Painting or the Cat

I'm upset that the voting is swayed so much toward the painting.

I'm a vegetarian, which doesn't mean I'm biased, but it does at least tell you where I'm coming from. The thought of allowing an animal to suffer a violent painful death to save a painting that can be easily recreated is plain wrong.

I know what the next post is going to be, "where is the line drawn?" I don't know if it's drawn at a fish, or a guinea pig, or whatever. But I do know that the cat needs to be saved. And it has nothing to do with the fact that we can make tons of cats to replace it, it's the fact that someone who allows another being to suffer pain unnecessarily has issues.

Sorry everyone, but I feel really strongly about this one.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

That's all well and good, but it's also the result of all those countless hours of training.

The original question was posed to ordinary people. The same type of people would would be running out of the burning building while the firefighter is running in.

But he said suppose you are a firefighter. That's what I did. I never had countless hours of training as a firefighter, yet I know how they prioritize. So I went with what they would have done. I have to imagine this kind of hypothetical is part of their "countless hours of training", so I'll go with them.

Plus art can be overrated, and it's inherent value is subjective. Life, in general, is precious. (My opinion only.) So if it's hypothetical, I'll stick with hypothetically letting a painting burn over hypothetically killing a cat. Full disclosure: I don't have a cat, nor do I want a cat.

I've seen a version of this question before; but it was a container of several frozen embryos versus an infant.

I've posed this question once in a while for years. It is a good conversation starter. The reason I said "you're a firefighter" was not to impose the training, values, and appreciation of art of those in said profession. Rather, it was to avoid a line of questioning about keeping the painting, or getting a reward.

When I ask this question in person, by the way, men favor the painting by about 80%, and women the cat by about 80%.

All good thought provoking questions can only be handled with humor, so......
The difference between CATS and DOGS…
“Excerpts From The Dog’s Daily Diary”

8:00 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!

9:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!

9:40 am - Oh Boy! A walk! My favorite!

10:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!

11:30 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!

Noon - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!

1:00 pm - Oh Boy! The yard! My favorite!

4:00 pm - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!

5:00 pm - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!

5:30 pm - Oh Boy! Mom! My favorite!

6:00 pm - Oh Boy! Playing ball! My favorite!

6:30 pm - Oh Boy! Sleeping in master’s bed! My favorite!

“Excerpts From The Cat’s Daily Diary”

Day 283 Of My Captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little
dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat,
while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing
that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the
mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional
piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another
house plant.

Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving
around their feet while they were walking almost
succeeded; must try this at the top of the stairs. In
an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile
oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit
on their favorite chair; must try this on their bed.

Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless
body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am
capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts.
They only cooed and condescended about what a good
little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan.

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices.
I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However,
I could hear the noise and smell the food. More
importantly I overheard that my confinement
was due to MY power of “allergies.” Must learn what
this is and how to use it to my advantage.

I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and
maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and
seems more than happy to return. He is obviously
a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be
an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am
certain he reports my every move. Due to his current
placement in the metal room, his safety is assured.
But I can wait, it is only a matter of time. . . .

Save the Cat! There were plenty of paintings. Life before objects.

Im a male, and I would save the cat, I guess I fall into the 20% category! I agree with the previous post, life before objects.

Quote: Wizard

The reason I said "you're a firefighter" was not to impose the training, values, and appreciation of art of those in said profession. Rather, it was to avoid a line of questioning about keeping the painting, or getting a reward.

But it is true that as an average person, we should be able to mentally defer to the "experts" in a certain situation, for emotional backup or support. Since I know what the firefighter would do, that has weight in my decision. Even if you hadn't mentioned being a firefighter, it would still be something I'd think about. I recall being in a similar discussion and the argument was "but we are asking what YOU would do, not what a (in that case) police officer would do!" And my reply was "Knowing what a police officer would do most certainly shapes what I would do, so if this is some exercise to determine how I think, THAT'S HOW I THINK!"

Quote: NicksGamingStuff

Im a male, and I would save the cat, I guess I fall into the 20% category! I agree with the previous post, life before objects.

So would you also favor saving a cockroach instead of the painting?

Quote: FinsRule

I'm upset that the voting is swayed so much toward the painting.

I'm a vegetarian, which doesn't mean I'm biased, but it does at least tell you where I'm coming from. The thought of allowing an animal to suffer a violent painful death to save a painting that can be easily recreated is plain wrong.

I know what the next post is going to be, "where is the line drawn?" I don't know if it's drawn at a fish, or a guinea pig, or whatever. But I do know that the cat needs to be saved. And it has nothing to do with the fact that we can make tons of cats to replace it, it's the fact that someone who allows another being to suffer pain unnecessarily has issues.

Sorry everyone, but I feel really strongly about this one.

THE ABOVE POST WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY FINSRULE'S CAT.

Quote: mkl654321

So would you also favor saving a cockroach instead of the painting?

life before objects has to draw a line somewhere, might just as well be the cockroach.
Sorry Louis LeBeau (this is too easy of a reference to be called obscure).

Who wants to be first to answer the show, actor, and the character name and actor of the person who used the term?
No responding if you have to look it up!

And for the record, mice and rats would also not merit saving.