Quote:
Originally Posted by Teuthida
You, as are most Americans and others in industrialized countries, are pretty lucky. There are far more people who have it bad than have it good. There are also humans who cause needless suffering for other humans...but yeah guess this is getting off topic.
|
I think our sense of "having it good" is kind of skewed by our affluence. In natural terms it doesn't mean that Africans have it bad because they don't have a plasma screen TV. Compared to animals, most humans do "have it good". Not because of the luxury of technological conveniences, oir even a normal healthy diet, but because of the biological luxuries of love, friendship, other emotions and recreational sex (we share that trait only with dolphins). These are luxuries that were brought on by convenience, really. Agriculture allowed us to develop in this way.
Compared to many animals, even the most oppressed Africans "have it good". You'll know when they don't anymore when multiple children are the norm with each pregnancy. Then humans will be reproducing just to keep numbers up.
By the way, I'm in no way defending the oppression of African people. Lets not take that assinine leap of logic, thank you.
Quote:
Animals hunt to survive. Many people do the same. People who hunt for fun confuse me. Why do that when food is readily available? For the thrill? Then I have to wonder if animals get a thrill out of catching their prey. Surely they must. Adrenaline flowing, knowing that their stomach will be full.
|
I'm a former hunter, and I have to say that unless you've hunted, killed, gutted and ate what you hunted... you'll never understand. There is something very... natural about the whole process. If I could describe it, I would say it was the only time I truly understood my place in the world; the only time I took ownership of my nature and what it is we truly are.
We are, by nature, omnivores. We eat meat and are genetically predisposed to eating meat. If you don't agree with me, just look at your teeth, especially the pointy ones. Plus most experts think our appendix was originally used to help digest raw meat, and cooking made it obsolete.
Hunting helped me understand out place in nature. You're not buying prepackaged chicken or cow parts... you're killing the animal, gutting it, skinning it and butchering it before you every see it in a state reminiscent of a supermarket value pack. You are taking ownership of your carnivorous nature. Not only that, you better understand that these animals are not simply foodstuffs, but living breathing parts of the world, and by killing them for your meal, you gain appreciation for them and their role in it, as well as yours.
But once again, I am a former hunter. I have nothing against it, but like Ron White said:
"Its early, its cold, and I don't wanna fuckin' go."
But I feel better for having hunted.