What do you think of PETA?

[jonnythan]

Good Lord. Now I know why I prefer the company of animals to that of some humans.

You really think mosquitoes and fleas are sentient and have things to say?

[MA5Bergey]

PETA is a little bit ridiculous. About 10 or so years back, they actually, no lie, protested to have the name of my town changed from Fishkill (Kill is Dutch for creek/stream) to Fishsave. The mayor more or less laughed in their face and they had to walk away with their tails between their legs.

[zeg]

PETA is a little bit ridiculous. About 10 or so years back, they actually, no lie, protested to have the name of my town changed from Fishkill (Kill is Dutch for creek/stream) to Fishsave. The mayor more or less laughed in their face and they had to walk away with their tails between their legs.

Hahaha. You win the thread.

[Shorty]

You really think mosquitoes and fleas are sentient and have things to say?

No, but I would probably be inclined to call them insects and not animals.

Even though there might be more insects than mammals or birds on the planet, I think PETA is primarily concerned with what one conventionally calls an "animal". Cow, sheep, dog, cat. lion, bear, mouse, etc. To suggest that these creatures have no consciousness is moronic. To write that they have "nothing to say" and are therefore worthless is frighteningly obnoxious and stupid.

[sam004]

I think we should hunt them all down and eat the members of PETA.
Tastes like chicken I bet.

Get life. Some people care more about animals than people.
Was looking to get a dog and started looking for an animal shelter or pet rescue.
You have to fill out forms, they want to do back ground check, visit your house.
To get a dog ? I told a friend of mine if there was a homeless dog and a homeless man,
some of these people would step over the homeless man to get to the dog !

I like animals, but those people are idiots.

[jonnythan]

No, but I would probably be inclined to call them insects and not animals.

Whatever your inclinations may be, insects are animals. That is a simple fact, and it's not open to dispute, argument, or disagreement.

Even though there might be more insects than mammals or birds on the planet, I think PETA is primarily concerned with what one conventionally calls an "animal". Cow, sheep, dog, cat. lion, bear, mouse, etc.

No one did suggest that. Someone said that most

animals are not conscious. And, believe me, mammalia is not the most numerous class of animal on the planet. Mammals are a class of tetrapods, which are a superclass of vertebrates, which are a subphylum of chordates, which are but one class of animalia. "Animals" include flies, jellyfish, flatworms, nematodes, corals (yes, sea corals are animals), anemones, and dust mites. If you're going to call someone "frighteningly obnoxious and stupid" you should at least have a faint idea of what you're saying. Twisting an argument so that it bears no resemblance to the actual statement you're attacking is not going to help anyone.

[uttexas]

PETA is misguided, misdirected, and irrational. Plants are living creatures also. If PETA has such difficulty rationalizing killing animals for food and safety, how do they rationalize mowing the lawn or digging up plants.

[Shorty]

And, believe me, mammalia is not the most numerous class of animal on the planet. Mammals are a class of tetrapods, which are a superclass of vertebrates, which are a subphylum of chordates, which are but one class of animalia.

Of course, but PETA is primarily not focused on insects and jellyfish. And, as was obvious in my post, the popular perception of animals is pretty clear. The fact the there are billions of microscopic creatures in your glass of water is not popularly translated as there being billions of animals in your glass, or that you have animals in your system when you have worms. Doesn't mean that they aren't animals. My point is that people are derailing this thread and pretending that PETA is preoccupied with the lives of molluscs and cockroaches, which it isn't.

I am very disturbed to read that there are posters here who make light of a desire for ethical treatment of animals.

[jonnythan]

Of course, but PETA is primarily not focused on insects and jellyfish.

They aren't?

Then why do they sell "humane" fly and roach traps? Why do they publicly chastise the most powerful man in the free world for swatting a fly? They're not focused on insects? Right.

[Leftygolfer]

No, but I would probably be inclined to call them insects and not animals.

To think they think like you and I is insane.

[CG031]

To think they think like you and I is insane.

How the hell would you know? It's all belief, just like religion. No one knows for sure.

[CarlSpackler]

Looks like they are putting hypodermic needles in cards addressed to corporate execs attempting to injure them. How many execs actually open their own mail? These people are smaaaaart. NOT!!!

[Mathlete1123]

I don't care for PETA at all. Farmers that keep animals will generally try their best to take care of them because those animals=their product=their profits. If PETA succeeded in "liberating" all the cows and chickens in the United States you take away any incentive for farmers to take care them. For the majority of domesticated animals their "liberation" would be more like their death sentence since they would have next to no chance of surviving without human assistance.

I mainly don't like PETA because of their stance on hunting. Animals kill other animals all the time, its silly to try and take the right to kill/eat animals away from people. If we stopped selling hunting/fishing licenses today the majority of the wildlife conservation budget would disappear. If PETA would spend its money on caring for the animals they adopt, and less on publicity stunts/protests they wouldn't have to euthanize more than four fifths of them each year. I don't buy that an animal would ever say anything worth listening to either. I would think it would be more of a commentary of what their doing at that moment. The only real thought would be while deciding if they should run when they hear/see/smell something. I wouldn't mind hearing a lion speak. It would go something like under its breath: "I can't wait for that zebra to take two more steps towards me so I can go tackle it and bite its throat 'til it doesn't try and stop me, my friends, and our kids from eating it." basically the same thing as a barbeque without the cooking and beer.

I'm going to keep eating meat and doing my part for animals by paying the government to kill/catch them each year.

[denver_nuggs_15]

Even though there might be more insects than mammals or birds on the planet, I think PETA is primarily concerned with what one conventionally calls an "animal". Cow, sheep, dog, cat. lion, bear, mouse, etc. To suggest that these creatures have no consciousness is moronic. To write that they have "nothing to say" and are therefore worthless is frighteningly obnoxious and stupid.

First off, PETA is concerned with every animal, insects included. They have focused on the treatment of cows and other livestock to spread their ideas through the emotions we feel when we see the images. It's a fine tactic to spread propoganda, but they make it seem like every farmer is evil.

Secondly, most animals aren't self-conscious. They don't realize they exist. I have sources like Eccles' consciousness essays, Julian Jaynes' The Origin of Consciousness in the Bicameral Mind , and Judith Hooper's The 3-Pound Universe . So, I guess I'm moronic for believing what scientists have discovered through years of research. The 3-Pound Universe explains the mirror test. Basically, you put an animal in front of a mirror with a mark on its head. The animals that realize the reflection is them are conscious. Basically, apes (and some monkeys), elephants, and dolphins are the only conscious animals. They realize they are alive. Before you call what I said moronic, do some research. And did anyone write that since they have nothing to say, they are worthless? My guess is that you tried to manipulate what I said. I never said animals were worthless, just not conscious. At least I got to defend myself.

[microcrayfish]

First off, PETA is concerned with every animal, insects included. They have focused on the treatment of cows and other livestock to spread their ideas through the emotions we feel when we see the images. It's a fine tactic to spread propoganda, but they make it seem like every farmer is evil.

I haven't read any of those books you mentioned but I'm pretty sure more than just apes, elephants and dolphins are conscious/self-aware; I agree that there aren't many though. I've heard of the mirror test before but I wouldn't say it's foolproof. If you hold a cat up to a mirror (apparently they fail the test when there's a mark on them) there's still a definite sense that it realises that it's looking at itself and not some other cat, they don't react like cats usually do when they see a strange animal that's for sure. Contrast that to a hedgehog I saw in a pet store once that spent about 20 minutes walking back and fourth in front of a mirror trying to get past its own reflection that obviously wasn't self-aware. I can't really debate the issue much because, like I said, I don't have any proper background in it but from what I've observed it seems unlikely that only three types of animals have any type of consciousness.

You know what the funny thing is though? With all of the advances in cognitive science and neuroimaging made in the last few years it's probably not too far off that we could have a definitive answer to the problem. Of course that's as long as bloody PETA doesn't get in the way!

[sp33d]

Yes I think animals should not be abused and live in quality environments while waiting to be killed so I can eat them... PETA is BULL.

I eat meat because it taste better than tofu and salads.
I wear leather because its durable and warm
I wear fur because, you don't look right slapping hos in a faux furry jacket...

Further more, these people are so protein deprived that they are delirious. You dont eat meat your brain melts... its science...

morons...

[jonnythan]

Yes I think animals should not be abused and live in quality environments while waiting to be killed so I can eat them... PETA is BULL.

I'm not a PETA member. I'm not a vegetarian.

But I just ate a 340-calorie vegan lunch that had 12 grams of protein. It's not hard to get sufficient protein from a vegan diet. My local Walmart even has body builder-type protein mixes that are purely vegan, based on soy protein isolate. Vegan burgers, chicken patties, and even breakfast sausages can be really quite tasty. I'm assuming your whole post was sort of a joke, but it's hard to tell online and I'd rather play it safe

[zeg]

I'm not a PETA member. I'm not a vegetarian.

FWIW, it is fairly difficult to put together a nutritionally complete vegetarian diet, and moreso for a vegan diet. I'm not an expert, but there are a few nutrients (B12 is probably the most famous) that are difficult to find in non-animal sources. Not all protein is created equal, and you need to be sure you have sufficient intake of all the amino acids that your body cannot manufacture.

It's apparently possible to put together reasonably complete vegan diets (including B12 through supplement, I believe), but it requires a fairly concerted effort. Not gonna buy the "brain melting" bit, though...