The Acceptance of Thuggery for Fun, Power & Profit

The New Media Journal ^ | August 31, 2007 | Frank Salvato

[NewMediaJournal]

While the controversy surrounding Michael Vick continues to attract those who want to place blame on anyone and/or anything other than Michael Vick, a few stark realities present themselves all of which have an element of moral relativism. The sad fact of the matter is this; “thuggery” has seeped into every avenue of the American culture and our society is accepting it.

That “thuggery” has been accepted in professional sports is a given. From the NBA to the NFL, the counter-culture, urban bad-boy image has been accepted as “cool.” One need only look at the offenses that professional athletes are being arrested for and charged with to understand the spectrum of the problem. From Michael Vick’s guilty plea in the despicable dog fighting scandal to former Chicago Bear Tank Johnson’s repeated weapons offenses, from Charles Barkley’s assault charge for throwing a heckler through a window at a local bar to the Baltimore Raven’s Ray Lewis skirting murder charges through a plea deal, the idea that professional sports figures should act as a role models for our nation’s youth has been discarded and their behavior deemed acceptable as long as it generates the almighty dollar.

The urban counter-culture bad-boy image – or “gangsta” image – prevalent in most of today’s professional sports and modern music cultures, preys on those susceptible to its superficial allure, its façade of “machismo,” using the most base of human instincts – superiority through violence. Those who fall prey to the ghoulish magnetism of thuggery are not only proliferating this intellectually stunted societal ill but they are being used by the greed element in our society as well.

[struwwelpeter]

I was reading elsewhere that Michael Vick stands to lose about $100 million in salaries and returned signing bonuses over this affair, not to mention possibly 5 years in prison.

The various "humane" societies, OTOH, kill 20-30 million dogs and cats every year - including the rest of Vick's dogs.

This whole deal looks like it was designed to increase donations, like their PR scheme with the online hunting.

[DGHoodini]

Democrat Culture. You must be tolerant of the thugs, or you are a “racist” or a “Nazi”, or “cold hearted” or “eeeevil”.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

So thuggery is cool these days? Things have gone downhill in a generation. I once saw New York Knick great Walt Frazier, the definition of cool in the early 70s, get punched in the face by an opponent. Today such an unprovoked attack would likely produce a brawl, but Frazier just looked at his attacker like he was crazy and proceeded to show his displeasure by scoring such a flurry of points as to humble the puncher.

Back then more players could back up a cool style with substance and spoke with their game more than just their mouth and fists.

[lonestar]

The various "humane" societies, OTOH, kill 20-30 million dogs and cats every year - including the rest of Vick's dogs.

The important word is "humane." Do you not see anything wrong about intentionally abusing animals? Do you think electricuting a dog is "humane?" Do you think throwing a dog on the ground until it dies is "humane?"

If you don't know the difference between humanely putting a homeless animal to death painlessly and abusing one by torturing it to death, you have a real problem.

[weegee]

Cold killer stares (”I don’t wanna smile and look like no ‘punk’”) and gang hand signals have been matter of course in semi/professional sports for some time.

Many of the rappers who engage in the same visual identity make up their criminal record, name, how many times they were shot, so they have some bragging rights and street cred. How about calling it street crud instead?

[weegee]

A family of endangered gorillas was bound and slaughtered in Africa with no outrage from the world press. All so they could make more charcoal.

[weegee]

So Vick’s dogs are homeless? No, they are being “destroyed” because they are considered unsafe because they are not “worth” rehabilitating.

[struwwelpeter]

I probably have no inkling of the meaning of the word "humane".

Certain states allow "euthanasia" by means of gunshots and automobile exhaust, in addition to lethal injection with a variety of concoctions - not all containing barbiturates.

Packing houses operating under "The Humane Slaughter Act" can use gunshot, captive bolts and pneumatic stunners (which inject high-pressure air into the animal's skull and explode their brains), as well as electrocution, and, of course, ritual slaughter is allowed, wherein an animal's throat is sliced before stunning.

I don't dispute that Michael Vick violated certain ordinances, but $100 million? Five years? A drunk illegal alien wiped out a family in our county, and he's still free as a bird.

Besides, judging from the posts here, I thought everyone was for killing pit bulls.

[struwwelpeter]

An academic's view of "humane", minus the $100 million fine, from http://www2.ucsc.edu/vivarium/euthcht.htm

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EUTHANASIA

reformatted for hypertext language from original

Inhalant Agents:^a Anesthetics

Because in the liquid state most inhalant anesthetics act as topical irritants, animals should be exposed to the vapors of the anesthetic only. Air or oxygen must be provided during the induction period.

ETHER

SPECIES - Cats, young dogs, birds, rodents, amphibians, reptiles and other small animals

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Acceptable - Should be used in approved hood according to institutional guidelines.

HALOTHANE

SPECIES - Cats, young dogs, birds, rodents, amphibians, reptiles and other small animals

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY- Acceptable - Considered the most effective inhalant anesthesia for euthanasia.

METHOXYFLURANE

SPECIES - Cats, young dogs, birds, rodents, amphibians, reptiles and other small animals

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY- Acceptable

ISOFLURANE

SPECIES - Cats, young dogs, birds, rodents, amphibians, reptiles and other small animals

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY- Acceptable

NITROUS OXIDE (NO)

SPECIES - Cats, young dogs, birds, rodents, amphibians, reptiles and other small animals

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY- Conditionally Acceptable - when used with other inhalant anesthetics

ENFLURANE

SPECIES - Cats, young dogs, birds, rodents, amphibians, reptiles and other small animals

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY- Acceptable

^a Should not be used in dogs and cats <16 weeks of age p> Inhalant Agents: Non-Anesthetics

Most agents in this category require the use of special equipment.

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO₂)

SPECIES - Dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits, amphibians, reptiles and other small animals

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY- Acceptable - Bottled gas preferred, requires special equipment

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

SPECIES - Dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits and amphibians

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY- Acceptable - Bottled gas only, requires special equipment

NITROGEN (N₂)/ARGON (AR)

SPECIES - Dogs, cats, rodents, and rabbits

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Conditionally Acceptable - Animals should be anesthetized or heavily sedated

Non-Inhalant Pharmacologic Agents

Use of these agents requires adequate restrain and mastery of appropriate injection techniques.

BARBITURIC ACID

SPECIES - Most species

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Acceptable - Should be administered by IV whenever practical. IP is an acceptable alternative in small animals (<7 kg). p>T-61

SPECIES - Mammalian species

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Acceptable - When administered IV. Not available in U.S.

TRICAINE METHANESULFATE (MS 222)

SPECIES - Fish and amphibians

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Acceptable

BENZOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE

SPECIES - Fish and amphibians

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Acceptable

Physical Methods

These methods require that the user have complete mastery of the techniques to be used

ELECTROCUTION

SPECIES - Mammalian species

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Conditionally Acceptable - Two step procedure, requires special equipment

PENETRATING CAPTIVE-BOLT PISTOL

SPECIES - Large animals, dogs and rabbits

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Conditionally Acceptable - Requires special skills and equipment

CERVICAL DISLOCATION

SPECIES - Small mammals, birds, rats (200 gm or less) and rabbit under 1 kg

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Conditionally Acceptable - Proper technique is essential. Larger rats and rabbits require special equipment and demonstrated proficiency.

DECAPITATION

SPECIES - Small mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and reptiles

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Conditionally Acceptable - Should be followed by pithing in poikilotherm.

PITHING

SPECIES -Some piokilotherms

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Conditionally acceptable - Death not immediate unless double pithed.

MICROWAVE

SPECIES - Small rodents

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Acceptable - Requires special restraint and focusing equipment. Microwave ovens are absolutely condemned for use.

Adjunctive Methods

When properly done these methods induce unconsciousness, but do not ensure death.

STUNNING

SPECIES - Small mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Single blow to head followed by a method that ensures death.

EXSANGUINATION

SPECIES - Most species

REMARKS ON SUITABILITY - Must be rendered unconscious by some other method first.

[Snardius]

This just in...

Michael Vick is attempting to rehabilitate his image with the public. He's opening a number of new stores called:

Michael Vick's Veterinary Clinic and Taxidermy
Either way, you get your pet back...