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People are exhausting and we can't really let our guard down with other humans. Others judge us according to our social status, appearance, age, income level, political or religious beliefs, and many other superficial traits. Animals, on the other hand, are relaxing and rejuvenating and interactions with them are mostly positive. They don't care if they live in a mansion or a shack, or if you are young or old, or beautiful or not, or whom you voted for last election.
I'm one of those people that usually likes dogs more than I like people...lol. Dogs love you unconditionally and won't talk behind your back like many people will. They don't hold grudges or judge you.. All they ask for is your love.
You shouldn’t want unconditional love. You shouldn’t fear being judged. In fact, there is no such thing as unconditional love. It’s a myth. Love is based on value, and should be earned. Wanting others to love you “unconditionally”, meaning just because you exist, is irrational. Even family should not be loved unconditionally once they are adults and are capable of earning their love.
And animals don’t “love” anyone. There is a survival attachment, and it is expressed as affection. All of which we can enjoy, but we should not raise or refer to that limited affection in the same way as human love. It’s just not in the same league. In fact, if you die or leave, and your pet gets a new owner, you will be forgotten in a few days, totally replaced by the new survival guarantor.
Animal “love” is a human mischaracterization. It’s anthropomorphic. It’s actually a pleasant escape from human interaction, which can sometimes be too much work. Which, within limits, is beneficial and fun. However, it can be taken to an unhealthy extreme. Hence the phenomenon of “cat” women who live alone and accumulate multiple felines and avoid human contact. Overindulging in pets is indicative of a psychological problem. It’s escapism, just like alcoholism, gambling, hoarding, astrology. Even religion.
I only have a cat too, and I feel about him similarly as you do yours. He is always sleeping by the door for me when I get home from work late.
Granted the little s--- will bite me in the face if we roughhouse or claw the heck out of my leg when I walk by him, and he's a stubborn lil Norwegian Snow cat, he's still like my son/brother/best friend in one. haha
I'd never heard of that before so I looked it up. Wow! They are beautiful, luxurious looking cats with distinctive faces and eyes. Who would not want to snuggle with a pet that has such a gorgeous, thick winter coat like that? https://www.google.ca/search?q=norwe...=1573235993099
You shouldn’t want unconditional love. You shouldn’t fear being judged. In fact, there is no such thing as unconditional love. It’s a myth. Love is based on value, and should be earned. Wanting others to love you “unconditionally”, meaning just because you exist, is irrational. Even family should not be loved unconditionally once they are adults and are capable of earning their love.
And animals don’t “love” anyone. There is a survival attachment, and it is expressed as affection. All of which we can enjoy, but we should not raise or refer to that limited affection in the same way as human love. It’s just not in the same league. In fact, if you die or leave, and your pet gets a new owner, you will be forgotten in a few days, totally replaced by the new survival guarantor.
Animal “love” is a human mischaracterization. It’s anthropomorphic. It’s actually a pleasant escape from human interaction, which can sometimes be too much work. Which, within limits, is beneficial and fun. However, it can be taken to an unhealthy extreme. Hence the phenomenon of “cat” women who live alone and accumulate multiple felines and avoid human contact. Overindulging in pets is indicative of a psychological problem. It’s escapism, just like alcoholism, gambling, hoarding, astrology. Even religion.
That said I will still take my dogs over 70% of people I meet
I have a dog, whom I love. He is a companion animal and a family member. Same with our rescue rabbit. But no, I don't love animals more or less than human beings. I don't believe that animals are any more pure and noble than humans. If anything, it's humans assigning human emotions like "love" and "hate" onto animals. Animals are instinctively driven by the need to survive.
My dog's love is not totally unconditional either. I feed him, provide for him, and give him affection. Those are technically "conditions". Also you have to earn an animal's trust. I adopt rescue dogs, I know this first hand. Things aren't just sunshine roses farts and dog biscuits.
I definitely don't understand the comparison between children and animals. Animals aren't children in fur suits.
Is it conflict? Is it fear? What is it? Cats and dogs don't stab you in the back, or gossip about you? I know it seems like a silly topic, but to me it's kind of fascinating that fellow humans dislike their own humankind more than they do animals.
Dogs' love is unconditional, basically. They seem to know your emotions and what to do. Whether it's a happy tail-wag or to bury their head in your lap they have the right instincts.
I have a dog, whom I love. He is a companion animal and a family member. Same with our rescue rabbit. But no, I don't love animals more or less than human beings. I don't believe that animals are any more pure and noble than humans. If anything, it's humans assigning human emotions like "love" and "hate" onto animals. Animals are instinctively driven by the need to survive.
My dog's love is not totally unconditional either. I feed him, provide for him, and give him affection. Those are technically "conditions". Also you have to earn an animal's trust. I adopt rescue dogs, I know this first hand. Things aren't just sunshine roses farts and dog biscuits.
I definitely don't understand the comparison between children and animals. Animals aren't children in fur suits.
That's sensible and good points. Also most pets are tamed and domesticated. Animals not purposely bred to be friendly to humans aren't affectionate. If humans were bred specifically to be affectionate and docile and you fed, provided and gave them affection they'd probably be more affectionate and lovey dovey too lol.
I am not sure "dislike" is the correct emotion here, I think it is more likely that some people are more comfortable around animals than around people. People are complicated to deal with, with all of our emotions, our egos, our pettiness at times. I can easily see why animals are preferred.
I explained to a Libertarian once, that dogs have the right to urinate on a fire hydrant - because that is what they do.
The guy god-angry with me thinking it would be impossible to me to understand "freedom".
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