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Assuming most animals experience similar emotions in much the same way as humans, why is it okay to inflict pain and suffering only on the less intelligent anim

Assuming most animals experience similar emotions in much the same way as humans, why is it okay to inflict pain and suffering only on the less intelligent animals, but not the more intelligent ones? Does harming them make you uncomfortable because you have an easier time relating to them? Or is it because they are possibly intelligent enough to blame humans for what we've been doing to them, and that makes you uncomfortable? Either way, intelligence can't be bar to use, because that argument would exclude mentally retarded humans from enjoying human rights as well. That may sound harsh, but I strongly believe humanity should stop and think on the why for a moment. Are we doing something because it is right, because the alternative makes us feel bad, or because doing so will make us look better? The first motivation is altruistic, the other is egoistic, and the last egotistic. Do all three align in this case? What about other examples? I imagine even reflecting on one's own motivations will be uncomfortable to some. It certainly was to me. Edit: Also I don't believe any of these motivations are inherently bad, but often one is dishonest about which one it really is.

bmitc 6y ago
Your questions address or imply things I didn’t say, and you’re making a lot of assumptions. I don’t really feel like debating in this manner, so all I will say is that I have a problem with any animal being mentally, physically, or emotionally abused, neglected, etc. by humans, regardless of intelligence.
upinsmoke1980 6y ago
> why is it okay to inflict pain and suffering only on the less intelligent animals? I don't think anyone argues that it's okay to inflict pain and suffering on animals. We do inflict pain and suffering on factory-farmed animals, but most people oppose it (at least in a half-assed verbal manner; people say they don't like it but still buy products made in that way, in the same way people say they care about slavery and racism and inequality and exploitation of the third world but don't change their consumer behaviour to avoid supporting those things.)
- globular-toast 6y ago
  That's because consumers don't have any power to stop it. I wish people would stop with the whole "if only people cared enough to vote with their wallet". We've got hundreds of years of evidence that it does not work. If you want change that doesn't benefit corporations, you've got to do it through the government.
  - saiya-jin 6y ago
    I agree government is the most efficient way (at least a non-corrupted one), but people do have a choice and they do vote with their wallet, I see it every time I do shopping. Anytime they opt for cheap chicken meat instead of at least free range one, any time they buy cheap crappy farmed salmon instead of wild catched one, they say loud and clear they just couldn't care less. People that buy cheap fruits instead of BIO ones. And so on. Stop acting like mankind is a bunch of saints oppressed by evil corporations, we are often lazy and oblivious when it suits us and can come up with endless stream of excuses for why so.
    - nickserv 6y ago
      When salaries haven't kept up with inflation for something like 30 years, it's perfectly understandable for people to buy the cheaper option. For many families it's not really about choice, but survival. In fact buying everything bio/organic, free-range, artisanal, etc is sometimes just used for wealth-signalling.
      - chmod775 6y ago
        At the end of the day you could also just go vegan/vegetarian, which also happens to be way cheaper than meat.
        globular-toast 6y ago
        Again with the "why don't you just..." It doesn't work. A few people choosing to go vegetarian or vegan changes nothing. Something like 80% of people who try it revert to meat within a year. It's the same with people choosing to stop driving. If you try it you'll just notice nobody else gives a shit and you're making this huge sacrifice while they continue to have fun. Anything like this can only work if we all do it together.

bmitc 6y ago

Your questions address or imply things I didn’t say, and you’re making a lot of assumptions. I don’t really feel like debating in this manner, so all I will say is that I have a problem with any animal being mentally, physically, or emotionally abused, neglected, etc. by humans, regardless of intelligence.

upinsmoke1980 6y ago

> why is it okay to inflict pain and suffering only on the less intelligent animals? I don't think anyone argues that it's okay to inflict pain and suffering on animals. We do inflict pain and suffering on factory-farmed animals, but most people oppose it (at least in a half-assed verbal manner; people say they don't like it but still buy products made in that way, in the same way people say they care about slavery and racism and inequality and exploitation of the third world but don't change their consumer behaviour to avoid supporting those things.)

globular-toast 6y ago
That's because consumers don't have any power to stop it. I wish people would stop with the whole "if only people cared enough to vote with their wallet". We've got hundreds of years of evidence that it does not work. If you want change that doesn't benefit corporations, you've got to do it through the government.
- saiya-jin 6y ago
  I agree government is the most efficient way (at least a non-corrupted one), but people do have a choice and they do vote with their wallet, I see it every time I do shopping. Anytime they opt for cheap chicken meat instead of at least free range one, any time they buy cheap crappy farmed salmon instead of wild catched one, they say loud and clear they just couldn't care less. People that buy cheap fruits instead of BIO ones. And so on. Stop acting like mankind is a bunch of saints oppressed by evil corporations, we are often lazy and oblivious when it suits us and can come up with endless stream of excuses for why so.
  - nickserv 6y ago
    When salaries haven't kept up with inflation for something like 30 years, it's perfectly understandable for people to buy the cheaper option. For many families it's not really about choice, but survival. In fact buying everything bio/organic, free-range, artisanal, etc is sometimes just used for wealth-signalling.
    - chmod775 6y ago
      At the end of the day you could also just go vegan/vegetarian, which also happens to be way cheaper than meat.
      - globular-toast 6y ago
        Again with the "why don't you just..." It doesn't work. A few people choosing to go vegetarian or vegan changes nothing. Something like 80% of people who try it revert to meat within a year. It's the same with people choosing to stop driving. If you try it you'll just notice nobody else gives a shit and you're making this huge sacrifice while they continue to have fun. Anything like this can only work if we all do it together.