# Animal-rights activists who only care about cute animals **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2014, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386 "2014-12-16T12:19:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/1 "2014-12-16T12:19:12Z")
All right, so this is my first Pit thread. There are some “animal-rights activists” who are very vocal in support of cute ducklings, puppies, dolphins, baby seals, kittens and so forth…but when in the presence of a spider? Screech, panic, scream, kill the spider. Even if it’s an endangered species of spider. What about the hyenas, rhinoceros, warthogs, skunks, Gila monsters, wild boars and deep-sea anglerfish? “Uh, no, ugly things, why should I care.” So what such people are saying is, animals are only worth protecting and defending if they are cute. (It’s symptomatic of culture and society as a whole, actually - what’s cute is good, what’s not is worthless - but that’s a different topic.) If you only care about cute animals and not the ugly ones, then you can’t call yourself a \*\*true animal-rights activist.You’re a pro-cute-animals-only activist. \*\* That’s different. And that’s a very shallow, appearance-based activism. If you’re going to support animals, then support the ugly ones, too. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/2 "2014-12-16T12:23:06Z")
Blame Disney. Most of these people see animals only on TV. At the same time, I see no reason we can’t remove some of the old fashioned cruelty shown animals cute or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/3 "2014-12-16T12:48:12Z")
OP, I have the sense that you may be setting up a straw man. Can you, in fact, produce any of these so-called “selective” animal rights activists? I recognize that it may be particularly difficult to do so, simply based on the fact that animal rights activists tend to protest the _exploitation_ of critters, and critters, as a rule, tend to be exploited for their “cute” qualities. Still, you did raise the issue of spider-killin’. Please produce a spider-killin’ animal rights activist. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/4 "2014-12-16T13:10:17Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Still, you did raise the issue of spider-killin’. Please produce a spider-killin’ animal rights activist. Sam Gamgee. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/5 "2014-12-16T13:11:49Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > There are some “animal-rights activists” who are very vocal in support of cute ducklings, puppies, dolphins, baby seals, kittens and so forth…but when in the presence of a spider? Screech, panic, scream, kill the spider. Even if it’s an endangered species of spider. I don’t really believe you that these people exist. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/6 "2014-12-16T13:32:09Z")
I fully support the rights of animals. HOWEVER if a spider enters my home it dies. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/7 "2014-12-16T13:38:18Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > I fully support the rights of animals. > > HOWEVER if a spider enters my home it dies. What about cute baby spiders? Actually, quite a few of those have hatched in my basement growing area\* and spun cute little baby webs, which I am constantly ripping out along with the cute widdle spiders. Large ones in season can go outside, but become pests in my home and it’s another story. \*for ornamentals. Get your mind out of the gutter. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/8 "2014-12-16T13:51:01Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > All right, so this is my first Pit thread. > > There are some “animal-rights activists” who are very vocal in support of cute ducklings, puppies, dolphins, baby seals, kittens and so forth…but when in the presence of a spider? Screech, panic, scream, kill the spider. Even if it’s an endangered species of spider. > > What about the hyenas, rhinoceros, warthogs, skunks, Gila monsters, wild boars and deep-sea anglerfish? “Uh, no, ugly things, why should I care.” > > So what such people are saying is, animals are only worth protecting and defending if they are cute. (It’s symptomatic of culture and society as a whole, actually - what’s cute is good, what’s not is worthless - but that’s a different topic.) > > If you only care about cute animals and not the ugly ones, then you can’t call yourself a \*\*true animal-rights activist.You’re a pro-cute-animals-only activist. \*\* That’s different. And that’s a very shallow, appearance-based activism. If you’re going to support animals, then support the ugly ones, too. They sound horrible! Please point them out to us. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/9 "2014-12-16T13:52:42Z")
I only care about straw animals. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/10 "2014-12-16T14:49:43Z")
My MIL loves all kinds of animals but thinks it’s your duty to go out of your way to kill a snake, any snake. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/11 "2014-12-16T14:51:08Z")
There may well be such people out there. But it’s important not to conflate them with genuine animal rights activists who selectively target cute animals precisely because that tactic is more effective with the general public. It makes sense to choose elephants as your example of poor zoo conditions, because people love elephants, even people who don’t really give a shit about animal welfare. You don’t choose the gila monster because it gets less love. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/12 "2014-12-16T14:52:12Z")
I have never come across anyone who meets the OP’s description. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/13 "2014-12-16T14:56:51Z")
Why does the OP waste his time fretting about cute-animal-activists when he should be out killing ISIS-Nazis? Obviously he’s not a TRUE feeler of concern. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/14 "2014-12-16T15:03:03Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > What about cute baby spiders? > > Actually, quite a few of those have hatched in my basement growing area\* and spun cute little baby webs, which I am constantly ripping out along with the cute widdle spiders. Large ones in season can go outside, but become pests in my home and it’s another story. > > \*for ornamentals. Get your mind out of the gutter. In defense of gutter minds, I’ll point out that a well cared for Purple Urkle at the peak of flowering is definitely ornamental.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/15 "2014-12-16T15:14:29Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Sam Gamgee. He killed rabbits too, though. And taters. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/16 "2014-12-16T15:18:39Z")
Do we really need a cite for this? Just look at all the people who are crazy to rescue every damn dog and cat in the world but don’t care about the abused birds, or even worse, are terrified by them. (I will never understand being afraid of birds but not dogs. The dog can rip your face right off!) It’s a problem that many true animal rights activists have encountered. We spend so much time on the panda, for example, because he’s cute and cuddly, but there are a ton of noncute endangered creatures that no one advocates for (or very few). ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/17 "2014-12-16T15:52:30Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Do we really need a cite for this? Just look at all the people who are crazy to rescue every damn dog and cat in the world but don’t care about… I haven’t met this horde of puppy-saving ornithophobes. But assuming for the sake of the argument that they exist, they have fuck-all to do with the OP. **Velocity** , you seem to be having trouble recently coming out and actually saying what you mean. Between this and that “objective morality” thread in GD, you seem to have scored a really great deal on gently used straw at Big Lots. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/18 "2014-12-16T16:28:34Z")
Lets throw Greenpeace on this pile for their bullshit [Nazca Lines defacement](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/world/americas/peru-plans-to-charge-greenpeace-activists-for-damage-to-nazca-lines.html?_r=0), apparently only certain environments are worth preserving. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/19 "2014-12-16T17:05:50Z")
By the way, I love cats. The last time I saw a spider in my bedroom, I tried to get the cat to eat it. No dice. The cat has since returned to stalking bits of paper and bedsheet wrinkles. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386/20 "2014-12-16T17:41:30Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Do we really need a cite for this? Just look at all the people who are crazy to rescue every damn dog and cat in the world but don’t care about the abused birds, or even worse, are terrified by them. (I will never understand being afraid of birds but not dogs. The dog can rip your face right off!) > . That’s just a phobia, a pretty common one, in fact. So yes, some people hate birds or spiders, but I think that people who _in general_ only care about cute animals at the exclusion of others aren’t really common. That said, I’m sure that even though they sort of care about all animals, many will only act (for instance part with their money) when cute ones are involved, which, in practice, is the same as not caring. Note that I don’t care much about animals in general. I especially don’t care about cute animals because the animal lovers often irritate me, to say the truth, when for instance they want to save not endangered baby seals or things like that. I care about actually endangered species, but not enough to do anything about it, or to give any money for it (in fact I would feel guilty if I had given money to an animal cause when I could have donated for a human cause), so it’s not like my caring is relevant, as I wrote above. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-rights-activists-who-only-care-about-cute-animals/707386.md?page=2)