this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2024
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I've been discussing with my sister (a big fan of her cats) about what lives we would save in an emergency. I think a human live is worth more than an animal's no question asked but she thinks otherwhise. So to end this discussion I'm writing here.

  1. Who would you save between your cat and your worst enemy?
  2. What if it was between your cat and a stranger?
  3. Why?
(page 2) 40 comments
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

I don't think there's an objective way to measure the worth of a life, but for me, length plays a factor. It would feel shitty to save my cat over a small child, because that child has over ten times the amount of time left as my cat and I'd feel like I was robbing them of more experiences than I would be robbing my cat of.

Fortunately, both the men I consider my enemies are older and not in great health πŸ‘

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

You seem to quite fundamentally, or perhaps simply maliciously, misunderstand your sister? Or maybe I misunderstand you?

  1. My cat
  2. The stranger? Maybe
  3. Because I know how worthless a human being my "worst enemy" is and I could justify the loss of a great many good things if they were removed from existence. If the only "loss" of removing my worst enemy is getting to keep my cat, then obviously, I'll do his family a service and take this monkey's paw.
[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Definitely the person. If I saved my cat, people would call me crazy. Mostly because I don’t have a cat and that would be a dick move of me to save something imaginary.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Maybe in your case saving your cat = getting a cat who is like, your soulmate pet.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Impossible, my soulmate pet is a dog

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago

Don't be so hasty, you haven't met your soulcat yet! Need to kill your enemies first.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago
  1. My cat
  2. Tough one, but probably my cat.
  3. Not only do I love my cats, taking care of your pets if your responsibility as a pet owner. I have no love or relationship to a stranger, they don't care about me and I don't care about them, and It's also not my responsibility to protect other people. An animal that I raised from near-birth, and who has always shown me basically unconditional love and affection seriously means as much to me as a child. My pets are there for me when I have a bad day, and they're with me when I'm having a great day too. They bring so much joy and comfort into my life and they are so innocent and kind. Even after a lifetime of interactions I never have a single bad or negative moment with my pets. I don't hate people and I wouldn't like to have to decide in a fucked up scenario like you're describing here. But to be honest, I'm probably saving my pet. Sorry.
[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I'd save a stranger, but between a cat and my enemies I can't say I'd be inclined to go out of my way for either.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I agree that a human life is generally worth more than an animal’s, but that doesn’t mean I would sacrifice my cat.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

The closest thing I have to a worst enemy is the mother of my children, but my kids also really love my cat so I don't know how I'd answer.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

What is the definition of my worst enemy? Can I just declare e.g. Putin to be my mortal foe?

If it has to be somebody I have met so far, I will rather save a human than a cat

Why, because a human has more potential to effect the world, has an understanding of death and therefore the worse time dying and in the interest of a species your should allways priotize members of your own species

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I'm going out on a limb and say the person, but only because my present cat is young and healthy and a cat, so there's a 99% chance she'll save herself if I just get out of her way, and if I try she'll just have to hurt me first before taking care of herself.

The stupid human I would probably prevent from dying, although I wouldn't work too hard at minimizing their pain.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I'm more of a dog person.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Cats have 9 lives, so saving them just save one of their lives. But there are people in this word who’s death means happiness of millions and saved live of thousands. Why would I want to save such person?

Saving cat is just a bonus. And I would still do that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Team Sister here, 100% saving the cat over my worst enemy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Neither because I don't have a cat, and a stranger first, because they are human too. Saving both is the goal, but first I'd save the stranger, then the cat, and depending on how bad they are, the worst enemy. If that enemy did only a bit of bullying, save. If that enemy is likely to not do anything good back, and has caused suffering, no saving.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

People have gotten weird about animals over the years. I adore my cat, don't get me wrong, and would do everything in my power to save them, but like, it is still an animal at the end of the day.

In scenario one I can see saying cat if you actually wanted your worst enemy to die. Like, if you were fine with killing them without the cat in the balance, then yeah, of course.

But otherwise it's the person, right? Animals have lower moral value than people, right? I mean, I'd be curious what percentage of people saying that they'd save their cat are vegetarian/vegan?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Yeah, you're right. I find it strange that people here literally would prefer to save a cat over a human. Would they really let their friend burn over a cat? A stranger who likely has done nothing except work and be generally kind to others? I think that they who let the stranger burn, then have worse morality.

The question is bad because it features an animal the person is assumed to have a band with, and a stranger. I think a better example would be:

Who would you save in these scenarios:

  1. a bad (eg aggressive) cat, or your worst enemy,
  2. a cat, or a stranger,
  3. your cat, or your best friend
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