YES!!! PETA is at it again!

[Kirby]

Always a source of amusement for the world over, PETA is going after President Obama for killing a fly:

During an interview for CNBC at the White House on Tuesday, a fly intruded on Obama's conversation with correspondent John Harwood. "Get out of here," the president told the pesky insect. When it didn't, he waited for the fly to settle, put his hand up and then smacked it dead.

"We support compassion even for the most curious, smallest and least sympathetic animals," PETA spokesman Bruce Friedrich said Wednesday. "We believe that people, where they can be compassionate, should be, for all animals.
Friedrich said that PETA was pleased with Obama's voting record in the Senate on behalf of animal rights and noted that he has been outspoken against animal abuses.

Still, "swatting a fly on TV indicates he's not perfect," Friedrich said, "and we're happy to say that we wish he hadn't."

 

[FordSVT]

And you've done exactly what PETA wanted you to do in starting this conversation, I'm sure they are happy you are talking about them.

And before you say "but stuff like this just makes people take them less seriously", I'd point out that they've been doing "stuff like this" for a long time and yet their membership and donations keep growing. I think they are aware that sometimes going a little bit overboard is more likely to get you to the place you want to be rather than starting where you want to be. It's like bargaining: you don't start with the price you want, you start high and let them bring you down to what you would have settled for in the first place.

Most of these things are said in a rather light-hearted way. They wanted to call attention to the new bug traps that are available and would it not be hypocritical for them to protest animal "abuse" against cute white seals and not the ugliest and smallest of animals?

While I do not condone any PETA member's violent "direct" protests, the organization as a whole has done a good deal to further animal rights, maybe more than any other single organization.

Sometimes I think all the fuss over PETA announcements is more entertaining than the announcement itself.

 

[Kirby]

^^^ You'll get no arguments from me about your post FordSVT I think you're dead-on. I'm well aware of their tactics, and having worked with several PETA members over the years, I'm always tickled by their stupid announcements (try being in an office with them for 10 hours a day - actually most of them are just fine).
It baffles me why people join that organization, but I'm sure most people don't understand why we all belong to a Trek BBS.

BTW... love the avatar. It's quite mezmorizing.

 

[Garak]

PETA is a horrible organization that is run by an absolute monster named Ingrid Newkirk.

Don't get me wrong, I love animals, but this organization has simply taken things too far.

Exploiting people, most notably women and their bodies, to advance animal rights is beyond ludicrous and irresponsible.

That they issue press releases about something as meaningless as a fly in a desperate attempt to stay relevant only further marginalizes them. There are plenty of pointless examples like this story that have happened throughout the years.

And then there's their ties to groups that engage in violent behaviour and property destruction (like the ALF), which is obscenely reprehensible. Newkirk herself has flat out refused on many occasions to condemn the actions of groups like these and even goes as far as supplying them money and having advanced knowledge of their attacks.

Then there's the utter hyprocricy of the organization, and the PETA employees being charged with animal cruelty in North Carolina for dumping dead dogs and cats in to a garbage bin. Apparently PETA euthanizes them with a lethal injection.

PETA is utterly ridiculous and seems to have lost its way - I dare say the world, not to mention animals would probably be better off without this shameful organization.

 

[Similitude]

I am all for protection of animals but boy is PETA off its rocker.

 

[sidious618]

Garak summed it up beautifully.

 

[trekkiedane]

That settles it!

I read the title as B3TA is at it again.

Hi, my nick is trekkiedane and I'm a webaholic. It's been 0,68 seconds since my last click.

 

[Teelie]

Saved. And the entire post itself was quite on the mark. PETA is not about the ethical treatment of animals, it's about getting itself in the spotlight and duping people into giving them money. It's a nasty exploitation of people's genuine feelings that animals should not be abused and tortured. I'd rather give my money to proven animal welfare groups than PETA.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

That settles it!

I read the title as B3TA is at it again.

What does that mean?

 

[trekkiedane]

That settles it!

I read the title as B3TA is at it again.

What does that mean?

Take a look at the front page: http://b3ta.com/
(and don't forget to browse a few of the 'challenges')

A lot of strange (usually funny but sometimes just infantile) things have come from there.

 

[Middle Earther]

I kinda admire how Obama killed that fly. That took skill!

 

[RJDiogenes]

I thought this Thread would be an announcement of more naked celebrities.

 

[trekkiedane]

I thought this Thread would be an announcement of more naked celebrities.

But in this context wouldn't they be wearing placards and banners over all the interesting bits?

 

[RJDiogenes]

Yeah, they're always semi-nude but some pretty nice pics have resulted; and they can convince celebrities who wouldn't otherwise pose. Surya Bonaly did a campaign for them once, so I keep hoping they'll get her out of her clothes.

 

[Teelie]

I kinda admire how Obama killed that fly. That took skill!

I wonder how long it takes until conspiracies arise he's not human but an alien who is going to bring about world war/peace leading to an invasion? If they haven't already started that is. Though they do it with every President, you don't see one so deft at fly-swatting.

 

[The Grim Ghost]

So if you're a PETA member out on a hot summer day and you have mosquitos landing all over you and biting..do you just stand there and let them? Obviously killing them isn't an option and waving them away could be considered cruel since you are depriving them of their food supply.

 

[Small White Car]

This thread makes me mad because it proves just how far in the Matrix we all are.

THIS IS NOT A REAL STORY.

Yet people here are getting all emotional about it. It's nothing more than mass-marked entertainment for the gullible masses. The only difference between this and Disney World is that most of us at least know Disney World is fake.

Ugh.

 

[trekkiedane]

This thread makes me mad because it proves just how far in the Matrix we all are.

THIS IS NOT A REAL STORY.

Yet people here are getting all emotional about it. It's nothing more than mass-marked entertainment for the gullible masses. The only difference between this and Disney World is that most of us at least know Disney World is fake.

Ugh.

Having been to Disney World (and therefore also to the USA) I can only say that it is very difficult for an outsider to see the difference between The USA and Disney World - both places seem to be lands of imagination and fantasy with very little root in the real world. - But then, this is just the impressions those places gave a tourist...

 

[Aragorn]

So what happens if PETA ever has a serious legitimate issue to address? Who will take them and their sea kittens seriously anymore?

 

[Candlelight]

"You see this chicken here? I want you to kill and eat this chicken, otherwise I will kill another chicken"
- Ali G.