3 ms·

When you spend a lot of time around a mammal, you will start to see that it has a personality, particularly if you’ve spent time around other individuals of sim

by efitz 3y ago

When you spend a lot of time around a mammal, you will start to see that it has a personality, particularly if you’ve spent time around other individuals of similar species. Humans have very similar neurological equipment to other mammals. I don’t see why anyone finds it surprising that mammals have intelligence or even consciousness. Consciousness in others is a leap of faith. We have no unambiguous way to measure it. Most people take it for granted that other people are conscious, if they communicate in certain ways. Animals lack those manners of communication; that doesn’t mean they aren’t conscious; it means we don’t have a common language. I’m happy that people are doing this research; I hope it leads to more kind treatment of livestock. No, I won’t stop eating meat regardless of the results, but I would choose to support both regulation and private efforts to reduce stress and discomfort when harvesting animals.

berkes 3y ago
I've once spent a summer herding cows in Switzerland. Mostly bringing the to and from pastures in de morning and evening. I've had farm animals and pets most of my life, but here I learned something new. I quickly learned that cows have personality. Multidimensional. E.g. one (older one) was mischievous but also ver sweet. Another one mischievous and aloof. One was lazy and easily frightened. It was one herd and I presume they were well adjusted to another until I came along and ruined their balance. It took us about a week to get used to another. Moenie,the bull, challenged me twice and had to stay home even, I could not assert dominance. Cows, I learned, are complex, deep, and above all very sweet animals. Needles to say that it strenghtened my vegetarianism. When media and people make me think of animals as production units I think back at this herd I got to know some 27 years ago and realize that no: they are not ever "units of production"

by efitz 3y ago

berkes 3y ago

I've once spent a summer herding cows in Switzerland. Mostly bringing the to and from pastures in de morning and evening. I've had farm animals and pets most of my life, but here I learned something new. I quickly learned that cows have personality. Multidimensional. E.g. one (older one) was mischievous but also ver sweet. Another one mischievous and aloof. One was lazy and easily frightened. It was one herd and I presume they were well adjusted to another until I came along and ruined their balance. It took us about a week to get used to another. Moenie,the bull, challenged me twice and had to stay home even, I could not assert dominance. Cows, I learned, are complex, deep, and above all very sweet animals. Needles to say that it strenghtened my vegetarianism. When media and people make me think of animals as production units I think back at this herd I got to know some 27 years ago and realize that no: they are not ever "units of production"