The concept of pets is bizarre, amirite?

Looks like someone has 0 concept of domestication and 0 empathy for animals

by Automatic_Amount_119 1 week ago

I mean it didn't start off as empathy. Animals served a purpose for us. Now pets are basically a novelty for most people because we don't need dogs to hunt and protect livestock or cats to keep rats away. They can still do those things I guess but that is not why 99% of people buy them.

by Realistic_Put 1 week ago

Yeah it's so weird when different species coexist with each other, that's never happened before

by yasmeen02 1 week ago

Cats and dogs are domesticated. That means they have over years and years become civilized in a way they're not beasts. They are household members

by Anonymous 1 week ago

If it wasn't so normalized by society, people that did it would be considered complete weirdos. That would apply to everything ever. There's a reason why keeping a pet is normalized across the planet.

by kimberlymayer 1 week ago

Whose idea was it There's a pretty good argument to be made that it was the beast's idea. Think about it, if you were a wolf, you'd start hanging around the group of people throwing away leftover bones and building nice warm fires. And we know for a fact cats basically domesticated themselves because they hung around human settlements catching the vermin that were attracted by grain storage.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I always find it awkward how to respond when people compliment my dogs. It's not like I am responsible for how cute they are, should I say thank you?

by Sure-Manufacturer 1 week ago

Just agree and join in on the glazing.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I don't have a pet, and I don't particularly want one for various reasons. But not understanding them is a crimson red flag dude.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

My cat thinks living with me is bizarre

by Apart-Leek-8652 1 week ago

I've met plenty of "literal beasts" who have better manners than some people 🤷🏼‍♀️ Dogs are welcome in my house, in laws are not

by Anonymous 1 week ago

A person who had no one else.

by Schuppejefferey 1 week ago

America takes it a step further. I was shocked to see how many people here keep their dog in a cage for long stretches of time. It is an extremely cruel practice and if I go to someone's house and see their dog in a cage, the person goes way down in my estimation. I don't care if it is common practice in America, it is so dang cruel. And no your dog does not 'like' to be in their cage, they have simply accepted it, as is their obedient nature, you utter cretin.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

There are more pets than people in my house. Sometimes I do think about the fact there's "wolves" in my house.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I think it's time we make pigeons pets. They were domesticated and we just sent them on their way to fend for themselves. They're so cute.

by Sweet-Election 1 week ago

It's called a symbiotic relationship. Many species have them, not just humans. We're just the only ones who have a unique name for it. Ants keep aphids, ravens and wolves work together, some species of monkeys care for other species of monkeys, tarantulas have frogs, and it's all mutually beneficial. Same for us with dogs, cats, and other creatures we keep. We care for them, and they fulfill something for us. Wether that be pest control, emotional support, protection, or something else.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Is it really symbiotic though? How do you know they want to be in your house? I mean you're basically kidnapping them from their family to bring them into your house so you can call them part of your "family".

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Except it's not a case of providing them shelter. It's a case of people kidnapping them from their family at the farm to bring them into your house so you can claim them as a member of your "family". They're not your family.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

did you miss the self domestication part? reading is hard, i know, but you gotta try if you want to have a conversation.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I'd hardly call a pug, chihuahua or French bulldog a "beast" (except sarcastically). Just an amusing, domesticated and largely pathetic critter that brings joy to any household.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

They didn't just bring a beast in their house. Long-term domestication through mutual interest had to occur.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I disagree on your take as a whole, but I think I can see your point of view. Others replied better than I ever could, though. What I'd like to point out is that "if it wasn't normalised by society, the people who do it would be considered weird" works for everything. If nobody had chairs in their house, and it was considered normal, the one person who does have chairs would be considered weird, even if they're more comfy than sitting on the floor

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Unsure if you're aware that dogs in particular evolved with us. By providing protection and hunting assistance we were able to consume a lot more protein helping our brains develop. We could also sleep better and longer because they would be our "watch dogs"

by noemi84 1 week ago

Historically, pets were practical things. Dogs helped hunt. Cats clear out vermin that would eat your food. Birds help hunt (and later on could send messages). We don't "need" pets for those functions anymore (well outside certain careers anyway), but it's so engrained in us that we continue to do so anyway. Now they are just nice for a form of companionship.

by Fun-Body-7109 1 week ago

Obviously you don't have pets. Your choice, however we are dogs and cat lovers, and that's our choice. Calling it bizarre isn't going to endear you to many people, probably best to keep that to yourself.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This is unpopular opinions, op belongs here

by Tomkoelpin 1 week ago

There was never "bringing a beast into your home", it was thousands of years of human-animal coexistence, where the animals learned that if they did certain things for us, they would receive food and shelter, and it grew into a loving companionship from there.

by Vidal04 1 week ago

Look at the state of the world and tell me we are better than animals… The concept started when having a wolf around provided security.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Idk why people decided to domesticate animals, but I'm happy about it. Animals are fun, humans are insufferable.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

They decided to domesticate themselves

by Unhappy_Parfait 6 days ago

This is an unpopular opinion.

by SelectReference434 6 days ago

this happened over literally thousands upon thousands of years

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I would say perverse, but bizarre is also true.

by Suspicious-Ear1558 6 days ago

not sure you know what perverse means

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Making a sentient creature totally dependent on you in order to manipulate it into satisfying your emotional needs fits my definition.

by Suspicious-Ear1558 6 days ago

They didn't start off inside the house, dufus

by Loma48 6 days ago

Psychopath.

by Exciting_Resist 6 days ago

Dude this has been happening for a very long time.

by CellistNo6894 6 days ago

Is this really a hot take? There are SO many things that are culturally normal for some people which seem alien and "weird" to those outside the culture. This is not a shocking opinion. It's just how "normalizing" anything works.

by Marianrau 6 days ago