Is a person a human, only? I mean, it's just a word. what does that word mean to you?

Recently it has come to my attention that many people do not consider animals to be, or have a person in and of themselves. I have asked this question in one other forum and it seems that most people believe, and very adamantly, that only a human is innately a person.

When I look up the word person in the dictionary, it reflects this sentiment. DIY

Upon my investigative questioning it seems, to me anyway, that this is nothing but belief in people, and that they are not capable of explaining their belief beyond saying well that’s what we are told to believe because it makes us feel better than if we believed otherwise.

Of course we are told what to believe by our socially authorizing systems of government including by not limited to the law, and the church and any other social body that we identify ourselves with. These could include any kind of media, or communicative modality.

But it seems to me and, it is just my opinion, that we believe this for no other reason than to massage our psychological needs to feel superior to other animals and as if our obvious abilities were not enough.

I am sure one can derive my views on the subject by my language if they care to think.
But I want to know what you guys think.

This gose into debating the means of what is intelligence . Humans see them selves worth more cause We are more intelligent becouse we can make the wheel and fire, But also becouse we are self aware of our selves. This is not to say that all "Animals" are not alive and aware of them selves. But living is a wide version of its own word, meaning trees are considerd "living" but they are not aware of them selves as far as we are conserned. But then Lion's are living and they are aware of them selve but they dont change their way's. They might be "smarter" than us but they dont have apposable thumbs and a good voice box.

I believe we shouldn't kill anything living but thats also is not the real world. Human's are a speicies that will do any thing to grown and live on. That means yes killing habitats and putting in homes and killing a few squirals or maby rare somthing or other, but that's the price we get for human instinct of wanting to live on.

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"It's been to long since the last time the people stood-up for what is right in the world, and i plan on standing them up again." - Me.

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Very simple, very easy - Chef Tell

NO.

Anyone who interacts with animals knows they have personalities and feelings, survival instincts and maternal instincts just as humans do. They avoid being killed, that's all, they know if they interact with us they're at risk.
Even plants will move towards the light, they are aware of the need to do so to survive.
Nothing leaves this earth. We are all recycled again and again. People should respect and preserve all life, where possible.

In my home I think that we serve our animal masters. But...if someone were to threaten one of my dogs or cats I would treat that threat no differently that if my niece or my father were threatened. I bet I'd go to jail worse for killing someone in defense of my animals as opposed to humans. Anyone who thinks animals should be treated with less kindness and compassion has a serious Jeffrey Dahmer type character flaw.

They will send you to jail for animal cruelty/abuse in California, one guy got 100 days a few years ago.

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“I think every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the ass.”-Barry Goldwater

There is no reason to treat animals any differently than you would treat another human being. No, maybe you're not going to sit down and have coffee with your dog and talk about the events of the day (although you could... it might appreciate the time even if it doesn't understand or really give a crap about the subject matter) but there is absolutely no reason why you should, say, go out of your way to run over a cat trying to cross the road or use stray dogs for shooting practice or (as has recently been a point in the news) put a hook through a dog's snout and drag it behind your boat as shark or crocodile bait. Why would you do that? What is wrong with you? Regardless of species.... why would you want to kill, maim, or watch another living thing be in pain?
And yeah, it has been shown that people who enjoy hurting/maiming/killing/torturing animals are much more likely to move onto humans.

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By the way, along Bradgriff's lines... if I came across anyone trying to hurt my fat cat I would strangle them. She might be 15 pounds but she is totally at the mercy of a human being... no contest. No reason for anyone to hurt her and no reason for anyone to think that if they tried to they wouldn't end up in pieces on the floor.

My other cat.... well... he's kind of annoying so....



kidding. maybe............

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So what have we concluded then ?

Anything ?

ARE animals people too ?

or are animals animals ?

May I first say that I love all animals. I have four English Springer Spaniels, one male and three females. The girls are all from the same litter. My wife and I love them dearly.

In addition, I have a rather large natural pond on my property which supports a variety of small mammals, nesting birds, turtles, snakes, frogs and fish.

I would never think of harming an animal unless I or my wife were being directly threatened. That said, animals are just that. They are not humans although humans are the most developed animals. Notice that I didn't say advanced. If we're so advanced why do we engage in something that the lower animals never engage in - WAR.

Shame on us humans.

To actually answer the question. No, animals are not people. But people are animals. ^_^

Not too many animals go around capturing other animals and torturing them or killing them just for the sake of it. We may... even be alone on that one.

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