I've thought about this for a few days. I guess there is no easy answer. I think it's probably different for each pet owner.
As a non-pet owner, I wonder if you need another approach. As in, maybe there's another question that would give you a similar answer.
Why do people choose to have children?
[Granted the responsibility levels are miles apart, but there are situations where they run hand and hand. IE caring for another being requires you to provide food, shelter, 'grooming', patience...]
I've steered away from the children/pets comparisons. It seems like a slippery slope no matter which way you go.
However, there are a couple differences between children and pets that are unequivocal. Pets never grow up and move away. While pets do provide a lot of unconditional love, they never actually participate in a profound conversation or ask provocative questions.
I'm looking for specific answers to the question, not so much a global answer to the rhetorical, but I wasn't clear.
I realize that I wasn't specific, per se, but this blog does have limited visibility.
I would be more interested in why you, who have pets, have pets. But other people might have opinions on why they think other people have pets. For that matter, why they don't have pets.
We are getting cats. But as I thought about it, I couldn't really come up with a reason.
Exactly to your first para. or Toute a fait. I don't think I ever passed judgment on the idea of pets, or cats as pets in this whole thread.
Everyone here wanted a pet, but me. It's not that was against pets. It's just that never was walking down the street thinking "self, what you need is a pet. Or. Self, how bout a dog or cat."
I want the people here to be happy so voila, kats. I have nothing against either variety of pets, cats or dogs. Seriously, ferrts, iguanas? Whatever.
Amy had a cat when we met. Adam had a cat at different times. We had dogs as kids. I think I can live with them. I'm willing to learn something about them. They might grow on me.
I know about the pschological benefit but I prefer to stick with 'talking therapy' for my main source of that.
I don't know if you are refering to some part of your own life in that and our pets and Dad in that reply. That had to suck. It's exactly what I'm hoping to avoid. However, we do need a little time to get to know each other and some cooperation about who does what when.
I would add that this whole question came up as I was being grilled by the bead lady before the cats arrived. She was asking me questions like I might actually know something.
This opened to the door to the ultimate question. I realized I had never really thought about it. Why do people have pets? I then realized that I had no idea. Sort of a weird feeling but not unfamiliar. It's like if someone asked you why ketchup with burgers and mustard with hot dogs? And you start to explain but then realize that what seems normal to you, absolutely incontravertible, is utterly unexplainable.
So I figured I could bring this question to a 'safe place' and ask your sorry asses about it. As usual, the discussion did not disappoint.
6 comments:
From trouble_magnet
I've thought about this for a few days. I guess there is no easy answer. I think it's probably different for each pet owner.
As a non-pet owner, I wonder if you need another approach. As in, maybe there's another question that would give you a similar answer.
Why do people choose to have children?
[Granted the responsibility levels are miles apart, but there are situations where they run hand and hand. IE caring for another being requires you to provide food, shelter, 'grooming', patience...]
I've steered away from the children/pets comparisons. It seems like a slippery slope no matter which way you go.
However, there are a couple differences between children and pets that are unequivocal. Pets never grow up and move away. While pets do provide a lot of unconditional love, they never actually participate in a profound conversation or ask provocative questions.
I'm looking for specific answers to the question, not so much a global answer to the rhetorical, but I wasn't clear.
I realize that I wasn't specific, per se, but this blog does have limited visibility.
I would be more interested in why you, who have pets, have pets. But other people might have opinions on why they think other people have pets. For that matter, why they don't have pets.
We are getting cats. But as I thought about it, I couldn't really come up with a reason.
I'm going to learn to love them. that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Exactly to your first para. or Toute a fait. I don't think I ever passed judgment on the idea of pets, or cats as pets in this whole thread.
Everyone here wanted a pet, but me. It's not that was against pets. It's just that never was walking down the street thinking "self, what you need is a pet. Or. Self, how bout a dog or cat."
I want the people here to be happy so voila, kats. I have nothing against either variety of pets, cats or dogs. Seriously, ferrts, iguanas? Whatever.
Amy had a cat when we met. Adam had a cat at different times. We had dogs as kids. I think I can live with them. I'm willing to learn something about them. They might grow on me.
I know about the pschological benefit but I prefer to stick with 'talking therapy' for my main source of that.
I don't know if you are refering to some part of your own life in that and our pets and Dad in that reply. That had to suck. It's exactly what I'm hoping to avoid. However, we do need a little time to get to know each other and some cooperation about who does what when.
I would add that this whole question came up as I was being grilled by the bead lady before the cats arrived. She was asking me questions like I might actually know something.
This opened to the door to the ultimate question. I realized I had never really thought about it. Why do people have pets? I then realized that I had no idea. Sort of a weird feeling but not unfamiliar. It's like if someone asked you why ketchup with burgers and mustard with hot dogs? And you start to explain but then realize that what seems normal to you, absolutely incontravertible, is utterly unexplainable.
So I figured I could bring this question to a 'safe place' and ask your sorry asses about it. As usual, the discussion did not disappoint.
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