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stella41b -> RE: Is bestiality cruelty to animals? (4/22/2010 3:37:23 PM)
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People have formed relationships with animals on differing levels of intimacy ever since we started developing as a species and left the forests of Africa.
We have formed symbiotic relationships with different animals such as wolves, cats, dogs, horses, yak, reindeer and so on. We are the only species that breeds our prey in captivity prior to killing it and eating it.
But here it seems we are the only species to hold double standards. Consent here is moot. Beyond an immediate emotional level we cannot communicate with animals. Communication requires language and context, both require a mutually shared social and cultural understanding. We can only go by observation of behaviour and non-verbal communication, which tells us nothing about the social and cultural values or even the morality of another animal. Even though we are 98.5% the same as our closest relative the chimpanzee and share similar characteristics of our lives we have no knowledge of their social and cultural values.
Therefore I'm interested to know what is really 'sick' here. Is labelling someone as sick really borne out of concrete knowledge of cruelty to animals or is it more that someone's opinion doesn't quite square with one's perceived societal or cultural norms?
My definition of cruelty is something which causes unnecessary harm,suffering or distress to another being (bearing in mind that being humans and sharing the same social and cultural values consent is valid) and this goes beyond bestiality, it extends also to the way some people keep their pets, how they relate to them, our ways of transporting animals, our exploitation of animals for our own amusement and entertainment, and so on.
The double standard of course is what we assume consent to be or not be and whether it is present or not. Neutering an animal can be seen as animal cruelty, because this is something which is done not for the welfare or benefit of the animal, but for our own convenience. Did the animal consent to this? Did you ever consider seeking the animal's consent? No. because it is assumed that once you accept the animal into your possession that it consents automatically to everything you decide.
This includes chaining the dog outside your home as a guard dog and depriving it of a proper symbiotic relationship. It involves keeping your cat indoors and isolated from other cats. Both dogs and cats are social animals, they need contact with other members of their species the same as we do. Where is the outrage here? Where is the outrage over dog shows, circuses, and the transportation of livestock? Or are these forms of cruelty more acceptable because they don't involve sex or perversions?
Like it or not some animals enjoy bestiality, just as they like same sex relationships, and animals can be just as kinky and perverted as we can be given the opportunity.
It doesn't matter whether its bestiality or not - I am against all forms of cruelty to animals. Not just the ones which squick me.
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