Originally posted by geniusSome people don't care about the death of their mum. They may have grown up with a mother who abused them, they may have grown up without a mother, or they just don't have this sort of feelings. Would it be okay for these people to say "your mother was going to die anyway, so stop complaining", then? As I see it, it would be okay for them to say "I find it hard to understand your feelings, because I don't feel that way about my mum", but it would not be okay to say they "should not" complain / mourn / be shocked. In general, I don't think it's right to tell people how the "should" feel.
and i know you should be allowed to tell everyone, but it really is at your own peril. i mean, if you're gonna tell everyone that your mum died then fine noone is going to say anything. everyone has a mum, and her dying is a really big thing. a pet, on the other hand, i really just that-a pet. it serves no greater good apart from maybe keeping you company (i ...[text shortened]... ld not be shocked about pets dying which, IMO, is a valid point.
what dies OTOH stand for?...
Why do you see the death of a service dog differently from the death of a pet? Do you think that we should only mourn for those who have served a greater good? Would you not mourn for a child or a disabled person who is not a "contributing member of society"? And I believe a pet is much more than "just a pet" for many pet owners. Some people feel closer to their pets than to other humans. I don't have a problem when you say that you don't feel that way (I don't either, by the way), but I have a problem when you say that "a pet is just a pet" (instead of "for me, a pet is just a pet" ), thus negating the feelings of pet owners who feel deeply for their pets.
BTW, I didn't see your comments as half as rude or insensitive as some comments posted in NIK's thread, especially since you did not post it in that thread. But you should be more careful not to present your personal opinions as facts. Then we can get a discussion instead of a flame war.
Originally posted by Nordlysre-reading my posts in this thread, and especially the post in which i talk about guide dogs etc, i feel that i have actually said that this is all my own opinion (apart from the bit about a pet being just a pet).
Some people don't care about the death of their mum. They may have grown up with a mother who abused them, they may have grown up without a mother, or they just don't have this sort of feelings. Would it be okay for these people to say "your mother was going to die anyway, so stop complaining", then? As I see it, it would be okay for them to say ...[text shortened]... to present your personal opinions as facts. Then we can get a discussion instead of a flame war.
although children and disabled people are not "contributing member of society", they are innocent people and, indeed people. all people should be monourned, from mass murderes* to homless tramps. human life is sacred. as for those of pets, i have no opinion on this matter as i said in my previous post. working animals, such as guide dogs, do serve a purpose and i think they touch people much more than simple pets do, and therefore i can appreciate people mourning for them.
*including hitler. no, i am not a neo-nazi...