OR
Remember, this is both a philosophical discussion (based upon personal beliefs and ideas) and a sociological discussion (based upon norms and traditions in society). We know how things are, but we are wondering why. Your response should focus on WHY.
Some of the interesting points that students made were:
1.) The way we view an animal depends on cultural and religious perspective. In some cultures, dogs can be food, but pigs are not.
2.) There is an ancient relationship between dogs and humans, reaching back to the time of cavemen.
3.) Cats, dogs, and other such pets have a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship to humans, such as catching rats or guarding our houses.
4.) Some animals are too "dirty" or "gross" to cuddle. This sounds funny, but it's actually a really solid point. It's about aesthetics, the appeal of a pleasant appearance.
5.) What about animals that are often considered both, like rabbits? Or animals that are considered neither, like tigers?
6.) Sometimes, it's just because of cultural norms and taboos -- how we are brought up makes us feel a certain way, even if, intellectually, we know the feeling is arbitrary and not logical.
To explore the issue further, you can read this sociological analysis of why some animals are categorized as pets and some as food: http://sociologytoolbox.com/norm-violation-pets-food/
Question: Why do we categorize animals in this way? What are the factors that determine these categories?
Remember, two paragraphs! Cite textual evidence from the article! Respond to classmates' perspectives POLITELY! Respect cultural and religious differences, and do not judge another's perspective on this topic. We are all different, and that's exactly what makes discussion -- and life -- interesting!
I can't wait to read your responses!
We categorize animals this way because of cultures and how we see things different ways. Some people might say that, "dogs can be food, while pigs aren't" (One reason from the students). Some people also may think that certain animals taste better than others and that they just can't eat it because it's to cute or other wise."Our sense of the “natural” is jolted by reframing what we see as lovable pets into meat that is “just the right size for a pit barbecue.” ( article of why animals are and aren't food).
ReplyDeleteAlso, "Cows, chickens, and pigs are food that come in the form of steaks, burgers, strips, ribs, and hot dogs. Beagles on the other hand are pets that we call by name, buy accessories for, and snuggle on the couch with." (article of why animals are and aren't food). People wouldn't want to eat beagles because they think they look to cute to eat. While others say, " Hey a beagle? Looks like lunch." Everyone is different and sees things differently.
-Taylor S.
We categorize animals like this because of different cultures and viewpoints of people. For example,"Guinea pigs are one those animals that are given different meanings in different cultural contexts. In the US, they are consider pets. In the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Andes they are important sources of protein."(Pets or Food Article) As you can see, different people around the world see animals differently than others.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, some animals are considered a delicacy in other countries. For example,"Crickets, grubs, and termites are all eaten in other counties, often as delicacies." The people in other countries see bugs and insects as great sources of food, while in others, they are seen as creepy, flying, 6 legged things that annoy people every day. Everybody sees things different, and that's what makes the world special.
-Apolo L.
I agree with Taylor's statement about this topic. "We categorize animals this way because of cultures and how we see things differently," as Taylor states. The world has multiple cultures and we have different food sources, so we eat what is available for us to chow down on. "In some cultures dogs are food, but pigs are not" (reason from students). In cultures all over the world they have different animals considered as food and some as pets. "From a caloric standpoint, we could eat dogs. Culturally, in the US, most find the idea repulsive" (Norm VIolation: Pets or Food). Most of us think dogs and other "pet" animals shouldn't be eaten because we think it is inhumane, while other cultures see these animals as an everyday, normal food.
ReplyDeleteWe think "cows, chickens, and pigs are food that come in the form of steaks, burgers, strips, ribs, and hotdogs. Beagles on the other hand are pets" (Norm Violation:Pets or Food). This is what most Americans see as examples of food and pets. Other cultures can look at a pig and say,"Wow, a pig, I am going to make it my new pet." The world's cultures see thing differently, like food and pets. We have to respect these cultures no matter how inhumane you think it is because that is how they live.
I also agree with Taylor about how we categorize animals the way we do due to cultures and how we see certain things differently. The world we live in has many different cultures even in the old days, and due to that people eat different animals then some of us. For example, "Guinea pigs are one those animals that are given different meanings in different cultural contexts. In the US, they are consider pets. In the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Andes they are important sources of protein" (NORM VIOLATION: PETS OR FOOD?). This shows that some animal like a guinea pig is food in one place and a pet in another.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason is how they look. Like above. "Some animals are too "dirty" or "gross" to cuddle" (One of the reason above). This states that certain animals that are not clean or cute to keeps as pets and they are food. Furthermore, it show that it's also about the animal's appearance to see if an animal would be a pet or not. Overall, all around the world everyone sees things differently, whenever it's animals or culture.
The viewpoints of what an animal’s purpose is usually are the results of normalities or religious reasons as one of the interesting point a student made. As many of us probably learned this past week in history, Muslims do not eat pork. They believe that it is too dirty to be eaten. Society also makes this assumption. The article Norm Violation: Pets or Food says, “Our sense of the “natural” is jolted by reframing what we see as lovable pets into meat that is “just the right size for a pit barbecue.” It depends on your situation in life as well. A cute cuddly dog in a home with abundant food is part of the family but if that same dog were as in a home of poverty it could be their next meal.
ReplyDeleteThe ethics behind animals being food or friend is also the result of ancient relationships. Symbiotic relationships from animals include their abilities to hunt and assist in pest control. A cow can do neither and, therefore, we conclude that it has to be a steak because it can not catch us a steak. In addition, a tiger can hunt for you, but it is too vicious to be a pet. Being a pet is determined by an animal’s ability to be useful as well as its looks and charm.
I like the point about utility -- the usefulness of an animal as something other than food determines the category we put it in.
DeleteWe categorize this way because of cultures and how people view things. As it was in the past and as it still is in the future people have religious rules that have to be followed. Or maybe some people just think that some animals taste better than others. In the article Norm Violation: Pets or Food it states, "Our sense of the "natural" is jolted by reframing what we see as lovable pets into meat." This means that it is really up to the person that feels like eating.
ReplyDeleteBut again, some religions aren't aloud to eat certain animals like Muslims are not aloud to eat pork. They believe that pigs are dirty animals and should not be eaten. Also, "cows, chickens, are food that come in the form of steaks, burgers, strips, and hot dogs. Beagles on the other hand are seen as pets" (Norm Violation: Pets or Food). This is how I think most Americans categorize pets and animals.
We categorize animals based on how people views things and cultural rules. There are many other perspectives and cultures on how they interact with their animals. "Our sense of the “natural” is jolted by reframing what we see as lovable pets into meat" (Norm Violation: Pets or Food). For example, in the past and still now, we use cats and dogs to hunt. It makes us respect them more and as a result we don't make them food, but our pets. Certain animals make sense for us to have them as pets.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, there are also religious rules about animals. For example Muslims don't eat pork because they believe pigs are dirty animals. They don't eat camels because they help them travel and carry things. This shows that Muslims respect them and don't eat them. "Cows, chickens, and pigs are food that come in the form of steaks, burgers, strips, ribs, and hot dogs" (Norm Violation: Pets or Food). Though, dairy cows provide us milk not beef. These types of animals provide us food that taste good to us.
Would you eat a dog? Probably not. Would you have a deer as a pet? Also probably not. Why? For most people, it's just not the norm.
The way we classify animals as food depends on our cultural upbringing and the way we view animals. Our culture views domesticated animals as pets we care and feed—we do not feed on them. We see them as pets that we spend our time and devotion for, not as food that we grill and eat. Pets are more prone to affection—they are much easier to love than the boring sheep or lamb, which makes it harder to eat pets. We develop a bond that makes us very hesitate, even disgusted, with eating them. When we see other cultures around the world that eat what we think are pets, we grow a slight disdain for them. It is not right to us—our cultural upbringing says that it is wrong to eat pets. To us, caring for pets and loving them only to eat them is the worst type of betrayal—a backstabbing concept that we do not put in play.
ReplyDeleteUsage of animals also comes into play. We do not eat wrenches—we do not eat camels. Tools are things meant to be preserved and reused countless times—eating our tools and utilities goes against that notion. Pets have helped us, served as tools which we have come to love. We, given the way we are, want them to live long and have the best life possible. The concept is like this : We use a wrench or some tool to make our lives easier—and then we consume it. ((A ridiculous example, but it gets the point across nonetheless)) It is wrong and utterly vile to us. Animals, used as tools, will earn a deep respect that distances them from being food. The more useful and loved they are, the more likely that they will be classified as non-food organisms.
"Pets are more prone to affection." --Jun H.
DeleteThis is a really good point! Do you want to cuddle a cow? You might. They're kinda cute. But, does a cow want to cuddle YOU? Probably not.
This is a great discussion, guys, and I really like the ideas that are flowing from it.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people are also implying that "sentimental value" is an important consideration. That is key in considering individual perspective on how we categorize an animal. Person A loves his dog/cat, so he is horrified by the idea of eating a dog/cat.
There's another part to this, though. Even someone who eats, say, a chicken nugget may have a chicken as a pet, but would be horrified by eating their OWN pet chicken! It's very much about the sentimental value attached to that particular chicken. So, there are broad categories (this TYPE of animal is a pet) and there are personal categories (this PARTICULAR animal is a pet).
Keep your ideas coming!
There are many factors in choosing what animals are pets and what are foods. Two are culture and their past experiences with the animal. Cats and dogs were befriended by our ancestors, and now they are still being befriended by us. Cows were eaten by our ancestors so they are still being eaten by us today. The fact also depends largely on what your culture is. Some people don't eat certain animals, so they are out of their view of what is food.
ReplyDeleteAnother major factor in what we categorize as pets and food is on the animal's characteristics. If it is small, fun, safe, and cute, it would be an ideal pet. On the other hand, if the animal is common, large, and tasteful, it is more likely to be food.
Cows and pigs are too large to keep as pets and take too much food. Dogs and cats are small and can fit your house sand they don't take much food,
____________________________Jamal Nasim____________________________
I think that we consider some animals food and other animals pets because of many reason. One reason is that it depends on what you believe or your culture. Crickets and other insects are eaten in other countries as if it was normal. However in the United States we find it nasty if someone eats bugs because they are always dirty and in a nasty place. Another animal that is eaten in other countries but not in the United States are cats. Mostly in Asia, cats are sold and eaten. But cats are cute and furry pets to the U.S. This shows that it all depends on your culture.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason we consider some animals food and others pets is because some animals are dirty and gross: therefore, we wouldn't keep them as pets. From a caloric (biological) standpoint, we COULD eat dogs. Culturally, in the US, most find the idea repulsive"(socialogytoolbox.com). In the U.S it is gross to eat dogs because we see them as inedible animals because they are cute and cuddly. However in other countries if the animal is just the right size to cook, they would eat it. In conclusion, we consider some animals pets and other animals food becuase of culture and some animals are too furry and cuddly.
We categorize by cultures and how we view it. For example, people in China and Korea eat dog meat. In their cultures, dog meat is a delicacy. As Jaime said, in some places, people eat dog, and others don't.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, we don't eat dogs because they are loyal companions. They attack intruders, help blind people, and are man's best friends. We think that they are cuddly, soft and too cute to eat. Also, we eat some animals, but not others for a reason. Cows and pigs are to big to keep in your house, as Jamal said, and they need to eat big amounts, unlike cats and dogs.
Choosing which animal is food and which animal is food depends on your culture, like Jamal said. Most cultures, like USA, see pigs as food =, because they are sloppy and messy creatures we could do without. Others see pigs as little creatures who are equal to everyone else. For example, imagine if people just came up to you and said, "Oh yay, we can make you into food because you're messy". They see dogs as creatures who are food, rather than us who see pigs as messy creatures as food.
ReplyDeleteWe choose whats food or not by how they look too: Cute and cuddly. Dogs have been used for generations as a way to transport. Pigs and cows, on the other hand, have been useless and have been used to kill and eat to survive. Dogs and cats are kept as pets because they are cute little animals who aren't quite as messy as pigs and as useless as cows, so we keep them as small pets in our homes. Cows and pigs are left in barns because no one wants a cow or a pig as a pet in their house. Mainly we choose our pets based on how well they can contain themselves and their characteristics; so we don't choose cows and pigs as our pets, but rather food.
~Juliana P.
The way we classify animals being pets and being food is because of our culture and our relationship with animals. For example, if you had a farm and you raised all of those animals you wouldn't want to just eat them. If you didn't raise the animals it would be more likely that it was good food you would want t eat it." Our sense of "natural" is jolted by the cuddly animals we cuddle with on the couch"(www.sociologytoolbox.com).
ReplyDeleteSome animals do not deserve to be eaten, that's why some animals are extinct because what we do,. That is why animals are very important to humans. If we eat some animals we have a lot more of them. It depends on our relationship with the animals. We see pigs as the best food and a lot more foods we eat like cows, chickens, and more but americans usually eat whatever they want to like frogs and a lot more discusting foods. We don't have camels or cows as pets and so we can eat them but a lot of people don't want to eat their pets like dogs and cats. So I think it is a difference of opinion on what animals you eat.
Deciding what animal is food rather than a pet is mostly how you view the animal. A dog is viewed as a playful and fun animal; whereas a pig may be viewed as a dirty animal. People decide what to do with the animal based on these traits. For example, would you rather have a burger or snuggle with a cow. Would you rather eat a dog or play fetch with one. We use each animal with what is most beneficial or enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason is what your culture believes. According to sociologytoolbox.com, guinea pigs are an important source of protein in Peruvian. Americans see guinea pigs as a small, cute pet. Many countries eat crickets and bugs but Americans would see this as disgusting. "What we could eat is much broader than the cultural limits that define what we should eat and what we would even find appetizing" (sociologytoolbox.com). This shows how much is edible but culturally, we do not eat certain things. This is why we choose certain animals as pets or food.
I agree with Zach when he says that deciding what animals are food or pets is mostly how you view the animal. Some people may believe dogs are kind loving creatures, while others may think of dogs as creatures thst show compassion just to recieve food in return. The same goes for cats. Many people believe cats are great pets. Others believe cats are sly thieves.
ReplyDeleteMany people believe these differences are cultural too. In Peru guinea pigs are meals filled with protien, while other culktures use it as a pet. Some religions dont eat pig, while many people just see pigs as bacon or pork. Cows are also not eaten in some religions, but many people think of cows as steak or hamburgers.
The difference between pet and food could also be history. Dogs and cats can be traced back in history as friends and companions of man. Others are known as useless. Many animals were also killed because they were eating people's crops, so instead of letting the dead animal go to waste they ate it. One last reason could be need for survival. In America many pet lovers aren't starving people who need to eat whatever they can. They're people with the ability to choose what animals they'd like to eat.
In conclusion there are many factors that go in to the division of food and pets, but in the end the biggest factors are culture, history, and overall views and opinions.
We categorize animals this way based on our where you come from or what kind of environment you live in. For example "In the US, they (guinea pigs ) are consider pets. In the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Andes they are important sources of protein"(sociologytoolbox.com). In the US we find guinea pigs as adorable creatures that we could snuggle with in our hands due to their tiny chubby bodies, but in other places they consider it as important food due to them being a source of protein. Some animals or insects we consider too gross or too cute to eat are eaten in other places because of their beneficial values.
ReplyDeleteWhere you grow up is important in this to. For instance sociologytoolbox.com states, "You can bring this directly into the classroom with edible bugs – again, a source of protein that is culturally off limits in the US, but biologically possible." Some children live in areas where its normal to eat bugs, so normal that they take it to school and eat them in classrooms for a snack! They grew up and are growing up in an environment where its normal to eat that, whereas in the US that isn't normal and most people here grew up thinking that they're not going to eat an insect is gross, so if they see someone eating an insect they'll be disgusted by it.
We view the world by how we grew up in it, like if you were born in the US and grew up speaking English, it'd be normal for you to hear English and be confused when you hear some other language you didn't grow up learning. Its pretty similar with food, but instead of growing up speaking a type of language its growing up eating types of foods.
-Nikamarie F.
People categorize animals as pets or food due to many factors. Most people today will say that cats, dogs, hamsters, and etc. are adorable and should never be harmed. They might also say that pigs, cows, chickens, and other livestock are used only for food. It may not actually be because we think things are cute and others or not, but rather that pets originally served us better when they were alive than being eaten, while others weren't. Pet's were mainly work partners a long time ago, and maybe we just sticked with them. This will definitely vary from culture to culture, because some countries eat what we consider "pets" and keep animals considered "livestock" as pets. For example,"In the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Andes they (guinea pigs) are important sources of protein" (sociologytoolbox.com).
ReplyDeleteWhen America was first being settled, dogs were used to hunt for food and guard us. Cats were used to rid places of pests in Egypt. Obviously, it would be silly to eat them if they were helpful. Cows, chickens, pigs and etc. may not have been as useful and were eaten. In some countries, religious reasons prevent them from eating meat/certain meats, so this may not apply. Also, a lot of people nowadays keep chickens and miniature pigs as pets, so this does not apply either. The categorizing of animals as pets or food depends mostly on where you live, your personal beliefs, and what you were told growing up.
Deciding whether an animal is food or pet really depends on how you see the animal. For example, most people might see a kitten as adorable and they feel they can't hurt it. Although, when they see a cow, they are disgusted and go and eat a hamburger. Also, they classify them based on how helpful they are, like some types of dogs are used for hunting, and some types of cats are used to catch rodents. Cows, chickens, and pigs are not very useful, so they ate them. "Crickets, grubs, and termites are all eaten in other countries, often delicacies" (sociologytoolbox.com). Crickets, grubs, and termites are not useful, so they ate them.
ReplyDeleteDeciding whether the animals are food or friend also depends on where you are. For example, "An NPR story explores guinea pig consumption in Peru and their emergence in South American focused restaurants in the US"(sosiologytoolbox.com). This shows that people in Peru don't see guinea pigs as pets, they see them as a meal. "What we could eat is much broader than the cultural limits that define what we should eat and what we would even find appetizing. We will only understand this by using our sociological imagination." This means that people must eat what they need to survive, like crickets, spiders, or guinea pigs. Many people might find this disgusting, but the people that eat these things have been eating it for centuries, and they find it normal.
We see animals in three ways. Pets, food, and wild. Whether an animal is a pet or food depends on how the animal is treated and how we look at it. If the animal has a sentimental value to it, people tend to get offended when people insult that sentimentality.
ReplyDelete"The definitions of “appropriate” food are socially constructed and it is often only through norm violations that we see how much stronger the sociological forces are compared to actual biological limitations of the calories available to us," (sociologytoolbox.com). In other places around the world, foods that you consider gross or as pets can be a delicacy. Things like eating crickets may be weird or odd to people in America but is a delicacy on other continents in other countries. Same with cats or dogs. We don't usually see cats or dogs on the menu at McDonalds, we see them in our backyard or in our house. We grow sentimentally attached to them because of being near them every single day, being able to take care of them and love them. To most people in America, we don't have a cow in our house and we don't have them as pets. We don't grow attached to them so we don't have much of a problem with eating the meat provided by them. The mentality of eating something you love (that you loved before food form) is disturbing to most people. The answer to why some animals are pets and some food is the way you see them in normal everyday life. It's different for every person.
I think that there are a few reason why here in america, some animals are considered pets while others dinner. First of all , most of the pets we have are more pleasent to the eye than a cow or a chicken. Secondly, us humans have been using animals, for example dogs, as companions and helpers for thousands of years. we have used dogs to hunt, and protect ourselves. ( i dont like this! if your going to have someone protect you, Be a man and protect yourself!) This traditon has been carried down through many generations and is now natural to both us humans and dogs.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, when humans get desperate for food, any animal or human(creepy) can become their next meal. Some animals considered pets here, are considered food in othe places. for example" An NPR story explores the consumption of guinea pigs in Peru and their emergence in south american resteurants in the US."(Sociologytoolbox.com) This shows that even when some people are not desperate, they can still have different opinions on what is friend and what is food. There are many other reasons why some people consider a goldfish a friend and whiole others would wrap it in rice and seaweed.