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So I've been hearing a lot of people use the lame ass argument, "well, if Vick had been killing people/babies/what-have-you, no one would care. Which is the argument people always use in situations like this, and is a completely moronic approach.

So, because I (think I) made my point very eloquently over on Velvet in Dupont, when Drunken Chud tried to compare the situation to Pacman Jones, saying that this is getting more media attention, I will just copy and paste my reply to him here. That way, any of you idiots that try to accuse me of putting more value on an animal's life. (note- I am not calling DC an idiot- he actually made a much more valid point than any of the other negative commenters...unlike others, his comment was not "you wouldn't care if he was killing babies," but a more sensible and legitimate argument. Go to Velvet's to read the whole thing).

*EDIT: And furthermore, if Vick had treated people the way he treated those dogs, he would be facing a death sentence instead of only a possible 6 years in prison.

Ashburnite Says:
July 25th, 2007 at 8:08 am

DC- I actually have heard of pacman jones. No one is saying that this situation is any worse. How is it that so many people are jumping down the throats of those of us who are outraged? None of us are saying that torturing dogs is worse than torturing humans. You’re missing the point. We live in what is supposed to be a civilized country. Yet we have people like Vick, who people idolize, doing disturbing things to other living creatures. And it has been proven over and over that the kind of person who could torture an animal is the same kind of person who will eventually kill a person- either way you slice it, it’s sociopathic behavior. Someone who can look at an animal- something that is completely innocent- and then torture it is someone with no regard for any kind of life; someone who does not possess the kind of morality or sympathy for other creatures that would keep most of us from doing something like that.

pacman jones is a thug who’s ego got way out of hand. Was what he did wrong? absolutely, and I hope he spends a great deal of time in jail. But that situation does not make the Vick situation any less worthy of our attention. Jones was suspended without pay for the entire 2007 season, and there’s a good chance he won’t be playing at all- ever. Vick was suspended, yes, but with pay. The most he’s going to get is a fine and a slap on the wrist.

Are we saying that an animal’s life is more valuable than a person’s? Not at all. The point is that Vick is a sociopath, and behaved in a manner not appropriate for a civilized society.

Ashburnite Says:
July 25th, 2007 at 8:31 am

I also have to wonder about the people who aren’t angry about this. They’re probably the same kind of people going to the dog fights and betting on which dog will tear the other apart.

So there you have it. My argument to all of those people. Next time you try to make the argument that we are placing more value on an animal's life than a humans, think of that.


**Edit: I actually just read INPY's argument, which is very similar, but, in my opinion, a little more eloquently stated than mine. If you have time, go take a read.