Peta

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

Man, I need to rethink my membership in PETA.

People
Eating
Tasty
Animals

So meat is bad? Hippie Queer (anysurprise that’s her tag name?)
wants us to stop eating meat because it’s unnatural?!? I assume this is in defense of animals we eat (that are also born and bred for the sole purpose for us to eat).

Without us meat eaters, the cattle/poultry/pork wouldn’t even be born. Don’t get me started on the fur-bearers that keep us warm up here in North Dakota.

If meat isn’t supposed to be eaten because it harms animals, go to Africa and stop the Tigers/Lions from harming the cute litte gazzelles.

Meanwhile, I’ll keep cooking my T-Bones over a charcoal grill.

Damn, bet the charcoal bugs ya too, huh?

42

I agree. But many people seem to be hell bent on preserving nature without realizing that we are a part of nature.

It’s really an interesting situation. Does our increased cognitive ability as compared to other animals make us more responsible for our actions then they are for theirs, or does it simply make us think that we are?

43

damn good point, I’ll have to remember that

44

Some of you really amaze me…we each have a footprint on the Earth. But you wanna make it a doom and gloom situation with few or little people can live up to yet there is little if any information to back up your claims…it’s just mirrors and smoke…never a real factual claim that has any (sorry) meat to it. Not once have I found it to be truthful and honest enough to be truthful.

FUCK this. I need to go to bed. I think people are fucked up. So is my opinion…I’m just as fucked up as you but don’t think for one minute you fucking rock, I know I don’t…but you rock anyway…

45

Wow, that was pretty random.

46

In case anyone is wondering:

Animals saved from extinciotn by zoos

By no means a complete list. These are just the ones that were at the point of having no chance at all. Many more examples of animals that were heavily into the endangered zone have been brought back due to the intervention of Zoos.

Just my doubled subunit of a dollar.

47

As the great philosopher Norman Osborn said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” :wink:
Seriously, I don’t think it’s just an issue of humans having more cognitive power. It’s that we’re able to have a far greater impact on the world’s environment than any other species, and yes, ‘lesser’ beings have to be considered in that equation.

The word hippie doesn’t even appear in her name. :smack: Reading is Fundamental

If you notice, she’s stating her personal opinion. She’s not proselytizing, and she’s not being nearly as obnoxious as you are. In fact, she says she’s not even a vegetarian. You know the saying, “it’s never too early to learn to read.” :wally

48

She really has an opinion that’s anti-children-bearing? Where can I find this?

Oooo, got it at http://www.ampef.org/ResearchOpposition/ResearchOpposition.cfm?ID=521&c=18

[Michael Specter] also cites some of Newkirk’s rather startling personal views, such as this one on human children: “I am not only uninterested in having children, I am opposed to having children. Having a purebred human baby is like having a purebred dog; it is nothing but vanity, human vanity.”

If that’s the case, then why doesn’t she just put the gun to her head? Seriously, isn’t that the logical conclusion? Or does she consider herself morally superior because of her concern for animals, and it’s only other people who should not exist?

Isn’t this woman one step from wearing purple Nikes and handing out drug overdoses to her followers?

49

Holy shit, I have a lot to reply to. And now that I’ve read her post in the light of a new morning, I think I owe belladonna an apology for accusing her of being strident. Apologies!

Now, I will obtain coffee, grab a few numbers needed and I will be back with intelligent answers for ya’ll.

Oh, except for whoever called me Hippie Queer. I have my answer for you. You’re a jackass.

:slight_smile:

50

Sstaurus, I have been a proud vegetarian for the last 9 years and like many other vegetarians and vegans, am living proof that you do not need "a little meat’ as you say to stay healthy. All you need, like anybody else, is a balanced diet. Problems only occur when people remove meat from their diet and don’t adjust the rest of their diet accordingly.

As for PETA, if their organisation has got you thinking about animals, their unfair treatment and what you can do about it, that is a good thing. However, joining their organisation is something that needs to be considered carefully in my opinion.

I think they do some good work and obviously as a veggie, I am in agreement with them on a lot of issues. But I just don’t agree with the way they go about things. I think that they started out as a nobel cause but as time has gone on they have resorted to more and more radical means of promoting the cause, most of which I can’t condone.

Some of the things they do are not only wrong because they involve violence, but also make it too damn easy for people who do eat meat to point the finger and label us all as ‘cranks’. I think they are dragging the cause of animal rights back about 30 years.

Ultimately it comes down to who’s needs are being met…their own or the animals? Sadly I believe it’s the former
:frowning:

51

I have a problem with the concept of “ethical” treatment of animals. If, as they wish, we all would stop killing cattle and hogs for meat and leather, does anyone seriously believe farmers would just turn the creatures loose, and let them ravage the grain fields? That would be foolish. The unprofitable animals would simply be killed and buried for fertilizer.

I can easily do without fur, but I haven’t found a good substitute for leather shoes. Canvas isn’t firm enough, and plastic won’t stretch.

The PETA folks oppose animal testing of drugs and cosmetics. The line goes something like, “A rat is a dog is a pig is a boy.” To that, I say, “Fine. Turn over your boy to the lab. Live testing is necessary, and your boy would have the advantage of speech.”

If I believed a bull were equal to a man, then ethically, I’d expect him to get a job to justify his existance. He might be smart enough for some jobs, but his physical limitations just knock him out of the job market. The only job that works for a bull is to become food and leather.

52

Darn you to heck, techie! Just as I was firing up the turbojet engine to make a big WHOOOOOSH over your earlier post, you caught my joke.

You’re a big ol’ spoilsport. :stuck_out_tongue:

But you’re not a dork.

53

But don’t be geting too friendly with each other! :rolleyes:

54

Okay, now. First, I apologize for taking so long to get back to you good folks on this.

Do I think PeTA has pulled some absolutely stupid stunts? Of course, and I let them know that on a daily basis. AAMOF, when they pulled the “change Hamburg to Veggieburg” shit, I personally called PeTA HQ and left a message telling Ingrid what a jackass she was being. That said, IMO, PeTA does do good. I’m not talking about the naked supermodel campaigns and the Got Beer? ads. I’m talking about shutting down pounds that left their animals in such disgusting states of starvation that they would resort to eating each other’s dead bodies. Rescuing circus animals from trainers who thought cattle prods and bullwhips were a-ok ways to discipline them. PeTA sponsors a spay & neuter program where disadvantaged folks can have their animals fixed. And so forth. By no means am I saying the publicity campaigns are the smartest ever–they’re NOT! I don’t know how many times I’ve sighed in frustration when I open my PeTA newsletter to see some naked girl painted to resemble a head of cabbage or what have you. I believe someone already said this, but if that naked girl painted like a cabbage gets a few people to see what PeTA is actually about, then I think it worked. Althought I also see how it would alienate people. So, yes, I have a love-ARGH relationship with how things are run there. But it stands, IMO, that PeTA’s base goal is a good one, and that the majority of their work HELPS.

Forward, minions! :cacklesnort:

belladonna, I know animal testing makes products and objects safe for human use. I know that. That doesn’t necessarily mean I think it’s right. I think supporting animal testing goes with the “lesser harm” theory–that is, it’s alright to harm an animal if humans benefit. To use a loose comparison (and please bear with me, I’m not good with metaphors), answer this for me. If a large percentage of the population (let’s say everyone with O positive blood) was stricken with a disorder, and your son had O positive blood but did not come down with this, would you subject him to excruciating testing and experimentation in an attempt to save the larger population? No matter his wishes or desires, would you make that decision? I’m thinking you wouldn’t, and I apply the same answer to animals. What right do I, as a human, have to make that decision that they suffer to save me?

About PeTA members threatening and/or harassing folks…I can only say what I’ve said. Any large organization is going to have it’s share of assholes. I haven’t heard of PeTA members threatening anyone’s family, EVER, but if that’s true, I’ll personally horsewhip (heh) them for it if I have a chance to meet them.

As for ALF, I don’t believe Newkirk ever said she supported them. Yes, she said she understood them, but I think there’s a fundamental difference in understanding and supporting. I may fully understand why Nelson Mandela believed in sabatoge, but that doesn’t mean I support it. (Uh, not that I don’t support what he did, but…fuck! You know.) Also, about funding–again, I have yet to see where PeTA has funneled monetary support to ALF. If they did, and I see an official report saying this, I’ll admit to my wrongness.

Mr. Moto, are you asking if I support ALF? If so, that’s another thread. I don’t want to hijack a PeTA thread into why or why not I support ALF and their tactics. But thank you for pointing out my knee-jerk reaction to belledonna. I was out of line.

Hrm. I happen to be childfree myself–and nor do I think people should reproduce until the children already here are taken care of. Again, my two cents. I hope you don’t think I should kill myself for that. Bah to you and all of your breeder friends! Bah, I say!

Joking, of course. Uh, I mean, I really DON’T want children, and I really don’t think more should be made until…you get my point!

:wink:

Have I covered everything? If I missed someone’s question and/or post, let me know!

:slight_smile:

55

Correct me if I’m wrong Queergeekgirl, but you seem to be saying that you belong to PETA yet you still eat meat? Is this correct?

56

Sigh. Yes, unfortunately Pixelle. I’m constantly going vegetarian and failing. Yes, this makes me horrid. FWIW, old habits die hard, which is why I try not to flame people to bits over the PeTA thing. I try as hard as I can, and I still fail myself. It’s something I’m pretty ashamed of, to be honest.

:slight_smile:

57

I think the fact that vitamin B12 (needed for formation of red blood cells and maintenance of a healthy nervous system) is only available naturally from animal sources (meat, eggs, and dairy) is a pretty strong marker that we evolved to be meat eaters.

I think vegetarians and vegans prefer not to think about all the little animals (mice, voles, rabbits, etc.) that are killed by tillers and harvesters in fields. They’re vermin, after all, not big animals. But they’re still little lives that are lost because of humans.

Life always subsists on life, one way or another. And no, I’m not a PETA supporter.

58

That’s what I used to like about them too, but there are so many wonderful organizations that do all of those things QueerGeekGirl and without the baggage of a psycho-in-chief like Ingrid Newkirk.

I have no cite to back this up, but I suspect that small local rescue groups (like Pasado’s Safe Haven*, which sprung up here in the Seattle area in memory or a burro who was was beaten to death) are really doing the grunt work and are far more effective. And you don’t have to sweat the ideology, either. They just take care of the critters and isn’t that the whole point?

Yes, I know it isn’t the whole point, is it? Peta makes a religion out of it, squanders any moral capital it might have had with statements like some of those I’ve read above, and wastes the time and money of good hearted people like you.

*I hope I can mention a specific group, I didn’t provide a link and I’m not trying to solicit funds. I just think they are a good example of an orgainization that honestly helps animals and isn’t insane.:slight_smile:

59

So ummm how do you propose to feed 5+ billion people if you feed them meat or destroy land for crops. Soylent green anyone?

60

:smack:

Sunday!

:smack:

*memo to self : PROOF READ IDIOT!

I meant if you dont feed people meat or destroy land to plant MORE crops how are you going to feed people. The veggies here probably can give you the stats but if I remember correctly it takes something like twice as much vegetable matter to get the same nutrition as meat. And I wont even think about the effort of watering all that land… specially here in Utah… 4 years of drought…