Xanthos,
Please read my response to Zachary this morning. I explained that by "lower life forms" I meant non-sentient animals that co-exist with humans on Earth. I told him that great care was exercised to protect these animals and that they were observed to determine the effects of launch, weightlessness, etc and the effectiveness of safety and support systems. I noted that often upon their return these animals were often treated as heroes and celebrities. I explained that with the advance of our technology, we no longer use these animals in our space program, but electronicaly simulate these effects. I told him that we MARSupials do NOT consider the probes lower life forms.
Two little items I intentionally omitted:
1. I do not want to go into the use of animals in product research. I think that is unnecessary for them to know this and it is not something I of which I am terribly proud.
2. I did not approach the issue that Parker, Hardon and the Naught One and probably others do not consider the probes life forms at all, but merely electro-mechanical tools.
I really did not intend to get into such a discussion. We seem to have picked out a small phrase from a long discourse and missed most of the major points I was trying to make. Unfortunately, like my typing, my word selection sometimes leaves something to be desired.
Deeply sorry if I have offended.
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Zero
0=o