and that my dog has been taken into the family in the same way, which is true. However I did not say that my niece is less important or less of a family member than the dog.

I'm saying you need to accept the fact that those are their feelings

That suggests that as adults, they aren't capable of reigning in those feelings enough to avoid making awful decisions. Feelings that are not healthy don't have to just be accepted.

Good job none of us need your acceptance then, isn't it?

'Feelings that are not healthy don't have to just be accepted'

You have to accept that those feelings are their feelings. As in 'it's a FACT that he feels his dog is part of his family'.

You don't have to accept that those feelings are right or moral or justified.

OutragedFromLeeds thanks for replying to that one.

Good job none of us need your acceptance then, isn't it

I was informed by outraged that I had to accept it.

I don't.

'I was informed by outraged that I had to accept it.'

That's a different sort of accept .

I said you need to accept the facts. Not that the view is valid.

You don't have to do anything. It would be considered good debating etiquette to acknowledge the other side's right to feel a certain way, even when you disagree with it, but I think we've been shown that some people are incapable of acknowledging anything but their own beliefs.

Outrage

I have a dog, I consider her a member of the family. Not in the same way I would consider y'know...a person to be.

What bizarre views you have.

Spikey

Does that apply to all debates? When one side is advocating racism?

Anyway, I'm taking little old evil me off to finish preparing resources for those children that I despise.

It has been lovely seeing so many kind animal lovers here.