What is so offensive about being called an animal!?

[Carcharodon]

An animal means you are a primate. A human is civilised.

Its not a question of species its a question of connotations

...humans are primates.

 

[04nbod]

...humans are primates.

well yes but i'm talking caveman, life based on instinct rather that proper thought.

 

[Danalys]

so what if your having sex on a dining table?

 

[Zenien]

Is your family religious?

 

[SuperFerret]

I'll give a serious response on this subject....


The concept that human beings are simply another form of animal is offensive to a lot of people (more often religious people, but not always the case), due to their belief that the dismissal of mankind as just another animal is sort of a "surrender" to our baser instincts or weaknesses.

Lots of people are quick to embrace the idea that humanity is merely a species of crazy, illogical, self-serving animals deluded into believing that they have a special purpose on this planet. Now, I'm not saying that everyone who subscribes to this belief is going to use it as an excuse to behave in an anti-social, self-indulgent manner (although some definitely do), but it is an attitude that can indeed color your view of the human race in a particular way.

People who believe that humanity is above the animals for either religious reasons ("created in the image of God"), or philosophical reasons - like man's ability to contemplate his past, his future and his own mind - sort of take the "we're all just animals" argument as a cop-out at best or a dire insult at worst.

Well said. I think you've got that spot-on, but in regards to the examples of philosophical reasons people may believe humanity is above other animals; "man's ability to contemplate his past, his future and his own mind" and to 04nbod's quote below:

well yes but i'm talking caveman, life based on instinct rather that proper thought.

I have this to say:

All we have as "proof" of this is our own experiences as humans. We cannot read the minds of other beings and thus we cannot know just what the minds of those beings are like. Animals such as apes, dolphins, elephants and even dogs and cats (I chose these five species due to their higher than "average" intelligence, what I say can be taken in regards to all species) may be fully capable of "proper thought", but we can never know for sure unless we oursevles can experience the mind of these animals.

Sure, they may run on pure instinct, or they may just be too occupied with thier own survival to entertain philosophical musings. We can never say for sure.

We, as humans, are more intelligent than other species, our achievements are proof of that, but it's highly arrogant to just write off other animals as unthinking creatures due to our assumptions.

 

[QueerMike]

Saw that coming.

Can you see this?

 

[QueerMike]

Today I said that humans are part of the animal kingdom and that we are all animals. My mom and dad go haywire and they're all like
"I'm no animal!! You are! Not me...Im a human!"
and I say "Ummm, yeah...humans are animals."
and they go on and on...they got pretty angry over what I said. Personally, I don't get it. What is the big deal; An animal is a living organism that breathes, eats, digests, moves,etc.
When I asked them what do they concider their bodies to be if not an animal, they say....a frame.

So yeah, whats the big deal?

They didn't want you to know that you have a twin brother.

His name is Michael and he enjoys guitars, movies, and big bananas.

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

Today I said that humans are part of the animal kingdom and that we are all animals.
So yeah, whats the big deal?

We are all animals,humans want to think they are above that level.

 

[QueerMike]

We are all animals,humans want to think they are above that level.

Dude, I don't **** on the carpet and eat off the floor. I don't have fleas or lick my own ass either. Although, if I could...

 

[jaguarr]

Dude, I don't **** on the carpet and eat off the floor. I don't have fleas or lick my own ass either. Although, if I could...

Oh, I get it. You're house-broken.

jag

 

[jaguarr]

That is quite possibly debatable.

Why? Does he still get up on the furniture?

jag

 

[Leto Atrides]

The word "animal" has been used for ages to refer nonhuman creatures. Using it for a person is obviously then repugnant, since you're associating them with wild stuff running around the forest, or unintelligent domesticated things wandering around in their fields.

It's pretty silly to wonder why people don't only associate a word with it's use as a scientific term, especially when like this it's not the most common meaning.

 

[QueerMike]

Yet you waste the largest portion of your life on completely meaningless and shallow affairs.

What are you implying?

 

[QueerMike]

Like you wouldn't believe.

You stupid f***in' c*ck sucker, I know you're not trying to take my seat away. Because if you WERE, well... I'll have to punish you for being so uncivilized.