<p>i would save the perfect stranger though. you are letting a human being burn. if we throw their family in there now, how do you think the family would feel?</p>
<p>the person's family would suffer just as much. </p>
<p>even if there was no family for him i'd still choose the person. humans are awesome and we kick a**! how dare you let your fellow being who laughs like you, hang out like you, and watches movies like you, to burn!</p>
<p>haha. that's MY ANALOGY and I will stick with it forever!</p>
<p>***and I applaud those who would save the human being stranger over their pet. You truly care for your race baby! Hellz yeah.</p>
<p>The human has a bunch a family members, probably kids and a partner. Would you be willing to cause adversity to so many people knowingly, in order to save your cat? Personally, I wouldn't even though I would hate to see any one of my cats go. But of course I would try to save both, obviously.</p>
<p>The human. I'm subsituting my dogs for the cat. I love them both oh so dearly, and I am very much bonded to them, but I will never think an animal's life is superior to a human's. I think we are above animals, plain and simple. And second, if my dogs died, it would only affect me and my family, but there are so many people who would be affected by the death of that person. My dogs don't have any great affect on anyone besides my family. :cool:</p>
<p>you know what? It's like asking, "if your wife and mother fall into the water (both of whom can't swim), who would you rescue first?"</p>
<p>It's unfair to ask which one you'd save and the only one you CAN save. Realistically, I'd save the one, if within my hands, that is closest in proximity to me and then rescue the next, regardless if it's an animal or human being.</p>
<p>^ that's not the same as "dog vs. human" because what you say is "human vs. human" which is totally different.</p>
<p>we're sticking humans vs. non-humans here.</p>
<p>thank you very much. and thanks gold, I'm glad you agree.</p>
<p>and, as i said, i'd have to kiss my puppy/bird away (i'd HATE to see them burn are you kidding me) - but hey, I have a responsibility, my fellow human being who has a family and memories, must be saved. i wouldn't choose the person just because I "know he is superior" but rather because my heart tells me so - and not my brain.</p>
<p>to those who said they'd choose their pet - try and put yourself in the human's position. who would you want the guy to pick? the animal or you.</p>
<p>rest - that was an AWESOME thing to grasp. well done</p>
<p>celeb - you even made rest's word shine more with your explanation. yes i can "image it" as you put it - and i'd be pi$$ed out of principle if that happened.</p>
<p>You ask whether we would save a neighbor or a beloved pet. I gave my answer. I would save my cat. That is just that. I am not claiming that is necessarilly the morally right thing to do, but nonetheless that is what I would do. I am sorry if you guys disagree, which obviously you do, but no matter what you say, how much you deride, I would still save my cat. It is part of my family. Obviously I would try to save both, and I hardly think I would be ever be in this situation anyway. And I don't get this thread. The question is How Moral Are You. Is this supposed to mean that because I would save my beloved cat(s) that I am immoral, because if so, that is bull. I am not out to save the "superior" human race. I am flawed i guess. I dont care.</p>
<p>Maybe one day, people will be unable to fathom our "superiority" to animals just as we can't imagine how people said these same things about black slaves many years ago. I'm not saying I wouldn't save the human, but it kind've struck me when I was reading that, that a long time ago people thought the same thing, except they replaced "animals" with a not so loving word for african americans.</p>
<p>Except that african americans are human. If common sense doesn't convince some racists, then DNA tests and scientific evidence should.</p>
<p>Animals however, I think we can all agree, are in fact, animals. They're pigs, dogs, cats, rats. And calling them those things isn't offensive because that's what they are.
Humans are well, human. They have lives based more on experience and emotion than instinct.
Humans will always be superior to animals for that reason. I don't see a human and a dog, sitting in a hotel, both reading newspapers and discussing the day's events. I see the dog wagging his tail and fetching a bone and providing fun animal companionship. I see people eating beef, or breeding bees for honey. I see people learning how to ride horses, not animals learning to ride people. A thousand, even a million years from now, that won't change. Animals are just that, animals, not people. Some say people are animals too. Sure, that's true, we're mammals. </p>
<p>But while all people are animals, not all animals are people. In fact, only human beings are people, and that will never change.</p>
<p>And in all honesty, I think that anyone who, if given the choice of just one saves the animal, is lacking some morality/values. I'm not saying the animal is not worth saving, because they can be very close to their human owner (just in an animal way, not a person to person way). I'm just saying that the human should be given preference to the animal.</p>
<p>I agree with you somewhatGoldShadow, I'm not proposing that some day we will be reading newspapers and discussing current events with dogs, I was just pointing out an interesting view that struck me reading this thread. During those times, though, I think they saw african americans more as animals and less as humans. They didn't really seem to care too much about DNA tests and scientific evidence.</p>
<p>
[quote]
GoldShadow, just dont go any further. You have no right to question my moral values.
[/quote]
If I was trapped in a burning building and so was your cat, I'd start to question them if you went for the cat instead of me.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I agree with you somewhatGoldShadow, I'm not proposing that some day we will be reading newspapers and discussing current events with dogs, I was just pointing out an interesting view that struck me reading this thread. During those times, though, I think they saw african americans more as animals and less as humans. They didn't really seem to care too much about DNA tests and scientific evidence.
[/quote]
Ah, alright, I see what you mean. I see your point then.</p>
<p>Goldshadow, I hesitate to say this, but the way your speaking to me, I would most definitely choose my cat over you in a second. So stuff that in your pipe and smoke it. Sorry, but I think about it this way. I would be much more depressed if my pet who I love who has been a part of my family died rather than some random stranger. And of course, I am sure you probably think gay marriage is immoral too. So I really dont care what you feel is moralistic and what is immoral....who are you? No one. Some internet stranger who I will never come into contact with.</p>
<p>baller4lif why are you more friendly with a cat than a human neighbor? what if you were burning up in a fire and needed saving...you would need to depend on your neighbor wouldnt you???? this is the most basic definition of "community". ...</p>
<h2>Let's keep this civilized please; we're all entitled to our own opinions, and as most of us know, it's extremely difficult/nearly impossible to change anybody's mind. Calling each other names/accusing the other of being immoral, etc. is not going to get anywhere.</h2>
<p>I'd save the neighbour. Yes, if my cat/dog died, my family and I would be devastated. But it would really only affect the people in my family. When a person dies, it affects so many people (family, friends, colleagues, etc.) Plus, I'd like to think that my neighbour would do the same for me and/or my family members.</p>
<p>Hell Yeah to my supporters! Good goin Spartan.</p>
<p>Actually I brought this up because I was reading it in an ethics books.</p>
<p>I just asked my mom about this question 20 minutes ago. We have a pomeranian that she totally loves (like heck). </p>
<p>Once I asked her, without hesitation, my mom said "the human....when it comes to these kinds of things I know I make the right choice, because human life is so precious..."</p>
<p>Then I asked my dad (he didn't hear it when I asked my mom). </p>
<p>He said: "Of course I'd pick the person...yes I'll be sad that we lost our pup but I'd pick the person because he is just like me; has thoughts, a family, goals, love for the world, all of which are irrelevant for animals.."</p>
<p>I was proud that my family believes in humanity first.</p>
<p>We rule and how dare anyone put animals before us. I'm not saying animals suck; they are good too, I am just saying I believe to save my fellow HUMAN FIRST BABY!</p>