Question: How can we stop suffering?
Moby: Well the one thing that I take great issue with is suffering, because death is inevitable. I mean I’m going to die. At some point you’re going to die. Everybody watching this at some point, we’re going to die. It’s really not such a big deal. So death is unavoidable. Suffering, on the other hand, is avoidable. And more than anything else – more than global warming, more than terrorism, more than anything else – it’s the fact that we as a species perpetuate and propagate suffering. And I think that’s just … It’s so sad and so unnecessary, you know, that there are literally billions and billions of creatures who are unnecessarily suffering because it’s convenient for us.
Question: What can be done about it?
Moby: Well I think we can all take personal responsibility for our actions. I mean very simply, that’s one of the reasons why I’m a vegan and an animal rights activist. I’m not so upset about animals dying. I’m upset about them suffering needlessly. And we can stop being involved in processes that are … that result in animal suffering, or that result in human suffering ‘cause it’s just so unnecessary.
Recorded on: 5/29/07
Discuss
Tiffany Polanci on January 16, 2008, 3:49 PM
Moby, when exactly have you experienced animals suffereing? Have you visited these "dreadful places"? Ever taken any sort of pain medication, cold medicine? Do you believe your releif from pain, and cold symptoms isn't worth the animals that were used in it's testing?
damien rotter on January 16, 2008, 4:01 PM
it admire moby concerns
but sometimes the benefits of animals suffering for people outweight the suffering of the animals…however, the idea that peoples opinions are more trustworthy if they are seeing it happen is probably true to me
Todd Sedlak on January 16, 2008, 6:53 PM
Having the subject of your opinion in your face is no more rationally valid than never having seen it at all. One's reaction to, as the example states, welfare mothers surrounding you would produce an emotionally charged opinion that would have little to do with rational thought. Having experienced suffering might give one perspective, but removing oneself from the stimulus to reflect on it also provides perspective. Perspective is needed just as much as experience in order to form valid, rational thoughts. One must step back from the trees and consider the forest.
Tiffany Polanci on January 16, 2008, 8:49 PM
Moby, when exactly have you experienced animals suffereing? Have you visited these “dreadful places”? Ever taken any sort of pain medication, cold medicine? Do you believe your releif from pain, and cold symptoms isn’t worth the animals that were used in it’s testing?
damien rotter on January 16, 2008, 9:01 PM
it admire moby concerns
but sometimes the benefits of animals suffering for people outweight the suffering of the animals…however, the idea that peoples opinions are more trustworthy if they are seeing it happen is probably true to me
Todd Sedlak on January 16, 2008, 11:53 PM
Having the subject of your opinion in your face is no more rationally valid than never having seen it at all. One’s reaction to, as the example states, welfare mothers surrounding you would produce an emotionally charged opinion that would have little to do with rational thought. Having experienced suffering might give one perspective, but removing oneself from the stimulus to reflect on it also provides perspective. Perspective is needed just as much as experience in order to form valid, rational thoughts. One must step back from the trees and consider the forest.
logan grathwell on January 18, 2008, 6:17 PM
if you stopped making music then that would stop suffering
logan grathwell on January 18, 2008, 11:17 PM
if you stopped making music then that would stop suffering
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