Is it wrong to kill a spider or fly when you don't have to, and why?
Yes, because...
Side Score: 10
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No, because...
Side Score: 14
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It's a living creature that (presumably) has consciousness, just like any other creature. Different humans extend the moral franchise to different "levels" of life that they have deemed worthy of the moral franchise (often based on the creature's intelligence). For some reason people find the death of a more intelligent dolphin far more tragic than that of a less intelligent trout. I'd guess it's similarity and relatability since humans are most defined by our intelligence. It makes sense though that any conscious entity's suffering has similar significance, which is why people like you and I extend the moral franchise even to spiders. As for devouring steaks, since we need meat for certain nutrients, it is a necessary evil and hence we aren't as bothered by it. Also I feel that you're right that if we saw the animal being slaughtered we would have greater difficulty eating steaks. This is due to our ability to empathize and vicariously experience the pleasure and suffering of others through observation. Side: Yes, because...
A good point Winston, I don't want to take away another beings consciousness for all eternity. It seems a little silly to me to value an intelligent life over a non-intelligent life ... who are we to decide what's more valuable, and anyway, would that mean killing an idiot is less bad then killing a genius? (I know you don't necessarily believe intelligent beings are more valuable etc. I'm not disputing you, I'm just saying things that pop into my head) Side: Yes, because...
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It is a survival instinct to quickly kill any bugs we don't want around. There are so many we don't automatically recognize and often they move quickly, hide easily, and reproduce exponentially. Pain, toxicity, disease, destruction of food sources, destruction of our homes, disruption of our sleep, etc, are all experiences our species has had with insects in general, so after millions of years we have an automatic "what is that? Quick, kill it" response. Even if we know that particular one probably should be left alone. Side: No, because...
That seems true, and explains why some people just kill bugs without hesitation, but surely we have the ability to look past our instincts? That's one of the things that seems to separate us from most other animals, we have the ability to overcome instincts. Since we don't have to follow our instincts like that, then the fact that our instincts tell us to kill them isn't justification for killing them. Side: Yes, because...
Spiders breed and make webs which are unsightly, collect germs and require removing. Evicting a spider outdoors doesn't mean it will stay outside as it could, and probably would re-enter your property to seek it's mate and begin the web making process all over again. Flies attract spiders and are the carriers of disease. When a fly lands on food, even momentarily, it will automatically excrete as it eats. Did you ever hear of the expression;- ''like flies around shit''? Well for instance, if there is any dog's crap around watch them gobble up their feast of contaminated organic matter all ready and well armed to infect your food and kitchen surfaces. Side: No, because...
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If they are inside your home, there are other bugs which the spiders will eat. The other bugs come in the same holes as the spiders or they ride in on you or on your pets. It's almost impossible to keep them all out of your house. The spiders will ride in on you or your pets the same as the other bugs even if you manage to seal up all the holes in your house. Side: Yes, because...
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It's not like science is concrete in this matter, but there is certainly an argument to be said around insects not being sentient to the degree of humans or whatever word you want to mention. I'm not even sure they feel pain with their responses being merely natural motor functions. If they do feel pain or if they are sentient then there is a whole avenue science is not currently aware of though level of sentience is also important. Would you classify a rat as sentient? Certainly it is aware of its environment, but that does not then mean it is self aware with its own wants and desires separate from nature's programming. Such creatures still feel pain so regardless one should be humane. Side: No, because...
I have no idea what it is like to be a spider, a rat, a cat, etc... Actually I don't even know what it's like to be a human being other than myself. (For all I know, my mind works entirely differently from others, or maybe I'm even the only sentient being in the universe! Probably not though...) My mind might just project my emotions and sentience on to animals ad bugs, (and maybe other people?) regardless of whether or not they have those same experiences - that is my empathy doing that. Nevertheless, does the fact that we don't know how bugs experience things mean that we shouldn't take the risk of mindlessly killing bugs, in case they have higher value then we give them? (Based on the assumption that the human experience is somehow objectively valuable, etc) Side: No, because...
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The point you bring up is one I use along with examples of Peta Groups who say it is terrible to kll animals. These groups seemingly have no problem with killing even viable unborn babies for any (when voting for the Democrat Party that supports no restriction abortions for any reason), because they never speak out against abortion. Talk about misplaced priorities! I hope you are not Pro abortion while having a problem with killing spiders. That would make you the biggest hypocrite on the planet. Side: No, because...
"I hope you are not Pro abortion while having a problem with killing spiders. That would make you the biggest hypocrite on the planet." I thought you would say this. The thing is, I'm not trying to make laws against killing spiders, for the same reason I don't want to make laws against abortion. I personally think I'd feel guilty about having an abortion if I were a woman, but I wouldn't make it illegal, for the same reason I wouldn't make killing spiders illegal, even if I have qualms about it; I feel bad about killing spiders and fetuses for irrational reasons, and I realize that, which is why I wouldn't bring law into it. I would only be the "biggest hypocrite on the planet" if I wanted laws against killing spiders, but not against abortions. Side: Yes, because...
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ROFLOL, wow! Why I bother to debte people who do cartwheels trying to explain and excuse the inexcusable, is beyond me. What a waste of time. Newsflash, that unborn baby is a human life and deserves to be protected. Most people are not so stupid to waste time making laws concerning spiders. There are some who are stupid enough when it comes to PETA groups making laws to protect animals. These same groups never say word one about protecting even viable unborn babies. MINDLESS HYPOCRITES! Side: No, because...
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You know what I would love? I would love to hear just one of you Pro choicers (who most times claim to be personally prolife) create a debate explaining why you would never personally abort your baby. SILENCE, CRICKETS! You just spent your time creating a debate to trying to influence people to think before they kill a SPIDER! Why do you never make debates explaining how women should think before ending a Baby's life? You could explain the many years of guilt many women have after abortions. You could explain how adoption would be allowing the baby (spider) to live without killing it. Nah, the sad truth is that the lives of insects and animals are more important an issue to speak to. Truly sick and truly sad what the Left has done to this nation's values and priorities. Side: No, because...
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