An ethical dilemma

[silent tone]

I came upon the problem when I flipped the channel over in the middle of Smokey and the Bandit (aren't all the tough issues faced in this film.) I'm not sure which one, but it's the one with the elephant. Somehow, to win the challenge, they needed to kill the elephant and win $400K. The characters seem to be unanimously against killing it though. However, I doubt that they're all vegetarians. Now elephants are somewhat intelligent, so that may be a reason they could kill a cow without hesitation, but balk at this. I don't think the elephants species is endangered or otherwise particularly important, so why the reluctance. Are there just some (cute) animals that people shouldn't kill? What animal wouldn't you kill for a big chunk of money?

 

[djheater]

It's all social conditioning.

There are plenty of people in our culture who would not hesitate to kill an elephant if there were no legal ramifications, for any amount of money if not just for kicks....
In your specific example, it must be remembered they are "characters" they are by definition abstracts of human behavior and not a true indicator of how a member of our culture would react to such a proposition...
It would be difficult to relate to the character as a hero if he killed the elephant for personal gain... if it were a modern film and the elephant was rampaging toward a group of children... we would expect the "hero" to whip some technological marvel out and do away wih the beast (best case scenario would be transporting it back to it's home... but blowing it up would probably be acceptable).

Consider....most people now would not condone killing a whale but not more than 100 years ago it was big business.... really big business....

 

[TonyG]

I was flipping through the channels, and happened to tune in right as all the cop cars were driving down from the top of the hills on either side. Funny show, don't watch it often, pure luck I saw what I did of it tonight. But yeah, I was wondering what the deal was with the elephant, guess now I know, as for the moral dilemma, like the others have said, it is just social conditioning mainly.

 

[AnyMal]

If I was guaranteed $400K and legal immunity?! Are you kidding me? Lock and Load!!! j/k Seriously though, we people tend to discriminate against different kinds of animals just because some of them are cute or can do tricks. This is harldy a surprise, if we can discriminate against other people why can't we discriminate against animals?

 

[tcsenter]

The characters seem to be unanimously against killing it though. However, I doubt that they're all vegetarians.

Nope, Dom Deluise and Burt Reynolds probably BBQ'd up a few elephants in their day.

Hollywood is full of animal rights fluff-cakes, especially those with considerable control over content; writers, directors and such. Look at Disney's masterful propaganda; Bambi was a deliberate swipe at the 'big mean evil deer hunter' and of course who was the 'evil bad guy' in Beauty and the Beast? A hunter. All very subtle but deliberate animal rights propaganda aimed at young impressionable minds.

Edit: Oh yeah I forgot to mention Disney's stock and trade propaganda method: personification of animals. Animals talk = animals have feelings = animals are the same as people = animals have equal rights as people. Or so Disney thought the average six year old mind would conclude.

 

[StattlichPassat]

Are there just some (cute) animals that people shouldn't kill? What animal wouldn't you kill for a big chunk of money?

Some are statistically (re: population, accepted actions) more expendable, like deer. But if you're an animal that's stupid enough to run out of the bushes and into cars on the highway to cause damage, your type deserves thinning. I don't hunt myself, but I don't really condone it too much either. I don't like the idea of it and likely never will. If you're asking for opinions, deer are ok to hunt I suppose, but not elephants. Sheesh. They're rare, and illegal in most parts of the world anyway. Plus, I don't like the idea of trying to take on something 10x larger than you.

And are you kidding? I discriminate against animals every day. I'll kill a mosquito, but hug a kittie.

 

[Kerouactivist]

When I saw this thread for some reason it made me think of the time (a long time ago) I ordered a geforce card for me and one of my buddies and instead of just receiving one package of two I recieved two packages for a total of 4 geforce cards, I thought about it for a while and decided to inform the company that they had made a mistake, I didn't wanna be walking around with that kind of karma on my back!!

 

[Moonbeam]

I wouldn't kill any animal for any amount of money.

 

[Shockwave]

You put 6 figures of green in the case, point, and its dead. At 6 figures, I dont give a darn whatchya want killed, unless there a high profile person (Like the Prez of any country, or some politician) At that point, I really gotta draw the line. Otherwise, anything under 6 figures ensures any darned animal other then humans you want is gonna become little animal explody chunks.
Heck, some animals I'll do just out of the enjoyment of the hunt (Such as praire dogs, coyotes, black birds, crows, magpies (I HATE MAGPIES!) ).............
Also depends, do i gotta do clean up? I aint shootin an ephelant for 100 bucks to find out I gotta dispose of the huge beast. Also, type of death also plays a factor. If you want the animal in question to explode, obviously it would take more money for materials as opposed to a generic "kill it" statement. And any type of chain reaction (Elephant steps on mine, looses foot, falls onto catapult and gets shot into vat of acid) well, that takes a bit more money too, cause ya actually hafta think about it.
Assuming its a worst case deal (Chain reaction, I do clean up, gotta be televisied etc etc) then 6 figures would STILL cover it. Small animals are cheaper. Cute little squirrels n monkeys clean up alot easier then huge whales and elephants.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I wouldn't kill any animal for any amount of money.

Insects and spiders, however, are fair game.

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: Shockwave
You put 6 figures of green in the case, point, and its dead. At 6 figures, I dont give a darn whatchya want killed, unless there a high profile person (Like the Prez of any country, or some politician) At that point, I really gotta draw the line. Otherwise, anything under 6 figures ensures any darned animal other then humans you want is gonna become little animal explody chunks.
Heck, some animals I'll do just out of the enjoyment of the hunt (Such as praire dogs, coyotes, black birds, crows, magpies (I HATE MAGPIES!) ).............
Also depends, do i gotta do clean up? I aint shootin an ephelant for 100 bucks to find out I gotta dispose of the huge beast. Also, type of death also plays a factor. If you want the animal in question to explode, obviously it would take more money for materials as opposed to a generic "kill it" statement. And any type of chain reaction (Elephant steps on mine, looses foot, falls onto catapult and gets shot into vat of acid) well, that takes a bit more money too, cause ya actually hafta think about it.
Assuming its a worst case deal (Chain reaction, I do clean up, gotta be televisied etc etc) then 6 figures would STILL cover it. Small animals are cheaper. Cute little squirrels n monkeys clean up alot easier then huge whales and elephants.

I don't agree, but that was hilarious.

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I wouldn't kill any animal for any amount of money.

Insects and spiders, however, are fair game.