What do you think of PETA?

[donco6]

I read in another post that the ubiquitous PETA will be present at the Democratic National Convention (and doubtless the Republican as well). Having seen a few of their protests, I'm curious where people are at with this group.

[JohnLocke]

1. Mildly annoying and distracts from other more important messages.

[billybob537]

2. People eating tasty animals.

[jmowreader]

108. Like we didn't see that one coming!

[Gothic Sponge]

3. I think PETA's intentions are good, but their methods suck.

[realisticphish]

7. precisely

i think that slightly more rational discourse and education can go a lot farther for animal rights than "animals are people too" (not saying all PETA members do that sort of thing, but that is what most of the public sees)



:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[Eric J in MN]

19. They're going up against businesses with a billion times the money.

Speaking softly isn't going to get them attention in that context.

[realisticphish]

23. o yeah

well im not saying you should be QUIET about it, but you should shout things that quickly appeal to a lot of people; most PETA members do, but due to the nature of sheeple, one person saying the kind of stuff i refered to can get stuck in their narrow little minds

:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[ConsAreLiars]

52. Exactly right

That is the fact of the matter, and the reason their "over the top" tactics are both controversial and essential.

(edit typu)

[Warren DeMontague]

53. You want to raise awareness about factory farming? That's great.

You want to yell at people and call them evil for eating meat? Sorry, charlie, you've just marginalized yourself as a fringe wackjob in most of their minds. They cut you off at "meat is mur--".

[Gothic Sponge]

65. True

They have a hard fight. However, i think through graceful education they would get better results. The "in your face" approach turns people off.

[Eric J in MN]

16. Some of their tactics are impressive.

I'm not going to defend all their campaigns, but...

When a few women from PETA walked on-stage with anti-fur signs during a Victoria Secret's fashion show, there were just a few arrests, and no one was injured and it was played on the news a zillion times.

Contrast that with an anti-Free Trade protest, in which hundreds of people are arrested and injured by the police, and the news coverage is almost zero.

[Radical Activist]

37. Great point

A lot of people complain about PETA but everyone knows who they are, even if they get a distorted version of what they're about from the media. Contrast that to a direct action organization like ACORN that has been very effective for over 30 years but most people have never heard of it.

[rfranklin]

4. I like the naked women...

Other than that what do they stand for?

[Eric J in MN]

17. Animals aren't ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment.

Their slogan.

[Ohio Dem]

5. I think they are necessary extremists.

I say extremists because I find them to be, well, far to the left of me on most issues.

I say necessary because they do champion some causes that others wouldn't. And they need championing, for the most part.

I'm of the belief that "fringe groups" are a vital part of the political process. Where would lab animals be without PETA? I think their work there is admirable, but I can think of bigger problems. I don't say that to take anything away from their work, I am just saying that it would never be an issue with the more "mainstream" groups. Same with the whole fur thing. It's not an issue I get all bent out of shape about, but I'm glad others (like PETA) do. And so on.

Necessary extremists.

[TexasBushwhacker]

42. Let's here it for the fringe!

I agree. While PETA, IMHO, has become more extreme in the last few years, I wouldn't want them to go away. Anything that makes people talk about issues is a good thing. However, I think their extremism lately is driving people away from their cause. From having billboards implying that Rudolph Gulianni got prostate cancer because of dairy products to the commercial they wanted to air during the Super Bowl that said that eating meat causes impotence, they've taken a stance that the VAST majority of Americans just aren't going to support.

It's one thing to discourage wearing fur. You don't have to wear animal skins to stay warm in the winter. But to push their vegan agenda and insist that we'd all be healthier if we ate no animal products whatsoever is not scientifically supported. We've got canine teeth. PETA needs to choose their battles more carefully.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Mildly Annonying, etc.

I think if they stuck to causes like trying to raise awareness on fur, or stopping animal research that is unneccessary, or cruel, or unneccessarially cruel, then I would be much more inclined to support them. But I think they're way, way, waaaaay overboard, the fact that they can't admit that there are legitimate reasons for animal based-research puts them kind of in the pro-life maniacs camp for me, and when they're out there protesting the city of New York for trying to get rid of the rat infestation I think they've just gone into full blown wacko territory. Really. Look, not hurting animals is a fine idea, but you can't convince me that we don't have bigger fish to fry (as it were) right now than arguing whether viruses have "rights"...

And, sorry kids, but most folks aren't going to stop eating meat. (I say that as someone who only eats fish and vegetable based foods, nowadays..) Sure, raise awareness of factory farming and corporate mismanagement of the meat industry.. But rail against people as murderers for their buffalo wings and they're just gonna tune you out.

[donco6]

11. Personally, I'm with you

Sure, a little drama now and then helps keep your name published, but saving the plague-infested prairie dog colonies goes beyond the pale for most people.

Now if they would just protest over-development, and relate that to the impact on wildlife, I think most people could get on board with that. But that's not usually how they work, sad to say.

[SemperEadem]

78. there you go!

"Now if they would just protest over-development, and relate that to the impact on wildlife, I think most people could get on board with that."

I always find it so interesting when people who've chosen to build their homes in/near wilderness then start whining because bears, coyotes and mountain lions are roaming their neighborhood---hey, Einsteins!! This was THEIR neighborhood long before the developer dynamited them out of their ancestoral homes to build your house. Don't want mountain lions roaming about? Move to Chicago.

[donco6]

80. You would think they'd get that.

But they don't. Then they're all shocked when a mountain lion is spotted, or bears start digging in their trash and it becomes a "problem."

Uh, the problem is people want their own, NEW, little house with yard, even if they have to drive two hours one way to get into work. They won't even look at newer homes for sale in developments closer to town! No, they have to have their OWN tile, their OWN carpet, blah blah.

[Kolesar]

8. Somebody at DU claimed PETA is actually the Animal Liberation Front

Or, more correctly, the PETA leaders actually are "leaders" in ALF and perpetrate property damage and other extreme forms of protest. I never looked into it any further.

[Warren DeMontague]

9. ALF?

[donco6]

13. <snort>

that's a good one. I hardly think the feline-ingesting ALF would ever be a member of PETA!

[neoteric lefty]

22. I think the story was

that money from PETA somehow got into the hands of ALF. I do not know if that is fact, but that is what I remember from awhile back.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren DeMontague]

49. Man in the boat ...overboard! n/t

[realisticphish]

66. LMAO

mr scientist, dont spray that stuff in my eye....i dont wanna diiiie

:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[ajacobson]

10. They have good elements and some really bad elements

but ultimately they self-appointedly speak for constituents who are unable to determine whether they would want them to do so, a la the anti-abortion people speaking for the fetus. That's my major problem with them.

I am glad when they expose animal cruelty in food production or product development but I deeply resent their philosophy about companion animals (that there shouldn't be any).

[Cascadian]

12. I respect their opinions but I hate it when.....

they shove their vegan views. I make no bones that I eat meat but I do not like it when people like PETA try to preach their ways. They are entitled to it but do not preach to me, please. BTW I do like vegetarian and vegan food but I do like a nice breast of chicken as well so please let me eat it, thank you.

John

[xocolatl]

27. I agree: militant veganism is annoying

I would be a vegetarian if I could, but I find it extremely difficult to digest the protein substitutes that are necessary for health.

Try to make up for it by eating relatively little meat.

[Warren DeMontague]

51. Militant (lots of things) are annoying.

That's a fundamental axiom in my universe. So shoot me.

That said, I'm militantly anti-bush administration. And I'm militantly in favor of people generally minding their own business as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone else's.

[theoceansnerves]

32. okay

and i dont like it when burger king, mcdonalds, the cattleman's beef assocation and the dairy farmers preach their ways to me on tv, either.

[Cascadian]

82. I have a solution....

turn the channel or turn off the tv.

John

[Nikki Stone 1]

14. Big pain in the ass--and anti female when it comes to throwing paint

One of PETA's lovely activities was to throw paint on women wearing fur in Beverly Hills. They did not throw paint on men wearing leather belts or shoes. It seems to me to be just another group that takes out its frustrations on women. In that respect, the remind me of the anti-abortion wackos.

[Eric J in MN]

18. That isn't what they're about.

They want to end the exploitation of animals.

[Nikki Stone 1]

45. I know what they claim to be about, and I have watched what they do

Nothing wrong with liking animals and nothing wrong with trying to reduce the amount of animal testing.

But when they throw paint on a woman just for walking by in a fur coat--and they don't target others wearing leather products--they demonstrate a bias against women that turns me completely off. I often wonder how much of their anti-fur and paint throwing silliness is simply jealousy of women with some money. Or the desire of some of the males in the group to finally break the social tabu of "hitting a girl". I would not have this opinion if they targeted males--but they don't. A woman in a fur coat won't beat the crap out of them.

I have watched PETA's antics in LA for many years and consider them nutbags.

[MrSandman]

72. How many naked men have they used in ads?...n/t

[shockingelk]

50. "exploitation of animals" ... PETA are worse than the devil

Sorry for picking on you, but I thought it best to pick on someone who can come punch me in the nose if they desire ... this isn't aimed at you specifically, but a mindset I see in this thread.

Are you against pharmaceuticals as well as exploitation of animals?

Are you for people living the last decades of their lives wheelchairs as much as you're against exploitation of animals?

PETA are radicals who believe it's immoral to kill a single mouse even if it means never finding a cure for HIV infection.

Are you for people dying of AIDS as much as you're against exploitation of animals?

edit: added first paragraph

[AlienGirl]

57. And will you donate your dog to research?

[shockingelk]

61. If it meant saving your life

MOST DEFINITELY AND UNHESITATINGLY, YES

Would you be upset by how I chose to exploit my dog?

Actually, I have a cat. No difference though. I'd choose AlienGirl over Zoloft, without having to think about it. Even though I'm afraid you might eat me if I go to sleep.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

15. PETA, with all due respect is way out there...

Most mainstream animal rights groups are just that, but many of the PETA supporters are quite radical. I'm talking "animal cruelty=Holocaust" radical.

[shockingelk]

54. PETA are EXACTLY LIKE the Nazis

If we didn't use animal models in research, there are two possibilities:

We would have, as the Nazis did, had to force humans to to be guinea pigs in medical trials for every life saving technologies such as antibiotics, vaccines, heart surgery, brain surgery, countless types of life-saving pharmaceuticals ...

or,

Few or none of those technologies would have been developed, and millions if not billions of people would have lost their lives to potentially curable diseases and in juries.

Take your pick, either one and you'll come up with results much like the Nazis did. Worse.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

62. Exactly right.

Their absurd arguments only mask their ultimate agenda: They value animal life over human life, so much so that they'll kill animals to prove their point. Those folks are dangerous indeed.

[Fone Book]

97. I'm sure they would be even more against testing on humans than on animals

n/t

[Elidor]

20. They could certainly do with better spokespeople

I saw one of their bigwigs on CNN or somesuch once. He said, "We build doghouses." We build doghouses??? :wtf: He was unutterably bad. But at least he didn't throw paint.

[neoteric lefty]

21. I think they have a mildly noble goal but they need to learn

that when you stick your neck out (as with the comic of "Mommy killing the bunny" for the children), you have no right to bitch about being misunderstood. Education, discussion and debate are what they need to focus on.

[Selwynn]

24. Intentions ok, totally undercut by their insane and obnoxious approach

[xocolatl]

26. PETA sticks up for the oppressed

I agree with Eric J in MN. Some of their protests are annoying; I don't agree with absolutely all of their positions (e.g. I believe in owning pets that are loved and well cared for); I eat meat; and I acknowledge medical and scientific advances bought by the pain and suffering of lab animals.

However: we as a society have no respect for the animal kingdom. And how we treat animals is a metaphor for how we treat the weakest members of society: disposable.

In this regard, PETA speaks truth to power.

[curse10]

85. PETA does support pet ownership

it's a very large misconception that thedy don't that is often spouted here on this board and elsewhere.

And read "Animal Liberation" by PEter Singer and see what you think about the "advances" made by animal research. It's a greatly bloated statistic that we owe our lives to the animals in labs.

[PVnRT]

96. Umm wrong

Without experimenting on dogs, we would not have insulin. Et cetera, et cetera. Nice try.

[TankLV]

28. Hey, I'm a big supporter of "People Eating Tasty Animals"!

Isn't everyone?

[Mordecai]

29. They're a bunch of whackjobs.

[umass1993]

30. one of their spokeswomen is hot

I mean she is _really_ good looking. Saw her on the talking head shows.

[lanparty]

31. I stick by Penn & Teller on PETA

Nice article from the Miami Herald:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/television/8290436.htm

http://www.kburn.com/PT-peta.wmv


"But, though it may get lost among the purple language and the pranks, the bedrock of P&TB is old-fashioned journalism. That's never been more apparent than in Thursday's season premiere, a hard look at animal-rights zealotry.

After examining tax returns of the biggest animal-rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Penn and Teller charge that it has funneled tens of thousands of dollars to a confessed arsonist linked by federal investigators to at least seven firebombings of laboratories and farms. They also accuse PETA of killing more than 1,300 animals it ''rescued'' in raids on labs and animal shelters.

(PETA officials reacted with scorn last week to advance word of the program. ''Penn and Teller's ratings for this show are as poor as their longstanding lack of compassion for animals,'' said PETA spokeswoman Jennifer McClure. ``PETA is fighting violence in society with peaceful if sometimes gimmicky means; if Penn and Teller are going to try to cut and paste in order to come up with some other interpretation, then shame on their animal-hating agenda.'')

Although Penn and Teller narrate the episode while munching on spare ribs and other former animals, the animal-rights show contains less of P&TB's trademark humor than usual. That's because, Penn and Teller admit, they were scared by their own research.

''PETA is a scary organization,'' says Teller, the single-name part of the team -- even his passport identifies him only as Teller -- who ordinarily is silent. (He finally speaks in this season's premiere, but, predictably, it's a word that makes newspaper copy editors throw up.)

``People loosely connected with PETA burn down buildings. People whose bank accounts PETA puts money in burn down buildings. It's scary that someone would anthropomorphize animals to the extent that they'll burn down buildings.

``I like animals, too. But not to the extent that I want to block a cure for cancer or AIDS by burning down research laboratories.''
"


I'm sure that PETA engages in some legitamite activities. But their information on not chaining dogs masks the fact that their real policy is to set them all free. There advocation for treating zoo animals with respect masks their real intention of making zoos illegal.

They're take on the consumption of animal flesh is absoluetly absurd. They DO lobby for a more respectful treatment of farm animals (as do most liberals). But their real aim is to make meat consumption illegal judging by their "holocaust" rhetoric.

Their opposition to ill-defined and cruel animal experimentation masks their intention to make all animal testing illegal. They seem to think that rats have the same status and mental awareness as humans.

Something tells me that if PETA got all it's wishes, it would splinter into two groups. One would intentionally kill all the predatory species in the world to keep them from killing harmless herbevores. The other would see the obvious irony in such an action.

Someone is going to read this and say that Penn & Teller are freepers because they trashed both PETA and Greenpeace. They also trashed global warming. But rather, you should look deeper to see that they wnat people to treat science with SKEPTICISM. They don't want groupthink to be part of science, only measurements and numbers.

I'm sure others are probably deeply offended by their attacks on Chiropracters and "new age" medicine. They also think that Astrologers and Psychics are nothing but charlatons who sometimes fool even themselves inot their looney idiocy.

But I stick with their call. The PETA leadership is a bunch of nutbags who finance domestic terrorism and would rather same a bunch of rats than find cures for diseases that ail people. They would also doom millions of domesticated animals to their deaths by forcing them into the wilderness they are unprepared to face (like poor Kako).

To use P&T's approach. They're fucking lunatic nutcases. Don't believe their literature. It's a bit like the Nazi propaganda advocating for the humane resettlement of Jews. It really doesn't explain what they're really up to.

[Big Blue Marble]

33. We marvel at the denial of so many

who can turn away from the suffering of the people of Iraq or The Sudan or even our inner cities. We are shocked how many are deluded by the Bush administration lies and deceptions. Be assured that corporate agribusiness uses the same techniques to keep us dumbed down about the excesses of animal “production.” They do not want us to think to much about where our food comes from. Many of the attacks to marginalize PETA surely originate in the PR firms that support our agribusiness
corps.

I appreciate PETA. I am thankful for any group that works to break through the denial about the horrendous suffering billions of animals endure every day of our lives. Immense suffering so that we might eat a quick burger without though or wear the latest leather fashion without care. Yes they use outrageous effects to penetrate the outrageous denial that is all around us. If their efforts save even a few animals from suffering the fate of so many, then I am grateful for their efforts.

[lanparty]

35. http://www.kburn.com/PT-peta.wmv

http://www.kburn.com/PT-peta.wmv

Only part of the program.

[donco6]

67. Horrendous suffering?

Hmm, the cows grazing out in the field down the road from me look pretty happy.

Well, right now anyway. I suppose getting shot later on isn't so fun, but I think "horrendous suffering" is a typically PETA-ese exagerration. Those who actually know something about livestock know these descriptions are ridiculous garbage.

[Big Blue Marble]

73. Been hanging out at any slaughter houses lately?

Watch those pigs be boiled alive. Or those cows skinned alive. If you had the courage
to study the facts, you might not be so flippant.

[donco6]

77. That's silly.

Yes, actually, I have been around quite a few slaughterhouses. I grew up in Kansas. We do that sort of thing there. I NEVER saw any animal "boiled alive" anywhere, at any time.

Typical PETA nonsense.

[Big Blue Marble]

87. I know you wish to ridicule this suffering

no matter what evidence would be presented to you. I share this not for you, but for compassionate others who might not know of this extreme suffering. This is the last reply that I will give to this thread.

Many sites describe this practice. It is the byproduct of corporate production lines. Perhaps, things moved slower when you were on the killing floors. Much animal suffering results from corporatization of our food supply. It continues because so few know of it and most who do would turn away. When maximizing profits exceeds the well-being and welfare of people and animals, our world becomes a darker place for both humans and animals

Warning: explicit sites:

http://www.google.com/search?q=pigs+boiled+alive&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

[donco6]

90. Yeah, I'm all about ridiculing suffering.

Pfft.

Thankfully, since you won't be posting to this thread any further, I can get the last word in.

I think the propaganda you are espousing - obviously the same anecdotal story published solely on anti-meat sites - is akin to the bogus material spread about by the anti-abortion crowd. You just won't be convincing anyone with this kind of crap.

[lanparty]

100. One is right to oppose these things ...

Yes, animals should be put down before they are slaughtered. They should also be treated humanely and given a good quality of life while they are raised (which consists of standing in a field and muching for a cow, walking around a field and pecking for a chicken, foraging, rooting and wollowing for a pig). And animals should not be subjected to pointless, unscientific animal testing. They should not be treated like "toys".

But you have to realize that these are NOT PETAs aims. They believe that ANY form of animal captivity is inhumane. They would have us cast all our domesticated animals out into the wild.

They seem to think that humans uses of animals over our 5,000 years of civilization has been a holocaust. The fact is that we are a predatory species no different than a lion or a shark. The really bizarre issues of wholesale cruelty against animals is a recent phenomenon with factory farms. You look in Kosher rules and you'll find an excellent animal as to how a humanely harvest an animal.

We must remember that not all animals have sense of self awareness. Noticebly lacking of any self-awarness or temporal congnition are MOST herbivore species. The animals we typically think of as exceptionally bright are almost ALL carnivores, even the cute dolphins eat fish. And VIRTUALLY ALL of those fish eat OTHER FISH. Even the passively feeding great whales subsist on a carnivorous diet.

When it comes to eating cows, I'm pretty unconcerned. As long as they have their happy life of standing around in a field with some room to move and chewing their cud, I'm not concerned. While I believe they have primitive emotions, I don't think that a single solitary thought ever passes into their heads. Basically, COWS are pretty fucking dumb. And if I'm not mistaken, this is the explanation of why it's OK to kill and consume plant life but not animal life.

Finally, I find it very disturbing that the same group of people who are advocate the protection of chicken eggs are actively supporters of abortion. I support abortion rights. But we have to be consistent here. If one should protect an egg because it's a potential chicken, one should give AT LEAST as much protection to human embryos.

THIS, is PETAs biggest problems. They think of animals first and HUMANS second. At the same time they live in a society that has evolved and benefited through use of animal biomass. Lets not forget that ALL things die. And we certainly cannot forget that we'd NEVER have such highly evolved thoughts unless our anscestors got into eating meat in the first place.

I respect the noble intentions of the Vegan who does the right thing because they think it is correct. But the PETA leadership are just plain fucking insane.

[donco6]

107. Can I hear an "hallelujah!"

Great post.

[theoceansnerves]

34. i wish the responses in this thread

were anything but typical.

[Cascadian]

36. My response to those PETA fanatics?

John

[Big Blue Marble]

38. The suffering of the animals is real.

And that suffering is present in your hamburger. The fear hormones
that the animals released near the time of their deaths is in the muscle tissue that becomes your dinner.

[theoceansnerves]

40. hi

welcome to du!
and not to seem negative but, don't bother. these peta threads come up about once a month and everyone comes out of the woodwork to say how much they love eating death. animal rights is not a big issue here, unfortunately (and i'm noting that any thread about peta inetivably has maybe one or two real replies about peta, and the rest are just vegetarian bashing.)

[Big Blue Marble]

41. Thanks for the welcome theoceansnerves.

Sadly, I have noticed what you are saying. So few will speak for the animals.

[Warren DeMontague]

48. I'm someone who doesn't eat red meat

who also doesn't harangue people about their choices.

I've never been "bashed" for not eating meat. Of course, I still eat fish, so I'm still a horrible fish-murderer in some eyes. And I'm still pro-choice, so I'm still a horrible baby-murderer (at least, baby-murder supporter) in other eyes.. I've said this before, but it bears repeating: Frankly, (and I know I'm not alone, here) I find overly self-righteous, preachy people indescribably tiresome and irritating-- whether they're waving the flag of veganism, say, or fundamentalist christianity.. (or certain other narrow ideological perspectives that I'm not going to drag into this fray.) ...Just my opinion!

[Llewlladdwr]

60. "Fear Hormones"?

Say what? Can you narrow that down to some actual chemical compound or are you just talking out your ass?

[Big Blue Marble]

63. Cortisol

The flight or fight hormone. The same chemical compound that your body would produce if someeone attempted to threaten you.


Warning: graphic descriptions

www.ighz.edu.pl/pdf/supl1/wajda.pdf (pdf file)


http://www.scn.org/~bk269/fear.html

[donco6]

70. The Polish academy of sciences?

This site doesn't even look real.

[Big Blue Marble]

74. Poles are not capable of scientific thought?

[donco6]

76. I'm implying it's a fake site. eom

[lanparty]

102. Not if it's done right ...

Those exploding bolts are often seen are cruel treatment for slaughtering cows. But the cattle is none the wiser and has NO idea what is going on.

The corporate folks (especially McDonalds) have actually picked up on this and some are extra careful to treat the cows gently on their "last walk".

The cows should never know that they're about to chew their last cud. Of course, one could have a long discussion about whether they EVER knew that they were alive in the first place.

[Radical Activist]

39. Are there a lot of freepers here or

are the comments of this thread indicative of why some liberals don't feel welcome in the Democratic party and vote Green instead? Of course, people here do a great job of winning over Nader voters by calling them names and accusing them of being Republicans. That really helps. :eyes:

[Warren DeMontague]

46. Yes, Because obviously anyone who thinks that

PETA protesting the city of new york for trying to deal with their rat infestation is extreme (not to mention totally idiotic)


...must be a reactionary "freeper" :eyes:

[lanparty]

103. Regarding rats ...

Slaughter as many as you want. Slaughter them alive and tear them apart if you will. They are little more than biological robots that eat, chew and spread disease.

[mellowinman]

43. They taste fucking GREAT with ketchup!

Just kidding. I voted for them being "A wonderful group."

I love my animals.

Sure, they got some whackos.

Who doesn't?

[Renew Deal]

44. I thought I snuck in our monthly PETA hating threads the other day.

Good looking out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2041934

[slutticus]

47. mmmmmmm.......peta.....

....with lamb meat.

I love peta bread with lamb meat. gyros........yummy

[medeak]

55. nutso cases

we have state's bad boys school here. the boys have been raising chukars...a small bird that is impossible to hunt as they hide in rocks.

PETA came in to our little town and released all the babies..who couldn't fend for themselves....they ran on interstate and were run over...horrible carnage of 100's of dead birds.

wish they had to clean up dead bodies...the boys were devastated..only thing they had that was positive in their life.

[GeronimoSkull]

56. I love PETA

Sure, they have done some dumb things but I think that is far outweighed by the good they have done.

[jmags]

58. They hurt the animal rights movement

and on a broader scale the democratic party, far more than they help.

They create a far bigger backlash because of their asinine tactics and over the top rhetoric than anything productive they may do.

[Eric J in MN]

68. Is that why they're the biggest animal rights organization? nt

nt

[jmags]

99. I don't see what that has to do with my argument.

They may be the largest, but that doesn't mean that the way they go about their agenda hurts the overall cause far more than it helps.

If they tried to go about this without pissing off the vast majority of the country, they would see much greater results.

[lanparty]

104. PROBABLY !!!!!

When right wing radio cons characterize the left, they do it with organization like PETA that truly seem to be brainless and witless with regard to both their motives and methods.

I can easily see the freepers funding the truly "loonie lefty" organizations to make the decent liberal organizations look like idiots (PETAs).

[fujiyama]

59. I voted for mildly annoying

but that's with the assumption that their tacticts have been non violent. I'm not aware of them causing any violence (to this point at least).

More so, I find them amusing and entertaining. It can be argued they are cult like. Some of their tacticts are just so out there and ridiculous. I really do wonder if they change any minds at all. I don't see how they will convince anyone of anything.

However once they start equating mistreatment of animals with the holocaust, that's really crass and disgusting. I'm sorry, but to believe that eating meat is the same as the deliberate murder of millions of people is just plain nuts. At that point they do start sounding like anti abortion nut jobs.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

64. Well, one of the most annoying things about PETA:

Their celebrity spokespeople, Pam Anderson for example, wear Leather. Um, dude, does she not know where that stuff comes from?! Their methods suck. Also, do not tell other people what to eat. I think it's rude. I got into a row here with a rude vegan, her argument made no sense, and she totally proved me right about rude vegans who tell others how to eat. She didn't like what I said, so rather than talking to me, she ignored me. MATURE! Anyway, PETA started out as good idea. But of course, they took it to the next level and became just as bad as terrorists who like to bomb abortion clinics.
Duckie

[Eric J in MN]

69. Pamela Anderson doesn't wear leather. I'ts pleather (nt)

nt

[0007]

71. I like the idea of protecting animals from selfish greed of profit

Some methods are questionable -

[curse10]

75. Wow.

All this hatred. And coming from people who are supposed to be open minded liberals. You don't see me posting shit about the Beef Council- which has a history for disgusting lobbying tactics and are some of the biggest supporters of republicans. (Yep. Another reason not to eat meat).

[Doomsayer13]

79. They've taken a good cause and run it into the ground

I'm a supporter of aminal rights, but PETA is a prime example of how NOT to run an interest group. They have no intention of broadening their base, rather they play to the same group of narrow-minded radicals, and as long as they do that they will be rightly percieved as way out of the maintsream. Serously, going after the NBA rookie of the Year awards because they are sponsered by the "Got Milk?" campaign? So long as they keep up this narrow and rediculous dogma they will never get what they want.

[-..__...]

81. PETA’s letter to Yasser Arafat

Just one example of the way they think.

(I wonder if Arafat has a sense of humor? If he does, he almost certainly got a chuckle out of this).


http://www.peta.org/feat/arafat




"February 3, 2003

Yasser Arafat, President
Palestinian National Authority
Ramallah, West Bank
Palestinian Authority

Your Excellency:

I am writing from an organization dedicated to fighting animal abuse around the world. We have received many calls and letters from people shocked at the bombing in Jerusalem on January 26 in which a donkey, laden with explosives, was intentionally blown up.

All nations behave abominably in many ways when they are fighting their enemies, and animals are always caught in the crossfire. The U.S. Army abandoned thousands of loyal service dogs in Vietnam. Al-Qaeda and the British government have both used animals in hideously cruel biological weaponry tests. We watched on television as stray cats in your own compound fled as best they could from the Israeli bulldozers.

Animals claim no nation. They are in perpetual involuntary servitude to all humankind, and although they pose no threat and own no weapons, human beings always win in the undeclared war against them. For animals, there is no Geneva Convention and no peace treaty—just our mercy.

If you have the opportunity, will you please add to your burdens my request that you appeal to all those who listen to you to leave the animals out of this conflict?

We send you sincere wishes of peace.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk
President, PETA"

[sistersofmercy]

84. Oh, that is priceless!!!!!!

Thanks for posting that, you gave me the best chuckle of the day. :D :toast:

[rniel]

110. So what they're saying is

Strap a bomb to a child that blows up people and you get no reaction. The same bomb strapped to a donkey and it's "YOU BARBARIANS!! HOW COULD YOU!!"

[lanparty]

105. PETA activists at a bombing scene ...

They would scramble past dying children to give first aid to rats and goats who got "caught up" in human conflict.

[Cascadian]

83. I do have one positive thing to say about PETA.

I do want to commend them for exposing the brutal treament of chickens at the Pilgrim's Pride plant. The same company that provides poultry for Kentucky Fried Chicken. I saw the footage and was sick to my stomach. I will support them in exposing the brutality of these corporate slaughter houses however, I will still continue to eat meat. I do like free-range meats which are better for you and carry no hormones. They are more expensive yes but think of what you are eating. You will never force people to become vegetarians or vegans. It is a lifestyle choice.

John

[Comicstripper]

86. They Also Fund Terrorists

[snippy]

88. I think PETA is well intentioned, but misguided. n/t

[levdog]

89. the problem is that PETA is a political organization

if you want to help animals, donate directly to a shelter in your town, donating to PETA will most likely mean paying lawyers who defend pro-animal vandals and lobbying the house.

[donco6]

91. That's what I do.

I give to several animal protection groups - I like Best Friends. They seem pretty good, from what I can tell in their newsletters. I also give to local groups and to Alley Cat Allies. IMO, these groups do more real good than PETA ever dreamed of.

[Endangered Specie]

92. Very Hypocritical...

you think they support the rights of mosquitos? Roaches? rats? Ticks?
puleez, these people probably scream when they see one and swat at it just like the rest of us.

Not to mention, whose gonna pratice the rights of plants, fungi, bacteria and viruses? PETP, PETF, PETB, and, PETV.

Im a omnivore (and I loooove veal) And Im proud of it!

[RhodaGrits]

93. PETA believes in anti-speciesism. They believe that animals

are equal to humans and that we should not enslave them or exploit them in any way. This is an extreme radical agenda. It is not an animal welfare movement. They do not believe we can "own" animals. Property laws in the U.S. state that human beings are not property but everything else is - even your own thoughts (intellectual property). If animals are given the same status as people - who determines what is in their best interests? A government oversight board? Who is responsible for their care and feeding? If you are their guardian and not their owner, can your neighbor sue for guardianship because he has a bigger yard and can afford a better quality diet? If your veterinarian thinks it needs medical treatment you are declining, can they sue to have your removed as guardian? Can anyone elect euthanasia for an animal? Meat, animal fibers, furs, animal products (including some animal-derived medicines) would all become illegal or impossible to obtain. And what would become of all these domestic animals that were bred and housed for production? If laws are changed making animals "wards" and not property, will you be compensated for the loss of your property? Is this a violation of your 5th Amendment rights under the Constitution?

I think the issues are going to need to be discussed by society as a whole. Most people agree that sentient property is not the same as a coffee table and they want laws that protect the welfare of animals and punish cruelty and negligence. Most people want the human-animal bond protected and see us as animal stewards living in a mutually beneficial relationship. Anyone who thinks a guide dog is "enslaved" and should be freed from that exploitation is seriously misguided. I may be a vegetarian but I cannot expect a society of omnivores to change overnight.

There are terrible animal abuses that go on in agribusiness and in our own backyards. Extremist groups like PETA are not what we need for real change.

[Northwind]

94. Useless whackos that do more harm than good...if they do any good at all

Which is debateable.

I was cruising around the web a few days ago, looking for good shells for my hermit crabs. I have 20 of them, kept in a large tank, with a temperature and humdity controlled environment. They are well fed, cared for (pampered, even), and I spenbd a siginificant part of my day seeing to their needs and making sure they have a good environment to live in. Same as I do with my cats (except for the tank part). So anyway, I am looking for good shells to buy online. I have a couple of quite large hermits that will be needing a bigger shell soon, so i was looking for good turbin shells that they like. Anyway, in the course of my search, I come across this:

http://www.petakids.com/hermitcrab.asp

So now I am supposedly a demon for keeping a colony of well-cared for hermit crabs. The worst part of it is, a lot of their information is dead wrong. They claim hermits will only reproduice in the coean and so all hermit crabs are "ripped away from his or her home and family." Utter BS. Hermits are sometimes captured in the wild, but they are also bred in captivity, to breed them, you simple have to create a large tank with a "coastal environment", in other words, an articifical beach with a body of saline water and so forth. I know people who raise hermits, in captivity. The PETA info is just bunk. They also have a silly little quiz for kids that claims hermits do not live longer than 4 years in captivity. How do they explain my 10 year old big man named Ajax then (he is uncommonly strong, hence the name)? I know a lady who has a hermit that she got when it was the size of a pea, and it is as big as a softball and 22 years old! Disinformation and outright lies are the only tools PETA has going for it. No different from the GOP in my book.

[-..__...]

98. Just one question.

If they're called hermit crabs, why do they live in a "colony"? :think:

[Northwind]

101. Possibly...

...because some human named them without really studying them first?

Hermit crabs are extremely social animals and will die if kept without others of their kind.

[lanparty]

106. Don't forget what they did to poor Kako ...

Basically, Kako was a whale that thought he was a human. He LOVED doing his performances once they got him in the correct environment.

The "animal rights" wackos got that whole stupid "Free Willy" notion in their head. The result was that Kako was taken from an aquarium that was his home where he socialized with his trainers and MANY, MANY fans. He was also fed well and did "tricks" in lieu of hunting.

He was shipped into an icy feord and intentionally ISOLATED from the only family that he knew. The tried to force Kako to force a physically unfit animal into the wild where only the STRONGEST animals survive. He lived out his days terrified and alone while whackos tried to force him into a wilderness he was unprepared to deal with.

One has to wonder whether he was longing for the days back in that shitty Mexican aquarium while those jerks tried to force him back into the ocean.

[donco6]

109. Makes about as much sense as . . .

. . . trying to get my dog to fend for herself up in the mountains. It's cruel and inhuman.

[Dastard Stepchild]

95. I'm cool with PETA

They tend to attract a young, more rebellious crowd, which would explain the more rash acts of animal rescuing fervor. Age seems to temper that initial "I'm so vegan it hurts" mentality, which may be why there are fewer adults that seem to jump onto PETA's bandwagon. They are in yer face, but as with any message that a person doesn't approve of, they can simply be tuned out. I'm not fond of their naked/nearly naked women ads, as there is little need to objectify women to bring attention to the plight of animals. Some consider their tactics harmful to the animal welfare movement, but since they advocate a position that few would be willing to acquiesce to, I can't see that they do that much harm. Most people simple need to hear the word PETA to get the eyeballs rolling. I don't think most people even really pay attention to them.
I myself am a vegan, so they don't bother me. But when it comes time to cut the contribution checks, I tend to send my money to the Farm Sanctuary in New York. I find it to be a better use of my dollars.