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Holy cow. I don’t understand humans. I have to remind myself that the randomness that allows for cruelty is also the well from which incredible people are drawn

Holy cow. I don’t understand humans. I have to remind myself that the randomness that allows for cruelty is also the well from which incredible people are drawn.

_8j50 3y ago
Speaking of cows, have you seen them get slaughtered? They get scared and even sob and cry because they know their death is imminent. Not to mention being raised in cages and all that. I eat beef all the time, I mentioned that because it is remarkably common for humans to be cruel to animals and even justify it away. The important lesson I've learned myself is while it is easy to be shocked by the cruelty of others, don't think that given the right motivation you too won't do similar things. The whole darwinian "less evolved" and "sub-human" labels given to minorities in the US and european colonies for example is the entire society coming up with reasoning that allows for their pre-determined cruelty. In some places, animals experienced much less cruelty than human children. Evil is the default setting for people, especially when a competition over a resource is involved. good is something we have to be taught and disciplined into.
- scrollaway 3y ago
  > They get scared and even sob and cry because they know their death is imminent. Citation needed, beyond you being overly dramatic? I’ve seen cows get slaughtered and I’m mostly vegetarian (let’s call it meat-light). What’s remarkably common is humans inventing stories to drive their agenda. I don’t know why you’re really bringing up this point, especially like this, beyond trying to get into flame bait territory…
  - _8j50 3y ago
    > Citation needed, beyond you being overly dramatic? Firsthand experience lol. Perhaps slaughterhouses medicate them in a commercial setting? No idea. I brought up the point because we do it anyways despite the fear and terror in those creatures so we can get a tasty meal. I don't really want to look up videos of animals getting slaughtered but there are places where you can buy the animal and slaughter it yourself. Go ahead and try it and see for yourself. For me, not just their panic cry but as the knife cuts through the throat they scream+gargle through the blood. Hard to get that image out of my head. But like I said, I eat meat, I am not better than anyone in that regard.
    - BenjiWiebe 3y ago
      At least in the USA, they usually use a metal bolt to the head to kill the cow. A sudden impact. I don't think they gargle through the blood then.
      - _8j50 3y ago
        Historically and even in current times, killing without shedding blood or without cutting thrhough the neck and beheading the animal is considered improper, taboo or defiling it in many cultures. What you said about commercial slaughterhouses is probably true, I've heard they wring chicken necks to break them as well. The problem with that is , it feels like you are slaughtering after killing as opposed to slaughtering as part of killing. I don't really know the specifics more than what people have told me but it is hugely frowned upon to not spill blood right away. May have something to do with how ritual animal sacrifice in many cultures required the animal's blood to be spilled into something and the blood of an already dead animal is not ok? Keep in mind, modern animal killing has to be "humane" as in be acceptable to people who never get close enough to see that stuff. Similar to capital punishment I suppose. The concept of an honorable/respectful killing is strange to modern western minds who only care about minimizing pain as a measure of cruelty.

Holy cow. I don’t understand humans. I have to remind myself that the randomness that allows for cruelty is also the well from which incredible people are drawn.

_8j50 3y ago

Speaking of cows, have you seen them get slaughtered? They get scared and even sob and cry because they know their death is imminent. Not to mention being raised in cages and all that. I eat beef all the time, I mentioned that because it is remarkably common for humans to be cruel to animals and even justify it away. The important lesson I've learned myself is while it is easy to be shocked by the cruelty of others, don't think that given the right motivation you too won't do similar things. The whole darwinian "less evolved" and "sub-human" labels given to minorities in the US and european colonies for example is the entire society coming up with reasoning that allows for their pre-determined cruelty. In some places, animals experienced much less cruelty than human children. Evil is the default setting for people, especially when a competition over a resource is involved. good is something we have to be taught and disciplined into.

scrollaway 3y ago
> They get scared and even sob and cry because they know their death is imminent. Citation needed, beyond you being overly dramatic? I’ve seen cows get slaughtered and I’m mostly vegetarian (let’s call it meat-light). What’s remarkably common is humans inventing stories to drive their agenda. I don’t know why you’re really bringing up this point, especially like this, beyond trying to get into flame bait territory…
- _8j50 3y ago
  > Citation needed, beyond you being overly dramatic? Firsthand experience lol. Perhaps slaughterhouses medicate them in a commercial setting? No idea. I brought up the point because we do it anyways despite the fear and terror in those creatures so we can get a tasty meal. I don't really want to look up videos of animals getting slaughtered but there are places where you can buy the animal and slaughter it yourself. Go ahead and try it and see for yourself. For me, not just their panic cry but as the knife cuts through the throat they scream+gargle through the blood. Hard to get that image out of my head. But like I said, I eat meat, I am not better than anyone in that regard.
  - BenjiWiebe 3y ago
    At least in the USA, they usually use a metal bolt to the head to kill the cow. A sudden impact. I don't think they gargle through the blood then.
    - _8j50 3y ago
      Historically and even in current times, killing without shedding blood or without cutting thrhough the neck and beheading the animal is considered improper, taboo or defiling it in many cultures. What you said about commercial slaughterhouses is probably true, I've heard they wring chicken necks to break them as well. The problem with that is , it feels like you are slaughtering after killing as opposed to slaughtering as part of killing. I don't really know the specifics more than what people have told me but it is hugely frowned upon to not spill blood right away. May have something to do with how ritual animal sacrifice in many cultures required the animal's blood to be spilled into something and the blood of an already dead animal is not ok? Keep in mind, modern animal killing has to be "humane" as in be acceptable to people who never get close enough to see that stuff. Similar to capital punishment I suppose. The concept of an honorable/respectful killing is strange to modern western minds who only care about minimizing pain as a measure of cruelty.