PETA is calling on people to stop using the names of animal species as slurs and insults. That means not calling someone a rat or a dog or a pig.
If someone is a coward, call them a coward, don't say they are chicken.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wants humans to stop using animal words as “slurs” in what it says is a “speciesist” and “supremacist” use of language.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7604624/peta-animal-name-insults/
I think I already stopped using animal names as insults because it didn't feel right.
Some of the people criticizing the campaign are missing the point. They point out that the animals don't know we are using their names as insults. They are right about that, but the campaign isn't about the animals. It is about our attitude towards the animals. When we use the word pig as an insult, how does that effect our attitude towards actual pigs? Maybe if we respected pigs we wouldn't feel comfortable using the word as an insult.
This campaign may need a little work before people understand it, but I think they are on the right track.
This is complicated and I will have to track down some articles about PETA.
It is a very polarized issue and people usually love or hate the group.
The idea that using the names of animal species as insults effects how we think about the animals may be right.
Language is powerful. How we say things does matter. Maybe it is time to give up using animal insults. I know I stopped using reptile insults a long time ago.
We already have too many negative images of reptiles.
I think that you both have a point. I read years ago about euthanisation of healthy animals being widespread in some PETA animal refuges. The organisation has a case to answer and certainly should put its own house in order. I personally only support "no kill" refuges.
But on this particular issue, I would agree with you have written, Catherine. Countless times, I have responded to articles, posts on social media, etc. when people write about some violent assault by humans, "They are animals!" Animals do not violently attack others to steal money, personal possessions, or just for pleasure. So it is wrong to compare violent aggressive humans to animals. Animals, in general, only kill for food. (Cats sometimes "play" with mice, but that is an exception to the rule).
I love dogs. I know that you do, Catherine, and especially Libby. So why do some people say to someone else, "You're a dog!" in an abusive way? (BTW, I seem to remember something about Trump using "dog" or "dogs" as a term of abuse). I find it highly offensive. When we use an animal word as a term of abuse, the animals themselves are not hurt, as they do not understand. But we, as a species, show our contempt for another species by using its name as a term of abuse. We degrade ourselves.
I think how we use words influences our attitudes. You are right, Trump uses the word dogs as an insult and a degrading term. It is noticeable that he does not have a dog. He doesn't respect them. He doesn't even like them.
So many human insults involve the use of an animal name.
We call a person we think is stupid a bird brain even though most birds are intelligent. They can fly long distances and return without a map. They leave at the right time and return at the right time. Some of our Canada Geese have figured out that they can safely stay for the winter. So they stay. Why put all that energy into flying south if you don't need to. Why risk a trip like that. They have changed their behavior as the climate has changed. That is not a sign of stupidity, it is a sign of intelligence. They changed their behavior as the conditions changed. A lot of humans don't do that.
So why do we use the term "bird brain" to call someone stupid? We think birds are stupid. We are not intelligent enough to actually look at birds and figure out how clever they are.
That is just one insult. There are many of them.
PETA is a bit problematic. It is a big complex organization. Some of what it does is good and some is bad.
Some of the accusations against them are justified and some are not.
Some of their members are solid steady people who work for the wellbeing of animals.
Some members are over zealous and even unreasonable. They sometimes do more harm than good.
Many of their campaigns are very good. Their methods can be a bit dramatic. They tend towards graphic images.
On the other hand the images are of things that are taking place.
It is very hard to find a balance between inaction and over reaction.
Also no large organization can control all its members.
One defense I heard from PETA about euthanisations is the fact that when they are finally called in to rescue animals, they are often in very bad shape. If I can find the article I will post it.
Even No Kill shelters will do the kind thing and end the suffering of an animal that has no hope of survival.
I in general don’t use insults and use logic as much as I can. I actually haven’t heard anyone in person use insults like that in years. I am around a LOT of dog/animal people though so maybe that just my experience. It just always seems so out of left field when PETA does something like this. After some of the things they have pulled I honestly can’t believe they aren’t drowning in legal mess and it sounds like Virginia is fed up and is taking action.
Here’s an insult I like. I used to have a bumper sticker (I never used it) that said, “My dog is better trained than your lawyer.”
Oh I have a meme for this! I’m going to post it on my meme thread. It’s about positive self talk.
Quote:Here’s an insult I like. I used to have a bumper sticker (I never used it) that said, “My dog is better trained than your lawyer.”
Oh I have a meme for this! I’m going to post it on my meme thread. It’s about positive self talk.
I like the bumper sticker. There are some lawyers out there that fit the saying. I can think of one in particular. You might be able to guess who.
I can't wait to see the meme.
I think this campaign has merit, but it could have been presented in a way that would reach more moderate people.
In some ways PETA has forgotten that people who are less zealous can still be committed to animal welfare.
An example is the subject of eating meat. PETA doesn't want people eating meat.
I will mention the fact that I eat very little meat and some of my meals are vegan.
The right response is to encourage me with what I am doing.
The over zealous response is to confront me and ask why I don't give up the rest of the meat in my diet.
That doesn't motivate me to do more. It discourages me and makes me think, why bother.
The PETA response is the over zealous one.
One thing that has happened is that the very existence of PETA has an effect on people. When they are doing things to animals, they know that if PETA finds out they will react strongly and publicly. It is not a bad thing to have a group out there that makes people nervous when they are mistreating animals.
A group like PETA is supposed to annoy people and be in trouble all the time.
I certainly don't agree with everything they do, but I can see where their campaigns can do a lot of good. Even their graphic theatrics do have the effect of shocking people and perhaps making them think.
They do make the more moderate groups look reasonable and people are more likely to listen to the moderate groups because of that fact.
Hahaha I think know the lawyer you are talking about. I just feel like PETA has become a laughing stock and is very extremist. I can’t get over the Thanksgiving turkeys they broke out of a farm years ago just to run down a hill straight into a busy interstate to get hit. It was a massacre. There were pictures. That’s so reckless I can’t even begin to reason with that I just want to scream into a pillow at the top of my lungs.
Quote: I just feel like PETA has become a laughing stock and is very extremist. I can’t get over the Thanksgiving turkeys they broke out of a farm years ago just to run down a hill straight into a busy interstate to get hit. It was a massacre. There were pictures. That’s so reckless I can’t even begin to reason with that I just want to scream into a pillow at the top of my lungs.
This is the problem with extremists. They get an idea and they act on it. They don't think over the consequences of the action. Farm raised turkeys would not survive in the wild. If they had taken them to a farm sanctuary it would have been okay. Just releasing the turkeys was a disaster.
Extremists don't think over the consequences of their actions. They don't prioritize or distinguish between issues. They approach everything as if it was the most urgent thing in the world. Right now PETA is criticizing Groundhog Day. The groundhogs are well looked after all year round. For one brief hour they are on public display. It really isn't a big animal rights/animal abuse issue.
There are contest and events where animals are hurt or killed, like the turkey drop(they are dropped from a plane) and the possum drop.
A pig was forced to bungee jump. These events hurt animals and should be protested. Groundhog Day is fine.
They should focus on pigs in gestation crates, calves being raised for veal and Foie Gras. Those are serious issues.
When you treat minor things with the same urgency that you treat serious issues it makes your efforts seem ridiculous.
Sadly that is what PETA has done. They need to learn to focus and they need to evaluate an action before they take it.
Extremist actions are sometimes called for, but they should be done in a way that is effective and actually helps your cause.
(02-04-2021, 04:12 PM)Catherine Wrote: [ -> ]There are contest and events where animals are hurt or killed, like the turkey drop(they are dropped from a plane) and the possum drop.
A pig was forced to bungee jump.
I had to look up those contests and events on the net. Are these
legal in the USA?! Apparently there have been complaints and investigations by the police, but "no infraction" was found! It would be totally impossible in Europe, on the grounds of animal cruelty. What about Canada, Catherine?
Those are the sort of "events" against which PETA could usefully protest. They show the really ugly side of humanity. I did some research and the dropping of live turkeys from planes seems quite popular in the USA. Turkeys cannot fly, only flap their wings, so cannot survive being dropped from a plane:
https://www.livescience.com/60996-turkey...ysics.html
The worst part of this appalling "custom" is that the turkeys suffer during their descent from the plane. They flap their wings frantically for the first part of the descent, but don't have enough energy to continue long. Then, exhausted, they experience full terror until they are squashed on hitting the ground. Words fail me.