# What is it about pet forums that brings out the worst in people? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 30, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014 "2014-10-30T15:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ArztWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@ArztWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArztWolf)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/1 "2014-10-30T15:19:35Z")
I lurk on several dog/horse/rat/goat/chicken forums and have noticed that people go bat shit over the smallest things. Food/feeding, training, breeds(ing), etc. Dog forums are the worst it seems. I can ask an honest question, in the appropriate category (general, breeding, training,etc) and get either ignored or attacked. On one forum I got attacked for putting down an elderly lab mix (she was abused and neglected by her previous owner) who had a host of health issues (arthritis, terrible skin issues that where hard to control, going blind and deaf, diabetic and slowly going senile). They said I should have given her to a rescue (what, so they could put her down!?😕) or that I should have found a “miracle” food/pill/injection/supplement. I don’t make posts about food/feeding, BSL (breed specific legislation), breeding or training. The only posts that seem to get answered are “fluff” ones (What is your favorite X?, How many dogs have you owned?, etc) Most horse forums are full of either idiots/trolls (My horse is down/not eating/bleeding, what should I do!, Should I breed my swaybacked nag?) or rich bitches who believe horses shit gold and mere mortals should never own one. I even got attacked on a rat forum since I didn’t by my late rats a $$$ cage that wouldn’t fit in my house! I also committed the sin of adopting them from Petsmart since there wasn’t a reputable rat breeder in my state and no rats on CL (the only rats on my CL are part of some sort of scam/front for something (same pictures and weird/barely intelligible writing)). Its so rare to find one full of rational, helpful people. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/2 "2014-10-30T15:24:28Z")
Go have a look at some New Mommy forums. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/3 "2014-10-30T15:33:51Z")
> [@ArztWolf](#): > > Its so rare to find one full of rational, helpful people. And you believe this is an issue specific to pet forums? ---
**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:** [October 30, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/4 "2014-10-30T15:37:36Z")
An animal’s wellbeing is at stake, which makes everyone’s opinion doubly shrill. Because \*they \*know what’s best, and if you don’t do it their way, you’re \*harming the animal, \*in their view. Never mind that their opinions are contradictory… ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/5 "2014-10-30T15:47:20Z")
Sadly, there’s no way to keep Teh Stoopit off Teh Intertoobz… I once expressed my personal opinion that I (me, personally, not condemning those who thought otherwise) would never spend thousands of dollars on treating any animal, figuring if it had that many problems, it would be better to put it down. From the response, you’d have thought I was evil incarnate because I wouldn’t use every extraordinary measure to keep a critter alive. How dare I choose to live indoors, pay my bills, and feed my family instead of emptying my savings and even going into debt to save a pet!!! :eek: Who knew I was such a bitch?? :smack: ---
**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:** [October 30, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/6 "2014-10-30T15:57:54Z")
Also, animals represent innocence, in many people’s minds; better than “corrupt, jerk, hard-to-like selfish humans.” So they often care even more about ducklings and puppies than a homeless man on the street. Which translates to even more shrillness. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/7 "2014-10-30T16:09:22Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Also, animals represent innocence, in many people’s minds; better than “corrupt, jerk, hard-to-like selfish humans.” So they often care even more about ducklings and puppies than a homeless man on the street. > Which translates to even more shrillness. ^ This. Plus people have the tendancy to project human emotions, responses, and outcomes onto animals. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/8 "2014-10-30T16:34:51Z")
Great post, I spent about 3 years in the Dog Show world and left it with utter disgust for the entire American Program. Little knowledge, Huhe egos don’t mix. My primitive archery forums are very friendly with only occassional lightly snide remarks. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/9 "2014-10-30T17:06:47Z")
There is a generic answer. If 1,000 people read a forum, and someone posts something with the slightest chance of being controversial, the 995 people who either agree or don’t care much will be quiet while 2 or 3 of the 5 people who think the post is evil incarnate will start screaming - especially if they are basically anonymous. Pets are very important compared to, say, Alan Sherman songs. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/10 "2014-10-30T17:16:10Z")
The narrower the subject of a forum, the crazier the posters will be about that subject. Pets, parenting, politics, sports, it’s all the same. Go check out the forums at Board Game Geek - there’s vicious fighting over the definitions of gaming terms. It’s makes some sense. You get a broad based board like this one and you’re not going to have any issue on which everyone is going to have an emotional response. Even a big issue like a presidential election will still have a lot of people who don’t get worked up over it. But if you go to a New York Jets message board, all the people there are going to be passionate about the Jets. So an issue like whether to start Smith or Vicks will become huge with everyone jumping in and tempers rising. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/11 "2014-10-30T17:20:45Z")
I prefer the calm rational discussions about politics and religion. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/12 "2014-10-30T18:00:18Z")
I hear ya. I’ve had horses for 30 years. What a shock to learn that I don’t know as much as someone who attended a clinic with the guru-of-the moment! ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/13 "2014-10-30T20:50:45Z")
There’s also the thing that the folks who post on a forum are self-selected and the most intensely invested in the topic. So it’s not like ALL dog owners, horse owners, cat owners are nuts - but if 1% of them are nuts, those are the 1% that spend their time on pet message boards. I’ve owned dogs my entire life, I love my dogs and like most others. But I’d never go onto a dog board on the internet - the role my real dogs fill in my life is sufficient, no need to read/response/post about dogs on line in addition. If you really want to experience crazy - ask a dog trainer how to feed your dog or a simple veterinary question. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/14 "2014-10-31T00:52:39Z")
They can believe I am horrible for not buying X brand of cat food that you can only buy from a guru in the woods. I can believe that your are an animal abuser for raising your cat vegan. I am pretty sure I know who is objectively right. I was in a chain but “specialty” pet store recently. In SF so stereotypes may or may not hold true. As I was accompanying someone, I had to bite my tongue the whole time. They upsold and had ideas about which products were better, more natural, etc. They tended to be more expensive :eek:. The language was very pseudoscientific Of course it doesn’t help if the dog won’t touch these but enjoys the “bad” brand. > [@hotflungwok](#): > > Go have a look at some New Mommy forums. My thoughts exactly. At least animal autism is not a thing (yet). ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/15 "2014-10-31T01:19:22Z")
My fountain pen forum is extremely well-mannered and polite. But I think there was an original board that went down in flames and the moderators who rose from the ashes laid down some rigorous ground rules. Dog forums are the very worst I’ve experienced (but my horsey friends beg to differ). I’ve recently unsubscribed to all the dog forums (I had to continue the one I’m the moderator of, but it’s a low key one). Astonishing how immediately my life improved. Almost all focused forums cycle through the same bloody arguments, brags, squees, and rants, ad nauseam. The tiny amount of new material is just not worth wading through the sea of regurge, after awhile. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/16 "2014-10-31T02:02:59Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Great post, I spent about 3 years in the Dog Show world and left it with utter disgust for the entire American Program. Little knowledge, Huhe egos don’t mix. > > My primitive archery forums are very friendly with only occassional lightly snide remarks. Check out ‘Best of Show’ for a look at the dog show world. Bob ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/17 "2014-11-03T02:30:19Z")
I’m not an animal person, but my sister is. Her last dog was diagnosed with and died of diabetes. She found a K9 diabetes forum, and the people were all very helpful and supportive. They even did an online fundraiser to help her pay for the medical bills. I haven’t seen any snark or negativity around there. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/18 "2014-11-03T03:00:25Z")
Try yahoo comments some time. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/19 "2014-11-03T03:17:17Z")
the most batshit insane I have ever seen was on a house rabbit society facebook page. I have seen crazy shit go down in forums but they at least pretend to have rules and be moderated. The facebook page though - credible threats of violence, online stalking, IRL stalking, phone harrassment etc… insane ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014/20 "2014-11-03T05:45:06Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Sadly, there’s no way to keep Teh Stoopit off Teh Intertoobz… > > I once expressed my personal opinion that I (me, personally, not condemning those who thought otherwise) would never spend thousands of dollars on treating any animal, figuring if it had that many problems, it would be better to put it down. > > From the response, you’d have thought I was evil incarnate because I wouldn’t use every extraordinary measure to keep a critter alive. How dare I choose to live indoors, pay my bills, and feed my family instead of emptying my savings and even going into debt to save a pet!!! :eek: > > Who knew I was such a bitch?? :smack: Guess that makes me a bastard… 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-pet-forums-that-brings-out-the-worst-in-people/703014.md?page=2)