Toshiba Portégé R400 product site
Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing
If we could hold conversations with animals, would we all be vegetarians? : 'No'    
Posted by:  Reynolds  (View the author's original article) 1/19/2007 12:46 PM
If we could hold conversations with animals, would we all be vegetarians?

The simple answer would be 'No' - we kill people so why wouldn't we kill animals.

Since recorded history we have invented progressively more lethal ways to kill our neighbours, rather shamefully we have consistently used such equipment upon those members of humanity that are 'of the other'. This killing has gone on for generations despite our ability to communicate with one another. Did the fact that the Nazis and German Jews prevent the Holocaust? Does the shared language in Sri Lanka prevent the killing between the different people? Did the ability to understand one another prevent members of North and South Ireland from killing one another? One final example - the genocide in Darfur.

It is obvious that an ability to communicate does not stop violence.

As humans we have found more and more ridiculous reasons to kill one other, from fighting over resources (oil, gold, water), tribal conflict (Ireland, Sudan) to the craziest argument of who has the biggest God.

This previous criminal history of humanity of a whole lets me believe that, even were animals able to talk to us, we wouldn't stop for one instance in our pursuit of meat to eat. Once you understand that we will kill each other over the shape of the nose, because you own more of a type of mineral or because your God is 'wrong' - is it so wrong to imagine that we would continue to kill in order to live in the fashion to which we are accustomed?

Finally, if we can kill and torture great apes, which have been shown to be able to communicate, for novelty ashtrays and medical experimentation - then what makes you think that we would pay any attention to the cow saying "No!" as it reaches the bolt-gun operator.

This blogpost is an attempt to win a laptop over at Lovetolead.info
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Comments (28)   Add Comment
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Anonymous on 1/19/2007 3:23 PM
I thought this wasn't about winning laptops but about bloggers speaking their minds on topics not that easy to discuss. We, the readers, could then vote for that one article that we liked most and he/she who turns out to have had the best argument, is awarded a laptop. Otherwise all that anyone would have to do is to just add 'I want a laptop, vote for me!' to their blog and submit it.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Joe on 1/19/2007 4:16 PM
I think that responsibility lies with the voter
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Anonymous on 1/19/2007 4:18 PM
I suspect a serious use of proxy servers here...this is ridiclous..no one has a chance if you are, if you are than we can all use proxy servers.. i cant believe a popularity vote decides this
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Kim on 1/19/2007 7:22 PM
This guy has a great blog and is one of the most popular bloggers on the Internet. All he has to do is say "Vote for me" and he'll garner more than a thousand votes by the end of the week(end). I don't believe for a moment he's cheating with proxy servers.

This clearly isn't about arguments, it's a popularity contest and the rest of us don't stand a chance.

I hold no grudge against Reynolds - he's doing exactly what I would do in his position, but it does show up the unfairness of the system and my cynicism is coming forth.

Of course Toshiba want it this way - the more voters a blogger can bring to this site, the more they advertise their wares. Fair enough, good business practice. But it sucks if you thought it was a genuine forum for debate.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Trekkie on 1/19/2007 7:35 PM
I came here from Tom Reynold's site and ended up voting for someone else!!!!! Sorry Tom xxx
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Fayza on 1/19/2007 8:59 PM
you're quite right Kim
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By St_Gabriel on 1/20/2007 12:18 AM
This article by Reynolds may not have been his most thought provoking, but his addition to my understanding of the human nature is immeasurable.
I have read his blog faithfully for a very long time and would expect that he deserves all that he can.
It was only recently that he was able to "gain" anything from his blog and for all the time and commitment he has shown. I dont know the financials of his gain but if you get a book deal, how many would have got the publishers to release it under a "Creative Commons" licence, when he could have kept the rights and not made it available.
Best of luck Tom
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By mockduck on 1/22/2007 1:59 PM
I'm one of the people who would be in the running for this laptop if it wasn't for the enormous popularity of Tom, but I can't see the fuss. He hasn't broken the rules of the competition. We're all using our blogs' readers to come and vote for us. Tom just has many more. So it's a popularity contest rather than the debating forum it purports to be, but that's not Tom's fault, is it?
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Shamus Dark on 1/22/2007 2:50 PM
You're right, it isn't his fault and we've all been duped. The outcome was guaranteed from the start and Tom, I'm sorry if I've been rather insulting - perhaps it was just frustration. I've tried to have a bit of
fun 'cos the serious side requires more input than the few lines we're allowed (mind you, Davy was really good). I'd like to know where to go for this kind of thing without falling into the sort of trap set by these sponsors. Any ideas?
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Tom Reynolds on 1/22/2007 6:40 PM
Shamus - I'm planning on running something similar to this on a non-profit basis. No prizes, but plenty of links to each other's blogs to improve everyone's readership.

I'm talking with code-people at present.

It may however be focused around politics and how best to solve social problems rather than talking animals.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Peter Maling on 1/23/2007 4:17 PM
Blogs with lots of readers have been winning popularity contests since popularity constests began - somewhere around 2001. So I'm not sure why people here are surprised.

But I truly don't understand the mechanics of this. I read the post, but don't feel I've been exposed to a Toshiba advert. Well, no more than I'd find on any commercial blog.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Tim on 2/1/2007 11:51 AM
Certainly gets my vote, but no button!
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By John Brooks on 2/1/2007 4:14 PM
Tom, if anyone deserves a laptop, you do. I've been reading your stuff for a while now and you do a great job.
John Brooks, Former Massachusetts EMT.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Someone on 3/22/2007 8:50 PM
WHEN THE F**K DID THIS TURN INTO A POPULARITY CONTEST?!?

SORRY, THIS GUY IS RIGHT! PEOPLE KILL EACH-OTHER ABOUT BLOODY SPELLING TESTS!!! WE'D SURE AS HELL KILL ANIMALS!!!
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Shamus Dark on 1/20/2007 2:25 AM
So the observation that humans have been killing one another throughout history is "thought provoking"? Now, I've heard everything! Unless the respondent is a mentally challenged gerbil of course. So, I'm off to clean out my cage, drink what's left of the water in the bowl and settle down with my worn out copy of Winnie The Pooh. I'll take a laptop, but only if it's edible.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Anonymous 2 on 1/20/2007 8:20 AM
Tom Reynolds writes a great blog, but this topic is not his strength. And what does he mean about Nazis and German Jews in the third sentence - the verb is missing! This is pathetic.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Ryan on 1/20/2007 9:21 AM
Kim, "All he has to do is say "Vote for me" and he'll garner more than a thousand votes by the end of the week" is exactly grudge against this entry. If all Toshiba really wanted was free advertising on blogs, why didn't it just search for the most popular bloggers and tell them "here's a laptop, put words of praise on your blog for us". Because as much as a good blogger Reynolds may be, this is clearly not the best article here, yet it's practically impossible for him to be outnumbered now. So instead of giving a "+" to Toshiba for their initiative and take a look at Reynolds blog, to see how good he really is, I am again disappointed to see another big firm more interested in it's winnings and free ads than in actually supporting a community and will surely be difficult to change my opinion on how good a blogger Reynolds is when all he did is say "I want to win a laptop" and didn't bother much about writing a good article.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By insanity on 1/20/2007 9:40 AM
isn't the problem with this blog that it doesn't answer the question? do we eat humans? most of us do not. yet we kill each other. vegetarianism is about eating, not killing...
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Shamus Dark on 1/20/2007 10:18 AM
No, the problem with Mr Reynolds' blog is that it is completely boring. Look at what some of the other writers have done - there's a lot of wit and invention. This blog just tells us what we already know and it's in the form of a sermon we've heard a thousand times. "Great blogger"? On this evidence, I seriously question the mental capacity of his readers.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By zed on 1/20/2007 12:15 PM
Kim said "Of course Toshiba want it this way - the more voters a blogger can bring to this site, the more they advertise their wares. Fair enough, good business practice. But it sucks if you thought it was a genuine forum for debate."

And look who won last week!

I was approached by 'Love to Lead' to contribute articles to this forum but felt dubious about it as it felt like nothing more than a marketing gimmick than an actual forum for debate. I couldn't have been further from the truth.

(Tom, this is in no way an attack against you, btw ;) )
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By JonnyB on 1/20/2007 12:51 PM
'Love to Lead' is PR Consultancy Charlton Communications. Sorry Shamus - that's why they approached 'well-read' blog people, like me and Tom and Zed - to try to get us involved and to pimp for votes on our own sites - and thus drive traffic and potential email newsletter signups here. Nothing to do with quality at all.

So sorry if you're upset that Tom's winning - - - but it's a purely commercial deal run on a purely commercial basis by a purely commercial organisation. They've been pretty naive, so Tom's well within his rights to take a laptop off them...
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Mark on 1/20/2007 1:18 PM
It's pretty much a lost cause for anyone who doesn't have a well read blog, irrespective of how well they write. Some entrants will benefit from added click throughs to their site, but that's about it. Tom's site is ranked four thousand and something by Technorati. Given that there are less than 15 weeks left to 'play' this game, all it will take is for a few more popular bloggers to twig what's going on and we can all just go home.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Joe R on 1/20/2007 3:08 PM
Is this a cynical attempt to win a laptop? Of course. But all internet votes like this are really a popularity contest.

Could Reynolds have put more effort into it? Judging by his blog which I read religiously of course he could. But he doesn't need to really and if you want insightful arguments that might change your mind is a PR company's idea of how to get Toshiba good publicity really the place you should be looking?

I voted - because Reynolds is a good guy and I'd like him to win a laptop.
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Anonymous3 on 1/21/2007 2:18 AM
I came over from Johnny B's blog where he seems to be taking a convoluted neutral stance on this.

I won't be voting for anybody. I think this sort of advertising campaign is bad and just demeans bloggers.

As for this article, it's dreadful, but as has been pointed out already Tom will probably still win. Frankly I think that's wrong. Furthermore, I think Tom should find it harder to justify the "moral stance" on his blog in future. He's just demonstrated how easy it is to use the trappings of power and success to personal advantage. Nothing new in that, politicians do it every day. So much for bloggers having higher standards than the rest of us.

I would like a laptop, I'm unemployed, broke and my pc is on it's last legs. I would rather do without a computer than get one this way though. I'm not claiming high standards, I'd just like to hang on to the last shreds of self respect I have left.

Sorry Tom, I believe it when people say you are a nice ...
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Postscript on 1/21/2007 2:38 AM
It cut off the end of my comment which was -
" person but I think you made an error of judgement, enjoy your laptop when you get it."

Anonymous 3
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Shamus Dark on 1/21/2007 2:56 AM
All this fuss about laptops! What's wrong with good robust fountain pen and a sturdy filing cabinet. Secretaries, dictaphone machines and filing clerks may be a little difficult to find these days, but nothing's impossible. Why, I saw a rather attractive ledger only the other day; a little bulky perhaps and I'll need at least 5 dozen, but I'm not easily put off. Does anyone know where I can buy an inkwell?
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Davy on 1/21/2007 7:45 PM
I work in conservation, and I'd like to point out that it is not only farming for meat that is detructive for the environment. Every time a crop is harvested, the birds nesting in that field are destroyed. Pesticides sprayed on those crops are adhering to the damp skins of frogs toads and newts, and burning holes through them. Insecticides are destroying the insects and insectivores are being starved to death. See decline of the British House Sparrow, 2006. All farming has a terrible cost to the environment. My advice, eat sheep. They are destroying the worlds upland environment, habitat for grouse, merlin and many others. Heather is being pushed back to the edge, and all species using this environment are under pressure. As for the laptop, good luck to who-ever wins it, I prefer my Sony Viao..
Re: Humanity Has Made A Habit Of Killing    By Keith Pell on 1/31/2007 5:18 PM
Lap top for Tom. Hope you get the vote. On killing animals, we're all so removed from the actual killing of an animal for food, I don't think most people even give it a thought.
I was brought up on a farm so I guess I do give it more than a passing thought and buy meat from a 'proper' butcher, not supermarkets. It's about the same price and the quality is far better.

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