Well, there are a lot of people who would actively demonstrate against it but I can't. I believe that some if not most of the people doing work like this believe they are ultimately doing something good (thinking beyond just profit here). A lot of experimentation has already been carried out, that cannot be undone but to say it is completely pointless cruelty is a little blinkered in my view... there are plenty of distressing vivisection images to shock and appal, I'm sure the technicians themselves (unless they are robot aliens) were affected too by their brutal methods, but as with any research work the majority is tedious statistical analysis, the results of which have greatly benefited almost everyone reading this now. In conclusion, the benefits from this work shouldn't be discarded otherwise all the work, suffering and benefits will disappear in a cloud of paperwork. I am of the opinion that new kinds of research like distributed computing, protein folding projects and so forth can almost remove all need for large scale statistical experimentation on animals, in the same way that we no longer have any need to test any nuclear weaponry, we can model the whole thing on a computer. Perhaps soon we won't need to do any experimentation except the human clinical trials... and as we saw recently, even they can be pretty disastrous: http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060410/pf/440855a_pf.html What comes around goes around
What are your views on the use of animals for food? I'll hit you with something PP asked me: Do you believe that a human life is more valuable than another animals life? Why / why not?
I'm an omnivore... but having said that, I like the halal way of killing animals, on an individual scale, with a little thought (or prayer) for the soon-to-be-dinner. Only those close to me. I have had pets which I have loved as much as anything... god I hate this question! We are all just a carnival of movement.
The hallal and kosher ways of killing animals is actually somewhat crueller in reality though. Prayers don't make up for not stunning them first.... What's the craziest thing you've ever done?
I tend to feel it's nobler to look something in the eye whilst killing it instead of an anonymous jolt then drain the carcass... no, perhaps you are right, nobility aside! I'm still riding around on my motorbike against all better judgement... I have come so close to death so many times... I think going to Helsinki recently was pretty crazy, or the way I did it in a fit of peak! I used to be the only person in junior school who would sneak under the perimeter fence to get the ball! Crazy times Vince...
Why is killing animals for science wrong when killing them for food is ok? Both provide benefit/convenience to mankind but are unnecessary in that we can get along fine without doing them. We may try to minimise the cruelty of both, but both activities ultimately in practice involve large scale suffering of and cruelty to animals.
Arguably animal testing is much smaller scale and much more beneficial than eating meat. Even if I were not to eat meat, I would still support animal testing where it's necessary. And what happened when you got to Helinski? Did you meat this girl of yours? What happened?
I can't help but think that is a non argument... have you ever seen a cat playing with a half dead mouse? Do we ban cats? I am an omnivore. Plus - I love the taste of meat. Next question.
Well, I met her, fell stupidly in some crazy love with her, but it's finally calmed down now, although I have becoma a Myspakk whore in the process! Sorry I didn't hook up with you on Friday man, I lost your number... I was waiting in the wi-fi area of Addenbrookes for you to come on msn but to no avail... catch you next time defo... pm me you number again please Ps. love the play on words
I'm not presenting an argument, I'm asking you questions You brought up the subject of animal testing as something which haunts you, you implied we should do all we can to limit the cruelty to animals that it involves by replacing it with computer modelling. If you nonetheless support the animal cruelty inherent in using animals for food - something which provides no advances in knowledge and is purely done for pleasure - don't you see this as something of a double standard? (This is serious karma; think of me as Paxman for the evening)
Yes... sorry. I see what you are getting at... I do think there is unessecary suffering in the food industry, but on the whole in this country the standard of animal welfare is high. It's a different matter when the image I posted is placed in front of you, I cannot see that creature enjoying anything there. A cow in a field is, on the other hand infinitely happier, same for sheep... unfortunately chickens aren't quite as well off, they are far too easily exploited... but still! We made the cow and the sheep and other livestock, genetically modifying them over thousands of years into what you see today. Aside from the subject of cruelty, it would be a shame to loose thousands of breeds of various farm and show animals... maybe they could become pets! If only I could find my second stomach, get rid of these canines and incisors, start eating grass... moo a bit... omg no!
Yes, my mother has always had a horse and always used to spend large amounts of time with them. I've always liked being around them, they are intelligent, kind, mischievous and on the whole wonderful creatures. I had a bad experience once on a horse, my brother-in-law was driving and I was sitting behind the saddle, he shifted into a gallop and wouldn't slow down (probably to impress me or scare me) it hurt like hell, but I had to hold on rather than fall off... aside from that, no bad experiences with horses.
Numpty, such a nice rounded insult! Not harsh but fair... a numpty should feel happy to be on the low end of insults as that is all he/she has earned - a twat of lower standing.
