7 ms·

I've got to agree with you here. Every day, animals around the world are given cancer, AIDs, heart attacks, and all manner of diseases in the name of advancing

I've got to agree with you here. Every day, animals around the world are given cancer, AIDs, heart attacks, and all manner of diseases in the name of advancing science. As many as 12 million animals are dissected or vivisected in US schools alone annually. Laika was an important stepping stone towards humans in space. It's sad a dog died, but some people are a bit melodramatic.

pipeline_peak 4y ago
Did the US sacrifice any animals before they sent a human to space?
- boulos 4y ago
  Yes, mostly mice and primates. https://history.nasa.gov/animals.html https://history.nasa.gov/animals.html is a quick summary.
  - euroderf 4y ago
    IIRC Ham was a returning hero.
  - Retric 4y ago
    NASA also used quite a bit of Airforce research that used Bears: https://medium.com/@shermikeholmes88/why-the-u-s-air-force-ejected-bears-out-of-supersonic-jets-24763d79be80 https://medium.com/@shermikeholmes88/why-the-u-s-air-force-e...
HeyImAlex 4y ago
And we kill 80 billion animals a year for food.
- uwagar 4y ago
  this is what is called an elephant in the lift.
kcartlidge 4y ago
I gain all the advantages of modern medicine etcetera that come from animal research. I'm not blind to that fact. I'm also aware that my empathy levels vary according to the animal in question, which is awful (but true for many/most/all people). And yet, given the power to make such a decision I'd ban all animal experimentation without question (and I'd include Laika's situation in that). If it is so vital that an experiment be performed, then a willing human volunteer should be found. If no human is willing to undergo these tortures in the name of science and for the sake of humanity, then the experiment in question is apparently not that vital after all. In these situations, humans have the choice and humans have the benefit. We should leave other species out of it.
psyfi 4y ago
> but some people are a bit melodramatic. :D many people are absurdly melodramatic.*

pipeline_peak 4y ago

Did the US sacrifice any animals before they sent a human to space?

boulos 4y ago
Yes, mostly mice and primates. https://history.nasa.gov/animals.html https://history.nasa.gov/animals.html is a quick summary.
- euroderf 4y ago
  IIRC Ham was a returning hero.
- Retric 4y ago
  NASA also used quite a bit of Airforce research that used Bears: https://medium.com/@shermikeholmes88/why-the-u-s-air-force-ejected-bears-out-of-supersonic-jets-24763d79be80 https://medium.com/@shermikeholmes88/why-the-u-s-air-force-e...

HeyImAlex 4y ago

And we kill 80 billion animals a year for food.

uwagar 4y ago
this is what is called an elephant in the lift.

kcartlidge 4y ago

I gain all the advantages of modern medicine etcetera that come from animal research. I'm not blind to that fact. I'm also aware that my empathy levels vary according to the animal in question, which is awful (but true for many/most/all people). And yet, given the power to make such a decision I'd ban all animal experimentation without question (and I'd include Laika's situation in that). If it is so vital that an experiment be performed, then a willing human volunteer should be found. If no human is willing to undergo these tortures in the name of science and for the sake of humanity, then the experiment in question is apparently not that vital after all. In these situations, humans have the choice and humans have the benefit. We should leave other species out of it.

psyfi 4y ago

> but some people are a bit melodramatic. :D many people are absurdly melodramatic.*