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What the fuck is it with settler states that make them so outrageously evil? (hexbear.net)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by refolde@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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I don't usually use 'evil' to describe things but I don't know any other word to describe settler states and their tendency to massacre and torment people they stole their land from and gleefully brag about all the horrific atrocities they've committed/want to commit. Never before have I seen a group people that take more joy in the suffering of others than the kinds of people that want to wipe out entire societies and claim their land for their own.

This is the kinda shit where if you write villains that act exactly like this people will slam you for bad or unrealistic writing, but no, it would actually be perfectly in line with reality all things considered.

EDIT: ps I know me not good at writing things. Wish I can write my thoughts on this better, but I can't really get it into right now

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[-] pillow@hexbear.net 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

in some cases you need the hunt to balance the birth rates of prey animals

I think it's probably more difficult than you realize to make a moral case for intervening to keep predator/prey populations in balance

imbalance is generally humans' fault in the first place; swooping in again to fill up your chest freezer with meat is just double dipping
ecosystem preservation or whatever is all tied up with romantic ideals and rarely puts animal suffering ahead of human aesthetic sensibilities, on even a utilitarian basis let alone a moral one. are you actually helping animals or are you just participating in perpetuating the cycle of carnage?

[-] xj9@hexbear.net 1 points 2 years ago

you should look into the relationship between deer and wolves in the inter-mountain west in north america. in particular the case studies of the removal and later re-introduction of wolves to yellowstone. there's some interesting work being done tracking degenerative conditions among deer populations that may be tied to the removal of predator animals from the region. hunting is popular in the region, so its not like humans are doing the job properly either.

its interesting to think about and it upsets dogmatic vegans so win-win. this view leads me towards eating mostly vegetarian, so its not like i'm diametrically opposed to veganism or super into meat eating. it just doesn't seem coherent to me to draw this special distinction between humans and animals. a solid philosophical system in my opinion should be able to address all inter-species relationships in some way, otherwise it cannot grapple with concepts like homeostasis effectively.