Comments on: Stupidity: The Question of the Day and PETA http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/ How to Maintain Sanity over Everyday Stupidity Fri, 18 May 2012 04:54:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Ferd http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11646 Ferd Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:53:42 +0000 http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11646 I tried to see humor in this, but could not. This really is tough. Despite being a physician, I am not immediately drawn to saving the stuper, assuming that in this hypothetical situation I already knew he was a hopeless stuper. Like you, Keli, I think there are certain characteristics of certain individuals that make them less than human in my book. Not that their condition makes them devoid of human value altogether, but enough to make you think twice. It sometimes helps me to think of extremes. Like, what if I knew this person to be a homicidal sociopath, or a documented child molester. In that case, no brainer, I'd save the dog. So... I have made a value judgement on someone's life! And that begs me to ask myself the next question: At what point is a person's life worth less than my precious and valued dog, who I know would lay down his life in my protection? If I were faced with this situation, I would have to make many complex decisions in a split second. Authentic humans are capable of this. I would try to save both. I would estimate the chances of either one successfully saving himself. If I thought one of them could, I'd go for the other. If not, and I was torn between who I valued the most, I'd go for the one I could successfully save myself. If I could save both equally effectively, I'd go for the one I could save the fastest, and then try to save the other. If I could save them both equally fast, I'd probably save my dog, and take my chances on being able to save and/or resuscitate the stuper after that. And if I could effectively save and/or resuscitate the stuper, then I'd beat the crap out of him! : ) I tried to see humor in this, but could not.

This really is tough. Despite being a physician, I am not immediately drawn to saving the stuper, assuming that in this hypothetical situation I already knew he was a hopeless stuper. Like you, Keli, I think there are certain characteristics of certain individuals that make them less than human in my book. Not that their condition makes them devoid of human value altogether, but enough to make you think twice. It sometimes helps me to think of extremes. Like, what if I knew this person to be a homicidal sociopath, or a documented child molester. In that case, no brainer, I’d save the dog. So… I have made a value judgement on someone’s life! And that begs me to ask myself the next question: At what point is a person’s life worth less than my precious and valued dog, who I know would lay down his life in my protection?

If I were faced with this situation, I would have to make many complex decisions in a split second. Authentic humans are capable of this. I would try to save both. I would estimate the chances of either one successfully saving himself. If I thought one of them could, I’d go for the other. If not, and I was torn between who I valued the most, I’d go for the one I could successfully save myself. If I could save both equally effectively, I’d go for the one I could save the fastest, and then try to save the other. If I could save them both equally fast, I’d probably save my dog, and take my chances on being able to save and/or resuscitate the stuper after that. And if I could effectively save and/or resuscitate the stuper, then I’d beat the crap out of him!
: )

]]> By: Sergio http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11620 Sergio Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:24:53 +0000 http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11620 I would save Greta, wait until she was O.K., then I would go after the stuper. I am a very nice, kind person, don't you think?</p> I would save Greta, wait until she was O.K., then I would go after the stuper. I am a very nice, kind person,
don’t you think?

]]> By: Omawarisan http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11618 Omawarisan Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:10:53 +0000 http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11618 The deciding question has to be who got themselves into the situation because they were reasonably surprised by being overwhelmed and who just didn't really think about what could happen? So you'd probably want to have the vet give her a precautionary look over once she was back on shore. The deciding question has to be who got themselves into the situation because they were reasonably surprised by being overwhelmed and who just didn’t really think about what could happen?

So you’d probably want to have the vet give her a precautionary look over once she was back on shore.

]]> By: Counter Culture Clown http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11616 Counter Culture Clown Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:58:06 +0000 http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11616 I couldn't save either, so where does that add up to the whole thing? No use all three of us dying. The dog probably weighs more than me, and the person is probably too stupid to understand the concept of swimming WITH me to the shore. And why is this person here anyway? And how come we didn't notice them BEFORE the dog dived in? This all seems really suspicious to me. I mean, it's just a weird hypothetical situation. Did he fall off a boat? Perhaps I'm thinking too far into this... I couldn’t save either, so where does that add up to the whole thing? No use all three of us dying. The dog probably weighs more than me, and the person is probably too stupid to understand the concept of swimming WITH me to the shore.

And why is this person here anyway? And how come we didn’t notice them BEFORE the dog dived in? This all seems really suspicious to me. I mean, it’s just a weird hypothetical situation. Did he fall off a boat?

Perhaps I’m thinking too far into this…

]]> By: Mad Woman http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11607 Mad Woman Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:15:06 +0000 http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11607 I'd still let him drown, but that's cos I'm a cow. I'm kidding of course...but I'm with you, the urge to beat him after rescuing might prove to be irresistible. I’d still let him drown, but that’s cos I’m a cow. I’m kidding of course…but I’m with you, the urge to beat him after rescuing might prove to be irresistible.

]]> By: MC http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11606 MC Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:16:28 +0000 http://counterfeithumans.com/2009/11/07/stupidity-the-question-of-the-day-and-peta/#comment-11606 When I first read this, I figured it was a no brainer (for those of us with working minds). Let Marty drown! But then when I heard the option of saving him and beating the crap out of him, I understood. I'd do the same thing. It'd be a hell of a lot more satisfying. When I first read this, I figured it was a no brainer (for those of us with working minds). Let Marty drown! But then when I heard the option of saving him and beating the crap out of him, I understood. I’d do the same thing. It’d be a hell of a lot more satisfying.

]]>