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Discussion: Human Privilege is a problem
Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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Quote:
Originally posted by jonasha
I think there is an extreme cognitive dissonance between your life and what occurs in nature.
Animals don't have any concept of rights/racism/etc because it doesn't exist in nature, it's a socially constructed thing. But what they do have is predator/prey, they kill to sustain their lives. That's the difference between humans and other animals, we have the intelligence to create non transparent ideas.
I honestly do not understand what your goal is. What do you want people to do? You complain that humans think we're "better" than any other species, which maybe isn't always true. But we're definitely not equal. We have the ability to warp and change our environment, we can understand how nature works and manipulate that to better ourselves. We have the ability to think analytically, have discussions and ideas far beyond what's in front of us. We have concepts of religion, society, science, mathematics etc. We're not equal and to say that we are is a huge slap in the face to all the scientists, inventors, poets, artists and political figures this planet has produced.
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I think it is less of an equality issue and more of a respect issue, so many people have little to no respect and understanding of the natural world, we brought great things with progress but we arguably brought even greater destruction with it.
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Member Since: 11/4/2010
Posts: 34,287
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I thought this thread was closed earlier or am I imagining things? 
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Member Since: 6/29/2012
Posts: 13,597
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We live in an anthropocentric world. I think we should be more conscious about wilderness and biodiversity. Humans just don't give a **** 
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Member Since: 4/6/2014
Posts: 12,514
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Quote:
Originally posted by Queen Bea.
I think it is less of an equality issue and more of a respect issue, so many people have little to no respect and understanding of the natural world, we brought great things with progress but we arguably brought even greater destruction with it.
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Yeah, respect and empathy is needed and are important traits but it's impossible to make everyone feel the same way as you do. There will be horrible people out there and destruction is inevitable, but that's how nature is. Everything tends to head towards destruction or chaos, there's no peaceful resolution or ending. We will never live in a society that doesn't kill or harm others. Humans are still confined by natural law.
I agree, people need to be mindful of where their resources are coming from, but it is extremely off putting when people equate lives of different species, you can't do that.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 11,186
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tymps.
Being vegan doesn't necessarily mean you believe that.
Anyhow I agree that this is stupid. Yes, we are privileged as human beings but everyone saying we need to acknowledge it more is being incredibly hypocritical since you've had to do many harmful things to animals directly or indirectly to live you life and you cannot possibly believe you have never in/directly killed a single animal or that it would hurt you to kill a human as much as it would hurt you to kill a fly or a spider.
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That is true, but I think if you're vegan for ethical reasons then most people would.
That's not the point of it though. Of course everyone at some point has - and will - contribute to the exploitation of animals.But recognising it and doing the best you can to minimise and raise awareness for the issue is what is needed. No one is perfect, but just ignoring it or not wanting to see a change isn't helping anything.
Quote:
Originally posted by jonasha
I think there is an extreme cognitive dissonance between your life and what occurs in nature.
Animals don't have any concept of rights/racism/etc because it doesn't exist in nature, it's a socially constructed thing. But what they do have is predator/prey, they kill to sustain their lives. That's the difference between humans and other animals, we have the intelligence to create non transparent ideas.
I honestly do not understand what your goal is. What do you want people to do? You complain that humans think we're "better" than any other species, which maybe isn't always true. But we're definitely not equal. We have the ability to warp and change our environment, we can understand how nature works and manipulate that to better ourselves. We have the ability to think analytically, have discussions and ideas far beyond what's in front of us. We have concepts of religion, society, science, mathematics etc. We're not equal and to say that we are is a huge slap in the face to all the scientists, inventors, poets, artists and political figures this planet has produced.
Most species have no concept of emotion, empathy or compassion. Most just rely on nerve impulses and simple instincts created from birth. Some have no memory. True, it is horrible when an animal gets tortured or killed inhumanely, but certain species have no concept of pain. I think the best way to approach this it to minimize pain in animals that can experience it. We're going to kill animals for meat, but I think it's best to pay our respects to them for the life they have given us.
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I'm fully aware of that. I know animals don't understand such concepts and ideas, the point I was making was that sure humans may have done more "good" for the world than animals, but they've also done so much worse, more than every species on this planet combined.
If humans are so intelligent we should realise that we don't need to exploit these defenseless creatures. It's exactly because of our intelligence and "superiority" that we should know better. We have the capacity to do better things in the world, but we choose not to.
I want people not to kill and maim and torture animals, it is totally unnecessary. We should be using those abilities to help ourselves AND the other creatures of this world, not just selfishly. But yet with all these apparent amazing skills we still do awful things, more harm than good to be quite honest, so I think that shows just how flawed humans are. I don't think it's a slap in the face at all, every living thing plays a role on this planet no matter how miniscule, and it should be respected and allowed to live its life.
But we do and that means we should know better, we should know "right" from "wrong" and know that we don't need to exploit animals. I don't believe there are many species of animal that have no concept of pain, most of the ones humans kill and abuse certainly do. But there is no need to eat meat, people can live a very happy and healthy life without it. Given a balanced diet most non-meat eaters are actually healthier than meat-eaters. However I'm not delusional, I know the world will never be totally vegan, but it's a nice ideal.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 11,186
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Quote:
Originally posted by Callum
I thought this thread was closed earlier or am I imagining things? |
It was, but it was reopened .
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 10,989
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Quote:
Originally posted by jonasha
Sis, you're doing teW much.
If there's a mosquito actin a fool trying me, best believe I will snatCH that soul and bring it to mosquito heaven.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 21,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by jonasha
I think there is an extreme cognitive dissonance between your life and what occurs in nature.
Animals don't have any concept of rights/racism/etc because it doesn't exist in nature, it's a socially constructed thing. But what they do have is predator/prey, they kill to sustain their lives. That's the difference between humans and other animals, we have the intelligence to create non transparent ideas.
I honestly do not understand what your goal is. What do you want people to do? You complain that humans think we're "better" than any other species, which maybe isn't always true. But we're definitely not equal. We have the ability to warp and change our environment, we can understand how nature works and manipulate that to better ourselves. We have the ability to think analytically, have discussions and ideas far beyond what's in front of us. We have concepts of religion, society, science, mathematics etc. We're not equal and to say that we are is a huge slap in the face to all the scientists, inventors, poets, artists and political figures this planet has produced.
Most species have no concept of emotion, empathy or compassion. Most just rely on nerve impulses and simple instincts created from birth. Some have no memory. True, it is horrible when an animal gets tortured or killed inhumanely, but certain species have no concept of pain. I think the best way to approach this it to minimize pain in animals that can experience it. We're going to kill animals for meat, but I think it's best to pay our respects to them for the life they have given us.
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exactly
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 15,128
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I actually agree to an extent. We've lost our right to this planet with how much we've ruined it, but the Earth will find a balance. Our Artpop era is coming.
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Member Since: 3/8/2012
Posts: 39,015
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Well I think we all know this to be true, we just don't label it as "Human Privilege"
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Member Since: 5/4/2012
Posts: 12,811
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Because we're the top of the food chain.
You think liberal beta lions are like "We need to check our Lion Priveledge, and our systematic oppression of gazelles and zebras."
FOH.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 21,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Big Smoke
Because we're the top of the food chain.
You think liberal beta lions are like "We need to check out Lion Priveledge, and out systematic oppression of gazelles and zebras."
FOH.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 40,803
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Yes 
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 11,186
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Quote:
Originally posted by Big Smoke
Because we're the top of the food chain.
You think liberal beta lions are like "We need to check our Lion Priveledge, and our systematic oppression of gazelles and zebras."
FOH.
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Obviously not, lions don't have the capacity to think like that. They also - unlike humans - need meat to survive, if you remove it from their diet they will die.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 15,535
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 5,754
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Quote:
Originally posted by jonasha
I can't at you talking about human privilege when you're on your computer, probably in a safe room, being able to eat and drink without much work involved.
If you're all about that life, go live in the forest and eat grass.
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 but this is true
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 11,186
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Quote:
Originally posted by BeBeMint
but this is true |
But it's not  . In no way does that invalidate the fact that human privilege exists and is a very real problem today.
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Member Since: 11/26/2010
Posts: 14,197
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tymps.
Being vegan doesn't necessarily mean you believe that.
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No, it does. You are not a vegan if you don't adhere to the ethical side of it. Simply removing animal products from your diet only makes you a strict vegetarian. Boycotting all forms of animal exploitation makes you a vegan.
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Member Since: 1/4/2014
Posts: 22,877
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The day animals gain the intelligence to outwit us, good. Animal privilege prevails anytime a human gets killed by an animal. Think about it - tiny wee spiders have the ability to kill us with a bite, that's a privilege.
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Member Since: 5/4/2012
Posts: 12,811
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Quote:
Originally posted by Abyssy
Obviously not, lions don't have the capacity to think like that. They also - unlike humans - need meat to survive, if you remove it from their diet they will die.
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Stop lion-shaming man.
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