How weird is this?

[iwrbnd]

How weird is it that when I see an animal suffering I'm much more upset than when I see a human suffering? Is anyone else like this? I've always been like this. When I was an exchange student in Mexico I saw poverty like I had never seen before. But, what did I do? Feed the people? Noooo, I bought dog food to feed all the hungry dogs on the street! When I was at camp and the boys threw frogs in our cabin I was the only one picking them up to keep the screaming girls from stepping on them! If an animal is hurt in a movie I cry so hard I can't even see but when it's a human that is hurt I'm only "just sad".
How weird is this?

 

[RNMOM]

I feel the same way. I guess it's because people for the most part can remove themselves or protect themselves where animals can't.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

I feel the same way too. I can easily watch a (slightly) gory or bloody movie where people are dying left and right. Make the victim an animal, and I automatically turn to tears. I've still never seen Interview with a Vampire due to the scene with a poodle becomign a meal.

Oh, but I do have to confess that I laughed at Snakes on a Plane when the chihuaha got thrown to the anaonda, but that's only because the whole darn movie was a ridiculous omedy in my head by that point.

 

[iwrbnd]

I'm glad to see I'm not completely alone!

 

[ilovepcot]

And I thought I was the only one.

 

[Sky Blue Pink]

I'm like that, too. I like animals a lot better than I like most people.

 

[Pomlover2586]

I'm 100% like this.....AND PROUD OF IT!

People have a voice.....animals don't. They are at our mercy and we ARE their voice.

I speak LOUD.......glad to hear there are other who will too!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I'm like that, too. I like animals a lot better than I like most people.

me too!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I know what you mean. As others have said...an animal is totally defenseless with no voice at all.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

DITTO to everyone's comments here!

 

[VillageMama]

Guess I'll be the lone dissenter to say that I think it is disordered to feel more sympathy for an animal than a person.

Animals should never be mistreated but to say that they are voiceless is not true. Animals are able to hunt for their food and to fight to defend themselves. They have very effective ways of communicating their feelings to other animals.

Not all people are able to speak for themselves. Children, for instance, are not able to get their own food or fight to defend themselves or to make their concerns clearly heard.

I think our society has become extremely disordered about the roles of animals and people. So many folks say that the animal they own is "part of their family" and they treat it as a human. That's degrading to humans and is not what an animal actually needs.

I greatly admire and enjoy the animal kingdom. I think that people have a moral obligation to be good stewards of animals. But to feel more empathy for an animal than a person? That ain't right... even though it's become very common.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I don't know that I exactly feel that way, but pretty close...

I have always cried at the thought of animals in pain, and cried when my pets have died. I have never cried at a person's funeral, no matter how close they were to me. And it isn't as though I haven't lost close people...I have...I just am not emotional THAT way. Even though I miss them terribly.

Now that I have children, things involving children bother me the same way as things involving pets. I guess I feel the same 'protection' for children that I do for pets, and it really bothers me.

I'm trying to make sense, but I'm sure I'm not...

 

[allison443]

I feel the same way. I guess it's because people for the most part can remove themselves or protect themselves where animals can't.

What about children?

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I think a lot of people feel this way.

Animals should never be mistreated but to say that they are voiceless is not true. Animals are able to hunt for their food and to fight to defend themselves. They have very effective ways of communicating their feelings to other animals.

Well, okay, if you're talking about animals in the wild. I don't cry when I see a lion take down a wildebeast on the Discovery channel. That's the circle of life. But domesticated animals are different. We've made them into forever children, unable to really fend for themselves. Oh sure, sometimes they go feral. But for every dog that finds its way on the streets and manages to eke out a meagre life for a few years there are 10-20 dead on the freeway because they couldn't figure out how to cross the road without assistance.

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

I'm the same way and take it one step further. I will only donate to animal charities. I feel there are a lot of people out there donating to all the people charities and that doesn't leave a lot for the poor animals.

 

[krcit]

Guess I'll be the lone dissenter to say that I think it is disordered to feel more sympathy for an animal than a person.

Animals should never be mistreated but to say that they are voiceless is not true. Animals are able to hunt for their food and to fight to defend themselves. They have very effective ways of communicating their feelings to other animals.

Not all people are able to speak for themselves. Children, for instance, are not able to get their own food or fight to defend themselves or to make their concerns clearly heard.

I think our society has become extremely disordered about the roles of animals and people. So many folks say that the animal they own is "part of their family" and they treat it as a human. That's degrading to humans and is not what an animal actually needs.

I greatly admire and enjoy the animal kingdom. I think that people have a moral obligation to be good stewards of animals. But to feel more empathy for an animal than a person? That ain't right... even though it's become very common.

I'll join you Mama.

I don't like to see anything or anyone hurt but I feel more for human suffering.

 

[iwrbnd]

What about children?

Of course I feel protective over children but still not as much as animals. I'm a teacher and let me tell you children aren't as innocent as we think they are! They can be quite the defiant little critters!

 

[smkiya]

Guess I'll be the lone dissenter to say that I think it is disordered to feel more sympathy for an animal than a person.

Animals should never be mistreated but to say that they are voiceless is not true. Animals are able to hunt for their food and to fight to defend themselves. They have very effective ways of communicating their feelings to other animals.

Not all people are able to speak for themselves. Children, for instance, are not able to get their own food or fight to defend themselves or to make their concerns clearly heard.

I think our society has become extremely disordered about the roles of animals and people. So many folks say that the animal they own is "part of their family" and they treat it as a human. That's degrading to humans and is not what an animal actually needs.

I greatly admire and enjoy the animal kingdom. I think that people have a moral obligation to be good stewards of animals. But to feel more empathy for an animal than a person? That ain't right... even though it's become very common.

My thoughts too.

I've listened to conversations where people would say things like, "who would you save, a puppy or a person?"

 

[Tinkermommy]

OK, another dissenting voice here.

I do love animals and really hate to see anyone or anything hurt, but people come first for me especially children.

I cannot stand to watch a moving with a rape scene. It really bothers me. And to see children suffer really tears me up.

I am a dog person and I consider my dog a part of my family, but they rank no where near my DH and children.

 

[iwrbnd]

My thoughts too.

I've listened to conversations where people would say things like, "who would you save, a puppy or a person?"

Well, I would of course save the person so I guess I'm not as crazy weird as I thought! But, I would go back and get that puppy, too!