I am discouraged, disappointed and basically just pissed off by humankind tonight.
When I got Internet access at home back in 1996 or so, I thought it was one of the most wonderful things to ever bless the Earth.
I am involved in the rescue and adoption of ex-racing greyhounds, and having Internet access gave me and others with the same interest an avenue to speak to each other easily and cheaply all across the country. We were able to do wonderful things via both regular email and a particular listserv, which shall remain nameless to protect the innocent.
If someone needed help, all you had to do was email the listserv with what you needed, and all types of help came forth. Unfortunately, in recent years this wonderful resource has degenerated into a list divided into political factions - there are people who believe that greyhound racing should continue unabated in the states where it is allowed, and others who think it should die an immediate and painful death. There are all different vehement opinions on how the dogs should be fed, housed and treated both while they are racing and once they leave racing and become pets. There are a number of adoption groups across the country with different political views and policies, and they regularly and routinely shit on each other and refuse to cooperate with each other. And the sniping, name-calling and bashing is disgusting. We are supposed to be there for the sole purpose of helping this special class of dogs find homes after they are done racing so they aren’t killed. And yet this group has somehow managed to become a mass class of special-interest assholes who are more interested in criticizing each other and promoting their own political agendas than they are in helping dogs find homes or help people who have just gotten dogs work out problems so that the match may be a long and happy one.
I have signed off the listserv temporarily because I am so fucking sick to death of people being more concerned about piddly little shit that doesn’t amount to anything in the grand scheme of life than they are about saving animals’ lives or helping people who adopt dogs with problems they may encounter. It’s gotten so bad that out of a listserv of about 2,000 people, there are only a handful who post. Everyone else is afraid to say anything. They just hope for the occasional tidbit of actual useful information that may occasionally cross the list. I can’t imagine being a new subscriber to the list. They must think all the rest of the list people are fucking nuts and I couldn’t blame them if they didn’t want to get involved in helping to get more dogs adopted.
Apparently it’s so much more fucking fun to beat horses that are so dead they are skeletons than it is to leave their egos and political beliefs at the door and make a difference in whatever little ways they can to make this world a better place.
And I say, fuck all you assholes. You aren’t any better than someone who sees suffering and just walks by without doing a goddamn thing.
Thank you. I feel a little better now.