originally posted in:Secular Sevens
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This has bothering me for a while now. I've been struggling with trying to find a good justification for my position on animal rights. To simplify my position in a single sentence, I think it's unethical for humans to kill/torture any animals that are "cute", but it's ok to do so to "ugly" animals. And for some time I've come to the conclusion that my justification sucks, but I found it too difficult to try to find a better justification, and way too painful to simply change my position entirely. So I've been ignoring the subject entirely until now. And since I can't stop thinking about it now, I really need to find to find a logical standpoint with logical justifications so that my mind can be at ease. And I think you guys can help me.
So, Secular Sevens + The public forum people, I would like to know your positions on animal rights and your justifications.
EDIT: My stance has changed and I'm currently working on defining/polishing it.
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Not very many species on our planet show compassion. And being one of the few that do I would think we would take pride in it. Lions tigers and bears (oh my) kill for food, which is understandable, and beef is a good food source for us as well. So I am all for eating animals and what not, but I do not take pride in inflicting pain on anything. I feel bad about killing spiders even though they terrify me or are even a threat to my health. (black widows) I do not kill for sport, I will not inflict pain unless I must for some greater reason. (which I doubt a greater reason will arise)