What makes an animal worthy of our compassion and protection?

[Towlie]

PETA miffed at President Obama's fly "execution"

What determines whether an animal is worthy of our compassion and protection, or mere annoying vermin to be exterminated? Is it size? Endangeredness as a species? Intelligence? Cuteness? Utility to man? Danger to man? Why are cats more worthy than rats? Why are dolphins more worthy than sharks? Would PETA protect a mosquito like they protect a fly? What's the rule here?

 

[AkuManiMani]

PETA miffed at President Obama's fly "execution"

What determines whether an animal is worthy of our compassion and protection, or mere annoying vermin to be exterminated? Is it size? Endangeredness as a species? Intelligence? Cuteness? Utility to man? Danger to man? Why are cats more worthy than rats? Why are dolphins more worthy than sharks? Would PETA protect a mosquito like they protect a fly? What's the rule here?

Whether or not they can experience pain and suffering.

 

[Hokulele]

Flavor.

 

[Cainkane1]

Dogs and cats provide affection and companionship. Flys provide disease. I like the dogs and cats the best.

 

[Whiplash]

Well, this ruins a Seinfeld routine. He had one on his TV show one time where he talked about how animal cruelty doesn't seem to apply to insects. And how he felt you could actually go to an animal rights rally or meeting, and hear something like this:

"The only way to stop cruelty to animals (bzzzzzzzzz *smack*) is to boycott these prodcuts!"

(It's the opening standup from "The Doodle" from what I can see)

 

[Piscivore]

Flavor.

Hear, hear.

...cats provide affection and companionship.

And pest control.

 

[I'll_buy_that]

“Porkchops and bacon, my two favorite animals.” Homer

“(Lisa) “I’m going to become a vegetarian” (Homer) “Does that mean you’re not going to eat any pork?” “Yes” “Bacon?” “Yes Dad” Ham?” “Dad all those meats come from the same animal” “Right Lisa, some wonderful, magical animal!”"

 

[Tricky]

1. Liking humans
2. Looking like or behaving like humans, e.g. intelligence
3. Cuteness
4. Tastiness
5. Easy for children to draw

 

[Skeptical Greg]

“Porkchops and bacon, my two favorite animals.” Homer

“(Lisa) “I’m going to become a vegetarian” (Homer) “Does that mean you’re not going to eat any pork?” “Yes” “Bacon?” “Yes Dad” Ham?” “Dad all those meats come from the same animal” “Right Lisa, some wonderful, magical animal!”"

My favorite:

" Butter your bacon Bart . "

 

[Skeptical Greg]

PETA miffed at President Obama's fly "execution"

What determines whether an animal is worthy of our compassion and protection, or mere annoying vermin to be exterminated? Is it size? Endangeredness as a species? Intelligence? Cuteness? Utility to man? Danger to man? Why are cats more worthy than rats? Why are dolphins more worthy than sharks? Would PETA protect a mosquito like they protect a fly? What's the rule here?

The rule is, what engenders the most self righteous indignation ...

 

[Nogbad]

It is probably not entirely rational but I would think rather ill of someone who killed a snow leopard but found Obama's flyicide fairly innocuous. There are a hell of a lot of flies and none strike me as cute.

Someone who takes pleasure in killing animals even if it is something slimy like frogs disturbs me.

 

[Hokulele]

To be a bit more serious, it is all about the personal cost/benefit ratio. As Cainkane1 mentioned, flies have more costs associated with them than benefits (disease vs. I can't think of a way I personally benefit from flies). Horses have more benefits than costs.

Mosquitos are one of the few creatures I will go out of my way to actively seek and destroy.


ETA: When the cost/benefit ratio approaches 1 (such as dolphins), Tricky's list kicks in. By the way, ticks are about a 12 on the ratio.

 

[realpaladin]

Makes it 'worthy'? Nothing.

I am kind of random in that. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. Cockroaches I don't like. I kill a few every day.

 

[Psi Baba]

I will say this: No member of PETA is worthy of anyone's compassion or protection. Now where are those Daleks when you need them.

 

[Piscivore]

Makes it 'worthy'? Nothing.

I am kind of random in that. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. Cockroaches I don't like. I kill a few every day.

You're just trying to get in Luciana's good graces.

 

[RandFan]

I think an animal ought to be able to appreciate his or her life before we start even considering whether or not to add them to the circle (see Peter Singer's expanding circle).

 

[realpaladin]

You're just trying to get in Luciana's good graces.

What's a Luciana? And am I? Do I like that? Why do I like that?

And to make matters worse... every time I come back from India, the first thing I do is get me a laaaarge coffee at Starbucks and a Double Whopper at Burgerking on Schiphol...

But seriously, I am not into mindlessly killing animals, but I do not go out of my way to find all of them cute and cuddly.

As an Askari once said to me "When the lion aims to kill a wildebeast, he does not apologize to the ants he crushes."

Mind you, we were eating roasted larva while he said that to me.

 

[plumjam]

I can't think of a way I personally benefit from flies...

Not having your husband's dingle-dangle act as an anti-mingle device at book launches.

 

[phantomb]

My opinion expressed in rhyme:

If it isn't sapient and self-aware, why the heck should I care?

When an animal is lacking in theory of mind, compassion and protection are frankly too kind.

 

[Piscivore]

What's a Luciana? And am I? Do I like that? Why do I like that?

You haven't met Luciana? She is one of our best, nicest, and loveliest posters. She's also deathly afraid of roaches.

As an Askari once said to me "When the lion aims to kill a wildebeast, he does not apologize to the ants he crushes."

That sounds a lot like the Bush/Cheney foreign policy.