What is the biggest difference between us and animals?

CarboN · #1 10-15-2003, 12:58 PM

What do you think, what is the biggest difference between us, humans and other animals?Is it right to use animals like tools?

paramiteabe · #2 10-15-2003, 01:03 PM

Yes I think its right to use animals as tools in the right way that is. We were put on this earth to show dyminion over the animals and we have. Now I think in some cases its got out of hand. Hunting animals for food is natural hunting them for game isn't.

This is a two sided arguement for me it just depends on the situation thats all.

***Wil*** · #3 10-15-2003, 04:21 PM

Biggest immediate difference between us and other animals would be mental capacity coupled with physical ability - that's why we're so advanced. However, while I don't exactly know for certain that animals don't possess these qualities, philosophy, empathy and morality are wonderous things I've never seen a cat or dolphin display signs of.

Is it right to use animals as tools? No, not unless you rephrase that to sound nicer. A little bit of empathy should be enough to see that humans, on the whole, are completely ruthless when it comes to treating other living things, although this isn't confined to creatures not of the human race.

oddguy · #4 10-15-2003, 04:53 PM

I believe that using animals as "tools" is acceptable to a certain extent. Animal testing for the advances in scientific research is, in my opinion, good. However, using animals in testing for cosmetics is useless since there are plenty of alternatives.

As for animals in the mental capacity department, I believe animals may possess some traits that we as humans do not understand. "Dogs who know when their owners are coming home" is a book that talks about possible psychic connections pets have with their owners. Here is a simple test researchers performed in the book.
A family left their dog at home while they left on vacation for 2 weeks. As they were gone, the dog was fine and did its' own thing. As the family started to come back home, the Dog, nearly 50 miles away from the family at home, began pacing at the door. Interesting.
I have three cats, and I feel they have an emotional connection to me. When I'm sad it always seems my cat shows up purring at me.
I feel animals are smarter than we think.

-oddguy

picturey · #5 10-15-2003, 11:56 PM

we have apossable thumbs

Joshy · #6 10-16-2003, 03:49 AM

Humans are the only species on Earth that kill each other.
Some animals do kill each other but its for food, even when they are fighting over mates and territory they do not kill each other.

CarboN · #7 10-16-2003, 08:14 AM

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I feel animals are smarter than we think.

I'm sure its true. I think cats are as smart as dogs, but they just don't show their intelligence the same way as dogs.
I appreciate cats, because they are so independent. I have a cat too, and sometimes it seems like he'd understand what I say to him.

Many animals use other animals, so why would'nt people as well.
But do people REALLY need a fur coat? Do people REALLY need to keep chickens in small cages when they want eggs?
Do people REALLY need to test cigars with animals, even if we know that they are bad for us?
I accept that people use animals as tools or something else, as long as animals can live happily and satisfy their biological needs.

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A little bit of empathy should be enough to see that humans, on the whole, are completely ruthless when it comes to treating other living things, although this isn't confined to creatures not of the human race.

I agree with ya.

I think that we are not so different than other animals, we only have little more advanced brains.

Mojo · #8 10-16-2003, 09:41 AM

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Humans are the only species on Earth that kill each other.

Actually, some of the wild cats (i.e. lions) kill other cubs, so the mothers become fertile again...

Joshy · #9 10-16-2003, 10:51 AM

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Originally posted by AlphaScrab
Actually, some of the wild cats (i.e. lions) kill other cubs, so the mothers become fertile again...

Those reason are valid.

Ok Humans are the only species to kill other animals for sport and greed.

Facsimile · #10 10-17-2003, 06:44 AM

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Originally posted by CarboN
I'm sure its true. I think cats are as smart as dogs, but they just don't show their intelligence the same way as dogs.

What are you talking about? I've never seen a dog that acts even as remotely as intelligent as a cat. So most cat's don't obey commands. They're probably smart enough to realise they don't have to.

***Wil*** · #11 10-17-2003, 03:31 PM

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What are you talking about? I've never seen a dog that acts even as remotely as intelligent as a cat. So most cat's don't obey commands. They're probably smart enough to realise they don't have to.

I was just going to say, "Please don't insult cats like that," but you did it more tactfully. It's pretty obvious to me that cats are more intelligent than dogs.

oddguy · #12 10-17-2003, 03:59 PM

I imagine this thread is going to turn into cats vs. dogs now!

I myself like cats much better. They are more intelligent and a lot cleaner than dogs in my opinion.

-oddguy

CarboN · #13 10-17-2003, 06:25 PM

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What are you talking about? I've never seen a dog that acts even as remotely as intelligent as a cat. So most cat's don't obey commands. They're probably smart enough to realise they don't have to.

Well, I thought that I was talking what most people want to hear, since there are dog lovers more than cat lovers...

Most people I know think that dogs are smarter than cats.
In MY opinion, I think cats are far more intelligent than dogs.

***Wil*** · #14 10-17-2003, 07:24 PM

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Well, I thought that I was talking what most people want to hear

You don't need to do that. The Forums are a place for people to give their own personal opinions, not just please other people.

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since there are dog lovers more than cat lovers...

Not on OWF! Cats have won every single Cats Vs Dogs thread there has been. And there's no need for another one, simply use the search feature, but I warn you while it's very amusing to read, it was a long time ago, and I was so embarrassing I've mostly repressed memories from that time period.

Or I'm forgetful.

oddguy · #15 10-17-2003, 08:45 PM

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Originally posted by Max the Mug
Not on OWF! Cats have won every single Cats Vs Dogs thread there has been. And there's no need for another one, simply use the search feature, but I warn you while it's very amusing to read, it was a long time ago, and I was so embarrassing I've mostly repressed memories from that time period.

I just looked at an old "Cat vs. Dogs" topic and read an old post of yours and as far as I can tell, I didn't see anything embarrassing. Of course, everyone is their own worst critic. I myself can't bare to look at old photos or videos of myself. I look at my life in the past and see an idiot pretty much.

-oddguy

lindsey · #16 10-17-2003, 09:29 PM

difference:we dont piss on beds and crap

Mac the Janitor · #17 10-18-2003, 12:21 AM

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Originally posted by lindsey
difference:we dont piss on beds and crap

Be careful of what you say, lindsey...some of us do...

oddguy · #18 10-18-2003, 12:49 AM

How did you know, Mac?!

-oddguy

picturey · #19 10-18-2003, 01:19 AM

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Originally posted by oddguy
I imagine this thread is going to turn into cats vs. dogs now! I myself like cats much better. They are more intelligent and a lot cleaner than dogs in my opinion.

-oddguy

I agree!

***Wil*** · #20 10-18-2003, 08:55 AM

I certainly remember posting some weird stuff long ago. Good to know you haven't found any.

Self criticism is an amazing thing - I can't care to look at any photos of me, and most definitely not any videos. If someone's about I won't even look in the mirror, heh.

oddguy · #21 10-18-2003, 02:55 PM

Well, I don't mind myself while I'm in the present, it's just the past that haunts me. Does that mean that I'm always an idiot and I don't realize it until I look back at the past?!

-oddguy

CarboN · #22 10-22-2003, 04:55 AM

I can´t look myself in the mirror.

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You don't need to do that. The Forums are a place for people to give their own personal opinions, not just please other people.

Thanx

Cats rule!