On Fri, 04 Jun 2021 15:59:46 -0400, FromTheRafters
wrote:
snip

Well, there are cases of whales consenting to let humans untangle them
from nets.

Of course there are, and loads of other animals 'trusting' humans when
they have had no prior negative contact with them and so reason to.

They may not understand consent from the other creature's
standpoint though.

Again, they obviously do, otherwise millions of mating (assent)
rituals would all be in vein.

Same with not giving consent (dissent) to attack / kill them with
animals desperately trying to escape the killing box in a
slaughterhouse or gas chambers.

Some even seem to be thankful afterward.

Of course, most sentient creature share many of the same feelings we
do (well, trolls excluded of course) especially fear, hunger,
paternal, community and friendship. Many animals are monogamous and
pair for life, have and protect their offspring, teach them how to use
tools and find food, what is considered acceptable behaviour and what
isn't.

Consent is *very much* part of the functionality of most sentient
creatures, as you will often learn very fast when you try to take food
from a gorilla or lion. ;-)

Cheers, T i m