Joe Demko said:
I answered no because the real issue is if I feel any obligation to live up to your standards. I don't. You're nobody to me.
Oh boy....
Allow me to explain myself a little further. First, I an NOT some nutty animal rights activist. I hold a hunting license. I have - albeit a long time ago - killed animals. I didn't lose any sleep over it then, and I don't lose any sleep over it now. I eat meat. I think that meat animals, fur bearing animals, etc., were all put here on this earth for our use. I am more than a little put off by nutroots who place a higher value on animal life than on human life.
Second, I am NOT trying to oblige someone to live up to my standards. Joe Demko, you say the issue is whether or not you are obliged to live up to my standards, and that is not the question I asked. You're reading something into the question that isn't there. You say I'm nobody to you. Although I believe that was a cheap shot, believe me, I'm fine with that. I don't know you either, and given how you responded, I'm sure that I don't want to know you. And I don't have any opinion about your opinions. But you've got one thing waaaaaaaaaay wrong, and that is the incorrect attribution to me of motives I don't hold, and thoughts that aren't mine but are rather your projections of what you think I think.
I thought this was a discussion board, not an amen choir. To me, that means that reasonable people can discuss things, disagree about them sometimes, and all without getting nasty with one another. Perhaps I was wrong.
All I am curious about - and this is at the heart of why I started the thread AND why I put in a poll form - is whether or not the respondents feel an obligation to diminish an animal's suffering as much as possible when killing them. I make no value judgment about the respondents as individuals. I just wanted to know what they think, nothing more, nothing less.
Third, regarding my choice of words like "moral imperative," "prevent," and "unnecessary"... For "moral imperative," you could just as easily substitute "an ethical obligation on the part of a hunter," but it doesn't matter. I was using words that made sense to me. I know what
I think about these things, and I made no effort to hide my own opinions. but opinions are like noses. Everybody's got one; and I made no effort to manipulate anybody's answer. I don't particularly care if you agree with my opinion or not. I'm just curious to know what you think. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less.
Sheesh!
Apparently, this thread of mine is a waste of time too. If some moderator wants to put it out of its misery, that would be fine with me.