PeTa

Does anybody here have any thoughts on PeTa?

I frequent some other boards, and this is a hot topic. Personally I don't know much about them, just what I've read other places. Anyone here have any opinions?

I have no idea what it even is?!!! I've never heard of it before? Anyone explain to thicky here?

If I knew more I'd explain it to you, but here's the link-

www.peta.com

Thanks, I had a quick look, but nothing major so I won't comment too much...yet..ha ha ha...but I read the article about milk....all I can say is....Hmmmmm....personally I think its taking it a little too far....if people don't want to drink it, thats fine, but to call it "poisen"...just doesn't lay right with me!! I have not got a problem with vegatarians or vegans at all...but personally I couldn't do without diary products! Mmmmmmm cheese and crackers....

I know some about People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals; I wrote a paper in 9th grade about them. From what I recall on my research for the paper they are a huge organization that heavily focuses on anti-animal testing and research. I feel they are a positive organization with some "radical" tendencies. Not that I feel radical is negative. They are just very passionate about their issues and will do some very "loud" things to get their point across so people and lawmakers will take action. Some members have been known to break into labs and other facilities to rescue these animals. In the past, some members have lashed out at people wearing fur. They are also very graffic when presenting evidence in their support; I discovered this when doing my research (thank god I have a strong stomach). I dont feel that PETA is a negative organization. They have gotten some bad publicity due to some of their impulsive actions but they have done a lot of good. It's been a while since I've read anything on them so I'm going to take a look at the website.

Im all for stopping Animal Cruelty!! But I'll have to do a little more research on this particular group before I can comment seriously!...soo Im off now to have a peek....

Oh boy! My first post of the day will probably get flamed to no end!

I have very strong feelings regarding PETA. I will, however, attempt to control myself to some extent.

PETA, in and of itself, could have been a wonderful organization dedicated to the protection of animals, and the education of people. I personally believe they have gone well past the protection of animals to the 'worship' of them, though, and they are well out of hand now.

PETA also condones the actions of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) which is a sister organization to the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Both organizations are basically terrorist organizations, in my opinion. Here in Colorado not too many years ago, the ELF and ALF burned down a restaraunt on Vail mountain to 'protest' not only building on the mountain, but the invasion of the Lynx's territory. This cost millions in damages, and however ironically, the destruction of more trees to re-build the restraunt! If the point was to save trees and Lynx, didn't they do the exact opposite? (Any Lynx in the area would have left perhaps permanently and not only were trees cut down once to build the restaraunt originally, but again to build it a second time.)

ELF members are the ones that set fire to an SUV dealership in Washington (or maybe it was Oregon? Hissy?), destroying quite a few vehicles. ALF members are the ones constantly ransacking medical research facilities. While neither organization IS PETA, PETA supports ALF.

It was a very upstanding member of PETA that was asked if a ship was sinking and he could only save a puppy or a baby, which would he choose? His answer? It depends on how smart the child is. (I have, of course, paraphrased this example. For the exact text I would have to find the site I read it at. I would be happy to do so for anyone interested.)

I just personally find them amazingly illogical, putting the 'rights' (real and or imagined) of animals ahead of people. I would be happy to post a few links supporting my opinion if anyone is interested.

I'm also thinking of starting my own organization: S-PETA ~ SANE People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Now... PLEASE don't flame me too bad!

As with any activist organization, the best intentions can get subverted by individual agendas. Without a great deal of knowledge backing me, I'll just proffer the opinion that I'm sure the bulk of PETA's work is noble and well-to-do, there's a fringe element that will always act/react radically. Whether these folks are REALLY a part of PETA or just individual actors who try to hide behind PETA is not known to me. Probably a mix of both.

Anyway, there you have the view from my soapbox...

Bill

I have to say that for what I have read, I agree 100% with your post.


No flaming here

Jin, I agree with you 100%!

I think PETA members have good hearts and I think their desire to protect animals in admirable and important.

However, I think that some of the tactics used are much more detrimental than helpful. I also believe that because of their fanatical and hystrionic tactics they make all of us who love animals and who believe animals should be protected look like a bunch of weirdo's!

Don't get me wrong...PETA has done some good things...like getting Burger King and McDonalds to stop using factory farm meat, but they have also hindered calm rational discussions of animal research and animal farming because of their radical fanaticism.

Okay...I've put on my flame-retardant cloak and have the fire extinguisher in my hand....I'm ready for the onslaught! Jin, you watch the front and I'll keep an eye on the rear!

You'll get no fireworks from me. It's a relief to see people not afraid to post. If you happen to get flamed, Jin, don't worry, I've got your back.

My feelings would probably be best summed up by the old axiom: Anything done to excess is no good.

It's like these radical fanatics who bomb abortion clinics. Tell me where you are preserving human life with this type of action.

Well, anyone who supports PETA should be aware that they want us to set our pets free, as pet ownership is akin to slavery.I for one, would wager a chihuahua wouldn't last too long in thw wild, but hey, what do I know- I don't support them so I'm an 'animal hater'. They actually made these ridiculous statements :

"In conclusion, I think it is speciesist to think that
the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center was a
greater tragedy than what millions of chickens endured
that day and what they endure every day because they cannot
defend themselves against the concerted human appetites arrayed
against them."


"6 million Jews died in Nazi Concentration camps, but 6 billion broiler chickens will die in slaughterhouses this year."

"An ants life deserves the same consideration as my sons"

"If one rat had to die to cure all disease, it wouldn't be worth it."


This is just the tip of the iceberg. I think that to support such lunacy you'd have to have a few marbles loose. Maybe they started out legitimatly, but they've turned into lunatics. I think its a much better choice to support Shelters in your immediate area or do volunteer work for the same than to send your money to PETA and contribute to their sick vision.

Just my 2 cents

Jin - I also agree. While I agree with the need to treat all animals ethically. However, I believe that at times the radical division of PETA doesn't treat humans ethically. I find extremism in any form disturbing.

I'm with Deb in her comparison to anti-abortion fanatics. They probably have a good message at it's root, but the tactics they use are over the top and interfere with people actually hearing their message. Also, I DON'T have a strong stomach, so I get grossed out by the graphic pictures. Somehow, they (PETA and the anti-abortion folks) think that because I turn my head away it means I'm not willing to "face the truth" about these things. I just don't do blood.

This probably won't be popular, but I'm in favor of limited and ethical animal testing, mostly because I think the alternatives are worse. Human testing? No testing at all, which would be equivalent to human testing without consent? But I do think current methods are cruel and do not provide information that we necessarily need.

For example, the infamous testing of cosmetics ingredients on live rabbits' eyes. There is an alternative test done on sections of sheep gut that yields the same information with much less suffering and far fewer animals (you can do a lot of tests on a few feet of sheep gut). Now you do have to kill the sheep, but I bet you could just buy the stuff from a slaughterhouse where they're killing food animals anyway.

I also don't know what's wrong with being a little speciesist. We do live with these other animals and we have a responsibility toward them, but it's not reciprocal. We ARE at the top of the food chain, because of our ability to make new and better tools (weapons) to stay there. We have bigger brains and the things we do have global impact. To reduce humanity to naked apes with guns, while it makes a point, is not a valid full-time perspective. There is something in human intelligence that is different from animal intelligence, and to treat humans as "just another animal" is disrespectful of that difference. Just as treating a lion as just another cat is disrespectul of the differences there.

Whew! Sorry, I'm ranting.

Thing is, PETA is a little radical for me. Fanatics in general don't appeal to me much. Now I'm glad they're out there and speaking their point of view and making the rest of us think and examine our actions, I just don't want to hang around with them on a regular basis. And I know some radicals who are really cool people, we just don't discuss their area of fanaticism.

I think that PETA goes to the extreme. Not that I am against them or anything, but they are a little radical. It seems they get involved in anything and everything.

I was trying to say same the same things you all were but I'm not as eloquent with words. It's really a shame that an organization that could do so much good has such radical factions.

I would never donate to PETA just because of the radicals that exist in the organization. It's almost as if they are hypocrites; on paper they can fight a good fight but look at the actions that are carried out in name of the fight!

I will have to go along with the rest of you folks here. PETA has become a refuge for the truly wierd and the gullible. Unfortunately,the media in their endless search for Shock News LOVES these idiots. It's sad how many otherwise worthwhile organizations can be taken over by the lunatic fringe. I'm worried that PETA is not that far away from bin Laden and his group of nuts. Re-read some of their pronouncements and compare the attitudes. Remember that nobody took bin Laden seriously here in NA until 9/11. Think about that and the size of PETA before you dismiss them or contribute to their "cause".

As for animal testing;I'm of the opinion that it remains because it's CHEAPER than developing computer models which would give the same information. It does bother me that the "scientists" involved can disassociate themselves from the suffering they cause. "For the Greater Good" has been the mantra of some of the most evil groups in history.

I agree that PETA may have started out with good intentions, but are now too extreme. I would never contribute a dime to their organization. I do not like the idea of painful testing of household and cosmetic testing on animals and was glad to learn of alternative ways to do this. Unfortunately, some medical testing is necessary. I try to buy only products that say on the label that they are not tested on animals. I know it's not much, but it makes me feel better and maybe it helps a little. St. Ives and Freeman skin and hair products do not test on animals and are very good, affordable products. I may never have tried them if I had not started checking labels after the big blow-up about testing hair spray by spraying it into rabbit's eyes a few years ago. They showed it on one of the news magazine shows and it made me sick. I would rather have dry skin, frizzy hair, and wrinkles than use products tested on animals!

Okay, here's my two cents.

I agree with most of you. PETA started out being a great group of people with the goal of stopping animal cruelty, saving the rain forests, banishing leghold traps, etc. They have since grown to astronomical proportions and have gotten way out of control when it comes to proving their point. I was bored at work one night and decided to log onto their website to see what it was all about. I was horrified! Not to mention the pictures were disgusting. I almost blew my lunch. They do not need to go to such extremes. It turns people off and makes them forget what the whole point was to begin with.

They had a really good idea in the beginning, then when they gained power, they lost focus and reason. They now resort to thriller tactics to make their point and I firmly believe that a lot of brainwashing goes on at their meetings. It amazes me what happens to sensible folks when it comes to discussing PETA. Here in Oregon, they are infamous for looting and burning research facilities and setting lab animals free. Not a good way to make a point.