Find Your Valentine
Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, June 2, 2009
The Ladies Fuck You, PETA
Posted by Erica C. Barnett on Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Abortion provider George Tiller has barely been dead two days, and those fucking worthless bottom-feeders at PETA are already using his death in an ad campaign:
Get it? Because in PETA members' tiny brains, EATING MEAT IS MORALLY EQUIVALENT TO MURDERING A HUMAN BEING IN COLD BLOOD. And, hey, everybody's talking about that abortion guy, so why not use his death as a nifty tie-in for our anti-meat propaganda?
These ads are running, by the way, in Wichita, where Tiller's many friends and family members are still grieving his death.
God, I wish there was some way to give an anti-donation to those fuckers. Maybe I'll just go buy some foie gras instead.
Via Feministe; cross-posted.
1
PETA steals a page from Fred Phelps' payback. Kansas is more interesting, and fucked up, than I thought.
5
You know, maybe it is just my tiny little brain, but that ad campaign seems to be pro-vegetarian and abortion-neutral. Or am I completely missing something?
6
if you're pro-choice, doesn't that mean you are ok with death in certain cases? certain cases here = hamburgers.
7
I agree it's awfully tasteless; however, if you honestly believe, as these people do, that eating meat is as bad as the Holocaust, then this is justified. Same with abortion and harassing women outside clinics--or killing abortion doctors, for that matter.
10
I think the message is that eating scrambled eggs are the equivalent of an abortion.
Speaking of which, what kind of cheese do you prefer on your Denver Fetus?
Speaking of which, what kind of cheese do you prefer on your Denver Fetus?
12
erica is such a bad ex-vegan. also, i've seen ads like these before. not to say they were in wichita before, but they definitely do exist.
13
Gee, yeah, I appreciate having the calm and level-headed ECB here to point out who's a hyperventilating extremist.
14
Erica,
Did I read correctly? You want to donate to anti-PETA?
Here are a couple resources:
http://www.beef.org
http://www.incredibleegg.org
http://www.gotmilk.com
http://www.nationalchickencouncil.com
http://www.eatturkey.com
http://www.pork.org
Did I read correctly? You want to donate to anti-PETA?
Here are a couple resources:
http://www.beef.org
http://www.incredibleegg.org
http://www.gotmilk.com
http://www.nationalchickencouncil.com
http://www.eatturkey.com
http://www.pork.org
15
Peta did something similar on a billboard in Manitoba, Canada after a gruesome bus butchering /beheading /cannibalism incident. Here's a link:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/7/1…
People freaked. You have to assume the ad would've inflamed powerfully negative feelings toward vegetarians.
If its purpose was to promote vegetarianism it's a catastrophic failure. Same problem here.
Bad marketing. Bad!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/7/1…
People freaked. You have to assume the ad would've inflamed powerfully negative feelings toward vegetarians.
If its purpose was to promote vegetarianism it's a catastrophic failure. Same problem here.
Bad marketing. Bad!
16
Even if I don't agree with her, er, reasoning, I feel compelled to acknowledge the few instances where I agree with Ms. ECB. This is such an instance. Yes, Fuck you, PETA.
As for you, 14 MR. Language Person, that's a curiously select subset of anti-PETA organizations. I'd suggest the American Association for the Advancement of Science as one of the many organizations promoting rational thought and empiricism and thus overly qualified as anti-PETA:
http://www.aaas.org/
As for you, 14 MR. Language Person, that's a curiously select subset of anti-PETA organizations. I'd suggest the American Association for the Advancement of Science as one of the many organizations promoting rational thought and empiricism and thus overly qualified as anti-PETA:
http://www.aaas.org/
17
@10 Jeez, you know, chicken eggs aren't little dead chicken fetuses. They're just chicken ovulation. Unless you buy fertilized eggs. But still. A yolk is not a runny baby chick.
18
@14 (MR. Language Person): I think Erica would be happier if she just bought herself a lovely steak. Of course buying steaks doesn't net you a charitable deduction but whatthehell.
19
@15 but they're so edgy, http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff112…
it's 'cause they care soooo much about widdle animals that they're willing to be such blatant pricks.
it's 'cause they care soooo much about widdle animals that they're willing to be such blatant pricks.
20
The Peta crowd believes their cause is so important that it towers above everything else in the world. They also see themselves in a similar light. I take the animal rights movement with a big grain of salt. Take them seriously at your own peril.
Here is a link to one group that takes donations. I will make a donation in the name of narn.
http://www.pro-test.org.uk/
Here is a link to one group that takes donations. I will make a donation in the name of narn.
http://www.pro-test.org.uk/
21
I'm convinced that PETA is being run by people who are intentionally sabotaging the vegetarian/vegan cause. many vegetarians will agree. their campaigns backfire all the time, badly. Which sucks because then I have to listen to all these vegetarian haters who get another excuse to talk about how fed up they are with well-intentioned, sympathetic people for NOT supporting factory farms.
22
I'm personally quite glad PeTA's out there. Being a liberal here in Red State Texas can be a trial. A well-publicized group of vego-nazi fuckwits who I can point to and say, "I'm definitely a liberal sure, but I'm not one of THOSE liberals," makes my life that little bit easier.
24
Yup. Fuck PETA. They're so good at getting headlines that they don't care if it advances their cause one iota. You know why? Because all they have to do to stay in business is raise enough money from the True Believers to keep going. If you examine their actions in this light they make a lot more sense.
Their primary goal is fundraising, not protecting helpless little bunny rabbits and the like.
Their primary goal is fundraising, not protecting helpless little bunny rabbits and the like.
27
@23. I like it.
What would you suggest? Climb up and tear off an A4 -size chunk of a billboard? Find a Peta douche and cut off his ponytail? Go into their headquarters and steal all the business cards off the holders?
What would you suggest? Climb up and tear off an A4 -size chunk of a billboard? Find a Peta douche and cut off his ponytail? Go into their headquarters and steal all the business cards off the holders?
28
Would someone less frothing-at-the-mouth rabid than Erica care to explain how this is offensive. It doesn't even reference the murder.
Imagine this scenario. McDonalds runs an ad campaign the the messages "Are you a Democrat? Eat at McDonalds!" and "Are you a Republican? Eat at McDonalds!" The next week, some crazed Democrat assasinates Dick Cheney. Is the ad campaign suddenly in poor taste?
This is not to say that the campaign is effective, or that PETA isn't a bunch of sanctimonous assholes. Just that there is nothing here in obviously poor taste.
Imagine this scenario. McDonalds runs an ad campaign the the messages "Are you a Democrat? Eat at McDonalds!" and "Are you a Republican? Eat at McDonalds!" The next week, some crazed Democrat assasinates Dick Cheney. Is the ad campaign suddenly in poor taste?
This is not to say that the campaign is effective, or that PETA isn't a bunch of sanctimonous assholes. Just that there is nothing here in obviously poor taste.
29
Actually, on second thought I don't see what is so horribly offensive with these stickers. They've had way worse ads/campaigns/stickers. the pro-choice one doesn't make too much sense. the pro-life one simply says, if you claim to be so "pro-life", why eat animals? that life doesn't matter? but a zygote does? often pro-lifers are conservatives who practically celebrate death, in hunting or war or wanting to shoot and kill people who mess with them. so which is it? PETA is not agreeing with pro-lifers' beliefs about abortion with this sticker, relax haters.
31
I take back every snarky thing I've ever said about Erica C. Barnett.
Thank you. This post is spot on.
Thank you. This post is spot on.
32
The first time the shoplift troll @2 is actually funny, and the situation is so frustrating and tragic that I feel terrible for laughing.
Maybe it was exactly that which made his frivolous bullshit laughable.
Maybe it was exactly that which made his frivolous bullshit laughable.
33
They did a really dumb thing. I think there cause is a really good one, but they try to anvance it is a really stupid way.
36
My favorite part about this ad campaign is the apparent understanding on the part of PETA that people who are pro-choice are LITERALLY in favor of choices. In general. "Hey, you guys like choices, right? Well, here, you can choose vegetarianism!"
37
@ eustaceia,
According to the fundies, every single embryo/ovum is a human, er, chicken being and when an ovum is destroyed it's the same as killing Baby Jesus...or a real chicken. Or something. Fundies aren't terribly rational.
According to the fundies, every single embryo/ovum is a human, er, chicken being and when an ovum is destroyed it's the same as killing Baby Jesus...or a real chicken. Or something. Fundies aren't terribly rational.
38
Remember, PETA once compared black people to chickens and said eating chicken was morally equivalent to enslaving people.
39
Here's the thinking behind this kind of campaign:
1) Statistically speaking, when people think about where their food comes from, they end up eating less meat.
2) Pissing people off gets their attention and gets them thinking and arguing about the subject.
3) It's easier to get PETA's supporters energized with angry, provocative messages than with calm, reasonable messages.
The bottom line is that this strategy works. Sure, lots of people end up hating PETA, but those people do end up eating less meat than they did before.
If you don't think this strategy is effective, think about how Fox "News" makes money and how Bush made it into the White House for 8 years.
1) Statistically speaking, when people think about where their food comes from, they end up eating less meat.
2) Pissing people off gets their attention and gets them thinking and arguing about the subject.
3) It's easier to get PETA's supporters energized with angry, provocative messages than with calm, reasonable messages.
The bottom line is that this strategy works. Sure, lots of people end up hating PETA, but those people do end up eating less meat than they did before.
If you don't think this strategy is effective, think about how Fox "News" makes money and how Bush made it into the White House for 8 years.
41
Oh, Erica, it's so CUTE how you get all outraged. Perhaps you could write for all of us a piece on the tragedy of shoplifting, and how it impacts young women who work at alt-weeklies, and the affect that it has on their lives when they get caught. It's a pressing societal issue that I'm sure which touch many of your readers. After all, it's a problem that really needs action, and maybe your piece could spur your reading public to action when they see shoplifting occur.
42
@31 Jeff - Sorry, but you're an idiot. If you want to see an assessment that makes any sense, read #29 right above yours. You might not get it, though, because it's actually intelligently written.
43
Fuck You, Erica C Barnett. Stop lecturing the rest of us about "worthless bottom-feeders" when you are a worthless piece of shit who can't even pay for your own $8.99 bottle of wine from the grocery store. You're a THIEF. Now shut the fuck up about morals. It's sickening.
44
Yah, PETA is ridiculously awful and mean-spirited at marketing, but they're just being offensive. They're not the #1 cause of global warming, the #1 cause of deforestation, the #1 cause of preventable early death, the #1 cause of obesity, the #1 cause of pandemic influenza, or the #1 cause of animal torture (unlike meat eaters).
45
I can't even imagine what the threadcount is going to be on this post when I wake up tomorrow. Try and remember: Not all carnivores are dicks and not all vegetarians are assholes. Night Slog! Sweet dreams!
47
Oh Slogbuster, you're so CUTE when you get angry - just like my 3 year-old niece when her mommy makes her go to bed!
You're just so ADORABLE! I want to give you such a big PINCH on your rosy little cheeks!
You're just so ADORABLE! I want to give you such a big PINCH on your rosy little cheeks!
48
PETA and those in favor of illegal abortions both seem to confuse morality with sentimentality. Can't prove it, but it's a hunch.
49
@43 even if your accusations are true, stealing a bottle of wine is nothing compared to your petty stupidity.
51
Hey 44 - You realize, I hope, that meat-eaters are also the #1 cause of you (and everybody else on the planet) being alive today? That vegetarianism goes against millions of years of evolution? That we evolved BECAUSE we ate meat, and were therefore faster, stronger, and smarter than our puny-armed vegetarian cousins who died out?
Check out the teeth in your mouth sometime... You'll notice that you have BOTH incisors (flesh-rending) and molars (flat, grain-grinding)?? Because you, as a human being, are supposed to be an omnivore!
How about saying a prayer of thanks tonight to your legions of animal-killing, flesh-eating ancestors, without whom you would not be breathing air today with which to lecture the rest of us on your supposed moral superiority?
Check out the teeth in your mouth sometime... You'll notice that you have BOTH incisors (flesh-rending) and molars (flat, grain-grinding)?? Because you, as a human being, are supposed to be an omnivore!
How about saying a prayer of thanks tonight to your legions of animal-killing, flesh-eating ancestors, without whom you would not be breathing air today with which to lecture the rest of us on your supposed moral superiority?
52
@44, ewwica and buffoony jean and dumb-inic will all clearly tell you that meat-eating has nothing to do with any of those problems, and that only the issues that they care about matter. end of story, that's all she wrote, good night. buffoony and dumb-inic want to starfuck that rotting corpse on tv anthony bourdain, which 'splains their valliant defense of meat production and consumption (buh-buh-but, it's a small farm! in france! the geese love being force fed!. anthony bourdain said so!) ewwica, well, she just has too much grit in her yoo-hoo left over from the winter when the city couldn't sale the roads, and had to use sand instead. so don't wait for any of them to come to terms with reality any time soon.
53
Oh, Michael on the Green enlightens us again! Please comment again soon, MotG. It's just so EXCITING.
54
@43, there is no "if".
ECB is a thief. And a profligate. The only person she should ever lecture about morality is herself.
ECB is a thief. And a profligate. The only person she should ever lecture about morality is herself.
55
And, oh yeah -- FUCK PETA.
Groundhog, @21, I think you might be on to something. And it really is heartbreaking, because PETA does indeed have a point: animals SHOULD be treated ethically, no question about it. ALL animals: pets, wildlife, food animals, research animals, zoo animals, etc etc... ALL animals have the right to live their lives without pain or suffering. PETA has a great fucking point, they're just so screwed up that they can't get that point across, at all.
Groundhog, @21, I think you might be on to something. And it really is heartbreaking, because PETA does indeed have a point: animals SHOULD be treated ethically, no question about it. ALL animals: pets, wildlife, food animals, research animals, zoo animals, etc etc... ALL animals have the right to live their lives without pain or suffering. PETA has a great fucking point, they're just so screwed up that they can't get that point across, at all.
56
Oh merry, you're so awesome.
I'll take moral superiority based on facts over half-baked anthropology in defense of environmental destruction and unnecessary suffering any day. The latter is worse, trust me -- course I'm sure you don't.
So tomorrow you'll go work your everyday job at one of our friendly industrial meat production facilities -- with the pride and certainty of insuring our collective survival, right? Course you and Erica undoubtedly need foie gras to survive, too -- our incisors most assuredly were designed especially for liver pate.
I'll take moral superiority based on facts over half-baked anthropology in defense of environmental destruction and unnecessary suffering any day. The latter is worse, trust me -- course I'm sure you don't.
So tomorrow you'll go work your everyday job at one of our friendly industrial meat production facilities -- with the pride and certainty of insuring our collective survival, right? Course you and Erica undoubtedly need foie gras to survive, too -- our incisors most assuredly were designed especially for liver pate.
58
@47
From now on you will be known as COMTE CUNTIE
COMTE the CUNT
COMTE the CUNT CUNT CUNT CUNTIE
Thank for the complements, COMTE CUNTIE. I love being called cute!!!!!!!!!!!! (giggles!)
From now on you will be known as COMTE CUNTIE
COMTE the CUNT
COMTE the CUNT CUNT CUNT CUNTIE
Thank for the complements, COMTE CUNTIE. I love being called cute!!!!!!!!!!!! (giggles!)
60
GODDAMN IT PETA!!!
Quote from article: "If our billboards leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth, we just think they might give a thought to what animals feel when they go to the slaughterhouse," she said.
I already AM a fucking vegetarian and their ad leaves a "bad taste" in my mouth, and the cannibal ad they did in Canada, absolutely reprehensible. I happen to agree that animals suffer a bad death in most cases in the industry but can we please have a new animal-rights, veggie-promoting organization that doesn't take advantage of the suffering of specific individuals. They sabotage their own mission and create bad veggie-PR havoc that us reasonably sane veg-heads have to deal with whenever someone rolls their eyes at us for not eating meat. Damn. Fuck. Hell.
Quote from article: "If our billboards leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth, we just think they might give a thought to what animals feel when they go to the slaughterhouse," she said.
I already AM a fucking vegetarian and their ad leaves a "bad taste" in my mouth, and the cannibal ad they did in Canada, absolutely reprehensible. I happen to agree that animals suffer a bad death in most cases in the industry but can we please have a new animal-rights, veggie-promoting organization that doesn't take advantage of the suffering of specific individuals. They sabotage their own mission and create bad veggie-PR havoc that us reasonably sane veg-heads have to deal with whenever someone rolls their eyes at us for not eating meat. Damn. Fuck. Hell.
61
Remember: it's okay to benefit from death as long as you aren't the one doing the killing. Unless you're PETA.
62
EBC's outrage is so similar to the religious right which she so abhors. It's sad.
Zack de la Rocha said "Your anger is a gift", but please use it wisely.
Zack de la Rocha said "Your anger is a gift", but please use it wisely.
63
Holy fuck. PETA is their own worst enemy.
By any rational standards, convincing people to eat less meat is a worthy cause for all kinds of reasons. But everything they do seems to sabotage their cause and drive average people away. So completely inept and blind.
Clearly they are soul-mates to Critical Mass.
By any rational standards, convincing people to eat less meat is a worthy cause for all kinds of reasons. But everything they do seems to sabotage their cause and drive average people away. So completely inept and blind.
Clearly they are soul-mates to Critical Mass.
64
Even when I was a vegan I hated these worthless assholes. It was a constant battle to disassociate myself from their varying campaigns.
65
And also, it's okay to steal wine from the grocery store if you're a self-aggrandizing pompous bitch with a dirty mouth.
66
Not a PETA supporter here. But still, two points:
1) Fuck you, Erica.
2) Saying that the same principles that make killing humans wrong also make killing animals wrong, does not equal saying that killing a human is equivalent to killing an animal.
By your logic, Erica, if I tell an evironmentalist who hates Hummers that they should turn out the lights when they leave a room, I must be guilty of thinking that leaving a light on causes just as much pollution as driving a Hummer.
It doesn't. Driving a Hummer is worse. Just like abusing/killing a human is worse than abusing/killing an animal. But they're wrong for the same reasons, and anyone opposed to the former should be opposed to the latter as well.
At least Tiller's killer killed Tiller for something the killer thought was important. Casual omnivores kill just because they'd prefer the taste of a hamburger to the taste of a black bean burger.
1) Fuck you, Erica.
2) Saying that the same principles that make killing humans wrong also make killing animals wrong, does not equal saying that killing a human is equivalent to killing an animal.
By your logic, Erica, if I tell an evironmentalist who hates Hummers that they should turn out the lights when they leave a room, I must be guilty of thinking that leaving a light on causes just as much pollution as driving a Hummer.
It doesn't. Driving a Hummer is worse. Just like abusing/killing a human is worse than abusing/killing an animal. But they're wrong for the same reasons, and anyone opposed to the former should be opposed to the latter as well.
At least Tiller's killer killed Tiller for something the killer thought was important. Casual omnivores kill just because they'd prefer the taste of a hamburger to the taste of a black bean burger.
68
@63,
PETA and Operation Rescue are both prohibitionists. Good luck with getting people to stop having sex and eating meat, folks (I'd say PETA's odds of success are better, but not a whole lot).
That said, PETA are counterproductive and obnoxious, but check back in with me when they start killing people.
@66,
Your last paragraph is a perfect illustration of why PETA's absolutist logic repels 99.9% of the population.
PETA and Operation Rescue are both prohibitionists. Good luck with getting people to stop having sex and eating meat, folks (I'd say PETA's odds of success are better, but not a whole lot).
That said, PETA are counterproductive and obnoxious, but check back in with me when they start killing people.
@66,
Your last paragraph is a perfect illustration of why PETA's absolutist logic repels 99.9% of the population.
69
erica stole something= what's it to ya?
peta convinced my 5th grader that eating meat was bad= creative cooking for a few weeks= peta works on 5th grader mentality= what's it to ya?
peta convinced my 5th grader that eating meat was bad= creative cooking for a few weeks= peta works on 5th grader mentality= what's it to ya?
70
Interesting how a group that is supposedly all about saving defenseless animals is also the only group whose animal shelter killed 95% of the animals turned in to it with the idea that the animals would be found new homes. How many animals did they actually adopt out? A whole 7 in 2008. Out of the 2,216 they took in that year. And this isn't just hearsay, it's from paperwork they themselves filed with the state of Virginia.
A holocaust indeed.
A holocaust indeed.
71
vitamin B12. You need it to survive. The only (natural) way to get it is from animal products. That is all.
73
Dear PETA:
Why is it okay to kill plants and eat them, but not animals?
If you're "pro-life" blah blah blah.
Sincerely,
Why is it okay to kill plants and eat them, but not animals?
If you're "pro-life" blah blah blah.
Sincerely,
74
The Wichita Eagle made this PETA crap a headline. Infotainment at its most sickening. And of course the blogosphere follows suit.
You know what Kansas? You have bigger problems than PETA right now. Much bigger problems. Maybe you ought to be focusing on those.
But no. Pick THIS to whine about, people. Because, you know, whatever PETA is doing with regard to the murder of Dr. Tiller is important enough to garner page space. Not the societal ills and cultural poisoning inflicted upon us by the hateful anti-choice/anti-women demographic, which lead to the death of George Tiller after many threats and three previous attempts to take his life. Never mind the multitude of groups around the nation hailing the murder and exploiting this event to further their own agendas of mental pollution, namely to take away a woman's human right to not be forced to give birth against her will. Compulsory childbirth *is* slavery, nothing less. But never mind that. What PETA is doing is a real story, right?
No wonder your state is so fucked up.
I know newspapers are hard up for ad revenue, but to focus on THIS non-headline as if it were relevant news-- this empty but eye-grabbing garbage tabloid story devoid of ANY real meaning... Well, I don't think I am alone in thinking that PETA is not the only organization that is mistakenly skewing their "priorities" in an entirely wrong and very fucked-up direction. By wasting space on this (non)story, you as a supposed news organization do a higher disservice to the memory of Dr. Tiller and the issues surrounding his death than this PETA campaign ever could. And to add insult to injury, your editors just gave their little stunt free publicity.
You know what Kansas? You have bigger problems than PETA right now. Much bigger problems. Maybe you ought to be focusing on those.
But no. Pick THIS to whine about, people. Because, you know, whatever PETA is doing with regard to the murder of Dr. Tiller is important enough to garner page space. Not the societal ills and cultural poisoning inflicted upon us by the hateful anti-choice/anti-women demographic, which lead to the death of George Tiller after many threats and three previous attempts to take his life. Never mind the multitude of groups around the nation hailing the murder and exploiting this event to further their own agendas of mental pollution, namely to take away a woman's human right to not be forced to give birth against her will. Compulsory childbirth *is* slavery, nothing less. But never mind that. What PETA is doing is a real story, right?
No wonder your state is so fucked up.
I know newspapers are hard up for ad revenue, but to focus on THIS non-headline as if it were relevant news-- this empty but eye-grabbing garbage tabloid story devoid of ANY real meaning... Well, I don't think I am alone in thinking that PETA is not the only organization that is mistakenly skewing their "priorities" in an entirely wrong and very fucked-up direction. By wasting space on this (non)story, you as a supposed news organization do a higher disservice to the memory of Dr. Tiller and the issues surrounding his death than this PETA campaign ever could. And to add insult to injury, your editors just gave their little stunt free publicity.
75
Much as I love our own homegrown SLOG, it was instructive to surf on over to Feministe, where the quality of commenting on this topic was waaay above what we're seeing here, including a thread on PETA's alienation of feminist vegans. Seriously people, enough with the ad hominem (or in ECB's case, ad feminem) attacks. Respond to the IDEA, see? That's how it's done.
76
PETA sympathizers firebombed a reseacher's home (while his family-including the pets!-were inside sleeping) in California recently; no different from the types of people who firebombed Tiller's clinic. PETA is now capitalizing on the murder to make its terrorist political point. Next up will be Fred Phelps to do the same thing at Tiller's funeral this Saturday (according to his website). The Wichita Eagle (and the local NPR outlets, too) are right to point out the opportunism of these extremists.
77
Erica: I agree with you. I also don't think is well-timed, sensitive or appropriate.
PETA is kind of like CM -- they don't realize that their more extreme choices hurt their cause more than help it.
PETA is kind of like CM -- they don't realize that their more extreme choices hurt their cause more than help it.
78
My theory over the last few years is that the PR/advertising branch of PETA is actually run by a bunch of deep cover operatives from the meat industry.
They have yet to prove me wrong.
They have yet to prove me wrong.
79
To quote Chevy Chase, "What a breakthrough! Now I can finally hate myself!"
Biologist @ 76 is right again. PETA is the cute-little-chick version of the radical anti-choicers, right down to the bombs. What if we fixed up Ingrid Newkirk of PETA and Randall Terry of Operation Rescue? Makes me giggle to think what THEIR kids would be like...and hey! does a GGG vegan spit or swallow?
Biologist @ 76 is right again. PETA is the cute-little-chick version of the radical anti-choicers, right down to the bombs. What if we fixed up Ingrid Newkirk of PETA and Randall Terry of Operation Rescue? Makes me giggle to think what THEIR kids would be like...and hey! does a GGG vegan spit or swallow?
80
@75 Unfortunately, some commentors on SLOG usually go too far with their comments. Design students tend to make the same mistake with projects, it's important to step back from one's work and not complicate the visual message.
Ad feminem attacks aside, it's certainly fair for commentors to question Erica's outcry against PeTA's lax ethics. Her shoplifting episode earlier this year will forever haunt her ability to ever question the ethics of, well, anything. She would better be suited to report on City News, with the rest of her free time she could always volunteer at Seattle Animal Shelter.
Andy Warhol immortalized Marilyn Monroe on canvas shortly after her death. I'm sure many a critic found the paintings tacky whilst art historians declare, "it's art!" Timing is everything in marketing, and the publicity given to PeTA can be hailed a success.
What I find hilarious is how so many commentors pick & choose their beliefs, like everyone else, but reject/mock opposing viewpoints. Reminds me of first-year art students that don't know any better.
Ad feminem attacks aside, it's certainly fair for commentors to question Erica's outcry against PeTA's lax ethics. Her shoplifting episode earlier this year will forever haunt her ability to ever question the ethics of, well, anything. She would better be suited to report on City News, with the rest of her free time she could always volunteer at Seattle Animal Shelter.
Andy Warhol immortalized Marilyn Monroe on canvas shortly after her death. I'm sure many a critic found the paintings tacky whilst art historians declare, "it's art!" Timing is everything in marketing, and the publicity given to PeTA can be hailed a success.
What I find hilarious is how so many commentors pick & choose their beliefs, like everyone else, but reject/mock opposing viewpoints. Reminds me of first-year art students that don't know any better.
83
Okay, 76, if I found the right article (see link below) it only says that they firebombed the researcher's car, not his home while he slept. Bad, but you exaggerated and that's also bad. (Unless I got the wrong story.)
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beat…
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beat…
84
#51 - Yes, yes, my ancestors evolved eating (raw) meat (that they hunted). Why do I have do live like them now that we know better? Do I have to rape, murder, wage wars, steal horses, kill my neighbors' children, hunt species until extinction, throw rocks at gay/transgender people, wear dirty loincloths, and enslave people of other races too? It's clearly not because eating meat makes one healthier - eating meat shortens your life as much as smoking.
85
Stealing $7 from Kroger Corp is absolutely nothing compared to the moral outrages committed by PETA, meat eaters, or anti-abortion extremists.
87
Can we gather all the Erica haters/shoplifting trolls in a room with her and have them just tell her off in person once and for all so we don't have to read over their insufferable comments in any of her posts anymore? It's getting really old. Quick vote- how many of you would actually do that given the chance? Probably not many as it's easier to remain a coward behind anonymous comments. I doubt anyone would have the balls to say these things to her face. Fer feck's sake.
88
I'm actually usually with ECB on a lot of stuff, and was kindof agreeing with her post until I hit the part about vengefully eating foie gras just to piss PETA off.
Even if you think raising geese that way is ok, I think it is still a practice that is only borderline ok. Threatening to potentially mistreat an ANIMAL to get back at PETA is pretty fucking evil. So I think for the first time ever, I am going to say: fuck ECB.
Even if you think raising geese that way is ok, I think it is still a practice that is only borderline ok. Threatening to potentially mistreat an ANIMAL to get back at PETA is pretty fucking evil. So I think for the first time ever, I am going to say: fuck ECB.
89
I'm pretty sure PETA is an agent provocateur in the animal rights/humane treatment movement. Penn and Teller did a 'Bullshit' episode about them once, IIRC.
90
@ 85 and 87, yes, and yes PLEASE! This is pointless, useless, and just plain boring by now.
80 (to continue the arts analogy), to bring up the shoplifting in this context is like saying you won't listen to Tristan und Isolde because Wagner was an anti-Semite. True and unrelated; ergo, ad hominem.
80 (to continue the arts analogy), to bring up the shoplifting in this context is like saying you won't listen to Tristan und Isolde because Wagner was an anti-Semite. True and unrelated; ergo, ad hominem.
91
The infamous Maddox disproved the notion that vegetarianmism is animal friendly. Animals get killed in the production of wheat and produce.
At least the meat that's slaughtered is actually eaten: The animals killed in wheat production just get tossed away.
At least the meat that's slaughtered is actually eaten: The animals killed in wheat production just get tossed away.
92
Also, since we're on the subject... I don't hate ECB. But I don't mind pointing out when she says something full of shit... which unfortunately happens frequently.
93
Dear Matt from Denver:
I'm sorry, I conflated several attacks on different UCLA researchers' homes. In some, they were home, some they weren't, some were attacks on cars, some on the house. It looks like at least 4 attacks since 2006:
http://cbs2.com/local/UCLA.researcher.fi…
and
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/fbi…
I'm sorry, I conflated several attacks on different UCLA researchers' homes. In some, they were home, some they weren't, some were attacks on cars, some on the house. It looks like at least 4 attacks since 2006:
http://cbs2.com/local/UCLA.researcher.fi…
and
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/fbi…
94
Man, if you want to see crazy, hang out with the vegan group on meetup.com. Major high school clique stuff there, with anyone who is a little different being quickly blackballed. Ironically, the Queen Bee, Anthony, was eased out of Vegetarians of Washington for creepy behavior.
95
@92 - Thank you. I totally agree. I'm just saying, to those who do so, can we do it without the high level of animosity and calling her a piece of shit/cunt/evil bitch/manhater/thief/fill in the blank- in every other comment? It's pathetic and irritating.
96
Maybe you didn't read the first image you published. It showed that PETA is capitalizing on slogans, but not making any pro or anti abortion claim. The outrage is misplaced.
99
I don't even eat meat, and PETA's ad campaigns always make me want to go buy a side of beef and a couple of piglets.
100
I dislike PETA for many reasons and I am a vegan. ECB, your "writng" style may encourage more donations to PETA because it is so poor. You simply post quick rants with no logic or credible information.
101
Gomez @ 91:
Your post and the link is interesting, though perhaps its better as an argument against moral absolutes than it is against a vegetarian diet. I'm tempted to challenge the OSU professor's conclusions, but I won't go there.
For me, the more interesting moral question is the necessary harm to wildlife from population control methods inherent in food production -- traps, poisons, herbicides, etc. This involves "intention" and implicates all consumers, including vegetarians and vegans. I suppose that at least partly explains the motivations toward fruitarianism -- which even Gandhi discontinued after finding it unsustainable.
Of course, even if "Maddox" were correct re: the moral equivalence between vegetarianism and omnivorism, he has not addressed the health aspects of daily consumption of meat nor has he addressed the environmental degradation accompanying meat production. Attacking others' moral judgments only gets you part of the way.
Your post and the link is interesting, though perhaps its better as an argument against moral absolutes than it is against a vegetarian diet. I'm tempted to challenge the OSU professor's conclusions, but I won't go there.
For me, the more interesting moral question is the necessary harm to wildlife from population control methods inherent in food production -- traps, poisons, herbicides, etc. This involves "intention" and implicates all consumers, including vegetarians and vegans. I suppose that at least partly explains the motivations toward fruitarianism -- which even Gandhi discontinued after finding it unsustainable.
Of course, even if "Maddox" were correct re: the moral equivalence between vegetarianism and omnivorism, he has not addressed the health aspects of daily consumption of meat nor has he addressed the environmental degradation accompanying meat production. Attacking others' moral judgments only gets you part of the way.
102
Biologist @ 93, thanks.
@ 101, what's this "fruititarianism" movement? Virtually no protein can be had that way. Is there really a movement afoot?
@ 101, what's this "fruititarianism" movement? Virtually no protein can be had that way. Is there really a movement afoot?
103
This is typical PETA misguided divisive bullshit and why animal welfare in general is the wrong approach. As an ethical vegan, promoting veganism and the abolitionist approach is the online honest and ethically consistent approach. Using tragedy, sexism and shock tatics...meanwhile giving awards to slaughter houses and killing countless adoptable pets at shelters...this another example of why PETA is fucked.
105
yes PeTA does stupid shit that in no way drives people towards veganism. your writing, erica, is also stupid shit that in no way drives people to read the stranger
106
PETA are the crazy fundamentalists of the animal rights world, utterly convinced that their struggle is the most important in the world, a single defining black-and-white issue that justifies any action, no matter how harmful or offensive. In short, they're utter fucktards, and an embarrassment to vegetarians and vegans everywhere. And what's their strategy meant to be? How many animals do you save by picketing a shop that sells fur? A lot less than if you started a campaign to ban chicken cages, or farrowing crates. But no, there'd be as much publicity in that.
I agree with the principles behind their movement. I don't eat meat. I don't like intensive farming. I wouldn't wear fur. But that is *my* choice. Do I go around making my friends feel guilty for eating ham sandwiches, and picketing McDonalds? No. I *despise* people who shove their morality down other people's throats, who act like their own personal principles are the only ones that matter. And then there's the fact that they utterly shoot themselves in the foot. How many comments have I just read with people saying 'I'm going to eat more meat just to spite these crazies?'. If anything, they put people *off* vegetarianism, and they make us all look bad. Rather like the Westboro Baptists do to christians. Excepts that the Westboros are a bunch of fringe crazies, and not the *world face* of christianity.
*despairs*
I agree with the principles behind their movement. I don't eat meat. I don't like intensive farming. I wouldn't wear fur. But that is *my* choice. Do I go around making my friends feel guilty for eating ham sandwiches, and picketing McDonalds? No. I *despise* people who shove their morality down other people's throats, who act like their own personal principles are the only ones that matter. And then there's the fact that they utterly shoot themselves in the foot. How many comments have I just read with people saying 'I'm going to eat more meat just to spite these crazies?'. If anything, they put people *off* vegetarianism, and they make us all look bad. Rather like the Westboro Baptists do to christians. Excepts that the Westboros are a bunch of fringe crazies, and not the *world face* of christianity.
*despairs*
107
"animals SHOULD be treated ethically, no question about it. ALL animals: pets, wildlife, food animals, research animals, zoo animals, etc etc..."
Except when an exterminator is involved right? You must mean "All animals should be treated ethically except things that are considered annoying and ugly" b/c there's more animals killed by an exterminator than killed for fur and yet there's no PETA campaign against exterminators.
I understand where PETA is coming from but I really wish they weren't fucking morons. You know, if they spent more of their 30 million dollar budget on habitat preservation and less on fake blood to throw on old women then it's possible that the white rhino wouldn't have gone extinct in the wild; which it did a few years ago.
Except when an exterminator is involved right? You must mean "All animals should be treated ethically except things that are considered annoying and ugly" b/c there's more animals killed by an exterminator than killed for fur and yet there's no PETA campaign against exterminators.
I understand where PETA is coming from but I really wish they weren't fucking morons. You know, if they spent more of their 30 million dollar budget on habitat preservation and less on fake blood to throw on old women then it's possible that the white rhino wouldn't have gone extinct in the wild; which it did a few years ago.
108
@107: Can you show police reports or news stories that indicate PETA members are spending 30 million bucks on throwing paint on women? Seriously, we hear this story year after year that PETA members do this, but I have yet to see a news story about this. I think it goes down with the gays-are-into-gerbils myth: happened once somewhere, but nowhere near the proportions people say it does.
109
This is why my support, as an animal lover, goes to the HSUS or ASPCA. The basic beliefs of PETA are understandable and I would love to love them as an organization, but the things they do for publicity are terrible. As someone who no longer uses cosmetics and body products that are tested on animals because I find the practice deeply disturbing, do I need biweekly emails with pictures of animals being tortured to remind me to give them more money? Nope. They mean well, but their publicity is absolutely harming their cause.
110
Gee, me thinks Erica Barnett has issues. I wonder what the animals would say?? Maybe kick her in the ***?? I would.
111
107, That is a good point. Lizzie, and other vegans/vegetarians: If your home is infested with roaches, ants, termites, rodents, etc. Do you just leave them be, or do those animals not count?
112
HSUS isn't really much better than PETA from what I have heard, just quieter. Both groups ultimate goal is to wipe out all animal use and ownership. And I'm not sure you can call any diet that is entirely lacking in a critical vitamin you need to survive a "sustainable" diet. Either you have to eat some animal products (which kind of defeats the purpose of trying to claim you're surviving on an herbivorous diet) or you have to take pills which are either chemically derived or are themselves derived from animal sources. Yes, the pre-packaged vegan foods often have B-12 added, but again... you can't claim it's a natural diet if it requires something not typically found IN that food source be added in order to make it work.
113
ECB:
If I have the right to kill an animal I didn't create because I think a hamburger sounds like a tasty snack, then I certainly have the right to have an unformed fetus scraped out of my uterus because I don't want to spend the next 18 years struggling to raise a child I can't afford and don't want.
I think that these ads inject some really interesting points into the conversation about abortion, and they don't offend me at all. (Although I am outraged and ashamed of my fellow humans over the murder of Dr. Tiller, and the anti-choice movement in general).
Also, I'm not sure where you got from those ads that PETA thinks that the murder of Dr. George Tiller is the equivalent of eating meat. There is nothing about those ads, or even their timing, that suggests such a thing. It seems to me that you've jumped to a highly illogical conclusion. I often disapprove of PETA's methods, but I just don't see anything wrong with this.
It *is* totally weird that people who are rabidly "pro-LIFE" are almost always fine with killing and eating animals, the death penalty, and war. If you care so much about a miscroscopic collection of blood cells, why not care about fully formed animals? It's inconsistent, illogical, and worthy of discussion.
And since you've brought it up here, PETA's ad is apparently working really well. You're doing just what they wanted: stirring up the debate.
If I have the right to kill an animal I didn't create because I think a hamburger sounds like a tasty snack, then I certainly have the right to have an unformed fetus scraped out of my uterus because I don't want to spend the next 18 years struggling to raise a child I can't afford and don't want.
I think that these ads inject some really interesting points into the conversation about abortion, and they don't offend me at all. (Although I am outraged and ashamed of my fellow humans over the murder of Dr. Tiller, and the anti-choice movement in general).
Also, I'm not sure where you got from those ads that PETA thinks that the murder of Dr. George Tiller is the equivalent of eating meat. There is nothing about those ads, or even their timing, that suggests such a thing. It seems to me that you've jumped to a highly illogical conclusion. I often disapprove of PETA's methods, but I just don't see anything wrong with this.
It *is* totally weird that people who are rabidly "pro-LIFE" are almost always fine with killing and eating animals, the death penalty, and war. If you care so much about a miscroscopic collection of blood cells, why not care about fully formed animals? It's inconsistent, illogical, and worthy of discussion.
And since you've brought it up here, PETA's ad is apparently working really well. You're doing just what they wanted: stirring up the debate.
114
@112 I don't think anyone claims veganism is the natural state for our species. Nor is it the healthiest way you can eat; it just looks that way because the standard modern western diet is so horrifically *unhealthy*, anything would look good in comparison.
But in my case, at least, I don't do it because it's healthy or natural. I just can't support the intensive farming system. I think it's cruel, unnecessary and wasteful. But I have to eat something, and I don't know if I can claim that my tofu, made from intensively farmed soybeans grown on rainforest-cleared land, is a much better choice.
But in my case, at least, I don't do it because it's healthy or natural. I just can't support the intensive farming system. I think it's cruel, unnecessary and wasteful. But I have to eat something, and I don't know if I can claim that my tofu, made from intensively farmed soybeans grown on rainforest-cleared land, is a much better choice.
116
I like to be 100% politically correct so I believe that this whole problem is as easily solvable as 1+1. Why don't we just eat abortions. Waste not want not.
119
fuck peta there fags and cant touch freedom they got away with some with clinton but if its war they want war they will get
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
SL Letter of the Day: Pill The Homos! by Dan Savage
-
Dear Huffington Post... by Dan Savage
-
Slog Bible Study: Deuteronomy 21:10-14 by Goldy
-
The AP Is Reporting That Whitney Houston Is Dead by Paul Constant
-
SL Letter of the Day: Daddy Loves Who? by Dan Savage
-
Because Guns Make Us Safer by Goldy
-
The Rick Santorum Rally in Tacoma Probably Could Have Gone Better by Paul Constant
-
Gay Kids Are Still Killing Themselves by Dan Savage
-
Because Guns Make Us More Safer by Goldy
-
Gregoire: "This is signed!" by Eli Sanders
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (119) RSS