"However, the comment about some "humans" being worse than animals is debatable. Animals, whatever the species, are driven primarily by instinct. Humans, supposedly have a mind and possibly a conscience."
[comments: humans are also animals - many like to believe otherwise. the human species is a subset of the animal kingdom. most humans are driven primarily by instinct also. instinct simply arises from repitition of acts of body, speeh and mind. many non-humans also manifest a mind and a conscience to a significant degree - there are many accounts of non-humans rescuing other beings, sometimes even putting their own live on the line http://animalheroes.livejournal.com/5388.html
it may come as a surprise, but many non-humans have personality - that makes them a person. humans are not the only people on this planet]
"Humans can be horribly cruel both to other humans and to other creatures. In my opinion this puts them way, way down the behavioural ladder."
[comments: generally speaking, yes]
i dont see why this thread should be titled as "the most shocking story in ages". do some searching and considering, and you will see that there are practically countless stories of similar cruelties at the hands of human animals.
collectively speaking, if we think that we can selectively disrespect other species while respecting others, then we are deluded. willful ignorance gives rise to confusion, and then cycles of suffering.
