Okay, this isnt actually an introductory thread as ive been here for a little bit now. Im using this to explain my ideals and morals about fishkeeping, as i failed to do so properly in the thread "My RD Thread," where it was originally brought up.
Forewarning: i have different ideas on the subject that many other, and i dont ask for agreement. I only ask dont be an ass about sharing your opinion back with me. And this will be an essay for sure.
Im a kid from Minnesota. Im a 6'1" guy with brown hair and blue eyes. I also have ADHD, anxiety, and slight paranoia, and technically im above average intelligence (not bragging) and i think it all goes together to make up my mindset.
Now to the point:
Simply, i beleive that all intelligent life is basically equal and there is only a small difference between the value of my life and that of an intelligent animal. I say intelligent; i mean that if i killed a beetle i wouldnt be too sad but if i killed a dolphin i would. I feel like an animal that has the capability of feeling and/or expressing emotion should be considered intelligent, and it includes most mammals as well as many birds and some fish species, and others that could be skipping my mind. I am of the feeling that intelligent animals are more valuable to me than a non-intelligent animal.
That is kind of hard to explain. Simply:
Kill an ant= me not sad
Kill a tiger= me sad
Okay?
So the problem was that i said i wouldnt be too upset if a Red Tailed Shark was killed by my Red Devil. And i wouldnt be; i will not lie on that point. If the Red Devil died, however, i would be pretty upset. Again, the difference to me is that i feel like one is a smart creature and the other isnt as much so.
Another issue was were i said i would move it to a different tank but not purchase medicine or anything special for it. Again, i will not lie: i would not. This is due to a few things:
A) i feel like i should be able to keep it alive based off of proper feeding and water
B) if i couldnt keep it alive with above process, it may be in a condition not worth living.
Issue B could be solved if i simply didnt keep it in the tank. However, i do quite like it in there and as of now it get along fine. The point at which i would remove it would be when i noticed it being picked on, at which point it may or may not be too late.
Now, before you think im just against animal rights or whatever, im not. I would probably buy meds for the RD under circumstance. If i felt like it could survive the injury with a bit of help and be in decnt condition, i may do it. Again, the difference is that i value one over the other, whether it is right or wrong.
This applies to my feeling towards people in a similar but not congruent way. For example, if i got in a major car accident and became dull and immobile, i wouldnt want people to carry on paying or using up their own lives for me. I recognize that i have no say in the fate of other people, and as such i would care for them until they passed naturally because it would be unfair of me to put my values over their life. But you kind of get what im saying; my ideals apply to more aspects of my life than just animals.
The only difference between a person i care for and a fish is that i DO have control over the fish. And in that case it is my choice.
Its not that i dont care; ive spent thousands on this and thats a lot for a teen who works odd jobs here and there. If i didnt care i would never have upgraded or purchases better equipment or worked for weeks to save up for a filter to support my tank or whatever. Its just that i feel like a life is not always worth saving provided it is an animal that is not able to feel.
I hope that is understandable. And thanks for reading the essay. And if you responbd, please dont be mean. This isnt just me typing, this reflect on me as a person so please remember that
Forewarning: i have different ideas on the subject that many other, and i dont ask for agreement. I only ask dont be an ass about sharing your opinion back with me. And this will be an essay for sure.
Im a kid from Minnesota. Im a 6'1" guy with brown hair and blue eyes. I also have ADHD, anxiety, and slight paranoia, and technically im above average intelligence (not bragging) and i think it all goes together to make up my mindset.
Now to the point:
Simply, i beleive that all intelligent life is basically equal and there is only a small difference between the value of my life and that of an intelligent animal. I say intelligent; i mean that if i killed a beetle i wouldnt be too sad but if i killed a dolphin i would. I feel like an animal that has the capability of feeling and/or expressing emotion should be considered intelligent, and it includes most mammals as well as many birds and some fish species, and others that could be skipping my mind. I am of the feeling that intelligent animals are more valuable to me than a non-intelligent animal.
That is kind of hard to explain. Simply:
Kill an ant= me not sad
Kill a tiger= me sad
Okay?
So the problem was that i said i wouldnt be too upset if a Red Tailed Shark was killed by my Red Devil. And i wouldnt be; i will not lie on that point. If the Red Devil died, however, i would be pretty upset. Again, the difference to me is that i feel like one is a smart creature and the other isnt as much so.
Another issue was were i said i would move it to a different tank but not purchase medicine or anything special for it. Again, i will not lie: i would not. This is due to a few things:
A) i feel like i should be able to keep it alive based off of proper feeding and water
B) if i couldnt keep it alive with above process, it may be in a condition not worth living.
Issue B could be solved if i simply didnt keep it in the tank. However, i do quite like it in there and as of now it get along fine. The point at which i would remove it would be when i noticed it being picked on, at which point it may or may not be too late.
Now, before you think im just against animal rights or whatever, im not. I would probably buy meds for the RD under circumstance. If i felt like it could survive the injury with a bit of help and be in decnt condition, i may do it. Again, the difference is that i value one over the other, whether it is right or wrong.
This applies to my feeling towards people in a similar but not congruent way. For example, if i got in a major car accident and became dull and immobile, i wouldnt want people to carry on paying or using up their own lives for me. I recognize that i have no say in the fate of other people, and as such i would care for them until they passed naturally because it would be unfair of me to put my values over their life. But you kind of get what im saying; my ideals apply to more aspects of my life than just animals.
The only difference between a person i care for and a fish is that i DO have control over the fish. And in that case it is my choice.
Its not that i dont care; ive spent thousands on this and thats a lot for a teen who works odd jobs here and there. If i didnt care i would never have upgraded or purchases better equipment or worked for weeks to save up for a filter to support my tank or whatever. Its just that i feel like a life is not always worth saving provided it is an animal that is not able to feel.
I hope that is understandable. And thanks for reading the essay. And if you responbd, please dont be mean. This isnt just me typing, this reflect on me as a person so please remember that
