If its tuesday, there must be a PETA bashing thread

[Beaverhausen]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1366572

:eyes:

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Willful ignorance exists even here.

[Coventina]

2. I'm going to be taking a break from DU for awhile.

I have really had it with the animal hating.

The LBN thread about the dogs on restaurant patios was my final straw.
I know Skinner says you have to be thick skinned and all that. But it seems the pro-animal people are not allowed to defend themselves. Only suffer abuse at the hands of their fellow "progressives". You know what? I think because we defend animals, the abusers feel okay abusing us as well as the animals.

Anyway, I have better things to do with my time than to debate with the compassion-challenged around here.

Like finish my master's thesis (which is on dogs BTW, which is why you see me on the dog threads so much).

So, good luck to y'all. I'm not saying this is a final goodbye or anything. Just taking a break. But since I won't be donating for the forseen future, I'm going to lose my privilege to post here.

Anyone who wants to keep in touch through PM, feel free. I'll still be stopping by from time to time. But I'm really going to resist doing any more posting.

:pals:

on edit: typo

[Robeson]

3. We all need a break from time-to-time....

...I fully understand...:thumbsup:

[ThomCat]

5. I avoid the PETA threads

because they often seem to turn into "ridicule vegetarian" threads, and anyone who defends PETA is a "whackjob."

I support PETA. I think they do a lot of awesome stuff. I like their marketing campaigns and think they make excellent point.

[NMMNG]

4. Always

Anyone want to go start a gun control flame-fest? :scared:

[BrklynLiberal]

6. I have learned to love the "IGNORE" button.

[Quantess]

7. I gave a small donation to PETA once

I actually don't mind their shock value ads. I thought they were a great cause because they are against animal testing, which I am very much against, and against foie gras, and other sick practices done by humans out of cold heartedness for personal gain. Anyway...I once gave a small donation but not anymore, because, now I'm not sure they are the animal rights group that reflects my beliefs.

The thing that turned me off to PETA was that one incident back in Virginia or N.C. in 2004 or 2005, when the PETA workers took adoptable shelter animals, after lying to the animal shelter that they had found homes for the animals, then euthanizing those animals and dumping them in a mall dumpster. Not once, but several times.

People were outraged, but PETA really seemed non-plussed about it. I wrote to them, and their response was something to the order that there are too many unwanted pets, and some other nice statements that I don't remember, but they never stated that they felt what happened in those incidences was wrong. They never denounced it at all. The PETA workers kept their jobs afterward, too. PETA seemed to defend euthanizing the adoptable pets. I think their rationale was to the effect of, those animals are doomed to have miserable lives.

Well how do they know that?! How do they know they aren't denying some loving elderly couple from adopting the old little mutt or older cat they just euthanized? How do they know some nice person wasn't going to adopt that puppy or that kitten they just put down? That's what made me upset about PETA's actions. I haven't been able to forgive them.

[LeftyMom]

8. 1. Those workers were fired

2. The shelter got a large donation from the Center for Consumer Freedom shortly afterward, so there is reason to suspect thier motives in claiming that the animals were to be adopted out

3. PETA does handle humane euthanasia for several local shelters that used gas chambers or a 22 to the head previously. In light of item #2 we have no reason to believe that was not the case with these animals, though the improper disposal was still an issue and PETA was right to fire those involved

4. It's okay if you don't care for PETA. There are plenty of other national and international organizations that put your money to good use and local organizations that can really use your time and money to create change and save animals in your local community

[Critters2]

9. Thank you

The important point is that they fired those involved. People behave as if PETA endorsed their actions. Firing is a pretty clear statement that PETA did not!

But some people will never be happy.

And the info about the donation from CCF is telling as well.

But some people don't want to get it :banghead:

[Quantess]

10. Yeah, I don't dislike PETA or anything

I would say I still fairly like them, overall.
But, I think their image definitely needs some work. How else are they going to get people to support them? I think that one incident in Virginia or N.C. did a lot of damage to their reputation, whether or not the people got fired. A lot of people remember it and maybe still mistakenly believe PETA supported the workers actions. I don't think PETA did a good job at all of apologizing. Maybe they didn't have to apologize, but it would have been good PR.

Thanks for clearing that up, though.

(edit for grammar)