# "Santa's not coming"? PETA does it again. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 10, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116 "2003-12-10T07:20:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/41 "2003-12-10T17:37:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by silenus \* > \*\*SkipMagic - That’s just a bunch of bull! \*\* No,no. A _hamburger_ is a bunch of bull. Just to steer you in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/42 "2003-12-10T17:47:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by silenus \* > \*\*In honor of PETA and their efforts on my behalf, I shall do my best to devour as many different animals as possible in the next week. > > If you want to earn my respect and get my attention, then just be vegetarian and LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!!! All the billboards and actions by you nutcases just make me stubborn. > Kill A Cow For Jebus. \*\* Reminds me of this. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/43 "2003-12-10T18:15:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*No,no. A _hamburger_ is a bunch of bull. Just to steer you in the right direction. \*\* Not to gore his ox or anything… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/44 "2003-12-10T18:18:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by eli\_the\_fanatic \* > \*\*I think this makes a point the right way, humor and information: > > [http://www.peta.org/feat/meatrix/](http://www.peta.org/feat/meatrix/) \*\* There’s always one… Please point out where the humor is (I didn’t laugh once), and where the information is (I didn’t see any verifiable facts) in that Flash piece. Nary a drop of either, in my opinion. Which is fairly typical of PETA these days. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Thudlow Boink_ > **Besides, I thought Santa only comes once a year anyway.** > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by blessedwolf_ > **…and even then, it’s down a chimney!** Are you guys trying to say something about Mrs. Claus here? ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/45 "2003-12-10T18:18:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > \*\*Not to gore his ox or anything… 😃 \*\* On purpose, you mean. He probably did it oxidentally. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/46 "2003-12-10T21:20:49Z")
Baby cows drink milk; straight from the factory. Little girl cows drink milk; little boy cows drink milk. In the case of the little boy cows, milk helps them grow up to be big, strong bulls. Anyone claiming that milk causes impotence hasn’t spent any time at all around bulls and heifers. I don’t think a bull could be impotent if he tried day and night for months and months. I think a bull could drink gallons and gallons of milk on a daily basis and not become impotent. Bulls are the anti-impotence. Yes, I know that little boy cows are not really cows and I know that the children of cows are calves. ---
**Author:** ![spinningplates](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@spinningplates](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinningplates)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/47 "2003-12-10T21:55:42Z")
Wait a minute! I was under the impression that PETA didn’t like the idea of house pets of any kind. Aiken may not have meant that he disliked the owning of pets, but PETA seems to be missing out on an opportunity to push that whole ‘warping animal lives to serve humans’ thing. But then this is PETA, not known for subtlety. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/48 "2003-12-10T23:56:53Z")
Life without milk would be a mistake. But life without cows would be a missed steak. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/49 "2003-12-11T00:19:13Z")
What I find offensive is the use of Santa. This is Christmas, which should be about Jesus Christ. The billboard should have Christ looking down his robe with the caption “Christ isn’t coming this year, either!” ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/50 "2003-12-11T00:20:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spinningplates \* > \*\*Wait a minute! I was under the impression that PETA didn’t like the idea of house pets of any kind. Aiken may not have meant that he disliked the owning of pets, but PETA seems to be missing out on an opportunity to push that whole ‘warping animal lives to serve humans’ thing. > > But then this is PETA, not known for subtlety. \*\* Where did you get the idea that PETA was against animal companions? ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/51 "2003-12-11T00:25:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Avalonian \*Please point out where the humor is (I didn’t laugh once), and where the information is (I didn’t see any verifiable facts) in that Flash piece. I can’t help you with your sense of humor, but while admittedly painting with a broad brush, the gist of the thing – the practices of corporate farmers, the treatment of animals, the end of the family farm, and the “Happy Farm” label they smack on the package, was right on the money. Whatever you think of PETA, you cannot deny that the conditions are exactly as they describe for a majority of the meat products you by. You can choose not to give a shit, and you can say anyone (like members of PETA) who do give a shit are nuts, but you can’t say it isn’t accurate… that’s lying to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/52 "2003-12-11T00:25:28Z")
Just for the record. Whether or not **Mangetout** is correct about deadly milk, I can say for a fact that milk’s reaction with my digestive tract may be deadly to other humans in my immediate vicinity. Just sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![Docklands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/47e85d/32.png) [@Docklands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docklands)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/53 "2003-12-11T00:39:34Z")
Peta [not so warm and cuddly](http://www.consumerfreedom.com/ad_campaign.cfm#) ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/54 "2003-12-11T00:57:19Z")
\>The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies, and consumers working together to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices. I doubt the CCF is the most fair and balanced organization. ---
**Author:** ![\_possum\_stalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b77776/32.png) [@\_possum\_stalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_possum_stalker)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/55 "2003-12-11T01:24:19Z")
I have a very special perspective on this issue as a vegetarian, former vegan, and former manager of a not-for-profit vegan restaurant (here’s a [picture](http://www.dailyillini.com/oct_99/oct7/news/news03.html). I’m the handsome guy who’s actually helping a customer. :)) These people have their hearts in the right place, but too many are self-righteous ideologues who don’t have any perspective on the relative importance of the issue. They forget that not vegetarianism alone does not make you a moral person, anymore than recycling, or cutting taxes, or believing in Mithras does. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/56 "2003-12-11T01:33:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by eli\_the\_fanatic \* > \*\*Where did you get the idea that PETA was against animal companions? \*\* [Probably straight from the knucklehead in charge](http://www.maninnature.com/Pets/ww.html). ---
**Author:** ![\_possum\_stalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b77776/32.png) [@\_possum\_stalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_possum_stalker)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/57 "2003-12-11T01:34:07Z")
Perfidious cholesterol junkies made the last sentence of my post a double negative. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/58 "2003-12-11T02:28:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*What I find offensive is the use of Santa. This is Christmas, which should be about Jesus Christ. > > The billboard should have Christ looking down his robe with the caption “Christ isn’t coming this year, either!” \*\* We’ll find out in a few weeks,I guess.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/59 "2003-12-11T03:59:29Z")
Oh, crap, it’s true! i had milk for lunch…AND I DON’T HAVE AN ERECTION RIGHT NOW!!!1 ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116/60 "2003-12-11T04:32:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by eli\_the\_fanatic \* > \*\*You can choose not to give a shit, and you can say anyone (like members of PETA) who do give a shit are nuts, but you can’t say it isn’t accurate… that’s lying to yourself. \*\* I can also say (and did) that there were no verifiable facts in “The Meatrix,” so they left very little to dispute. If you want to take the perspective that PETA is either completely right or completely wrong (which apparently you do), then that’s you’re prerogative. However, I know better. My uncle, owner and proprietor of a free-range dairy farm in Wisconsin, knows better. His nearest neighbor, owner and proprietor of a large free-range chicken farm, knows better as well. Lying to myself would be denying the evidence before my own eyes, and what I see puts the lie to “The Meatrix.” In other words, saying that PETA paints with a “broad brush” isn’t the half of it. They’re quite simply determined to coat everyone who doesn’t agree wholeheartedly with them in shit. I guess you like that sort of thing; I don’t. And for the record (just so you know I didn’t miss your ugly little strawman), I **do not** think that “everyone who gives a shit is nuts.” I said in my OP that I can sympathize with some of the feelings behind this. However, the pandering presentation in both the Santa ad and in “The Meatrix” is neither humorous nor informative, nor helpful. It is, quite simply, counterproductive to any reasonable aims, and transparently manipulative. Great food for idiots, I guess, but good for little else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santas-not-coming-peta-does-it-again/218116.md?page=4)