🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <hsdgDBtM1y.D2r@netcom.com> hsdg@netcom.com (Bob Lange) writes:
    >>Did you have a point to make? If so, please make it.
    >>
    >Against stupidity, even the gods are helpless (Goethe, I
    >think). It seems I am wasting my time trying to make a point
    >that you can't understand. (BTW, I mis-typed above; I meant
    >"under public protection".)
    >
    >That there is a difference in appreciation between domestic
    >and wild animals in the wilderness is made clear by the fact
    >that millions of people travel thousands of miles every year
    >to view wild animals at preserves and national parks. No such
    >behavior is evident for herds of cows. "Gee dad, can we drive
    >across the country to see the cows? Stop, we have to take a
    >picture of that cow! Isn't this wonderful Martha. And look at
    >all the cows!". Is this not a reasonably accurate
    >distinction?

The correct quote is "Against stupidity even the gods struggle in vain.".

Take a look at typical tourist phots from American tourist returning from
India. Gee, look at all the sacred cow photos.

In any case, you're making my point.

*WE*, as human beings, create by OUR subjective, repeat subjective, values,
values between things.

There is NOTHING outside of our human, subjective values, that makes
tons of bison shit in the creeks any better or worse than tons of cattle
shit in the creek.

A herd of bison shitting in the creek is NO more or NO less "natural" than
a herd of cattle shitting in the creek.

So when some eco-luddite gets up and starts talking about how "against
nature" it is to have all these man-tended cattle shitting in the creek,
well, he's just full of creek.

Because there is NO difference.

A beaver, and a beavers work is no more and no less "natural" than man
and mans work.

Indeed, in terms of "changing" on a large and drastic form the ecological
process of nature, man and his works are TRIVIAL compared to life
forms of the past -- such as the bacteris that reduce the Earth's
ammonia/methane atmosphere to what we have today. Now THAT was ecological
change on a LARGE scale.


So the point you've been incapable of seeing is that it is ONLY our value
systems that we are talking about -- the whole concept of "nature" and
"ecology" exists ONLY as man-made objects.

And even in your example of cows -- you go to a difference part of the
planet and people will have very different attitudes and values
about cows.


-- 
"I didn't do it, nobody saw me, and you can't prove it!" - B. Simpson

These opinions are MINE, and you can't have 'em! (But I'll rent 'em cheap ...)