Monsters Among Us

So, I was just sitting here wondering... how does it actually happen? How do all those torturers, killers, rapists, and maniacs even come to be? Hmmm...
Personally, I feel like people who kill animals just for fun should probably be locked up right away, because they’re clearly dangerous to humans too.
I’d say genetics plays a little part in it, sure, but honestly, I think the environment someone grows up in is way more influential and decisive... I mean, I guess I'm just drawing that conclusion from some things I've seen in life.

edit: When I say environment, I mostly mean family and that immediate inner circle.

electricviper2 said:Honey, please don't listen to what people tell you, or even worse, think about things that way. You should try finding a friend out in the country, hang out for a bit, really get to know rural life so you can actually compare it to the city.
On most farms, though it's not a rule, animals are way more than just 'things.'
All this talk about vermin sounds like a mild horror movie (PG-13 rated) to me; I mean, killing a rat is totally normal—I don't know any other way besides pest control... shooting a dog or a cat... as for dogs, unfortunately, there are plenty of examples of that, though maybe less common than before (city folks handle it easier... they just drive out to some rural area and dump them from the trunk), and when it comes to cats, I gotta admit, I’ve never, ever heard of anyone 'shooting' a cat just because it was injured.
Prejudices, prejudices, prejudices... and of course, stereotypes.
Dear Brenda Cooper3, Happy Easter and thanks for the 'food for thought,' because you've actually given me enough motivation to go out into the yard, give my dog a big hug, play for a little while, and just listen to the birds chirping together... Peace!!!!

I grew up in a rural area, so I know exactly what I’m talking about. Most kids out there—boys and girls alike—tend to experiment with animals at least once or twice around age 12 or 13.
It isn't always extreme cruelty, but it certainly isn't comfortable for the animals.
Whenever we had an old or seriously sick dog, my uncle would put it down just to end its suffering.
A lot of folks in the countryside will kill off cats if they have too many litters.
To them, it's just business, yet they act horrified at the mention of neutering.
Chickens, geese, and ducks are also frequently crammed into tiny enclosures, even though there are endless fields and pastures right there—though people often fear raccoons will get into the coop.
There are times when people try to breed cows using semen from bulls that are far too massive for the cow to handle during calving; the cows die, but people will go to any lengths to get a powerful calf.
Animal welfare is often neglected. On the other hand, pest control is strictly handled, at least in my experience, because nobody wants rats eating their corn crops.
Of course, there are plenty of people in rural areas who take the utmost care of their animals. But there is still a significant number of people who don't view animals as sentient beings.
Dogs are mostly kept on chains and aren't walked nearly enough.
I also remember back when we had geese in the yard; if a gander got aggressive, a neighbor might just whack it with a stick. Or if some ducklings hatched with weak legs, someone would toss them straight into the trash instead of trying to help.
I realize chickens are primarily raised for food, but I can't stand hearing such a sweet little creature crying while I sit idly by.
I actually managed to successfully nurse one hen back to health once after she was born with bowed legs.

Also, Happy Easter!

P.S. When I mentioned in parentheses that "we've all heard of such cases," I was referring specifically to incidents involving firearms. It reminded me of those news stories about someone obsessed with video games opening fire on classmates at a university somewhere in the US.

Look, I'm not saying people in the cities are better. People are careless with animals EVERYWHERE!
I'm speaking from what I lived through and witnessed, which is why I'm providing these examples.
So, that’s my "thought process."☕

Joseph Watson3 said:So, we're just torturing people who are likely suffering from actual mental illness now?

It’s pretty easy to vent your rage on someone when you aren't even bothering to understand their struggle or their state of mind—isn't it? It’s the exact same logic used by the guy who kicked that cat.

Give me a break. Calling someone "mentally ill" is such a cheap shot... just like how every single testosterone-fueled meathead puffs his chest out in front of his little pack. Claiming someone is unstable just because they belong to a demographic with a long list of psychiatric diagnoses doesn't make them disordered. It just makes you a coward.

Brenda Cooper3 said:I grew up in a rural area, so I know exactly what I’m talking about. Most kids out there—boys and girls alike—tend to experiment with animals at least once or twice around age 12 or 13.
It isn't always extreme cruelty, but it certainly isn't comfortable for the animals.
Whenever we had an old or seriously sick dog, my uncle would put it down just to end its suffering.
A lot of folks in the countryside will kill off cats if they have too many litters.
To them, it's just business, yet they act horrified at the mention of neutering.
Chickens, geese, and ducks are also frequently crammed into tiny enclosures, even though there are endless fields and pastures right there—though people often fear raccoons will get into the coop.
There are times when people try to breed cows using semen from bulls that are far too massive for the cow to handle during calving; the cows die, but people will go to any lengths to get a powerful calf.
Animal welfare is often neglected. On the other hand, pest control is strictly handled, at least in my experience, because nobody wants rats eating their corn crops.
Of course, there are plenty of people in rural areas who take the utmost care of their animals. But there is still a significant number of people who don't view animals as sentient beings.
Dogs are mostly kept on chains and aren't walked nearly enough.
I also remember back when we had geese in the yard; if a gander got aggressive, a neighbor might just whack it with a stick. Or if some ducklings hatched with weak legs, someone would toss them straight into the trash instead of trying to help.
I realize chickens are primarily raised for food, but I can't stand hearing such a sweet little creature crying while I sit idly by.
I actually managed to successfully nurse one hen back to health once after she was born with bowed legs.

Also, Happy Easter!

P.S. When I mentioned in parentheses that "we've all heard of such cases," I was referring specifically to incidents involving firearms. It reminded me of those news stories about someone obsessed with video games opening fire on classmates at a university somewhere in the US.

Look, I'm not saying people in the cities are better. People are careless with animals EVERYWHERE!
I'm speaking from what I lived through and witnessed, which is why I'm providing these examples.
So, that’s my "thought process."☕

I'm right there with you on that one... there’s definitely plenty of laziness and neglect out there, but thank god it isn't the rule for everyone. Catch ya later!!🙂

electricviper2 said:I'm right there with you on that one... there’s definitely plenty of laziness and neglect out there, but thank god it isn't the rule for everyone. Catch ya later!!🙂

It really isn't... take care! 😁

Take my word for it, you have no idea what kind of monsters are out there until you check out this site http://www.mracnjak.com/...

And what Brenda Cooper3 is saying is absolutely true

For a huge chunk of the population in this country, a cat is just some creature that happens to wander around the yard—something that can be dealt with quite easily if it becomes a nuisance, assuming it isn't someone's pet specifically

Cats kill chickens, they snatch up chicks... and so on
They tend to breed like crazy all at once

A lot of people simply don't like them
Getting rid of kittens is seen by many as a perfectly normal thing

I actually came close to having to drown an entire bag of kittens myself once—we had a stray cat in the garden that managed to have two litters in about six months, I don't even know how, but the situation had to be handled...
Thank God I didn't have to do it; I don't think I could have... I might manage a dog, but a cat? Simply wouldn't be able to

But for a vast number of people, it’s as routine as slaughtering a chicken—logical, really; an animal is just an animal

There is an 80% chance that the man in question hasn't actually done anything particularly malicious toward the cat; to him, the cat is a worthless thing that potentially just gets in the way... and if you were to tell him he's a scumbag who deserves to have his teeth pulled while he's awake, he probably wouldn't even understand what value system you're using to judge him or claim he might be a psychopath

Keep in mind, it's entirely possible the man is completely fine—a good friend, a good son, a reliable employee, a jokester, a great lover, someone with interesting hobbies who knows his way around a motorcycle and tries his hand at poetry

In other words, just a man

People like that have wiped out entire villages before...

placidwolf27 said:And what Brenda Cooper3 is saying is absolutely true

For a huge chunk of the population in this country, a cat is just some creature that happens to wander around the yard—something that can be dealt with quite easily if it becomes a nuisance, assuming it isn't someone's pet specifically

Cats kill chickens, they snatch up chicks... and so on
They tend to breed like crazy all at once

A lot of people simply don't like them
Getting rid of kittens is seen by many as a perfectly normal thing

I actually came close to having to drown an entire bag of kittens myself once—we had a stray cat in the garden that managed to have two litters in about six months, I don't even know how, but the situation had to be handled...
Thank God I didn't have to do it; I don't think I could have... I might manage a dog, but a cat? Simply wouldn't be able to

But for a vast number of people, it’s as routine as slaughtering a chicken—logical, really; an animal is just an animal

There is an 80% chance that the man in question hasn't actually done anything particularly malicious toward the cat; to him, the cat is a worthless thing that potentially just gets in the way... and if you were to tell him he's a scumbag who deserves to have his teeth pulled while he's awake, he probably wouldn't even understand what value system you're using to judge him or claim he might be a psychopath

Keep in mind, it's entirely possible the man is completely fine—a good friend, a good son, a reliable employee, a jokester, a great lover, someone with interesting hobbies who knows his way around a motorcycle and tries his hand at poetry

In other words, just a man

People like that have wiped out entire villages before...

True, what you mentioned at the end is an interesting point.

But then again, those Buddhist priests... they might be just as horrified seeing how easily we handle pests over here. 🤷

Someone really ought to give this guy the boot, just like he treated that poor little kitten 😠

placidwolf27 said:And what Brenda Cooper3 is saying is absolutely true

For a huge chunk of the population in this country, a cat is just some creature that happens to wander around the yard—something that can be dealt with quite easily if it becomes a nuisance, assuming it isn't someone's pet specifically

Cats kill chickens, they snatch up chicks... and so on
They tend to breed like crazy all at once

A lot of people simply don't like them
Getting rid of kittens is seen by many as a perfectly normal thing

I actually came close to having to drown an entire bag of kittens myself once—we had a stray cat in the garden that managed to have two litters in about six months, I don't even know how, but the situation had to be handled...
Thank God I didn't have to do it; I don't think I could have... I might manage a dog, but a cat? Simply wouldn't be able to

But for a vast number of people, it’s as routine as slaughtering a chicken—logical, really; an animal is just an animal

There is an 80% chance that the man in question hasn't actually done anything particularly malicious toward the cat; to him, the cat is a worthless thing that potentially just gets in the way... and if you were to tell him he's a scumbag who deserves to have his teeth pulled while he's awake, he probably wouldn't even understand what value system you're using to judge him or claim he might be a psychopath

Keep in mind, it's entirely possible the man is completely fine—a good friend, a good son, a reliable employee, a jokester, a great lover, someone with interesting hobbies who knows his way around a motorcycle and tries his hand at poetry

In other words, just a man

People like that have wiped out entire villages before...

If he's good in bed, everything else is forgiven.

Sarah Wood8 said:If he's good in bed, everything else is forgiven.

Why? Are you gay too? Just like Ricky Martin. 😉

Lisa Lopez6 said:man, you gotta just take a sniper shot at the whole thing from a distance🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Look, even ammo for a sniper rifle runs you a few hundred bucks, so that’s way too much effort anyway. Just go with a knife to the throat and call it a day.🤣

Kevin Ramos10 said:Look, even ammo for a sniper rifle runs you a few hundred bucks, so that’s way too much effort anyway. Just go with a knife to the throat and call it a day.🤣

🤣 👍

casualharbor9 said:... and honestly? If I had the chance, my first instinct would be to chop off the leg of whoever kicked that poor kitten and blinded the mindless crowd watching it happen... so much for being the "voice of reason." "I am human, and nothing human is foreign to me"... 🤷
But things need to be handled rationally... even if that means using a saw...

So, the rational approach is using a saw on someone who hit a cat? That seems more likely to just make everything worse.
Action is necessary because there's a high chance this person will do it again, perhaps worse, unless someone stops them. But one must be careful; Nietzsche explained this well when he noted that anyone fighting monsters should be careful not to become a monster themselves.

Brenda Cooper3 said:True, what you mentioned at the end is an interesting point.

But then again, those Buddhist priests... they might be just as horrified seeing how easily we handle pests over here. 🤷

The Dalai Lama was once asked how he deals with a mosquito biting him... his response? He said: "First, I wave my hand near it just to let it know that isn't okay... if it comes back, I slap near it as a second warning... if it keeps going, I'll squash it once and for all." So, apparently, even they have a limit to their tolerance... (personally, I still find the monks from the Monte Carlo temple a bit more appealing 😍 )

Give me a break. By the time the Dalai Lama gets around to that, a mosquito will have finished its meal and flown off on its way.. 😁

On a different note, wasn't there a day dedicated to him recently, back in March? In my city, there were crowds of men dressed in all sorts of robes, dancing through the town square and all over town.. 😕

Austin Alvarez62 said:Why? Are you gay too? Just like Ricky Martin. 😉

Some people just completely miss obvious sarcasm 😉

Nicholas Allen2 said:So, the rational approach is using a saw on someone who hit a cat? That seems more likely to just make everything worse.
Action is necessary because there's a high chance this person will do it again, perhaps worse, unless someone stops them. But one must be careful; Nietzsche explained this well when he noted that anyone fighting monsters should be careful not to become a monster themselves.

... I was being hyperbolic. My point was simply that the threat of a severe penalty serves as a highly effective deterrent. As for making things worse, I have to disagree. Take Singapore, for example; they utilize very drastic penalties—which I don't necessarily advocate for every offense—yet they maintain some of the lowest crime rates in the world. I’m fairly certain nobody is out there kicking cats there... though maybe they just eat them (it is East Asia, after all)...

Something needs to be done because there's a high probability this kind of person will keep doing it, perhaps even worse, if no one tries to stop them. But it's best to be cautious; Nietzsche explained this quite well when he noted that anyone fighting monsters should be careful not to become a monster themselves.

... well, there's an old saying about fighting fire with fire... but I fear we are drifting more into philosophy and ethics than actual psychology here. That said, @kor-im made a great point about how difficult it is to recognize a monster, let alone define one. I'd lean toward agreeing with the earlier commenters who suggested the core issue is a fundamental lack of empathy...

Sarah Wood8 said:Some people just completely miss obvious sarcasm 😉

And then there's someone else who clearly missed the sarcasm too 😉

casualharbor9 said:... I was being hyperbolic. My point was simply that the threat of a severe penalty serves as a highly effective deterrent. As for making things worse, I have to disagree. Take Singapore, for example; they utilize very drastic penalties—which I don't necessarily advocate for every offense—yet they maintain some of the lowest crime rates in the world. I’m fairly certain nobody is out there kicking cats there... though maybe they just eat them (it is East Asia, after all)...

Something needs to be done because there's a high probability this kind of person will keep doing it, perhaps even worse, if no one tries to stop them. But it's best to be cautious; Nietzsche explained this quite well when he noted that anyone fighting monsters should be careful not to become a monster themselves.

... well, there's an old saying about fighting fire with fire... but I fear we are drifting more into philosophy and ethics than actual psychology here. That said, @kor-im made a great point about how difficult it is to recognize a monster, let alone define one. I'd lean toward agreeing with the earlier commenters who suggested the core issue is a fundamental lack of empathy...

Exactly, a lack of empathy is the primary issue, despite everything else. But tell me more about Singapore; I'm curious now. What kind of laws and penalties are we talking about? Were you referring to animal cruelty, or did you mean penalties for abusing people? And if it's the latter, are they actually severe?