🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Apr17.093427.22448@wam.umd.edu> ltvortex@wam.umd.edu (Silvanus) writes:

>In article <ac.49@apmaths.uwo.ca> ac@apmaths.uwo.ca (alka chandna) writes:
>>>In article <53275@mimsy.umd.edu> peyote@umiacs.umd.edu (Gary W. Flake) 
>>writes:

In response to a fairly nasty posting by Gary W. Flake, I was amused by the 
extent to which Mr. Flake erred in his spelling and grammar.  I used this 
shortcoming to illustrate the workings of arbitrary discriminations.  
Silvanus (wow, what a cool name) and several others protested what they 
viewed as comments inappropriate to this bulletin.  Unfortunately, they don'
t have the damnedest clue to some of the fundamental principles of ethical 
vegetarianism so they missed the point, missed the joke, and missed the boat.
What else is new?

>>>Let me get this strait: You want me to kill all of the meat that I
>>>eat? I suppose that you also want me to grow my own food, construct my
>>>own home, as well as create my own medicine. After all, it is well
>>>known that there is corruption in all of these industries.
>>
>>"strait" refers to a narrow body of water connecting two larger bodies of 
>>water; perhaps you meant "straight".  i think Sandip's point was simply one 
>[etc...]
>>>I like having convieniences. Because people specialize, we become
>>>more adept at specific areas. I'll take the prepackaged chicken,
>>>thank you.
>>
>>i think you meant "conveniences", unless you're trying to invent a new word.
>>
>[etc...]
>this is not alt.english.correction

>Silvanus     ...yes! we_insert_standatd_disclaim. (sp?)



yaaawwwwwwn.  i can't believe how many people missed the point in my 
posting.  The punchline illustrated the arbitrariness with which we draw 
lines between ourselves and others.  My point is that when we say that we 
humans are so superior to other creatures we use criteria which conveniently 
place us at the top of the heap.  This is not just a philosophical point; 
the work of alot of animal behaviourists backs up this idea.  The whole 
discussion of animal intelligence has taken on a fascinating turn wherein 
we realize that different species have different talents, different modes 
of expression, different manners of communication.  The notion of a 
hierarchy is absolutely archaic.  The different species of animals, to 
quote an idea forwarded by Aarne Ness (of deep ecology fame), may be 
regarded as nodes in a net, an interconnected web of life. 

oh well, i guess the humour was just too subtle for some people.

alka