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On November 19 2011 15:31 Jemesatui wrote:Show nested quote +On November 19 2011 12:39 eXigent. wrote:On November 19 2011 12:06 TruthIsCold wrote:On November 19 2011 11:58 eXigent. wrote:On November 19 2011 11:10 TruthIsCold wrote:On November 19 2011 11:06 turamn wrote:
So, I'm going to be brutally honest....It's a wild fucking animal...it wasn't even a house pet or anything like that. Hundreds of thousands of animals die daily man, you'll get over it. You did nothing wrong, you weren't speeding, you weren't drunk, you weren't getting a handy from Big Foot while driving. It was an accident, it was a wild animal, it was dumb enough to run in front of your giant vehicle going faster than it's tiny brain can calculate. I just cannot fathom how something like this can 'ruin' someone's day. lol yes, that's mostly true... But you know, many of us in America have grown up in a safe, comfortable bubble for most of our lives. We haven't come to terms with the harsh reality, because we haven't really experienced it much. The more harsh reality people experience, the less distress they will experience when they, say, run over a wild animal. I think my name says it all  It has nothing to do with being in a "safe bubble". Many people feel emotions when having a part in the death of anything. Just because you think its normal for a wild animal to be killed, doesnt mean the person who did it cannot feel remorse for the act. I always look at it this way...Who am I to take the life of something else? Since when is it acceptable to decide when another living organism should end its life? Obviously the OP had not intended to take the life of the raccoon, but he can still feel shitty that it happened. So yes, it CAN ruin someones day. It wasn't the OP's decision. It just happened. It is irrational to get upset over it. Does he get upset over the animals that other people accidentally run over? Upset when he takes a walk and knows he can't really go anywhere outside without risking stepping on and killing insects? Upset when he eats food, which is pretty much 90%+ living organisms? It absolutely has to do with living in a bubble. Someone who experiences death as a natural daily part of existence will not have their day ruined when a raccoon gets run over. When you don't experience or see much death, when a butcher kills your food for you and puts it in nice little plastic packages in the freezer section, you do not become desensitized to reality. I don't think its irrational at all to get upset over killing something, whether or not it was an accident. How is that irrational? That doesn't even make sense. Secondly, there is a difference between being uspet over someone else killing something, and you killing something. 1 is much more personal than the other. Lastly, I dont eat meat in nice little packages in the freezer section because like I said, I dont believe in killing animals when I don't have to. It is easily possible to maintain a healthy diet without eating meat, and thats my choice. I am not sensitive to death, it happens to everyone. I am sensitive to personally killing things regardless of how it happened. being upset is one thing, and feeling guilty is another. there is nothing irrational about feeling upset about the loss of life. however, dwelling on it, and finding yourself responsible when it clearly was not, IS irrational, and detrimental to your well being. it is clearly evident that the OP has an irrational response to the loss of life.
It's normal for a human being to feel guilt after killing an animal. Maybe he feels if he was more careful he could have dodged the raccoon. Shit happens in life. Hitting that raccoon was no more his fault in running over it than it was the raccoon's fault for venturing onto the road; animals aren't smart enough to recognize asphalt as a terrain hazard.
I don't see how "rationality" factors into his emotions at all. It's not extremely aberrant behavior like he hit a tree and feels bad about it, he hit an animal. Additionally, you're not exactly consoling him by discussing the philosophical ramifications of guilt and whether or not it's rational to apply it to the situation at hand.
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On November 19 2011 18:07 Newbistic wrote:Show nested quote +On November 19 2011 15:31 Jemesatui wrote:On November 19 2011 12:39 eXigent. wrote:On November 19 2011 12:06 TruthIsCold wrote:On November 19 2011 11:58 eXigent. wrote:On November 19 2011 11:10 TruthIsCold wrote:On November 19 2011 11:06 turamn wrote:
So, I'm going to be brutally honest....It's a wild fucking animal...it wasn't even a house pet or anything like that. Hundreds of thousands of animals die daily man, you'll get over it. You did nothing wrong, you weren't speeding, you weren't drunk, you weren't getting a handy from Big Foot while driving. It was an accident, it was a wild animal, it was dumb enough to run in front of your giant vehicle going faster than it's tiny brain can calculate. I just cannot fathom how something like this can 'ruin' someone's day. lol yes, that's mostly true... But you know, many of us in America have grown up in a safe, comfortable bubble for most of our lives. We haven't come to terms with the harsh reality, because we haven't really experienced it much. The more harsh reality people experience, the less distress they will experience when they, say, run over a wild animal. I think my name says it all It has nothing to do with being in a "safe bubble". Many people feel emotions when having a part in the death of anything. Just because you think its normal for a wild animal to be killed, doesnt mean the person who did it cannot feel remorse for the act. I always look at it this way...Who am I to take the life of something else? Since when is it acceptable to decide when another living organism should end its life? Obviously the OP had not intended to take the life of the raccoon, but he can still feel shitty that it happened. So yes, it CAN ruin someones day. It wasn't the OP's decision. It just happened. It is irrational to get upset over it. Does he get upset over the animals that other people accidentally run over? Upset when he takes a walk and knows he can't really go anywhere outside without risking stepping on and killing insects? Upset when he eats food, which is pretty much 90%+ living organisms? It absolutely has to do with living in a bubble. Someone who experiences death as a natural daily part of existence will not have their day ruined when a raccoon gets run over. When you don't experience or see much death, when a butcher kills your food for you and puts it in nice little plastic packages in the freezer section, you do not become desensitized to reality. I don't think its irrational at all to get upset over killing something, whether or not it was an accident. How is that irrational? That doesn't even make sense. Secondly, there is a difference between being uspet over someone else killing something, and you killing something. 1 is much more personal than the other. Lastly, I dont eat meat in nice little packages in the freezer section because like I said, I dont believe in killing animals when I don't have to. It is easily possible to maintain a healthy diet without eating meat, and thats my choice. I am not sensitive to death, it happens to everyone. I am sensitive to personally killing things regardless of how it happened. being upset is one thing, and feeling guilty is another. there is nothing irrational about feeling upset about the loss of life. however, dwelling on it, and finding yourself responsible when it clearly was not, IS irrational, and detrimental to your well being. it is clearly evident that the OP has an irrational response to the loss of life. It's normal for a human being to feel guilt after killing an animal. Maybe he feels if he was more careful he could have dodged the raccoon. Shit happens in life. Hitting that raccoon was no more his fault in running over it than it was the raccoon's fault for venturing onto the road; animals aren't smart enough to recognize asphalt as a terrain hazard. I don't see how "rationality" factors into his emotions at all. It's not extremely aberrant behavior like he hit a tree and feels bad about it, he hit an animal. Additionally, you're not exactly consoling him by discussing the philosophical ramifications of guilt and whether or not it's rational to apply it to the situation at hand.
You're right. The speed limit was 50 mph, and I was driving 60mph because there were no other cars on the road. Had I been only going the speed limit, I would've had extra time to react, and may not have hit the raccoon.
I honestly don't believe I'm being irrational. Putting on leather shoes isn't the same as you personally running over a cow with your car.
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On November 19 2011 18:07 Newbistic wrote:Show nested quote +On November 19 2011 15:31 Jemesatui wrote:On November 19 2011 12:39 eXigent. wrote:On November 19 2011 12:06 TruthIsCold wrote:On November 19 2011 11:58 eXigent. wrote:On November 19 2011 11:10 TruthIsCold wrote:On November 19 2011 11:06 turamn wrote:
So, I'm going to be brutally honest....It's a wild fucking animal...it wasn't even a house pet or anything like that. Hundreds of thousands of animals die daily man, you'll get over it. You did nothing wrong, you weren't speeding, you weren't drunk, you weren't getting a handy from Big Foot while driving. It was an accident, it was a wild animal, it was dumb enough to run in front of your giant vehicle going faster than it's tiny brain can calculate. I just cannot fathom how something like this can 'ruin' someone's day. lol yes, that's mostly true... But you know, many of us in America have grown up in a safe, comfortable bubble for most of our lives. We haven't come to terms with the harsh reality, because we haven't really experienced it much. The more harsh reality people experience, the less distress they will experience when they, say, run over a wild animal. I think my name says it all It has nothing to do with being in a "safe bubble". Many people feel emotions when having a part in the death of anything. Just because you think its normal for a wild animal to be killed, doesnt mean the person who did it cannot feel remorse for the act. I always look at it this way...Who am I to take the life of something else? Since when is it acceptable to decide when another living organism should end its life? Obviously the OP had not intended to take the life of the raccoon, but he can still feel shitty that it happened. So yes, it CAN ruin someones day. It wasn't the OP's decision. It just happened. It is irrational to get upset over it. Does he get upset over the animals that other people accidentally run over? Upset when he takes a walk and knows he can't really go anywhere outside without risking stepping on and killing insects? Upset when he eats food, which is pretty much 90%+ living organisms? It absolutely has to do with living in a bubble. Someone who experiences death as a natural daily part of existence will not have their day ruined when a raccoon gets run over. When you don't experience or see much death, when a butcher kills your food for you and puts it in nice little plastic packages in the freezer section, you do not become desensitized to reality. I don't think its irrational at all to get upset over killing something, whether or not it was an accident. How is that irrational? That doesn't even make sense. Secondly, there is a difference between being uspet over someone else killing something, and you killing something. 1 is much more personal than the other. Lastly, I dont eat meat in nice little packages in the freezer section because like I said, I dont believe in killing animals when I don't have to. It is easily possible to maintain a healthy diet without eating meat, and thats my choice. I am not sensitive to death, it happens to everyone. I am sensitive to personally killing things regardless of how it happened. being upset is one thing, and feeling guilty is another. there is nothing irrational about feeling upset about the loss of life. however, dwelling on it, and finding yourself responsible when it clearly was not, IS irrational, and detrimental to your well being. it is clearly evident that the OP has an irrational response to the loss of life. It's normal for a human being to feel guilt after killing an animal. Maybe he feels if he was more careful he could have dodged the raccoon. Shit happens in life. Hitting that raccoon was no more his fault in running over it than it was the raccoon's fault for venturing onto the road; animals aren't smart enough to recognize asphalt as a terrain hazard. I don't see how "rationality" factors into his emotions at all. It's not extremely aberrant behavior like he hit a tree and feels bad about it, he hit an animal. Additionally, you're not exactly consoling him by discussing the philosophical ramifications of guilt and whether or not it's rational to apply it to the situation at hand.
What i'm trying to get at, is that thoughts and emotions are closely linked. depression is the biggest example of this, bad thinking habits creating unwarranted emotions for whatever reason. given any situation, while emotional responses are entirely subjective, there needs to be a level of 'rationality' (i don't know what word to use) behind these emotions. too rational and you are cold, and too emotional you are.. just incapable of making good decisions. So in life, we attempt to balance our emotions and the rationality behind them.
My intentions here are not to console him, for that would only condone this response in similar future events. If you want to live life crying over stepping on an ant, then so be it. But this is no different to a boy who hates himself for failing an exam even though he tried his hardest, or a bulimic girl who never feels pretty enough for her partner (albeit on a much smaller scale)
There is something for the op to learn from here, and saying 'hey it's completely normal for you to feel this way' only justifies the way he feels, reinforcing that in his mind, its 'rational'.
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On November 20 2011 00:34 RoosterSamurai wrote:Show nested quote +On November 19 2011 18:07 Newbistic wrote:On November 19 2011 15:31 Jemesatui wrote:On November 19 2011 12:39 eXigent. wrote:On November 19 2011 12:06 TruthIsCold wrote:On November 19 2011 11:58 eXigent. wrote:On November 19 2011 11:10 TruthIsCold wrote:On November 19 2011 11:06 turamn wrote:
So, I'm going to be brutally honest....It's a wild fucking animal...it wasn't even a house pet or anything like that. Hundreds of thousands of animals die daily man, you'll get over it. You did nothing wrong, you weren't speeding, you weren't drunk, you weren't getting a handy from Big Foot while driving. It was an accident, it was a wild animal, it was dumb enough to run in front of your giant vehicle going faster than it's tiny brain can calculate. I just cannot fathom how something like this can 'ruin' someone's day. lol yes, that's mostly true... But you know, many of us in America have grown up in a safe, comfortable bubble for most of our lives. We haven't come to terms with the harsh reality, because we haven't really experienced it much. The more harsh reality people experience, the less distress they will experience when they, say, run over a wild animal. I think my name says it all It has nothing to do with being in a "safe bubble". Many people feel emotions when having a part in the death of anything. Just because you think its normal for a wild animal to be killed, doesnt mean the person who did it cannot feel remorse for the act. I always look at it this way...Who am I to take the life of something else? Since when is it acceptable to decide when another living organism should end its life? Obviously the OP had not intended to take the life of the raccoon, but he can still feel shitty that it happened. So yes, it CAN ruin someones day. It wasn't the OP's decision. It just happened. It is irrational to get upset over it. Does he get upset over the animals that other people accidentally run over? Upset when he takes a walk and knows he can't really go anywhere outside without risking stepping on and killing insects? Upset when he eats food, which is pretty much 90%+ living organisms? It absolutely has to do with living in a bubble. Someone who experiences death as a natural daily part of existence will not have their day ruined when a raccoon gets run over. When you don't experience or see much death, when a butcher kills your food for you and puts it in nice little plastic packages in the freezer section, you do not become desensitized to reality. I don't think its irrational at all to get upset over killing something, whether or not it was an accident. How is that irrational? That doesn't even make sense. Secondly, there is a difference between being uspet over someone else killing something, and you killing something. 1 is much more personal than the other. Lastly, I dont eat meat in nice little packages in the freezer section because like I said, I dont believe in killing animals when I don't have to. It is easily possible to maintain a healthy diet without eating meat, and thats my choice. I am not sensitive to death, it happens to everyone. I am sensitive to personally killing things regardless of how it happened. being upset is one thing, and feeling guilty is another. there is nothing irrational about feeling upset about the loss of life. however, dwelling on it, and finding yourself responsible when it clearly was not, IS irrational, and detrimental to your well being. it is clearly evident that the OP has an irrational response to the loss of life. It's normal for a human being to feel guilt after killing an animal. Maybe he feels if he was more careful he could have dodged the raccoon. Shit happens in life. Hitting that raccoon was no more his fault in running over it than it was the raccoon's fault for venturing onto the road; animals aren't smart enough to recognize asphalt as a terrain hazard. I don't see how "rationality" factors into his emotions at all. It's not extremely aberrant behavior like he hit a tree and feels bad about it, he hit an animal. Additionally, you're not exactly consoling him by discussing the philosophical ramifications of guilt and whether or not it's rational to apply it to the situation at hand. You're right. The speed limit was 50 mph, and I was driving 60mph because there were no other cars on the road. Had I been only going the speed limit, I would've had extra time to react, and may not have hit the raccoon. I honestly don't believe I'm being irrational. Putting on leather shoes isn't the same as you personally running over a cow with your car.
The money you spend on leather, goes to the leather industry, whose output depends on demand, in which case if no one wore leather, they would not kill any cows to make it.
So technically, every person who wears leather, has killed a part of that cow, the same goes with eating meat/poultry, pollution/global warming, etc etc
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When the black snake
flashed onto the morning road,
and the truck could not swerve--
death, that is how it happens.
Now he lies looped and useless
as an old bicycle tire.
I stop the car
and carry him into the bushes.
He is as cool and gleaming
as a braided whip, he is as beautiful and quiet
as a dead brother.
I leave him under the leaves
and drive on, thinking
about death: its suddenness,
its terrible weight,
its certain coming. Yet under
reason burns a brighter fire, which the bones
have always preferred.
It is the story of endless good fortune.
It says to oblivion: not me!
It is the light at the center of every cell.
It is what sent the snake coiling and flowing forward
happily all spring through the green leaves before
he came to the road.
~ Mary Oliver ~
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On November 20 2011 01:43 err wrote:
When the black snake
flashed onto the morning road,
and the truck could not swerve--
death, that is how it happens.
Now he lies looped and useless
as an old bicycle tire.
I stop the car
and carry him into the bushes.
He is as cool and gleaming
as a braided whip, he is as beautiful and quiet
as a dead brother.
I leave him under the leaves
and drive on, thinking
about death: its suddenness,
its terrible weight,
its certain coming. Yet under
reason burns a brighter fire, which the bones
have always preferred.
It is the story of endless good fortune.
It says to oblivion: not me!
It is the light at the center of every cell.
It is what sent the snake coiling and flowing forward
happily all spring through the green leaves before
he came to the road.
~ Mary Oliver ~
That poem is really applicable to this situation. Thanks for posting it.
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EPT
