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An ethical question about factory farms

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corona
Posts: 12752 - Karma: 32,266
I know a lot of people are against factory farms, citing ethical reasons. You really don't need to look hard to realize they aren't the nicest places for any creature to live. Case and point:

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If you are someone who is against the idea of factory farming, I'd like you to comment.


now not too long ago (maybe 5 or 10 years) scientists have isolated the gene for fear. Assuming this gene is turned off, an animal would assume complete serenity throughout its life.

So if chickens, for example, were genetically modified so that the specific gene for fear is silenced, the would never fear. Their entire life would be serene and beautiful.


My question: Would you then agree that there is no more moral dilemma with factory farms if animals contained within could not fear?
Nov 22 2012 7:13PM
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DADDYlongLEGS
Posts: 1574 - Karma: 47
The principle in your comment seems to allow for an example like this to be moral permissible:

I'm a big strong guy. I have the physical/mental capacity to capture you and lock you in my basement while doing just enough to keep you alive. Conditions are miserable in the basement and one day I run out of frosted mini-wheats so I decide to eat you.

Do I have a right to do something like this simply because I have the ability to do so?
Nov 23 2012 12:19PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,465
hahah... What a badass
Nov 23 2012 12:25PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
I laughed out loud when I read this. I also completely agree. I don't give a fuck what they do to the animals as long as they're not gonna kill me when I eat them. Who cares how the animals are treated? They're food. Nobody ever got upset because a head of lettuce got abused and stuffed into a plastic bag.
Nov 23 2012 12:39PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,844
lol what in the fuck is this
Nov 23 2012 12:41PM
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.frenchy
Posts: 18212 - Karma: 12,257
Wut..... Can't tell if trolling.... If you kick a head of lettuce it won't get hurt, if you kick an animal it will get hurt, it can feel pain... I'm all for killing animals and what-not, just not abuse and torturing of animals, that's fucked.
Nov 23 2012 12:47PM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
i really wasn't being serious and by my not so serious logic that wouldn't be okay because we're the same
Nov 23 2012 12:55PM
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Round-Four
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 174
thats not circular logic, im saying that people shouldnt get all choked up about the poor little chickens because the poor little chickens dont give a fuck.
Nov 23 2012 1:27PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
I actually care much more about farmers kicking my heads of lettuce. I don't give two shits about an abused chicken but damn it if my lettuce is bruised I'm not a happy camper.

if you want to pay more for your free range chickens you're free to do so, but damn it, don't try to take away my freedom to buy cheap abused and delicious chickens.
Nov 23 2012 1:37PM
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hey-dude-its-me
Posts: 4238 - Karma: 412
everything you say is so predictable I still don't understand why you cant admit I had you pegged from day one when I called you out for making fun of kids half your age
Nov 23 2012 1:48PM
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Gnarbangalakazoo
Posts: 561 - Karma: 262
alright so maybe they wont fear things, but that doesn't mean they cant feel pain. Unfortunately a lot of these chickens are feed foods that fatten them so much their legs cant support them, resulting in crippling pain, and sometimes broken legs. just my two cents.
Nov 23 2012 1:48PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
What?
Nov 23 2012 1:53PM
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JeremyClarkson
Posts: 1599 - Karma: 1,934

People should watch the documentary Food inc. It really shows what a monopoly the whole food industry is. In a nutshell, there are 3 main companies supplying 90% of Americas food.

also for the 2nd grader: Lettuce Heads =/=  Animals with central nervous systems that actually feel pain.

Nov 23 2012 2:00PM
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hey-dude-its-me
Posts: 4238 - Karma: 412
keep proving me right
Nov 23 2012 2:03PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Yeah, but who actually gives a shit? My steak is still gonna taste good whether or not someone hurt the poor wittle moo cow before they killed it.


...and you have to admit, I'm pretty damn articulate for a second grader.
Nov 23 2012 2:04PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
What?
Nov 23 2012 2:05PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,296
Yeah and the cow your steak comes from is still going to breed super strong bacteria that can/will eventually become untreatable by any sort of antibiotic because of the way its treated.

I don't know why people don't give a shit where their food comes from. Ignorance I guess. Half the shit people put into their bodies is so bad for you it's astonishing.


Nov 23 2012 2:14PM
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Round-Four
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 174
hes making a completely different argument form you. obviously food should be treated better and pumping livestock full of antibiotics isnt a good thing, but thats a completely different can of worms from treating animals with decency
Nov 23 2012 2:33PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51263 - Karma: 157,459
Too much fucking with nature. Genetically modifying the food we put in our bodies doesn't seem that smart to me. Unfortunately we do it on a ridiculously large scale and if you try and compete against it, it's nearly impossible.
Nov 23 2012 2:35PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,296
No it's not. If cows were allowed to graze and eat grass, not corn feed/chicken litter, there would be no need to pump them full of antibiotics. Also cramming them into feed lots increases the spread of disease tenfold, and when these animals are beaten they need to be treated for there injuries, and guess how they do that? with antibiotics. It is the same man, it all starts with treating the animals decently.
Nov 23 2012 2:41PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Lol at thinking antibiotics are the be-all, end-all cure for every problem that a farm animal may encounter.
Nov 23 2012 2:51PM
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bigbromskier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 330
Industrial farming is also incredible energy intensive with a significant amount of being wasted. Water and fertilizers (to raise corn to feed the chickens) is ridiculously over-applied, in an inefficient manner, so that farmers are sure that there will be a shitton of corn, the majority of which runs off into rivers. This causes ecosystems in rivers to be way outbalanced by a ton of algae 'n stuff growing and choking out oxygen and sunlight for fish and other organisms. This not only messes with areas in close vicinity, but also farther downstream. Check out the massive algal bloom at the mouth of the mississippi in the gulf of mexico. it's messing with fishing and other associated industries in Louisiana.

Also, adding a ton of nitrogen to corn makes it grow like crazy, but it's just nitrogen. That's like only adding gas to a car cause it makes it go, while your car needs an assortment of other fluids to really run properly (antifreeze, brake fluid, oil, etc.). Basically, the corn gets huge and provides a lot of food, but without the assortment of nutrients provided by more typical fertilizer (IE compost and nutrient rich healthy soil) it's far less healthy when compared with corn grown in healthy soil that hasn't had its nutrients totally depleted by years of improper farming practices (IE crop rotation, winter fallow/nutrient restoration).

There's also the social and economic issues of farmer-seed company relationships that almost makes them similar to indentured servants. Food Inc and King Corn describe all this very well.
Nov 23 2012 2:54PM
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.frenchy
Posts: 18212 - Karma: 12,257
Hey I'm all for chicken farms or whatever they're called, just that there is no point of abusing a chicken haha. I love me some cheap chickens too!
Nov 23 2012 3:08PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,296
Oh by all means then educate me oh wise AR6.
Nov 23 2012 3:16PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 360
some of the only legit info in this thread.

AR6 is fucking retarded, everyone should just let him keep his head in his ass, he's extremely comfortable up there
Nov 23 2012 5:40PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
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Nov 23 2012 5:50PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
and I also lol'd at this.
Nov 23 2012 5:51PM
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Gods_Father
Posts: 1466 - Karma: -284

you're fucking up on a large scale. he's talking about how animals are force-fed grains which makes them sick as fuck. then these "farmers" load them up with antibiotics so they don't die. (assuming antibiotics are the be-all, end-all cure for every problem)

you are laughing at this unnatural process while at the same time endorsing it?

Nov 23 2012 6:29PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,122
I just pretend he doesn't exist. Just skip over the dinosaur icon.
Nov 23 2012 6:56PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10622 - Karma: 7,396
the irony of your name, i just noticed that.
Nov 23 2012 6:58PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,465
Im gonna try this. Very few, if any, of his posts have any substance. Theyre so predictable. inb4 youre a fucking bitch
Nov 23 2012 7:00PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,296
Oh so predictable. But that's what he wants. He wants you to rage at his incredibly stupid and ignorant posts. And people ride his dick for that shit, which just keeps the cycle going.
Nov 23 2012 7:56PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,465
you sound like a fucking bitch


Am i doing this right?
Nov 23 2012 8:10PM
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Chinchi
Posts: 1591 - Karma: 4,210
Finger me asscheeks with butter
Nov 23 2012 8:18PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10622 - Karma: 7,396
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Nov 23 2012 8:20PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,465
^ fucking stupid bitch.

I got this shit down
Nov 23 2012 8:26PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Your posts lack intelligence and substance.
Nov 23 2012 8:59PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,465
youre a stupid fucking cunt bitch.
Nov 23 2012 9:03PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
You're*
Nov 23 2012 9:09PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,465
your posts stank and i hate them
Nov 23 2012 9:23PM
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Darth.Maul
Posts: 2472 - Karma: 652
Ill stick with killing my own food. No preservatives, no fences or pens, no people or antibiotics. Meat tastes much better when it comes from the wild.
Nov 25 2012 12:25PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 360
thats great but if we all did that there would be none left for you to kill. Our population is way too big. We need to develop regional food systems that can pretty much support the population in that locale
Nov 25 2012 2:00PM
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Jblz
Posts: 556 - Karma: 206
good question.

i dont think fear really plays a roll in the taste of birds. although they say the least stress makes them the tastiest. i feel like all chickens and turkeys live their entire lives being scared shitless, just like all the other bottoms of the food chain
Nov 25 2012 2:02PM
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