# A big 'ol "Fuck YOU!" to the PETA jackass at the circus **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 25, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945 "2009-01-25T19:54:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/1 "2009-01-25T19:54:51Z")
I’m generally a pretty tolerant, live-and-let-live kinda’ fella. Don’t step on my Happy Shoes, I’ll try not to step on yours, and we’ll get along just fine. There are any number of social, political and religious groups/movements I vehemently disagree with, but usually after they’ve said their piece I can find some way to deal with them; some common ground, some point of “let’s agree to disagree”. I’m always willing to have a beer and a sit-down with ‘pert near anyone; there are precious few groups of people that I dislike almost instantly. Members of the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are one of the few. I honestly wish I could say, “…my buddy Moonbeam, he’s a PETA member. I don’t always agree with him, but he’s a reasonable guy, albeit a tad over-zealous about his convictions at times.” But that’ll never happen; as soon as I find out someone’s a PETA person, the tiny voice of my ‘inner cynical prick’ whispers in my ear, “Oh fuck. Not another one of these…” Yesterday, me and Missus Jettboy are taking our 5-year-old to the circus; the big, bright, neon-covered Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth circus. As we’re slowly meandering through the crowd to the main entrance, who should appear at my left elbow but some scrawny PETA goober; handing out literature about how badly treated circus animals are, along with the implication that anyone who attends said circus is a morally bankrupt savage out to torment our furred, finned and feathered friends. My perpetually ‘interested in anything and everything’ boyo stood for a split second examining the PETA dingus, who took the opportunity to hand him a pamphlet along with a slow, sad “no-no” head shake, A finger-waggle and a whispered, “…don’t go in there.” That sort of shit really, _really_ pisses me off. The presence of zillions of children, including my own little one, forced me to stifle my urge to shout, “Hey Fuckhead! What _exactly_ do you think your’e doing? Come near my kid again and you’ll catch my free-range boot against your ass!” So instead I just took the pamphlet, crumpled it up, and handed it back. The wife just glared at the fucker. “He’s a little young for propaganda, don’t you think? He can’t even read yet.” “You’re never to young to hear the truth, man,” PETA guy replied. As I puffed up and choked back my most vulgar possible curses, including some unique ones that were developed on the spot, my boyo came to the rescue. “C’mon, Daddy,” he said, tugging at my hand, “the circus is 'bout to start!” We went on our merry way and had a _fantastic_ time. The show was terrific, and my son’s memories of his first circus _ever_ weren’t derailed by some pale, scrawny twit in organic hemp pants trying to ram his asinine viewpoint down our collective throat and say we’re ‘bad’ people, a ‘cruel’ people, because we won’t swallow it. Man, I fucking _hate_ PETA. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/2 "2009-01-25T20:21:29Z")
> [@PETA moron](#): > > “You’re never to young to hear the truth, man,” That’s absurd. Of course you are. For example, a three-year-old isn’t going to understand it if you tell him his grandfather is dead. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/3 "2009-01-25T20:58:27Z")
Why can’t they have the simple, human, decency of sticking to naked Pam Anderson protests? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/4 "2009-01-25T21:08:32Z")
> [@chacoguy420](#): > > Why can’t they have the simple, **human, decency** of sticking to naked Pam Anderson protests? Because they know not those words. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/5 "2009-01-25T21:13:26Z")
Elephants are intelligent animals who are beaten into obedience by circuses. Their treatment is appalling. That should be outlawed. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/6 "2009-01-25T21:18:49Z")
I wouldn’t have wasted my pamphlet dollar on someone who’s not old enough to read, but I find the whole concept of circus animals to be disturbing. I’d have given the kid the information verbally. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/7 "2009-01-25T21:35:24Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Elephants are intelligent animals who are beaten into obedience by circuses. Their treatment is appalling. That should be outlawed. I agree. Not just the elephants, but all the mammals involved. Sure, get pissed off with the PETA hippy for hassling you and wearing stupid clothing, but in this instance, I am on PETA’s side: by supporting such circuses, you are in fact contributing to the problem. Just because a bunch of idiots support a cause, doesn’t negate that cause. ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/8 "2009-01-25T21:37:21Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I’d have given the kid the information verbally. And, since an ass-stomping would have been wholly inappropriate, I’d have had the police remove you. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/9 "2009-01-25T21:56:32Z")
> [@Jettboy](#): > > And, since an ass-stomping would have been wholly inappropriate, I’d have had the police remove you. “Quick, police, someone is committing the felony of _talking to a child_!” Just because you are dissing a SMDB bête noire doesn’t mean you get free rein to talk trash. You’re part of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/10 "2009-01-25T21:57:23Z")
> [@Jettboy](#): > > And, since an ass-stomping would have been wholly inappropriate, I’d have had the police remove you. Hmmm, what state do you live in where political speech is illegal? Texas maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/11 "2009-01-25T22:04:21Z")
Well, the appearance of folks like gonzomax and jjimm was just about inevitable, wasn’t it? Everyone should remember gonzomax from the mortgage interest thread, where he showed himself to be an absolute idiot of the highest degree. Let’s see how he does in this thread . . . ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/12 "2009-01-25T22:10:03Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > That’s absurd. Of course you are. For example, a three-year-old isn’t going to understand it if you tell him his grandfather is dead. Well, maybe not “dead.” But he’ll probably understand some concept of “Grandpa’s gone away and you’re never going to see him again.” And eventually I suppose that’s how you teach them about death. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/13 "2009-01-25T22:15:07Z")
I totally agree the guy was a shithead for trying to hand his material to a child. That said, in general, I agree with his position. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/14 "2009-01-25T22:24:12Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Well, the appearance of folks like gonzomax and jjimm was just about inevitable, wasn’t it? > > Everyone should remember gonzomax from the mortgage interest thread, where he showed himself to be an absolute idiot of the highest degree. Let’s see how he does in this thread . . . Your man-crush adds to the discussion in this thread how? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/15 "2009-01-25T22:24:56Z")
I know I’m not supposed to feed you, but I have a simple request, **Rand Rover**. Lawyers already have a reputation for being assholes. It would help if, in the future, you told people you sold shoes or something. That way, when they see you following **gonzomax** from thread to thread, taunting him about some past stupidity like some junior high school nerd-bully, people will think to themselves, “Damn, those shoe salesmen are dicks!” Or, failing that, you could at least add some thoughts about the threads you shit in as you chase **gonzomax** about. I’m sure you have something inflammatory to say about animal welfare, right? ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/16 "2009-01-25T22:28:03Z")
We went on our merry way and had a fantastic time. The show was terrific, and my son’s memories of his first **public execution** ever weren’t derailed by some pale, scrawny twit in organic hemp pants trying to ram his asinine viewpoint down our collective throat and say we’re ‘bad’ people, a ‘cruel’ people, because we won’t swallow it. As time goes by we realize the things our ancestors enjoyed can be pretty damn cruel. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/17 "2009-01-25T22:29:14Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Your man-crush adds to the discussion in this thread how? I am honored to be counted in that number. Let’s hope he’s a _Randy_ Rover too! 😉 I’m actually surprised that I am “like” some unspecified group of posters. Not sure what conclusions Mr Rover has drawn about me, but I don’t recall having interacted with him in the past, or having been particularly animal-rightsy or political, even. (Unless he used to frequent the boards in the past, under a different username.) ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/18 "2009-01-25T22:30:21Z")
The treatment of animals at the circus _is_ appalling. PETA should absolutely be there telling people what’s going on. That’s their job. > [@Jettboy](#): > > And, since an ass-stomping would have been wholly inappropriate, I’d have had the police remove you. On what basis? Are the police your personal servants? Are you truly that dedicated to never allowing your son to hear about the mistreatment of animals? ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/19 "2009-01-25T22:31:01Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Hmmm, what state do you live in where political speech is illegal? Texas maybe? Harassing children is illegal in almost every state. There’s no _specific_ law on the books about harassing MY child, but it’s not a very bright thing to do; I tend to be a very reactionary father. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945/20 "2009-01-25T22:33:59Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > I totally agree the guy was a shithead for trying to hand his material to a child. That said, in general, I agree with his position. If PETA werent often such absolute tards, thier more reasonable points about animal cruelty actually might get some consideration. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-big-ol-fuck-you-to-the-peta-jackass-at-the-circus/482945.md?page=2)