Are Windows Cruel?

[miniboes]

So I just got home and found a dead bird on the ground. I don't know how it died, but it looks like it flew into my window. I often see birds do this, sometimes they try again and again, just not understanding there's something in front of them. I can only imagine if I were running at full speed and suddenly run into an invisible wall. I would deem the maker of this wall responsible for my injury and at the very least improvident.

What do you guys think of this? Living without windows is not a realistic possibility I guess, but it's worth discussing the ethics.

[PrincessPeach]

If we didn't have power lines the birds wouldn't have a place to all hang out together either. It's not natural no where in the wild would there ever be an infrastructure like power lines for birds to hang out in, we created it and they figured out how to use it! You're going to drive yourself crazy worrying about every little thing that could hurt an animal indirectly.
Are you worried when you drive you car, have you cleaned the dead bugs of your car grill recently?
Just our mere existence as a human being has a negative impact on human animals and non human animals. Somethings I mark as "part of life".

[miniboes]

If we didn't have power lines the birds wouldn't have a place to all hang out together either.

I'm pretty sure birds can hang around on treebranches too, it's also entirely unrelated if you ask me

Just our mere existence as a human being has a negative impact on human animals and non human animals. Somethings I mark as "part of life".

Good to see you got your account back by the way!

Well, meat-eaters would also argue that the death of animals for our needs is a part of life, in fact making pretty much the same argument as you do. I do get your point though.

[PrincessPeach]

I'm pretty sure birds can hang around on treebranches too, it's also entirely unrelated if you ask me

It is not entirely unrelated it is human made just like the windows.

Good to see you got your account back by the way!

Thanks I had to have a new picture before I came back, emotions you know!

Well, meat-eaters would also argue that the death of animals for our needs is a part of life, in fact making pretty much the same argument as you do. I do get your point though.

Meat eaters will argue a lot things that are irrelevant and don't make much sense. They'll argue that you produce more methane-gas on a vegan diet because you fart more thus making your diet horrible for the world. It's not the fact that they're trying to find every and any reason to tell you that something is not "vegan".

If someone wants to argue with you that windows are inhumane well, let them have that debate with themselves otherwise you'd be wasting your own breath.

[brimstoneSalad]

If you have or install screens on your windows, birds can see those better and avoid them.

In the right light and angle, a clean window is just invisible, but there are a lot of ways to make it visible.

Putting decals on your window is one way.

There's actually a company that seems to make UV reflective decals, that birds can see clearly but are nearly invisible to humans:
http://www.windowalert.com/windowalert.html

I can't represent their credibility at all, but the theory is sound. Although there are probably cheaper ways to accomplish the same thing.

If you're up for a craft project, I can give you some suggestions.

[Volenta]

I don't want to dismiss your point, but I think there should be made much more afford in other areas that kill much more animals—like road kills, climate change and deforestation. Of course these are things that one hasn't much control over, but this is something that is doing enormous damage to wild animals.

That being said; if you find dead birds very regularly, then I can understand making some personal effort to make it better.

[Jebus]

This is actually a major killer that causes a huge amount of suffering as well. Nearly 1 billion birds die each year from hitting windows just in North America. Fortunately, there are ways you could and should make your windows more visible to birds.

[Volenta]

This is actually a major killer that causes a huge amount of suffering as well. Nearly 1 billion birds die each year from hitting windows just in North America. Fortunately, there are ways you could and should make your windows more visible to birds.

I found your claim pretty dubious, but after doing some research, it seems windows are indeed the major cause of death—more so than car accidents, although there are probably many other animals (land animals) that suffer from that.

[brimstoneSalad]

I found your claim pretty dubious, but after doing some research, it seems windows are indeed the major cause of death—more so than car accidents, although there are probably many other animals (land animals) that suffer from that.

At a billion in North America, that's two birds a person every year. Roughly 1% vs. the animals deliberately killed for meat in animal agriculture. Not so small, really. Going vegan is much bigger, but making windows visible to birds still seems pretty meaningful if you can do it.

Imagine how terrifying it must be to have to fly around at high speeds, and knowing there could randomly be an invisible barrier you crack into... it's like jumping into murky water (which freaks me out).

[miniboes]

Kindof related (Now in the right thread) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjCJvn__N5c