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Stop Insulting Your Companion Animal!
Conclub ^ | 04-29-11 | The Rat

Posted on 04/30/2011 4:43:58 PM PDT by TheConservativeCitizen

It’s time to change your ways human carers; you are insulting your companion animals and you should be ashamed of yourself.

If you use terms like pets, wild- life, critters, beasts, or pests, the Journal of Animal Ethics has a (non-animal) bone to pick with you and your lack of sensitivity.

A (wackier than normal) group of leading animal ethicists is calling for a new “animal language” because the common animal terms we use “send out the wrong message.” To whom, exactly? The Rat would call these people “loons,” but that would be an affront to loons. Anyway, check out a few of their “academic” observations:

“Pets” is a derogatory term to both the animals and their “human carers” alike. The word “owners” is insulting, of course, because it harkens back to a previous age when animals were regarded as property or things. And the point is what?

“Wildlife” is insulting because “wildness” is synonymous with an uncivilized, unrestrained, barbarous existence. Apparently these guys missed the Great Migrations episode where the “uncivilized” crocodiles behave in a rather “unrestrained” manner when the water buffalo attempt to cross the river.

“There is an obvious prejudgment here that should be avoided.” The ethicists’ preferred terminology? “Free-living,” “free-ranging” or “free-roaming.” Really? Something tells the Rat that if one of these brainiacs were being mauled by a “free-living” grizzly, he’d wish he had done a bit of “prejudgement” himself.

As if this isn’t crazy enough, there’s more. Phrases such as “sly as a fox, “eat like a pig” or “drunk as a skunk” are all unfair to animals too. (without explaining, of course, just exactly how foxes, pigs and skunks have figured out all of this “unfairness” in the first place.)

“We shall not be able to think clearly unless we discipline ourselves to use less than partial adjectives in our exploration of animals and our moral relations with them,” concluded the Journal. “Thinking clearly” are ya? Seriously?


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: animalrights; animals; kittyping; pets; progressives
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To: TheConservativeCitizen
"A (wackier than normal) group of leading animal ethicists is calling for a new “animal language” because the common animal terms we use “send out the wrong message.”"

Why not? Most of us sucked up all of the other linguistic activism from the left so far. "Sex" was replaced with "gender" for the purpose of devising extra, non-existant sexes. Feminism was defined away from its etymological roots and real meaning. Those reacting from disgust are accused of being "-phobic." Vague terms have replaced clearer terms in the speech of the supposedly educated. The confusion in peasant listeners and readers makes such speakers and authors seem somehow more intelligent. The default has a few lessons in store for us.


21 posted on 04/30/2011 5:45:25 PM PDT by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-' 96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote.)
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To: Jeff Chandler
I tell my dog that she’s ugly and her breath smells bad. She never seems insulted.

You too? Every time I do that she rolls on her back for a tummy scratch. As soon as start I relaxing in the den she jumps in my lap and tries to lick me.

Maybe I should find a better pet Companion Animal. /grin

22 posted on 04/30/2011 5:52:47 PM PDT by ken in texas (Can't Afford a Tagline... send money.)
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To: TheConservativeCitizen

Reminds me of Jerry Clower’s routine where he describes an encounter with a women’s libber back in the 1970’s. He went into detail about the life of privilege and luxury that his wife enjoyed, and concluded by telling the FemiNazi (though the term had not been invented then), “Momma don’t want you messin’ with the deal she’s got!”

I think most “PETS” in this country don’t want the do-gooder libtards “messin’ with the deal” they have, either.

Just imagine what kind of insanity they are going to bring our way if we don’t hammer them in the next election - scary thought.


23 posted on 04/30/2011 5:52:47 PM PDT by RatRipper (I'll ride a turtle to work every day before I buy anything from Government Motors.)
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To: TheConservativeCitizen
My animal companions all enjoy a level of comfort and security that many humans would probably envy. When their prehistoric ancestors wandered out of the forest and entered into the relationship they presently have with people they got a pretty good deal .
Life in the wild is often brutal and short. If the trade off is that we address them in a manner not to the liking of these kooks, I'm sure they won't mind.
24 posted on 04/30/2011 5:56:05 PM PDT by Malone LaVeigh
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To: Malacoda

Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.


25 posted on 04/30/2011 6:18:30 PM PDT by Maceman (Obama -- he's as American as nasi goreng)
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To: Ditter
Where can I go to file a grievance?

Dogpatch?

26 posted on 04/30/2011 6:34:35 PM PDT by Eaker (The problem with the internet, you're never sure of the accuracy of the quotes. Abraham Lincoln '65)
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To: Joe 6-pack

I frequently insult my companion animals.

While I’m brushing them, I call them doofuses, ask them if there’s room for a brain in their heads, tell them that they’re the dumbest things I’ve ever seen, and berate them for shedding all over me (I’m pre-furred).

They just purr and rub up against my hands, arms, face, whatever they can reach and act happy as can be.


27 posted on 04/30/2011 6:34:54 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: Eaker

Perfect! :D


28 posted on 04/30/2011 6:58:10 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: TheConservativeCitizen

Is it OK if I call leading animal ethicists pests and vermin?


29 posted on 04/30/2011 7:20:32 PM PDT by seowulf ("If you write a whole line of zeroes, it's still---nothing"...Kira Alexandrovna Argounova)
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To: Dawggie

My k-9 American thinks that’s pretty funny.


30 posted on 04/30/2011 7:51:03 PM PDT by brytlea (A tick stole my tagline....)
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To: Joe 6-pack; Slings and Arrows; Glenn; republicangel; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; asgardshill; ..

31 posted on 04/30/2011 9:25:17 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Hi Slings. I already yakked here but wanted to say hello to you.


32 posted on 04/30/2011 10:02:02 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: TheConservativeCitizen

Hmmmm....better tell our PET kitty this....who was saved from being COYote DINNER!


33 posted on 04/30/2011 10:07:49 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Unlike the West, the Islamic world is serious.)
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To: TheOldLady

Howdy-do.


34 posted on 04/30/2011 10:11:35 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: TheConservativeCitizen
The word “owners” is insulting, of course, because it harkens back to a previous age when animals were regarded as property or things.

Lol. I wonder when those dolts think we stopped owning our animals?

I routinely call my cats "little beasts," except at feeding time when I call them "the monsters." The orange ones are "Evil Boy" and "Evil Fluff." Not only do they not seem to mind, but they purr and act cute when I call them names!

35 posted on 05/01/2011 6:52:12 AM PDT by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: TheConservativeCitizen

How about if I don’t wanna?

:-)


36 posted on 05/01/2011 8:25:40 AM PDT by Immerito (Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days)
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To: TheConservativeCitizen

My dog IS the brains of the outfit...

;-)


37 posted on 05/03/2011 10:45:05 AM PDT by Emperor Palpatine (One of these days, Alice....one of these days.....POW!! Right in the kisser!!!!)
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