Accidental animal crueltyI once invented a brilliant game - I'd sit at the top of the stairs and throw cat biscuits to the bottom. My cat would eat them, then I'd shake the box, and he would run up the stairs for more biscuits. Then - of course - I'd throw a biscuit back down to the bottom. I kept this going for about half an hour, amused at my little game, and all was fine until the cat vomited. I felt absolutely dreadful.
Have you accidentally been cruel to an animal?
This question has been revived from way, way, way back on the b3ta messageboard when it was all fields round here.
(
rob, Thu 6 Dec 2007, 11:13)
« Go Back | See The Full Thread
Jeez, I didn't think this thread would spin up like this!As I'm posting from work, I don't have a hell of a lot of time to spend on this, but...
When I said that "people are evil" I suppose I should have qualified that a bit. People are, by default, mostly pretty horrid. Just watch kids on a playground or think back to when you were a child, and recall what mean and shitty things transpired there. But as we get older we develop empathy (usually) and learn that being horrid to others only makes them horrid to us as well, and we grow out of such behaviors.
Unfortunately, many don't make that transition- and then you get the adults who think it's okay to mistreat animals. These people lack the empathy needed to see how being cruel to an animal is just as bad as being cruel to a person- and, if given a chance, they'll be as cruel or worse to a human. These are the people who treat waiters and secretaries and grocery store cashiers like dirt, and who really should be prevented at all costs from getting into any sort of position of authority.
And yes, it does spread out to other antisocial behaviors as well.
Back to work now... and no, I'm no psychologist or philosopher, just a feckin' engineer.
(
The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 11 Dec 2007, 17:11,
Reply)
« Go Back | See The Full Thread