• MaxMalRichtig@discuss.tchncs.de
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    4 months ago

    Cows aren’t human.

    Sooo? They are thinking and feeling individuals. Or do you imply that basically anything can be done to beings, when they are not human?

    Dairy cattle can be happy

    So could be slaves and/or exploited children. But would that make it right?

    • huginn@feddit.it
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      4 months ago

      It’s appalling to even imply the existence of a happy slave.

      Would you be happy with dairy farming if the cows didn’t have brains but we’re just headless bags that worked with an autonomic nervous system only?

      If so it’s a question of degree.

      Personally: I’ve interacted with cows sufficiently to see they don’t compare to a cat in intelligence, and I have issues with people keeping cats.

      Cows are some of the dumbest creatures we’ve domesticated - second only to sheep.

      I don’t think they should be abused but I don’t think they’re being abused by giving dairy.

      I’d be fine with them being brainless. I’m fine with them being nigh unto brainless as they are now.

      • MaxMalRichtig@discuss.tchncs.de
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        4 months ago

        I’d be fine with them being brainless

        So, I’m not 100% getting where you are going with this argument, but I think what you are saying is: If beings have less brain capability they are less worthy of being treated with the same respect as beings with higher brain capabilities. And ultimately, that it would be OK to kill beings that have less brain capabilities.

        I don’t think they’re being abused by giving dairy.

        Could you spell out for me what is needed for a cow to give milk? Because I think we need to clarify “what actually happens” to cows in that process in order to classify something as abuse or not.

        • huginn@feddit.it
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          4 months ago
          1. Yes. Just like you don’t have any qualms squishing ants.

          2. Very aware of dairy cows and the veal industry. Also aware that herd animals do not give a single fuck about their young.

          • MaxMalRichtig@discuss.tchncs.de
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            4 months ago
            1. By that logic, you would also have no problem in killing people with lower brain capabilities - like people with dementia or mentally challenged people.
            2. Demonstrably not true and I don’t get where you would pick up such a false bit of information.
            • huginn@feddit.it
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              4 months ago
              1. Who said anything about eugenics? Cows are several orders of magnitude dumber than anyone other than a vegetable. And if you’re a vegetable then it’s only the selfishness of your loved ones keeping you alive. I have explicitly told my partner that vegetable = pull the fucking plug.
              2. Herd animals like cows flee and leave their young behind. It is fundamental to their psychology to move on quickly from a young one dying. They fundamentally are different than humans and do not care the way a human does.