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 #2 (permalink) Thu Jun 05, 2008 22:20 pm Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| I'd use "empathy", rather than "respect", there. |
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Molly
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| #3 (permalink) Thu Jun 05, 2008 22:43 pm Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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Thanx Molly.
I can think of many other words also, but I'm looking to get an "official" thesis of sorts on using the word "respect" as it relates to killing a fish as soon after catching it as possible.
In one sense, I believe respect is an attitude of acknowledgement, and I fail to see what's being acknowledged in this case.
For instance, as it relates to humans (which respect usually does), one can respect Grandma's wishes not to be left on life support. In acknowledgement of her wishes, one can respect what she wants and pull the plug. I just don't see the same as it relates to killing a fish. |
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Bayman
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| #4 (permalink) Thu Jun 05, 2008 22:54 pm Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| Quote: |
| In one sense, I believe respect is an attitude of acknowledgement, and I fail to see what's being acknowledged in this case. |
Respect for the "feeling" that all creatures, including humans, would probably prefer to die with as little suffering as possible.
Saying that, you speaker seems to no respect for the "fact" that the creature may prefer living to dying. :wink: |
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Molly
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| #5 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:30 am Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| Molly wrote: |
| I'd use "empathy", rather than "respect", there. |
"Empathy" doesn't work here, because it would mean that the person can share the feelings of the fish getting a hook stuck in his lip, and being yanked forcibly out of the water and into an environment where it can't breathe. So far I've never heard of a person who's been through that and knows what it feels like, so no person can have empathy for the fish in that situation. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #6 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:38 am Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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The Oxford American Dictionary gives, as one definition of "respect": "due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others". Based on this definition, the person is showing respect for the fish by showing due regard for its feelings. However, I don't find this definition of "respect" in other dictionaries, such as the Merriam-Webster.
I would say that the person kills the fish out of compassion or out of mercy. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #7 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:00 am Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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"Empathy" doesn't work here, because it would mean that the person can share the feelings of the fish getting a hook stuck in his lip, and being yanked forcibly out of the water and into an environment where it can't breathe. So far I've never heard of a person who's been through that and knows what it feels like, so no person can have empathy for the fish in that situation.
Something fishy about your reply, I'd say. BTW, I was once a mermaid. :P |
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Molly
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| #8 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:04 am Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| Molly wrote: |
"Empathy" doesn't work here, because it would mean that the person can share the feelings of the fish getting a hook stuck in his lip, and being yanked forcibly out of the water and into an environment where it can't breathe. So far I've never heard of a person who's been through that and knows what it feels like, so no person can have empathy for the fish in that situation.
Something fishy about your reply, I'd say. |
No, you just appear not to understand the full meaning of "empathy". |
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Jamie (K)
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| #9 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:08 am Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| Quote: |
| No, you just appear not to understand the full meaning of "empathy". |
Or you appear not to understand the expression "just a figure of speech". Go figurative!
So you don't think we can have empathy with other animals, right? |
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Molly
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| #10 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:19 am Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| To have empathy, you have to be capable of sharing the feeling someone else is having. There are certain situations that animals can be in that humans cannot imagine, and so they can't share the animal's feelings. In that case, the person can only have sympathy, but not empathy. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #11 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:24 am Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| Quote: |
| There are certain situations that animals can be in that humans cannot imagine, and so they can't share the animal's feelings. |
Maybe not the exact situation, but some of us have been in similar situations. Maybe not people like you - I don't know. Maybe not those who have always been in the comfort zone of life. Believe me, as a Nigerian, I've experienced situations which were pretty close to those experienced by some animals. In the end though, it's the human being who is using the word "empathise", and it is also he/she who imagines what the suffering of the animal in question is like. It's subjective, Jamie. Logic flies out the window in certain situations.
If a person says to one "I can imagine so and so..." how can one have the audacity to say "No, you can't"? If you tell me that you can empathise with my ancestors who were hunted down and taken to the USA, should I tell you it's impossible for you to do so? |
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Molly
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| #12 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:29 am Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| "Empathy" doesn't work here, because it would mean that the person can share the feelings of the fish getting a hook stuck in his lip, and being yanked forcibly out of the water and into an environment where it can't breathe. So far I've never heard of a person who's been through that and knows what it feels like, so no person can have empathy for the fish in that situation. |
Jamie, have you watched "American Dad" ? There's a fish named Klaus who used to be a man till he was turned to a mere fish (more precisely, his brain was swapped with that of a goldfish), which can speak English with a German accent. |
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Lost_Soul
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| #13 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:35 am Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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Too many sympathisers, and not enough empathisers, in this world, innit?
| Quote: |
| There are certain situations that animals can be in that humans cannot imagine, and so they can't share the animal's feelings. In that case, the person can only have sympathy, but not empathy. |
My question was: can people have empathy regarding animals?
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Anyway, as a reference point for all:
Sympathy, compassion, pity, empathy all denote the tendency, practice, or capacity to share in the feelings of others, especially their distress, sorrow, or unfulfilled desires. Sympathy is the broadest of these terms, signifying a general kinship with another's feelings, no matter of what kind: in sympathy with her yearning for peace and freedom; to extend sympathy to the bereaved. Compassion implies a deep sympathy for the sorrows or troubles of another coupled to a powerful urge to alleviate the pain or distress or to remove its source: to show compassion for homeless refugees. Pity usually suggests a kindly, but sometimes condescending, sorrow aroused by the suffering or ill fortune of others, often leading to a show of mercy: tears of pity for war casualties; to have pity on a thief driven by hunger. Empathy most often refers to a vicarious participation in the emotions, ideas, or opinions of others, the ability to imagine oneself in the condition or predicament of another: empathy with those striving to improve their lives; to feel empathy with Hamlet as one watches the play.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sympathy |
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Molly
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| #14 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 14:16 pm Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| Molly wrote: |
| If a person says to one "I can imagine so and so..." how can one have the audacity to say "No, you can't"? If you tell me that you can empathise with my ancestors who were hunted down and taken to the USA, should I tell you it's impossible for you to do so? |
Why not? In the United States whites are constantly told by blacks that they can't understand how a black person can feel about anything, because they've never been black. In fact, it's almost a journalistic taboo in the US to quote a white person explaining what he thinks a black person feels, but not the other way around. The people who constantly say, "You can't understand, because you're not black," don't have any qualms about explaining (often inaccurately) what white people think, even though they've never been white.
As for people being hunted down, don't forget that a lot of the slaves brought to the New World were already slaves held by blacks and Arabs in Africa and were simply sold to the Europeans. There's still slavery in West Africa, and here in the US, the police occasionally have to free some African girl or other who is being held as a slave in the home of a wealthy African family. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #15 (permalink) Fri Jun 06, 2008 15:23 pm Is this proper use of the word "respect"? |
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| Quote: |
| As for people being hunted down, don't forget that a lot of the slaves brought to the New World were already slaves held by blacks and Arabs in Africa and were simply sold to the Europeans. |
Who named the hunters? I didn't.
Not sure I understand the point of this passage: "Why not? In the United States whites are constantly told by blacks...". I was asking if you thought it's OK to deny another person's sympathy/empathy. Is sit?
There's still slavery in West Africa, and here in the US, the police occasionally have to free some African girl or other who is being held as a slave in the home of a wealthy African family.
Not exactly sure what this has to do with the anything here:
| Quote: |
| There's still slavery in West Africa, and here in the US, the police occasionally have to free some African girl or other who is being held as a slave in the home of a wealthy African family. |
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Molly
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| "want" in progressive | Practical vs Practicable |
