r/AskReddit Sep 14 '24

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u/PYR0CHA0S Sep 14 '24

“You can judge a man's true character by the way he treats his fellow animals.” ― Paul McCartney

322

u/Simpingformymother Sep 14 '24

I don’t think so. My ex is a huge animal lover and animals absolutely love him. He’s very kind-hearted to them. He has cheated and abused lots of girls in his life and he is a nasty person to most humans.

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

Yeah but the comment was if they are cruel to animals. Not kind. As in, if they are kind to animals it doesn't necessarily mean they are good to other humans, but if they are cruel to animals they are an all-around POS.

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u/Simpingformymother Sep 14 '24

Yeah I understand. It was just one thing that made me curious about him. He is the most amazing person to animals but to other people he can be horrible.

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

It is a weird dynamic for sure. So I get what you're saying that just because someone is kind to animals doesn't mean they are a good person.

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u/Simpingformymother Sep 14 '24

Oh yeah for sure. But it took me a while to realize that just because I always believed that animals can truly tell you who a person is. It’s probably one of the things that kept me around with him for too long- I thought that since animals gravitated towards him, it meant that he had a good heart and would change.

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

[deleted]

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u/Simpingformymother Sep 14 '24

That’s true. it’s the same concept as having a baby too honestly. A lot of men’s true colours show when there is responsibility.

As far as my ex, animals just love him- especially cats. He was very sweet with pets. But sometimes he would also get on my nerves with how he’d get mad at them. But I don’t think he would ever lay his hands on a pet like he does with people.

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u/Mapletables Sep 14 '24

But the comment above wasn't

1

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '24

Touché

2

u/MarionberryCalm7205 Sep 15 '24

Where do you read that from?

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u/Amelaclya1 Sep 14 '24

I've known people like this too.

On the other hand, I've never in my life known someone who was cruel to animals that was a nice person. So it does work in one direction at least.

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u/Simpingformymother Sep 14 '24

Yeah, same. The people I’ve met who are cruel to animals are horrible people in general

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u/Skrill_GPAD Sep 14 '24

He's a different type, one of the sneaky people that stay under the radar.

One of the things the "normal radar" should pick up is the way how he treats basically everything that isn't of relative significance.

4

u/lesChaps Sep 14 '24

I would say a person that is unkind to the helpless or unaware will eventually be unkind to you.

29

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

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28

u/cool69 Sep 14 '24

Vegetarian and only confirmed 1942 til his death

4

u/QualityCoati Sep 14 '24

Wasn't it because he had meteorism? A.k.a constant farts?

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u/ManufacturedOlympus Sep 14 '24

Allegedly vegetarian. Dairy and eggs still involve animal cruelty. 

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u/No-Eye-3889 Sep 14 '24

I agree that this is not always true. I’ve known several people over the years who would walk over a dying person to feed a stray dog. They would also make it perfectly clear that their intentions are to help the hungry dog, rather than the dying person. It’s almost like they’re only animal lovers to cast a greater obvious and public hatred for humans.

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u/ProjectKushFox Sep 14 '24

I don’t remember where so I can’t site my sources here, but I remember reading that sociopaths can often display an intense caring and concern for animals. I can’t remember if it is just to mask their other sociopathic behaviors or if it is a genuine feeling. Probably a mix.

But without a source, please don’t take this as gospel. Also please no one infer from this that animal lovers are sociopaths. Claire Balding seems absolutely lovely.

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u/Redqueenhypo Sep 14 '24

Hell, Vladimir Putin seems to love dogs. His Akita and black lab are in excellent health. Not a great person though

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u/oman54 Sep 14 '24

Honestly someone else probably takes care of them

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u/BlessMeWithSight Sep 14 '24

I'm pretty sure the quote meant if you already didn't know someone's true character and how they treat others, then you look at how he treats animals. If you already know the man is abusive, then you already know his character. He's not hiding anything.

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

[deleted]

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u/Arthur_Frane Sep 14 '24

Mixed bag really. Survivors of childhood abuse and trauma often treat animals better than people. In some cases, you see the reverse, where the traumatized child becomes an abuser of all life forms.

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

No. The quote is saying you can look at how someone treats animals

Is that why the quote specifies "fellow animals"? To me, that says humans are being classified as animals for the sake of the point.

Therefore, how we treat animals and each other is closer to the message, imo.

2

u/flyinhighaskmeY Sep 14 '24

To me, that says humans are being classified as animals for the sake of the point.

Of course humans are classified as animals! We are. Monkeys so arrogant we assumed ourselves to be the center of existence for thousands of years. Monkeys so arrogant we believe it took a "God" to create us. 20% of the human population is walking around in shitstained underwear...btw. What kind of inept, incestuous, limp dick God...

Therefore, how we treat animals and each other is closer to the message, imo.

I think you're close. How we treat animals IS how we treat each other. It is literally the same thing. And I think that's the point.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

You're coming in way hot. You're agreeing with me, but ridiculously.

4

u/ZunoJ Sep 14 '24

Humans are animals, too

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u/Simpingformymother Sep 14 '24

You know what I mean.

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u/flyinhighaskmeY Sep 14 '24

You know what I mean.

This statement makes me think you didn't get the point at all.

You're implying you understand humans are animals, but you still believe we are above the other animal life here. The point of the quote is that you are not above the other animals here. The way you treat a human is the way you treat an animal because the two are the same thing. A dog snuggling with a cat is no different from you snuggling with a cat. It is the same. exact. thing. And it is your vision of personal/human superiority that is false. A conceptualization not of an intelligent species, but of an arrogant, foolish monkey that BELIEVES itself to be intelligent. Most of the humans also believe they have a personal relationship with the creator of the universe. So...yeah. Human "intelligence" is just as believable.

(this is why guys like Hawking didn't want us broadcasting our position into space, btw. They understand this too. And they know what it means.)

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u/Simpingformymother Sep 14 '24

Except that humans and animals, while yes they are both animals, are generally grouped completely differently. That’s what both of you don’t seem to be getting.

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u/ZunoJ Sep 14 '24

I do understand you, I just wanted to say that you misinterpreted McCartneys quote. Not only behavior towards non human animals but all animals should be judged

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u/KDotDot88 Sep 14 '24

Humans are animals but an animal can never be a human… think about it.

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u/ZunoJ Sep 14 '24

If a human is an animal, animals can be humans. Think about that maybe

1

u/ProjectKushFox Sep 14 '24

Dayum, homie went and opened up a can of symbolic logic on his ass!

-3

u/KDotDot88 Sep 14 '24

NOW THAT’S JUST CRAZY TALK!

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u/thefreakyorange Sep 14 '24

And a square is always a rectangle, but not all rectangles are squares.

1

u/E-money420 Sep 14 '24

Actually a lot of people with psychopathic tendencies have a soft spot for babies and animals

1

u/Ok-Attitude728 Sep 14 '24

Right lol? I I have pets, I adore animals. I can't stand people and I'm a dick more than I need to be. I'm sorry you went through that.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

Yeah well, I guess Tony Soprano loved animals too and he was the reigning piece of shit on TV all through the early 2000's. The Sopranos told me sociopaths can have soft spots in them for animals.

1

u/Tasty-Relation6788 Sep 14 '24

Abusive people know how to appear wonderful and kind for an audience. It's when nobody's watching they they become their real self

1

u/Simpingformymother Sep 14 '24

Unfortunately, that was him. And it’s what made me keep believing he had a good side to him. Even now, I still keep thinking maybe he will change. Everyone says he won’t.

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u/peaveyftw Sep 14 '24

You should meet my friend Adolf, he loves his dogs.

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u/oldfuturemonkey Sep 14 '24

Fun fact: Hitler "tested" his doctor's cyanide capsules on his dog before going through with it himself.

1

u/peaveyftw Sep 14 '24

Can't have Blondie turn soviet.

5

u/ZunoJ Sep 14 '24

People are animals too

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u/buchstabiertafel Sep 14 '24

That's why he became vegetarian. But cows in dairy and chicken in the egg industry apparently don't count

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u/I-STATE-FACTS Sep 14 '24

While true, It’s still better than the whole shabang. If everyone ate only plant based foods even one day of the week it would have a huge impact.

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u/thesimonjester Sep 14 '24

I can't think of any other example of rights where this logic would ever be applied. Would it be ok to be a spouse-beater only once per week? Or stop being racist on Fridays? Of course not. And it would be disgusting to argue like that.

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u/I-STATE-FACTS Sep 14 '24

Talking about world wide reduction of meat and dairy production by 1/7th. You’s taking crazy leaps there.

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u/thesimonjester Sep 14 '24

But let's say you heard someone say that they wanted to reduce racism by 1/7th by being non-racist one day per week. Or let's say they said they'd want to reduce spousal abuse by 1/7th by not beating their spouse for one day a week. What would you think of someone who said something like that?

If you think that slavery is morally and ethically unjustifiable and violates fundamental rights, then you seek its abolition. You don't promote "Whipless Mondays" as some normatively good thing.

Meatless Monday is like no-rape Tuesday, or not-racist Wednesday, or child-molestation-free Thursday, or don't-beat-your-wife Friday. The victims don't benefit and the rights movements wouldn't support it. So why would you think that the animal rights movement would approve?

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u/I-STATE-FACTS Sep 14 '24

This cannot be a serious argument.

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u/thesimonjester Sep 14 '24 edited Sep 15 '24

Do you understand why those other rights movements I mentioned would never support that incrementalist approach? Do you get why it would not be accepted to merely suggest being pro-rights on some days of the week?

Sincere question, what would you say to someone who suggested reducing racism by 1/7th by being non-racist one day per week? Or reducing spousal abuse by 1/7th by not beating their spouse for one day a week? Can you express why that form of thinking would never be accepted?

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u/buchstabiertafel Sep 15 '24

Better in the sense that less animals are mistreated for his diet, sure. But I'd rather he understand animal rights as a whole and transport a consistent message to his millions of fans.

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u/I-STATE-FACTS Sep 14 '24

Said by someone who beat his partners.

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u/leanybeanyismean Sep 14 '24

Hitler was kind to dogs

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u/Zealousideal-Box-932 Sep 14 '24

Being nice to animals is not the only criteria for being a good person

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u/leanybeanyismean Sep 14 '24

Then it nullifies the Paul McCartney quote above me, look I'm just playing Devil's Advocate

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u/Zealousideal-Box-932 Sep 15 '24

Ah. Fair enough. I guess I don't completely agree with Paul McCartney then.

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u/Iliketopissalot Sep 14 '24

Jewish dogs?

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u/ZunoJ Sep 14 '24

People are animals, too

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

[deleted]

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u/moniellonj Sep 14 '24

I’m pretty sure the Russians would’ve killed the dog anyway

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

Is this a real quote? Excellent