# Brickbacon, we're here to FIGHT ignorance. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 11, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970 "2005-03-11T04:17:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/21 "2005-03-11T11:50:25Z")
**Tenar** , see [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=302643) ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/22 "2005-03-11T12:57:38Z")
> [@Tenar](#): > > Consider opening your mind. There is no arbitrary “pet ownership ceiling” which indicates abnormality. It all depends on the resources available to the pet owner. e! So, Tenar, do you get a decent bulk rate on kitty litter? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/23 "2005-03-11T13:34:13Z")
\*\*Guinastasia \*\* --one of those links in your OP was 4 pages long! You didn’t even link to his posts! May Live Wombats Be Crammed Up Your Ass With A Tuning Fork, for being such a nuisance! WRITE A PROPER OP! DAMMIT! ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/24 "2005-03-11T13:39:04Z")
It was a weak OP but geez, **Bosda**. Coffee first, then post. Learn it, love it, live it. ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/25 "2005-03-11T14:19:23Z")
> [@Tenar](#): > > Owning four or more (note: not 20, 30, 30 or 50 or more) pets, \*\*which are spayed or neutered, have ample space and food and are well kept and cleaned up after \*\* frequently means that you are in the habit of taking in rescue animals which were abused, neglected, lost, or abandoned by other people. To me, this is the height of compassion. Is compassion abnormal? > > Consider opening your mind. There is no arbitrary “pet ownership ceiling” which indicates abnormality. It all depends on the resources available to the pet owner. Agreed. I live in 19 acres with 4 dogs and 8 cats. I have the resources to to care for them properly and 7 of the 8 cats live in the barn. They keep the mice in check. All but one of my dogs and cats are rescues that I either found starving on the highway or that wandered up to my property and I can’t imagine giving any of them up. What gives with the conclusion that if you have more than a set number of animals , you’ve got some sort of mental problem? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/26 "2005-03-11T14:40:04Z")
> [@manhattan](#): > > It was a weak OP but geez, **Bosda**. Coffee first, then post. Learn it, love it, live it. And yet, this is the Pit, **manhattan** -sama. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/27 "2005-03-11T14:44:41Z")
> [@jlzania](#): > > What gives with the conclusion that if you have more than a set number of animals , you’ve got some sort of mental problem? Anecdotal evidence. Also, if you read through that thread, I think people who live on large pieces of land, etc. are exempt from this. Barn cats aren’t what we were talking about. We’re talking about someone who has seven cats in a three bedroom apartment. I’ve seen examples of this, and it’s never once been pretty. It’s dirty, it smells, and it’s been an indicator that the people were less than stable. This is just my experience, maybe 10 examples that I can think of over the years. I’ve never know anyone with more than two cats whose house didn’t smell like a litterbox. I’m not saying it’s impossible to keep a clean home with a large number of animals, but I can’t imagine it unless all you do is stay home and take care of the cats. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/28 "2005-03-11T14:55:33Z")
I disagree with him about the cats, but I agree with him about college students. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/29 "2005-03-11T15:11:55Z")
> [@Tenar](#): > > Owning four or more (note: not 20, 30, 30 or 50 or more) pets, \*\*which are spayed or neutered, have ample space and food and are well kept and cleaned up after \*\* frequently … Where is this “Shangri-La” you speak of? Do the chocalate bunnies shit raisens? Is every day Christmas and 4th of July combined? Always remember: Kiss a dog and you lick his asshole by proxy! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/30 "2005-03-11T15:15:45Z")
So, could someone specify what issues are indicated by owning more than four animals? I only own two, but have many friends with more (hell, I work for a humane society, whaddya expect?) And while I know plenty of people with issues, I’ve not seen any especial correlation to the number of animals they have, unless you’re talking about people who meet clinical definitions of animal hoarding. So what issues are we talking about? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/31 "2005-03-11T15:23:33Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Anecdotal evidence. > > Also, if you read through that thread, I think people who live on large pieces of land, etc. are exempt from this. Barn cats aren’t what we were talking about. > > We’re talking about someone who has seven cats in a three bedroom apartment. I’ve seen examples of this, and it’s never once been pretty. It’s dirty, it smells, and it’s been an indicator that the people were less than stable. This is just my experience, maybe 10 examples that I can think of over the years. I’ve never know anyone with more than two cats whose house didn’t smell like a litterbox. > > I’m not saying it’s impossible to keep a clean home with a large number of animals, but I can’t imagine it unless all you do is stay home and take care of the cats. My husband and I have five cats in a one bedroom apartment. It’s not terribly big, but we clean up after them and ourselves, and make sure they get spayed/neutered and get their shots. It’s a long, complicated story how we ended up with 5 cats, but they’re all attached to each other and to us, and we have no desire to give them away when we can afford to keep them and they’re happy and healthy with us. I don’t think we’re crazy cat people, though, because we have no desire to hoard cats… ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/32 "2005-03-11T15:25:25Z")
> [@gatopescado](#): > > Where is this “Shangri-La” you speak of? Do the chocalate bunnies shit raisens? Is every day Christmas and 4th of July combined? Are you shitting me? Are you seriously implying that there’s no such place where someone owns four or more dogs or cats but takes care of them all properly? We could start with my boss’s house, for one. The woman who runs our humane society and has turned it into one of the best in our region. Are you seriously saying that you can do a remote psych evaluation of her, based on her cat, four dogs, and two lovebirds, and declare that she’s got problems? If that’s what you’re saying, then I agree **somebody** has problems. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/33 "2005-03-11T16:33:07Z")
There is a way to express oneself without turning into a frothing, defensive asshole if someone disagrees. As I always told my students: You don’t have to say EVERYthing that you think. Occasionally you can just let it go and shut UP, for heaven’s sake. And this consistent refusal to just say, “Hey, it’s just my opinion” rather than insisting that there is some factual basis for an OPINION is just irritating and juvenile. If it’s a FACT that MOST PEOPLE belief something, there’s got to be some evidence of it somewhere. The fact that several people here agree with you, or the fact that several people disagree with you is purely anecdotal, and tells me nothing about the studies that have been done or the scientific evidence that is floating out there in the ether, or what the hell you base your ideas on. I’ve read through most of his posts. In a good number of them, he’s arguing, calling someone names (let’s see, I personally have been labelled “retarded or disengenuous”, but there are plenty of other instances), or simply restating, again and again and AGAIN, the same tired opinion and insisting that it is fact. Guin’s failure to post a huge gripe doesn’t change his behavior. Do a search if you like, and decide if he’s worth bothering with, though. I decided there are more intelligent people in the world to argue with. Talking louder just isn’t going to cut it, I’m afraid, brick ol’ boy. Either you have something beyond opinion to bring to the table, or you don’t. Intelligent people know the difference. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/34 "2005-03-11T16:35:42Z")
Typically, people here tend to respect those who work in the field in question or have more extensive experience with an issue. Why is Daniel’s voice of experience being ignored so roundly? I’m disappointed. He seems to have some real insight and experience here, and I’d like to see some credence given to what he has to say. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/35 "2005-03-11T17:08:17Z")
Thank you, **bodypoet**. Once again, I apologize for my shitty OP. I’m just really annoyed with this guy who comes striding in to declare his opinion, then INSISTS that he’s correct, with no evidence to back it up. It’s not so much WHAT he says, but HOW he says it. I don’t care if he finds Paris Hilton to be the sexiest thing ever, or if he thinks Michael Jackson is innocent. I don’t care if he thinks people with so many pets are crazy. BUT, perhaps he shouldn’t say, “You all are just haters! Paris is beautiful-are you blind? Hating her style doesn’t make her ugly!!!” Plus, I have a knee-jerk aversion to the word “hater”. It just sounds so incredibly fucking stupid. Aren’t we ALL “haters”, about something or another? ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/36 "2005-03-11T18:01:27Z")
> [@Kaspar Hauser](#): > > I disagree with him about the cats, but I agree with him about college students. Too true, more than three College Students in an appartment is disgusting. Think of the smell and dirt, yuck, at least get them neutered .For pitty sake don’t take in any more stray fresh-men, they may be cure and cudly when they are small,but soon they’ll be leiving thesies all over the place and you just can’t keep them clean. ---
**Author:** ![Boldface\_Type](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@Boldface\_Type](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boldface_Type)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/37 "2005-03-11T18:05:48Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I agree. Does anybody ever read all the links when someone does that? Thisisingenious. Or how about: [Parallel](Read Between) worlds collide! ---
**Author:** ![Boldface\_Type](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@Boldface\_Type](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boldface_Type)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/38 "2005-03-11T18:07:31Z")
Bugger. [Parallel](Read Between) worlds collide! ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/39 "2005-03-11T18:14:55Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > [And](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=306131) [you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=305724) [are](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=305892) [not](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=305187) [helping](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=302531) [our](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=300545) [cause](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=299309). > > [Please](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=299995) [stop](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=300181). Man, next time at least link to individual posts. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970/40 "2005-03-11T18:19:35Z")
All right! I’m sorry! Jesus, I won’t do it again! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brickbacon-were-here-to-fight-ignorance/293970.md?page=3)