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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Grainne who wrote (94615)	1/25/2005 12:48:51 AM
From: cosmicforce	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Well, for me it was a continuum. I'm sure to the carrot it isn't very different. I'm not sure an organized nervous system is the test. It is well known that amoeba can be trained to recoil to light. You turn on a light, zap them, turn on a light, zap them, turn on a light, they recoil. Experientially this suggest a real time awareness that the thing is suffering and further, expects to suffer in the future when the same set of events comes to pass. What is that if not "awareness"? The telegraph vine in the Amazon is also known to be able to transmit "feelings" at over 20 mph across 1000's of feet. The "sensitive plant", I don't remember the species but it grows as a weed in the lawns of Puerto Rico, will recoil proportional to the "pain" one inflicts. All of this left me with the realization that we all cause suffering and that we should minimize it. So, no I really don't see a difference other than my subjective view of it. I always think that some alien species ala Hitchhikers Guide could come along and find our level of activity not much different than that of an ant. It's all in the perception. The American Indians of the plains apologized to their prey explaining that they would use it to the fullest and that they were sorry to have had to kill the animal they ate. Makes sense to me. "Sorry I've killed and eaten you, but I will make sure I honor your spirit." I'm not sure its so reassuring on the receiving end, but it shows an awareness of the impact. I just bypass the apology part and try to honor the spirit. JMO.