Moral inconsistencies between us and the animal world happen more often than we'd like to admit. But is that okay? I think so. For example, people love animals and try to conserve them, yet they still go out and eat their beloved cheeseburgers. One would think, if they care so much about these creatures wouldn't they stop eating them all together, sort of like Michael Mountain? Some people try to do this, but I feel that it is near impossible to do this without restricting living life to the fullest. You would have to live in the wild since houses ruin habitats, be vegan, and purchase only "green" and non-harmful clothing. I suppose however this could be living life to the fullest for some people. My friends step-mom was one of these people who tried to be morally consistent and refused to drive in anticipation that she may hit an animal. This is a nice thought, but then she had to rely on many other people to get her places and take unreliable transportation like the bus and was often late to work because of it. However, it is possible that by being so animal conscious, she is saving little lives by the hundreds.
We spend so much money on our pets since we love them so much but then again, we spend even more money in the hunting, fishing and meat industry. This is just how we have always lived. However, for some people this causes great cognitive dissonance. I'm sure all of you know what this is but in case you don't, its the notion that holding two inconsistent views simultaneously creates mental discomfort and perhaps guilt. Because of this, we change our attitudes and behaviors or we distort and deny the incongruent facts. This is what can cause people to lead life as cruelty-free as possible.
-Kelly Ejnes
Ann Marie Arnold-Respondent
ReplyDeleteKelly, I think you are spot on with your cognitive dissonance comment. I know we are all affected everyday. I personally have tried to eat less meat over the last year. I find my biggest problem is that I am not disgusted when confronted with chicken or beef in the store or in a restaurant. I also used to pride my self on trying almost anything. Now I feel rather guilty when ordering any sort of meat.
A few chapter ago Herzog also discussed how Cockfighters prize their birds and even say they are fond or love them. I found it crazy how they say they love an animal that they personally place in a ring to fight to the death. They must have some sort of cognitive dissonance as well. I really think most of it is cultural and our views are evolving as they evolved many years ago.
The most important factor for me is do everything the best of our ability. The problem with eating meat and farming animals is not just a moral problem but a financial problem as well. We need to eat meat? Fine, lets find a way to eat meat in a more humane way and find ways to help the poor do the same. In a nation that prides itself on the individual we need to grasp some aspects of collectivist culture and leave no one behind in order to improve not only our lives but the lives of animals. Till then we have cognitive dissonance.
Kelsey-Researcher
ReplyDeleteI don't know about anyone else but after reading the section about Best friends animal society I instantly had a desire to see if they take interns or if I could volunteer. The way in which Herzog describes the facility I was instantly drawn to it! I looked into the animal society and found out that they have other shelters in California, Utah, and New york. While on the website I also stumbled upon a section titled "Model Programs" these are different shelters who are trying to change their ways and become a no kill shelter. Most of these facilities are financially supported by Best friends, which I find super cool because it is an incentive for the facility to change their ways.
Here is the website if anyone wants to check it out: http://bestfriends.org/
I have also included a few videos of the facility. The animals are way to cute for their own good(= I could watch these all day long!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr_qFHF7Zr0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb2Fm2bXAa0
-Kelsey
Nic- Respondent
ReplyDeleteWhen first reading this chapter I never thought of cognitive dissonance. Now that Kelly points it out I can totally see it! People in today’s society definitely have cognitive dissonance. I can personally think of one I have. I gave up eating mammals about a year ago. As of today I only eat poultry, fish, and mammal products. Great! It seems I love mammals right? I do! However my decision to give up read meat doesn’t match every behavior or view I hold. For Christmas last year I received a leather messenger bag (one made from cow). I am therefore a walking contradiction. Why would I give up eating meat but tote around a bag made of a dead cow? Thinking about this inconsistency really makes me evaluate why I do things. And I think Kelly really hit a huge part. A lot of it may be due to cognitive dissonance.
-Nic Swaner
When cruelty-free was mentioned, I instantly thought of a website I found not too long ago that lists cruelty-free companies. It's a list of hygeine/beauty product companies that are "cruelty-free". However, I would always do your own research before completely trusting things like this. I'm not 100% sure, but I've heard that The Body Shop, which is a cruelty-free company, is unfortunately owned by L'oreal, which is not. So indirectly, by buying a Body Shop product it is still supporting the cruelty. So frustrating! Also some cruelty-free companies will test on animals before sending their products to, say, China, where all products are required to be tested on animals first. Why can't they just not send their product to China? Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox, but here is a link to a site that can help determine which companies are cruelty free!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.leapingbunny.org/shopsearch.php
This conversation reminds me of an episode of Friends. Here is a link to the video (sorry for the subtitles).
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qJDJdlp7m0
I definitely experience cognitive dissonance with the carnivorous yahoo within myself. Like Ann-Marie, I haven't been necessarily disgusted when seeing beef, pork, or chicken in the stores or elsewhere, but the more and more I learn the truth about our food system, the more I am leaning towards feeling disgusted rather than feeling my mouth start to water. I feel like it's a form a desensitization because we've grown up seeing it's a norm to eat this way. I think a major factor in overcoming moral inconsistencies is digging out the truth, to be educated in the ways in which things are made, and to do your research like Christine has talked about. Like she brought up how tattoo ink can be made from animal bone. I really didn't think twice about what the ink was made of when I got both of my tattoos. I guess that could be seen as irresponsible on my part, but as I learn more and more I am able to grow and give more realistic thought to how I want to live my life in consistency with my morals. It just takes a certain kind of effort that I haven't been used to giving in this fast-paced world.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of the cognitive dissonance I'm experiencing is the fact that I became so bothered by the Blackfish documentary, yet I have payed money that is going towards their facility. Don't get me wrong, I'm still thankful for the opportunity to go, I always wanted to as a child, but there is still some discomfort I feel from going. But, as Nic had previously pointed out, the documentary was misleading on some cases, as there are two sides to every story. What it really comes down to for me is that holding animals in captivity is a norm in our society now and the most I can hope for until that changes is that those animals are getting the best care possible.
My roommate showed me this music video last night that I think ties in with this topic. It's kind of heavy and has a spiritualness to it, but that aside I think the message is clear early in the video. But does the video contradict itself in a way if these women really are in contact with these animals? What does it really mean to respect nature and the animal world? Is it maybe just expressing that we can live as one and that humans should be involved with animals? Either way who wouldn't love to be in a flowing dress next to exotic animals?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsgP8LkEopM&sns=fb
-Sarah Nappier
Erik - Respondent
ReplyDeleteCognitive dissonance also came to mind when reading this chapter. I've experience the gap between my attitude and behavior and it is unsettling at how easy it is to justify the behaviors that I don't always agree with. I have tried to cut back on eating red meat, but over Christmas our neighbor gave us a few pounds of some of the best bacon I've ever had and I just couldn't resist. I know what they do in the slaughter houses, but I never thought about that as I could smell it cooking in the kitchen. Another example was at Busch Gardens while driving on the svelt. The keeper was telling us about the rhino, gazelle, and other hoof stock and I couldn't imagine people poaching and hurting these animals. Until, she showed us the springbok (similar to gazelles) and the first thing I thought of was how tasty the springbok steak was that I had while in Africa. I grew up in a hunting family and eating all kinds of meat so it is hard for me to change my behaviors to match my attitudes when it has been ingrained in my mind for so many years. It's hard to keep my behaviors in-line with my attitudes. I try to relieve the dissonance by cutting back on red meat consumption.
Erik - Researcher
ReplyDeleteI found this article through Eckerd's OneSearch. It talks about cognitive dissonance and the effect it has on vegans.
http://ehis.ebscohost.com.proxy.eckerd.edu:5000/eds/detail?vid=3&sid=bd4c7926-321a-429b-8392-2b166a6233e7@sessionmgr111&hid=105&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU=#db=edsnbk&AN=142BCBC2D502F3B8
This next article is an interesting read about how a vegan uses cognitive dissonance to persuade people to switch to being a vegetarian/vegan.
http://planetaryvegan.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/cognitive-dissonance/
Jill - Researcher
ReplyDeleteI found this article that talks about us as humans and whether eating animals makes us experience cognitive dissonance, and if it causes emotional problems. I found it interesting and felt it went along with the topic.
Link:http://staffanspersonalityblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/eating-animals-gives-people-cognitive-dissonance/
-Jill Willig