My thoughts exactly! :spam::troll::bs:
:laugh: That better be a joke.
CONFESSION! I FLUSH FISH!
- Thread starter Rbishop
- Start date
My thoughts exactly! :spam::troll::bs:
:laugh: That better be a joke.
Interesting thread. After reading it through, I *think* that the the original post is sarcastic, and meant to spark exactly what it did, a debate. However, it is also very difficult to express sarcasm (as subtle as it is) in an online forum. I'm sure there that people here have been equal parts offended, angered, curious and amused. I find it thought-provoking.
As humans, we are unique in that we have a conscience. Humans alone have the ability to reason aside from instinct, to distinguish right from wrong based on their individual morality, to have an emotional response to our experiences, and to identify that response as emotional. It is just this that gives us a burdon of responsibility for all living things. All living things deserve dignity, respect, and compassion. And while these are concepts that only we humans understand, comprehend, and either embrace or disregard, it is still our responsibility.
All animals feel pain on some level - physical pain. It is physically painful to die from shock, or poison, or a parasite that slowly eats away at your body. It is less painful to die quickly, by falling asleep/losing consciousness (freezing). Emotional pain is something unique to humans, but not physical. And to come full circle, often when we recognize a lapse of our respect or dignity towards those we are responsible for, we experience this emotional pain -- guilt, remorse, sadness.
Whether a fish lives for 3 seconds, 3 minutes, 3 hours, or 3 days in the sewer, or septic, or pipes, it is physically painful, stressful. Whether we are talking about a $50 fish, or a 19 cent fish, whether it is treated with $20 medication for 3 weeks or $1 of aquarium salt for 1 week, it deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. If $$ is the argument, freezing the fish is more economical, as you do not pay for the water you flush, nor the clove oil to euthanize. If convienence is the issue, why not throw it outside? It will die faster out of water than in the toilet.
If we lose sight of this responsibility, lose sensitivity to other living things, ignore our impact on those around us, for good or bad, we lose part of our humanity.
And doesn't that bring us even closer to the fish we say we are so different from?
(now I'm going to get some chocolate milk!)
As humans, we are unique in that we have a conscience. Humans alone have the ability to reason aside from instinct, to distinguish right from wrong based on their individual morality, to have an emotional response to our experiences, and to identify that response as emotional. It is just this that gives us a burdon of responsibility for all living things. All living things deserve dignity, respect, and compassion. And while these are concepts that only we humans understand, comprehend, and either embrace or disregard, it is still our responsibility.
All animals feel pain on some level - physical pain. It is physically painful to die from shock, or poison, or a parasite that slowly eats away at your body. It is less painful to die quickly, by falling asleep/losing consciousness (freezing). Emotional pain is something unique to humans, but not physical. And to come full circle, often when we recognize a lapse of our respect or dignity towards those we are responsible for, we experience this emotional pain -- guilt, remorse, sadness.
Whether a fish lives for 3 seconds, 3 minutes, 3 hours, or 3 days in the sewer, or septic, or pipes, it is physically painful, stressful. Whether we are talking about a $50 fish, or a 19 cent fish, whether it is treated with $20 medication for 3 weeks or $1 of aquarium salt for 1 week, it deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. If $$ is the argument, freezing the fish is more economical, as you do not pay for the water you flush, nor the clove oil to euthanize. If convienence is the issue, why not throw it outside? It will die faster out of water than in the toilet.
If we lose sight of this responsibility, lose sensitivity to other living things, ignore our impact on those around us, for good or bad, we lose part of our humanity.
And doesn't that bring us even closer to the fish we say we are so different from?
(now I'm going to get some chocolate milk!)
Lord knows I wouldn't want to harm our world by flushing a biodegradable fish into the sewage system!
Much be much worse than all those meds we use to treat the tank and then water change away like we are doing something great....
Ummm Bob....can I see recent photos of those fish I sent you....with a date stamp on the picture?
ummm...fish are not animals.....
respect and dignity is not involved..they have no idea they are being wronged..thus that doesn't apply.....
Prove "they feel"...you or any of the many scientists can not....their brain is not developed that way at all..
Respect and dignity are not necessarily about the recipient, but the mindest in how one goes about things. I can respect the water, and understand its perils. I can respect a shark by understanding its power to kill me. Why can't I respect my fish? Not in the same way I respect a human accomplishment, or a very high-up official, etc. (although many of those don't get my respect currently).
And, yes, fish are animals. There are three main taxinomic groups -- animalia, protista, and plantae.
And, yes, fish are animals. There are three main taxinomic groups -- animalia, protista, and plantae.
now, was that sarcasm? Or are you truly defying the animal kingdom?
I did forget one group: fungi. There are 4.
And about the respect, why do you disagree?
I did forget one group: fungi. There are 4.
And about the respect, why do you disagree?
opcorn:
I really don't see any clues in his tone as to sarcasm or trolling...but maybe. I think Bob is serious, and yes, perhaps burnt out. Those things he said in the beginning were true...of newbies...who are likely to either become better aquarists or leave the hobby! I guess some people CAN take terrible care of their fish and keep them for decades, but it doesn't seem too common.
All I want to know is this. Why don't you euthanize the fish before flushing? Because you think it will die instantly anyway shortly after it circles the bowl?
Perhaps you're right, but I'm not sure...so I will take an extra precaution and euthanize the fish first. It's hardly any trouble, and it makes me feel better. Not very scientific reasons - but pretty good ones nonetheless, IMO
All I want to know is this. Why don't you euthanize the fish before flushing? Because you think it will die instantly anyway shortly after it circles the bowl?
Perhaps you're right, but I'm not sure...so I will take an extra precaution and euthanize the fish first. It's hardly any trouble, and it makes me feel better. Not very scientific reasons - but pretty good ones nonetheless, IMO
