Pets are over-glorified.
People here comparing pets to humans and kids.
They're not comparable.
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Do people get pets because they're bored with having money? (Why do people get pets?)
- Thread starter AnansiThePersona
- Start date
Pets are over-glorified.
People here comparing pets to humans and kids.
They're not comparable.
With having kids of your own you're passing on your genetic code...
Sweeping statement, not all people are like that in fact I'd like to think the majority aren't.
I wana see you passing genetics in adoption. You dont get children just for genetics...
Would you put one child ahead of another? Didnt think so.
Would you rather feed your kid or your pet in a scenario where food becomes scarse all of a sudden?
That's how I feel, too. Or rather, that's how I felt. Having a greyhound in the house makes me feel quite insanely happy.
Theres obviously a biological connection to your own children that you just cant get with pets. But the bond that can grow between a human and an animal can be comparable to the bonds we make with other humans.
So many families with pets consider the pet a part of the family. The loss of a pet can be absolutely devastating.
The loss of a human is way more tragic because they are not as easy to replace. You don't invest as much time and energy or spend nearly as much emotional investment into raising a pet as you do a human child. Humans are so complex and have potential to change the world. Humans touch the lives of everyone they meet. You can hardly know someone and feel something when they die. There are so many ways humans who dont even know each other can be connected emotionally through art and music ect. Thats not as true with animals.
But thats not to say that a pet cant seriously be someones best friend. They can save peoples lives. They can be the most important thing in someones life. They can give meaning to someones life who would otherwise have none.
So in the grand scheme of things, the loss of a human life carries more weight with other humans. But on a personal level, the loss of an animal can be just as devastating or even moreso as a loss of a humans life.
So many families with pets consider the pet a part of the family. The loss of a pet can be absolutely devastating.
The loss of a human is way more tragic because they are not as easy to replace. You don't invest as much time and energy or spend nearly as much emotional investment into raising a pet as you do a human child. Humans are so complex and have potential to change the world. Humans touch the lives of everyone they meet. You can hardly know someone and feel something when they die. There are so many ways humans who dont even know each other can be connected emotionally through art and music ect. Thats not as true with animals.
But thats not to say that a pet cant seriously be someones best friend. They can save peoples lives. They can be the most important thing in someones life. They can give meaning to someones life who would otherwise have none.
So in the grand scheme of things, the loss of a human life carries more weight with other humans. But on a personal level, the loss of an animal can be just as devastating or even moreso as a loss of a humans life.
Jesus, there sure are a lot of sociopaths in this thread.
Why is it so hard to comprehend that some people REALLY LOVE THEIR PETS?
Why is it so hard to comprehend that some people REALLY LOVE THEIR PETS?
What, pray tell, is the meaningful discussion to be had here?
Don't get me wrong, our cats are great and I love them, but if it were just me alone, I'd be pet free.
While that thread filled with people getting really angry about suits will always be peak Era to me, this thread is pretty up there
Kids are 1000x more expensive than pets, parents must be REALLY bored with having money
Yeah, plus they are part of the family! I love going over my girlfriend's house and having her 3 dogs come and spend time with me while she's taking a shower or what not.
All i can say is that - when we moved apartments - the time i spent building furniture in our new apartment, while our cats were still hanging out in our old one, felt incredibly weird.
I don't think i ever wanna go back to a time where, when i get home from work, i return to an otherwise empty apartment (on days i return earlier than my girlfriend, that is).
I don't think i ever wanna go back to a time where, when i get home from work, i return to an otherwise empty apartment (on days i return earlier than my girlfriend, that is).
I'm sure someone in the last 10 pages has linked to all the studies showing people with pets are happier, healthier, live longer, and more empathetic than those without.
So the real question is if you can afford it what kind of monster wouldn't want those benefits?
So the real question is if you can afford it what kind of monster wouldn't want those benefits?
Plus, having kids today just seems cruel. What kind of climate change hellscape will they be living in 60 years.
Its compassion. We don't buy pets. At least most people I know. We find them on the streets and adopt them. Animal trade should be illegal. Can't believe its still a thing.
People do really weird things when being bored. Deciding to take care of a pet and building up a relationship is probably one of the less weirdest thing you can do these days. The benefit should be clear if you think about it for a while or maybe read some about it.
Also this. I know homeless guys with dogs, so this is probably either ignorant or OP calculating with high costs due medical treatment as a rule. Of course you have to keep your pets species-appropriate.
Also this. I know homeless guys with dogs, so this is probably either ignorant or OP calculating with high costs due medical treatment as a rule. Of course you have to keep your pets species-appropriate.
Why did this this forum not alert me that I was quoted?
One discussion I've always wanted to have is the impact of culture and social background on the perception of pet ownership.
People in this thread act as if having/loving an animal is an understood default amazing thing, but I don't know if that's really a universal feeling.
I think of my family's perspective wherein we never had dogs or cats growing up compared to some one my friends families that always had like 2+ dogs and at least one cat no matter what. Things like Commons lyric in the song "The People"
Or that one thread from a few years ago where in a city in Pakistan(?) that had an issue with roaming dogs that were attacking people. So they poisoned a ton of them and people in the thread reacted super strongly.
I wonder how much of that is due to some seeming intrinsic "link between man an animal", and how much is just our cultural conditioning to love and pamper pets. I've never bothered to really bring it up because, as this thread illustrates, questioning pet ownership makes people react very viscerally. Look at how many people feel obliged to call the OP a sociopath, or say he doesn't understand love, or that his life much be horrible.
My cats cost like $30 a month. They hunt bugs, they keep my feet warm, and provide entertainment with their funny personalities. They pull their weight. We got the first one when my wife was job hunting and was a bit depressed with the results, having a kitten around chasing shadows and sleeping on her lap while she job hunted helped her mood tremendously.
I wouldn't call OP weird. It's good that OP is trying to gain the knowledge of why people take on the responsibility of having pets instead of staying ignorant on the matter.
To answer OP's question, the companionship is worth it for the vast majority of pet owners. Many are literally paying for additional happiness in their lives. Loneliness can be a bitch.
"Pets are over-glorified when they are said to be more or equally important as humans."
"I would never allow an animal in my house."
I feel like there's a huge gap in your statements here. Like, on one end you're saying don't put your pet over your kid (I don't think anyone seriously would do that) and that makes sense but then your other statement just makes it sound like you simply despise pets on principle.
I don't have pets and a kid but I have a friend with a kid. And uh, pets are better. I'm so glad I get to get away from him and don't have to deal with him 24/7. Only kid I wouldn't think that of is a super well behaved one and I still don't want the responsibility.
For me, pets are better.
After my father passed away, my family adopted our first cat in order to provide my mom with company during the day. We always kind of wanted a little fur ball around to add some life to the household so it was the right time.
Then, we got another cat (from a friend who already had too many pets and was expecting a baby) which was nice for providing companionship for our other cat.
Then, we got another cat (from a friend who already had too many pets and was expecting a baby) which was nice for providing companionship for our other cat.
I think people like pets because they're bored with not having poop everywhere and in their beds. More poop in the streets and in our beds!
My condolences. Are you getting a third cat to provide companionship for the second cat?
My condolences. Are you getting a third cat to provide companionship for the second cat?
OP has been making some....interesting threads.
This person knows where it's at.
Agree 100%.
Some don't. Honestly I feel bad for the kids.
I don't have problems with pets in general, had dogs myself, but I have problems with some of their owners. Some of them literally impose their pets / dogs to other people. They can't seem to understand not everyone is interested or even like pets. I know a lot of people who are scared of dogs, for example, that won't go into parks because people will let their animal run free or go at them, and they won't understand if someone is scared or uncomfortable.
Please if you have a pet, take care of it and remember not to impose it to other people.
No, people get pets primarily because they provide companionship. Household or domesticated animals are a phenomenon that has followed human civilization since its early development. Dogs in particular have such a strong genetic link to human civilization because dogs primarily followed nomadic groups of humans, becoming dependent, and then amiable to them.
Dogs are often considered the first domesticated animals, along with sheep shortly there after (though the link between the domestication of sheep and dogs is very tight, which is why many dog breeds naturally have a natural tendency to herd, a trait earned through domestication by humans). This relationship between dogs and humans is so strong that every major human civilization has had domesticated dogs in some capacity. There's no other animal to have that ubiquity around the globe and throughout history. Even commonly domesticated animals used for necessary foodsources, like chickens or cows, don't compare to the ubiquity of dogs across continents and history.
I think getting pets is great but if it's not for you, then that's also cool. A lot of times a young adult's first pet is their introduction to having to care about something else in the world other than yourself, and it's usually really humbling and a good experience for both pet and owner. But, if pets aren't something for you, then I don't think someone should force themselves to get a pet.
If you hate animals, then that's fine too, but be careful about making hot takes on pet ownership because many pet owners have very close relationships with their pets, and it's one of those things that having hot takes on is really not worth damaging your reputation over. When you complain loudly about pet ownership you end up looking like a person yelling at clouds and generally come off as an asshole to most people, even if you have very rational, reason based arguments.
Dogs are often considered the first domesticated animals, along with sheep shortly there after (though the link between the domestication of sheep and dogs is very tight, which is why many dog breeds naturally have a natural tendency to herd, a trait earned through domestication by humans). This relationship between dogs and humans is so strong that every major human civilization has had domesticated dogs in some capacity. There's no other animal to have that ubiquity around the globe and throughout history. Even commonly domesticated animals used for necessary foodsources, like chickens or cows, don't compare to the ubiquity of dogs across continents and history.
I think getting pets is great but if it's not for you, then that's also cool. A lot of times a young adult's first pet is their introduction to having to care about something else in the world other than yourself, and it's usually really humbling and a good experience for both pet and owner. But, if pets aren't something for you, then I don't think someone should force themselves to get a pet.
If you hate animals, then that's fine too, but be careful about making hot takes on pet ownership because many pet owners have very close relationships with their pets, and it's one of those things that having hot takes on is really not worth damaging your reputation over. When you complain loudly about pet ownership you end up looking like a person yelling at clouds and generally come off as an asshole to most people, even if you have very rational, reason based arguments.
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Bunnies are horrible assholes who will chew and piss on everything that matters to you and their cowardice and fragility means you can basically expect to pay a vet bill at any possible second, but I'll be damned if it doesn't make it worth it every time I come home after a few hours out and the little bastard spins in a circle and then stands on his hind legs clawing at the bars waiting for head pats.
