Debater's Choice

I apologize, I was under the impression that my opponent was going to start this debate. We should have communicated a bit better. I will go ahead and start though, since it was passed on to me and we have a limited amount of rounds left. My focus in this debate is that PETA should focus their efforts less on boycotting, and more at stopping the root of the problem: Humane treatment of animals. . http://www.youtube.com...http://www.youtube.com...;http://www.youtube.com...; Contention 1: Weighing the problem From watching PETA videos, and reading their website, any viewers can clearly see that the ultimate purpose that PETA has is demonstrating cruel animal treatment methods. They have popular videos of animal fur farm videos, slaughterhouse videos, lab testing videos, etc. Ultimately the message they are giving to the public is that people treat animals too harshly. Now from watching these documentaries, and shocking footages, this can be conclusively decided as true (I do realize that the videos they show aren’t superfluously common, and are only selected because of their intensity. Some treat animals a little bit differently). However PETA focus’s it’s efforts into trying to get the masses to stop eating meats, buying furs, and any animal made products. This is an un-realistic goal. The impact the emotional videos have on society, realistically, can never do enough damage to put an industry selling these products out of business. Even to commit to just eating vegetables instead of meat, humans risk their health as vital nutrients are required to sustain the human body and keep it healthy. And while there are alternative methods to getting these nutrients, the expense following these is again, un-realistic to expect every human being to follow behind. But the point is, that the emotional appeal that PETA is using to get people to join their cause, follows the principal of the poor treatment of animals. People as a whole are saddened by innocent animals mis-treated, tortured and slaughtered. As a result, some will buy into the emotional factor of PETA’s argument and follow their cause. However, PETA could be a lot more successful in preventing animal mis-treatment if they honed their efforts in on purely stopping abuse prior to the animal’s death. Alternative methods such as lethal injection, poisoning food, etc can be suggested as long as it results in a quick painless death for the animal and doesn’t ruin the product. Cost shouldn’t be considered into this argument, as the humane treatment of animals should be argued as more important to PETA. That way it benefits every. Contention 2: Superior intelligent race Boycotting animal products, will never be completely effective (as shown before), but why should it be? Humans used to hunt animals for food, just as a lion hunts its prey to feed it’s family. And just because we can eat different options, doesn’t mean we are helping the cause. The burger or fur coat you don’t buy, is just available for someone else to buy. There will always be a consumer, to make it an effective stream of you not helping the cause by not purchasing these products. But as humans, we don’t have to be cruel in our endeavors. In fact I will say that PETA is reasonable in the aspect of wanting less animal abuse. Boycotting isn’t the way to do it though. They need to get people behind the motive of stopping animal abuse. Politically, a majority group is against boycotting for the reasons of simple hunter/survival aspect. But if PETA were to accept the use of these products, and dis-continue boycotting advocacies, t hey could easily gain much more support in trying to stop the abusive techniques animals undergo before being slaughtered. Conclusion: The impact PETA leaves on this earth is miniscule, in accordance with what it CAN be. If this organization appeals to the masses in stopping animal abuse, then their efforts will likely be less futile. People can easily find arguments against boycotting, and they do, which is the major attributing factor to the minority of effectiveness PETA has. But PETA focusing it’s efforts on what their video’s are supposedly appealing to, could change the world drastically.