Poll: Your Pet is Drowning, and so is a Stranger.

[the December King]

And this is not a rejection of society. My culture does not require me to drown kittens to allow hobos another day of life. Don't be so melodramatic, Domoslaf.

OK, as we've already said all we had to say, to put things in perspective I will point out that the very problem is constructed in a extremely melodramatic way and obviously means to cause controversy. So there's that, I don't really believe that all you "save the pet" supporters are Hitlers in the making.

Well put! Personally, I was rather taken aback when the OP began attacking those that chose their pets.

But for the record, I don't know what I would really do in such a scenario. Because alot of the arguments to save a human life are fair.

Thanks for sharing your opinion on the matter, Domoslaf!

 

[Domoslaf]

It really depends on the age, attractiveness, weight, sex, apparent wealth, and fame of the stranger.

I love you for this post.

 

[Domoslaf]

Thanks for sharing your opinion on the matter, Domoslaf!

Well thank you too, it turned out a lot more civil than I expected.

EDIT: Oh, and I didn't really have a problem with "but man, I love my animal so much". It was all that "but that's just some random guy to whom I owe nothing" used as an argument for not helping another person that rubbed me the wrong way, that's all.

 

[the December King]

Thanks for sharing your opinion on the matter, Domoslaf!

Well thank you too, it turned out a lot more civil than I expected.

EDIT: Oh, and I didn't really have a problem with "but man, I love my animal so much". It was all that "but that's just some random guy to whom I owe nothing" used as an argument for not helping another person that rubbed me the wrong way, that's all.

I can totally see how that comes across as heartless.

 

[Domoslaf]

I never said I want someone else to die, I just said I value the life of the pet I love over the stranger I don't know. That doesn't mean I don't value the life of the stranger. It means that I put a whole lot of value, more than that of the stranger, on the life of my pet.

And these, by contrast, are the basics your ethics - "I choose what I like more". I don't think you grasp the concept of ethics, they're here to help us make decisions that often *contradict* what we think is better for us personally. You really don't need ethics to just do whatever the hell you want.

 

[Connor2224]

my pet, i am not fond of people

 

[Froggy Slayer]

A quick question, is it too late to ask Aquaman to help?

 

[Nami nom noms]

I'd save my pet. I'm sorry. I wish I could say otherwise, but I really love my kitty.

 

[BarbaricGoose]

snip

Chillax, I wasn't calling everyone who would save the dog a misanthrope. I'm not one to make bold generalizations about people. I was simply acknowledging that there is a very real presence here on the escapist that thinks humanity is the worst species on earth. They're in the minority but they exist and I'vs argued with some of them before.
Even outside of the misanthropes I feel that there's an attitude that humanity is overrated or that we aren't somehow special at all. Has a duck ever written a poem? Do dogs create charity organizations for other dogs. I love animals but I'm not blind to the ways in which we differ from them.

As far as the whole starving Africans charity thing goes I fully support that and if I actually had money to spare as opposed to being super in debt I'd happily support any such charities that showed they could make a real difference. I'm not perfect but don't make me out to be some kind of selfish bastard either. If I won the lottery I'd give most of it away, partially because I think material wealth is highly overrated.

I'm not saying humans and animals aren't very different. I'm saying that animals can contribute to society, contrary to some people's beliefs.

And everyone supports the "Africans charity thing," but not many people, myself included, actually do anything about it. You can make up as many excuses as you want, but at the end of the day, you're putting yourself before a bunch of starving kids. The only difference in this little drowning scenario is that the problem's closer to home, and it won't cost you a dime. If you can excuse selfishness in every other scenario, why not this one? You wouldn't be directly responsible for the man's death, just like you're not directly responsible for the war, drought, and famine in Africa.

And I'm not making you out to be any more of a selfish bastard than I, or anyone else is. I bought a $360 GFX card yesterday. I could've donated that money, but I didn't. I'm guessing you have a decent computer, too. Or maybe you're a much better person than I am, and instead of getting a badass PC, you got a shitty one and put your money into charities. In which case, I yield, sir. I am happy for you.

 

[Froggy Slayer]

By the way guys, if I'm ever drowning, and you choose your pet over me, you better choose me or I will haunt you. I will haunt the living shit out of you.

 

[Domoslaf]

The only difference in this little drowning scenario is that the problem's closer to home, and it won't cost you a dime. If you can excuse selfishness in every other scenario, why not this one? You wouldn't be directly responsible for the man's death, just like you're not directly responsible for the war, drought, and famine in Africa.

What I also don't get is this semi-scientific, mathematical way of looking at things humane in nature. What you say may or may not make sense in some crazy logical robot world, but do you sincerely believe that there's no difference between not giving to charity and not saving a drowning person before you? I mean really?

Oh, and not saving a person in a situation in which you have a full power to save them is, in fact, equal to being directly responsible for their death. In Poland there's even a law against that, I'd believe that you civilized folks also had it.

And of course animals contribute to society, for example by being our food, but would you save a really tasty steak instead of a person?

 

[game-lover]

By the way guys, if I'm ever drowning, and you choose your pet over me, you better choose me or I will haunt you. I will haunt the living shit out of you.

This is a wonderful post. Thank you for writing it.

 

[BarbaricGoose]

What I also don't get is this semi-scientific, mathematical way of looking at things humane in nature. What you say may or may not make sense in some crazy logical robot world, but do you sincerely believe that there's no difference between not giving to charity and not saving a drowning person before you? I mean really?

Oh, and not saving a person in a situation in which you have a full power to save them is, in fact, equal to being directly responsible for their death. In Poland there's even a law against that, I'd believe that you civilized folks also had it.

I'm just a cold, logical robot. You got me. Just doin' cold, logical robot stuff. It's good that is all hypothetical because if I dove into a whirlpool I'd sink, and my circuits would fry, electrocuting the water and killing both of them. Which reminds, there should be a poll option for Robot-Americans. (Or robots of other nationalities.)

But in all seriousness, I'd have to make a choice. I could choose my own selfish needs, as I've done so many times before, or I could choose the greater good. Either way I'd be doing my part, and risking my ass to save someone else's. Sure, it's one thing to do nothing if someone's drowning before your eyes, but I am doing something. Just not, perhaps, what you'd consider to be the right thing.

Also, I'm not a steak man. Think it's awful, hard to chew, but I love a good burger. Nearly choking to death when I was 9 soured my taste of foods that are difficult to chew. Fuckin' Togo's...

 

[Domoslaf]

What if the pet was your loved one?

OK, let's put it that way, could you really be angry at someone for saving a person instead of your dog? Could you really walk up to them and say that their made a wrong choice and they should've saved your dog instead of that meaningless man/woman? Would you even be able to articulate that?

 

[NotALiberal]

Yeah, I think I'm done with this thread. Filled with entitled selfish assholes. That's most of humanity I suppose, but considering the majority of this forum is filled with self righteous liberals of the worst kind, it's just hilarious to see this.

And you sir, are a bigoted, stubborn, intolerant, narrow minded tosser, with a severe lack of communication skills.

Bigoted? I know your views, and they are stupid.

Putting something in bold capitals doesn't magically make it fact. This is just your opinion.

So you aren't a human (which is what I was trying to highlight)? Oh, I see now, explains a lot.

I have my own moral standards.... What makes your beliefs right and ours wrong? Surely you aren't so narrow minded as to claim that you are right, and the majority are wrong, simply because you say so.

Is this is a joke? I'm guessing you are a supporter of gay rights, no? And how do you feel about "homophobic" views? You think they are immoral and illogical? Well, you can fuck right off if so, because you are being hypocritical and according to this viewpoint, you are no more "right" than the Right. I suppose you missed this quote though..

...this forum is filled with self righteous liberals of the worst kind, it's just hilarious to see this.

 

[Froggy Slayer]

By the way guys, if I'm ever drowning, and you choose your pet over me, you better choose me or I will haunt you. I will haunt the living shit out of you.

This is a wonderful post. Thank you for writing it.

Sarcasm or not, good sir? Sarcasm or not?

 

[Tony2077]

the stranger since my dog is too old for it to really be worth and the cat is a coward and will scratch if someone she doesn't like tries to pick her up or hide if your a stranger good luck finding her

i should mention that if the stranger turns out to be an idiot I'd either throw them back in or if people are near by grind my teeth and walk away

 

[Ieyke]

How could anyone justify killing 20 billion to save 6 million? Only if you refuse to see the bigger picture and choose to be close minded to the rest of the universe could you make such a cruel selfish decision.

Nah. I see the bigger picture. I just don't care.
I'm not cruel or selfish, just pragmatic and coldly logical.

You folks can waste your time acting like White Knights for all I care. I've been there, done that, and now I know better. I'm a Knight In Sour Armor with jade-colored glasses.