*sigh* PETA.... your getting on my nerves

You know me so well.

I do not support PETA, some of the things their representatives have said have upset me... and notice I say representatives, not some random member. I made a very good point when I said it's idiotic to hear what one of the millions of PETA supporters says and assume everyone thinks alike. I am playing Devil's advocate here, which I take pride in being fairly decent at. Some people have raised good points about PETA, while some have made completely outrageous statements about them, and those are the ones I question.

I don't belong to any organizations because not one of them seems to share all of the same ideas and ideals as me and that's a pity. I always felt I had a pretty balanced view towards animal welfare which all comes from my compassion.

Now that I am finished explaining myself to you, I will say that I'm in agreement that just because someone in charge says one thing does not mean anyone should comply. That would be fascism at it's finest.

 

I do not know you and as deeply as you explained what you do, a message board will never be enough to fully understand what someone else does... But from what I can see, I think you're doing a great thing which I would probably be all in favor of.

As much as I understand humane euthenasia, I feel it is done all too easily and I wish that there were more places willing to take in sick or unlikely animals. I don't believe in breeding animals of which there is an overpopulation, but threatened animals are another story. It is what all the great conservationalists do. I wish I had the money to buy back land that humans stole from the animals and restore it so that the rehabilitated wildlife would have a place to go, as Steve Irwin did with his money. I understand that a lot of wild animals can never be released into the wild as they are not equipped, but I hope that you are working on their young being educated enough to live our their lives as nature intended. Because, let's face it, these kind of animals aren't doing us much good living in someone's house.

It is my dream to work with animals and opening some kind of rehabilitation sanctuary would really hit the spot. I hope it's possumable. Anyway, good luck with your endeavors and I hope your animals are happy!

 

Thanks, MaccaByrd. So many people who are "animal rights" people take up their position and simply get adamant about their being right regardless of the circumstances. It sounds as if you are actually thoughful about the subject, which is always a pleasant surprise.

But even though I get to live around all the wonderful animals, I envy you a bit. You're where you can see and experience the Jersey Trust in person. Gerald Durrell was a great man who did great things, and I wish more of the animal organizations around the world would follow his example.

But thanks again.

 

I'm reading about this guy and his zoo right now. It looks pretty promising. I'm new to England (from California) but you learn something new every day, I guess.

 

Durrell was one of those odd phenomenon... a writer who somehow fell into becoming one of the greatest names in animal conservation. But don't limit yourself to his animal books... read some of his personal writings as well, because it gives you a glimpse into the background that created the man. And he's wonderfully humorous. Try My Family and Other Animals. It's not too hard to track down... I hope. Though I'm still surprised to find out that a lot of Brits don't know who he was.

 

When I mentioned it to my fiance and he reminded me of My Family and Other Animals, I realized I had heard of him! I only briefly saw the beginning of a TV movie about his life and childhood so I hadn't connected the two. He still deserves a lot more research by me, that's for sure. Thanks for the info!

 

FTR, my deceased FIL and a few cousins of mine are fire fighters.(FIL being a Cheif.) NO FIREFIGHTER with a brain is going to risk his or her own life to save a dog or cat, or hamster, in a dangerous situation. If they run into the animal, they may grab it, in fact, they probably will. But, for those of you have have a "We have three dogs and seven cats in our house, Fire Fighters, please save them" sticker on your door are wasting your time, and your door space. Most are not going to go in a burning house to get an animal. Kids, of course, not dogs or cats.

Otter, that womyn is nuts. If her Chief heard her, she'd be off the Force in a minute. My guess is she said it anonymously. People are saved, not things and not pets. My FIL and cousins have told me that people have asked them to actually go back into an inferno, after ALL the humans are out, and get their jewelry, their paintings, look for papers, get furniture, clothing all kinds of things. Insane. Fire Fighters are there to save human life.

 

I don’t know about that. My stepfather is a Lt. firefighter(30 years) and most of his family are also firefighters. His uncle is the fire chef. I know they would get pets out if they can. Granted, people would come first but if it is possible they would save pets as well. But you are right they will not go after things. I too have heard them talk about people wanting them to go back into a building to save all kinds of things like jewelry and such.

However, you are right about the signs. They are a waste of money. Not because the firefighters won’t save the pets, but because it is unlikely that a firefighter who is trying to control a fire is going to stop to read a sign on a door.

I just felt the need to defend the honor and bravery of our great firefighters.

 

I admit we have one on our window but it's less for expecting firefighters to go searching for the pets, and more for making them aware of what pets and how many we have just incase they are able to get them. For example, if they're able to get your rabbit, the notice will tell them where the cage is. They usually will, won't they? The nice ones, anyway. If they are able. Of course pets are more important than posessions and firefighters have willingly gone into a dangerous job. I admire them a lot. It's one of the most selfless career choices.

 

Maggie, I 100% agree with you.

People who expect firefighters to risk their lives to save their pets should be thwapped on the head. All of those firefighters have families(of any size and assortment) and it's selfish to demand that those people sacrfice their loved one for your cat. yes firefighting is a dangerous job but it's a human job meant to protect human lives.

Nothing gets my goat more than these idiots who run from their burning home WITHOUT their dog/cat/goldfish, then stand on the curb crying and screaming for someone ELSE to go into their inferno and rescue said pet. Hello?!! Perhaps you should have thought of your precious Fido or Fluffy as you selfishly ran from the fire. If they are so damned important, maybe you could have taken the time to grab them.

Don't expect and demand others to do what you aren't willing to do yourself.

 

Nice link buttless thanks. Peta ah...dumb

 

My favorite has always been Gary Yarovski comparing himself and the likes of Rodney Coronado to guys like Ghandi and Martin Luther King.

Talk about an insanely huge dellusion of grandeur.

 

My my... so much anger, hostility, & name calling! Gotta love the maturity level of *some* of the posters here. I suppose we all get caught up in self righteous, senseless, emotionally driven verbal assaults against those we disagree with. Well I guess PETA have been successful in their quest to gain attention.

 

This video was posted on another thread so I'll post what I said there:


I believe I know which video this is and I am not going to open it because I have seen it and found it very offensive. It was an attack and a very nasty one at that. Footage of skinning animals is simply documentation of what really happens out there. The only bad part of that is that it happens in the first place.

How can I take that video seriously and with an open mind? They repeatedly called animal rights activists 'bullshitters', with no exceptions, and used words like 'fucking' and 'slut'... How can I be OK with that attitude?

One of the last comments they made was, 'We're all for ethical treatment of animals, but...' and what were they wearing from head to toe? Leather! You can talk to me about medical research and what it might require and we can discuss alternatives and whether or not there are any, but how is there an argument for leather and fur? These guys don't care. They don't sound like sensitive people in the least! It is a jab at all animal lovers. Disgusting.

Again, with this 'total animal liberation' thing which keeps coming up. I don't see anything wrong with PETA's stance on pets. They are not built for living in the wild! And calling for the spaying and neutering of pets so that no more have to roam the streets than already do - I think that's pretty obvious. And yes, most zoos are pretty bad, a lot of people's pets are unhappy, and all circuses are deplorable. That may be why so many animal rights activists call for animal liberation.

And of course, Penn & Teller went for the argument against humanely euthenized animals. We've beat that one to death. All in all, I don't think it matters what your stance is on the matter, that video was vindictive and makes them no better than the people they claim to be battling.

 

Maccabyrd... you are a very well expressed lady! I applaud your ability to deflect senseless attacks against your integrity and beliefs. Keep up the good fight mama!

 

Oh please, don't make a martyr of anyone who can bail at the click of a button. This is the internet; if you're going to put stuff out there then of course you're going to be called on it. Everyone in this whole thread/forum/net does. We are reacting to words on a screen, and their integrity thereof.

Re: Penn & Teller
Everyone has an agenda, and how particular their objective is often directly proportional to how far they'll go with it. In that respect PETA aren't really any diffrent to Penn & Teller. Opposing messages, but ultimatly same objective (i.e. get as much attention as possible, by whatever means allowed, so that view infects the public concious).

Frankly if PETA hadn't built themselves up to such heights they couldn't be ripped down by what is apparently a tacky TV show. Though I doubt it'd scratch the surface of most people's existing opinions anyway. What Penn & Teller wear or have as 'attitudes' is pretty much irrelevant to the core argument. Their agenda is to shake these 'animal lovers' out of their comfort zones. Which is not going to happen if you're 'nice' about it, so they're not. They don't need moral higher ground, just to present an alternative view then kick back and watch the fireworks.

Particular stances and presentations aside I am generally pro what rattles people's cages. For something as major as a political stance and lifestyle choice in one you have to be able to face opposing views and reconcil flaws/inconsistences/hypocrisy of the movement with your personal politics.

LOL for real?
Would just love to see how they try and back all the up. I mean King wasn't even pro-animal rights (far as I know, always figured he had other priorities).

 

Seriously, if you don't like PETA, just ignore them! Everyone has the right to express what is important to them and what should be changed in the world. If you don't agree...so what?

It's just another group of people trying to make some kind of change in the world....just like the rest of us are trying to do...(well, some of us). You may not like how they do it...so take it as an example and make a difference in your own way...instead of just sitting around bitching about it.

 

People will listen if you are 'nice about it' and I wish they'd just argued their case instead of being bastards for the sake of it. It's like "Eating and wearing animals bothers you so I'm going to eat animals and wear animals right in front of you." That will get you nowhere. I am pro respect for everyone and everything.

 

Thanks. Sometimes you need reassurance that you don't just sound like a rambling fool (well, to everyone, anyway) so I appreciate that.