That "horror-struck look" doesn't mean "I suddenly realized I don't love my pet as much as I would an actual human child." It means "what the fuck is wrong with this guy, and how can I stop talking to him as quickly as possible?"
Hmm... I hadn't thought of it that way. But I find it much more horrific that people are comparing loving animals to children. You don't agree? That's why my comment is made as a follow-up to theirs.
I mean, we eat cows and pigs, and all sorts of other animals. What makes cats or dogs particularly special, other than being cuter and perhaps a little more social? It seems for these people arguing their animals are to be as revered as human beings are, they would also have to be vegan, which most are not.
You're missing the point. If someone says they love their pet, you just don't ask that kind of question. It's like showing up at a church with a Dawkins book; who cares if you're "right," you still look like an asshole.
Or, to be more obvious, it'd be like asking a happily married person if they really thought they picked the best person or if they just settled for the best they could get.
No, I don't. You're searching for some total order ranking function where there isn't one. People love who they love and a lot of that is based on proximity and shared experience. I demonstrably care more about my dog than I do any random child in the third world, as demonstrated by the fact that I fed my dog this morning and I haven't donated to a feed-a-child-in-the-third-world charity today. By your logic, since humans rank higher than dogs, am I morally obligated to exhaust my financial resources helping needy humans before I can take care of my dog?
More like: "What the fuck is wrong with this guy. He poses a complex ethical dilemma. It makes me think and thinking hurts my brain. I will better pretend he is some sort of creep."
We're talking about real life, not reddit or LessWrong or something. Most people don't want to "debate you" about their affection for pets, they just want to tell you how cute their dog is. And questioning their love for their pets makes you come off as someone that has no empathy for animals, which most people do find pretty creepy.
"I love my mom!"
"Would you die to save her?"
Another potentially interesting moral quandary that is pretty rude to ask some random stranger who is just trying to make conversation.
"I love god!"
"What makes you think god is real?" no no no please stop just smile and nod and let everyone get on with their day
