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BackToTheBas1cs t1_j2l63r4 wrote

Reply to comment by trash_heap_witch in Adik the dog stolen by Russian soldiers returned in prisoner exchange by Available_Regret_983

This dog actually does wonders for morale and continues to keep more international eyes on the fight ukraine trades Russian soldier for Ukrainian soldier while a good thing doesn't have the same pull as a story about a dog to pull at the heartstrings of people around the world

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trash_heap_witch t1_j2lakca wrote

I dunno man, my morale would be higher if I got freed instead of a dog. Also as someone who isn’t a dog person this annoys my heartstrings more than anything lol

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BackToTheBas1cs t1_j2larv1 wrote

Its not about the morale of the singular captured soldier they are trying to maintain the morale of an entire nation under constant bombardment and outnumbered in the cold of winter without power

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trash_heap_witch t1_j2lc7bn wrote

If I was Ukrainian I wouldn’t give a shit about dogs and I would give a shit about human soldiers. I understand your perspective theoretically, because people are weird about dogs. But my perspective is valid as well

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BackToTheBas1cs t1_j2lcwdt wrote

Expanding on my previous point though the dog also has more appeal to people outside Ukraine than the Ukrainian soldier unfortunately, people love animals if they see a touching post about somebody being reunited with their pet stolen by Russian aggressors they might then decide to donate a buck or 2 to a cause that directly or indirectly helps the wider Ukrainian people. And a story about a dog being reunited with its owner is more likely to be shared in conflict averse crowds than a prisoner exchange. I have friends who I can't talk about their war with because they don't like the topic but by making it about the dog I can bring up a difficult topic that they otherwise wouldn't hear much about in a way they can digest and they may then in the same way support a cause

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trash_heap_witch t1_j2ld2fg wrote

See, that’s so depressing to me. Human beings should always matter more than dogs. People have dirt for brains

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BackToTheBas1cs t1_j2ldhsl wrote

But even in videos from front line soldiers you will see them sometimes with great affection talking about the trenches pet cat or the like because when your in dire straights that animal can be huge for you I'm a similar was as people with anxiety may have a service animal to help keep stay calm where people never could. So it's less about humans not caring about other humans but more so that war is a terrifying concept and people don't want to think about the senseless deaths of these men over expansionist greed but that dog helps them explore it in a hopeful light

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slyburgaler t1_j2ljqbh wrote

That’s an opinion of yours, and not everyone shares it. Putin’s life is worth less than a dog for example.

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gmambrose t1_j2ljjy9 wrote

Personally, I usually like animals (especially dogs) far more than most people. In general, people are shit. Dogs are awesome.

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Kilatypus t1_j2lrldu wrote

You don't deserve to be downvoted

You are just surrounded by people who think with their emotions, not their rationale.

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senorali t1_j2lt4mm wrote

If it's any consolation, this ridiculous "people don't matter but dogs do" thing is mostly American and not at all universal. It comes across as trashy as fuck to most other cultures.

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