Whitefish Montana Sea Kittens

[41magsnub]

seriously?  muwhahahahahahahahaha...  deep breath



muwhahahahahahahhahahahahha

http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=12441


Community Can Get Hooked on Compassion by Thinking of Fish as Kittens Who Live in the Sea, Say Animal Advocates

For Immediate Release:
January 7, 2009

Contact:
Pulin Modi 757-622-7382

Missoula, Mont. -- This morning, PETA sent a letter to Whitefish High School Principal Kent Paulson urging him to do something fishy: launch an initiative to change the name of his school to Sea Kitten High and encourage everyone to refer to fish and other marine animals as sea kittens. In its letter, PETA points out that although sea kittens might not be cute and cuddly, they are smart animals who communicate with each other, show affection, and, most importantly, feel pain. The suggestion is tongue-in-cheek--which beats a hook in the mouth any day, PETA believes.

"If Whitefish High School became Sea Kitten High and everyone in town starts calling fish 'sea kittens,' fewer of these gentle animals would be violently killed for food, painfully hooked for 'sport,' or cruelly confined to aquariums," says PETA's "Save the Sea Kittens" campaign coordinator Ashley Byrne. "Schools strive for achievements in academics and sports, so why not add compassion to the list?"

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA's letter to Principal Kent Paulson follows.

January 7, 2009

Kent Paulson, Principal
Whitefish High School

Dear Principal Paulson,

I'm writing to you today on behalf of PETA, the world's largest animal rights organization, with more than 2 million members and supporters. In early October, PETA launched its Sea Kitten campaign, which suggests a name-change for fish as a way to promote empathy for them and other marine animals. Today, we're proposing that Whitefish High School adopt a new name to reflect the gentle nature of its current marine namesake.

We're hoping that by calling fish "sea kittens," compassionate people who would never hurt a dog or a cat will realize that fish feel pain and fear, just like furry and winged animals do. In fact, neurobiologists tell us that fish have complex nervous systems that comprehend and respond to pain. Fish communicate and develop relationships with one another, show affection by gently rubbing against other fish, and even grieve when their companions die. However, when they are dragged from the ocean's depths, sea kittens undergo excruciating decompression, often causing their eyes to pop out and pushing their stomachs out through their mouths. When they are tossed onto ships' decks, many sea kittens slowly suffocate or are crushed to death. This is no way to treat a "kitten."

Most parents would never dream of spending a family weekend torturing kittens, but hooking fish through their mouths and pulling them through the water is just as painful as hooking a cat's mouth and dragging him or her behind a car. We're hoping that this name change will encourage people young and old to start treating these gentle "kittens of the sea" with respect�and show them the kindness that they deserve.

We hope that Whitefish High School will start off the semester right by changing its name to Sea Kitten High School. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Dan Shannon
Assistant Director

[Nitrogen]

Wow.

Clicked on thread because I had NO IDEA what a sea kitten was.

Read post.  Laughed until I almost passed out.

[crt360]

Sea kitten, the other white meat.  Yum.

[Bigjake]

I loves me some Sea-kitteh fillets, battered and deep fried with tartar sauce!

[Standing Wolf]

Satire. I'm sure it's a satire. People couldn't be that dumb.

[Boomhauer]

Satire. I'm sure it's a satire. People couldn't be that dumb.

Don't work with the public much, do you?

I've seen stupider.

[Tallpine]

Sounds fishy to me ... 

[Balog]

This actually reveals a deep truth about PETA and such groups. They have no real argument aside from "but look how cute they are!!!!!"

[jackdanson]

This actually reveals a deep truth about PETA and such groups. They have no real argument aside from "but look how cute they are!!!!!

I saw nothing about "how cute they are" regarding fish.  They were simply stating that fish feel pain, etc. just like cats do.  Which is true.  The vast majority of Americans are giant pansies who have no problem driving through mcdonalds ordering a hamburger made from a cow that was killed in nasty conditions, but will consider hunting a wild deer barbaric and cruel.  I have less of a problem with peta than I do those types.

The peta argument is that animals feel pain, hunger, and even some emotion, just like you do.  Which is a completely true argument.

::puts on flame suit::

oh yeah, the peta folks are nuts btw...

[MechAg94]

"How cute they are" refers to the attempt to create an emotional response that they think will discourage fishing.  The peta argument is that kittens are cute so lets see if we can con a principle into helping us make people associate cute kittens with fish.  There is no rational argument in that.  If they wanted to make a rational argument, they would just say what you said and drop the whole "sea kitten" thing.

[Jamisjockey]

I prefer my kitten kung pao style.

[jackdanson]

"How cute they are" refers to the attempt to create an emotional response that they think will discourage fishing.  The peta argument is that kittens are cute so lets see if we can con a principle into helping us make people associate cute kittens with fish.  There is no rational argument in that.  If they wanted to make a rational argument, they would just say what you said and drop the whole "sea kitten" thing.

Got'ya.  Peta often makes arguments that aren't made to get the average person to see the positive aspects of their world view, but to pander to their base.  I don't think even the craziest of us want food-providing animals to suffer unnessacarily.  Most hunters I know have a strong respect for the animals they hunt.

BUT I still don't completely understand.  The average american would find eating a dog repulsive, but they have no problem eating a pig.  If I point out to someone that a pig is as intelligent as their dog they either deny it or find some way to not fully acknowledge it.  PETA is trying to say that just because the fish is ugly, doesn't mean it doesn't feel pain like a kitten.  They just failed, like they always do..

I'm a vegetarian (13 years), so I get to deal with the crazies all the time... often times they've only been vegetarian for 6 weeks (and won't be in another 6) and they'll start telling me blahblahblah people are evil blahblah.... I've had so many of those chicks come on to me just b/c I'm a vegetarian... too bad they are mostly crazies (and I'm married).. it's great watching their heads explode when I tell them I collect guns.  I'd also kill and eat an animal in half a second if I deemed it neccessary for my survival.  For now it isn't neccessary so I see no reason to put an animal through undue suffering just so I can eat meat.  Just my opinion though...  Oh yeah, statistically speaking I'm going to live longer than all of you, so hahaha.

[Nitrogen]

Oh yeah, statistically speaking I'm going to live longer than all of you, so hahaha.

I've got two words for ya, buddy:
Jim Fixx

[RoadKingLarry]

I'm a vegetarian........Oh yeah, statistically speaking I'm going to live longer than all of you, so hahaha.

If you can call that living.
To each his own though.

[jackdanson]

I've got two words for ya, buddy:
Jim Fixx

Yep, genetics count more than diet.  Doesn't hurt though... last I read it was average of 6 years longer... not sure the accuracy of that though.. correct me if I'm wrong.

If you can call that living.
To each his own though

Yeah, I get that a lot... after doing it so long I don't even think about it anymore.  The only thing I ever get a craving for is white castles or fried chicken, both of which would be the worst possible meat I could eat.

[S. Williamson]

Yeah, I get that a lot... after doing it so long I don't even think about it anymore.  The only thing I ever get a craving for is white castles or fried chicken, both of which would be the worst possible meat I could eat.

Just shows you're human(ish) and you've got the same desires normal people do. 

Once went about three weeks with no meat, and I didn't realize it.  Was on a massive health-food kick consisting of (as I put it) plant matter and water.  Granted, when I broke down and bought a steak dinner it was the best meal I ever had, but didn't really feel any different up to that point other than "Hmm... steak sounds good."  Vegetarians and vegetarianism are fine by me--I just hate it when people try to "guilt" me into anything.  Church, car repairs, and trial software are the same way.

Regarding another statement, living longer is only a good thing if you've got a reason to. 

[Uncle Bubba]

Just shows you're human(ish) and you've got the same desires normal people do. 

Once went about three weeks with no meat, and I didn't realize it.  Was on a massive health-food kick consisting of (as I put it) plant matter and water.  Granted, when I broke down and bought a steak dinner it was the best meal I ever had, but didn't really feel any different up to that point other than "Hmm... steak sounds good."  Vegetarians and vegetarianism are fine by me--I just hate it when people try to "guilt" me into anything.  Church, car repairs, and trial software are the same way.

Regarding another statement, living longer is only a good thing if you've got a reason to. 

I had a co-worker years ago who was a rabid vegetarian. At every, every, lunch meal he would harangue one or all of us about the evils of eating meat. Friendly jibes about his choices were met with defensive outbursts. Ignoring him was treated the same as tacitly agreeing with him and resulted in more harangues about coming out of the meat-eaters' closetinto the sunlight of vegetarianism (I kid you not, that's a direct quote).

It finally took several of us having a meeting with the boss and promising physical harm to the guy if something wasn't done to get something done. He threatened legal action because his "free speech rights [were] being violated" but either the boss or a lawyer with sense got him to understand that he was infringing on our right to not be harangued every day because he shut up and, not too long after, took a job elsewhere. I've always wondered if he ever wised up or kept moving from job to job after he'd worn out his welcome at each new one.


Also, PETA are stone nutjobs, and jd is welcome to his personal diet choices. The less steak he eats the more there is for me!

[makattak]

Oh yeah, statistically speaking I'm going to live longer than all of you, so hahaha.

I'm betting those statistcs are not very well-controlled.

There is a selection bias to vegetarians: not many are overweight, not many are smokers. (Ironically, I DO know an overweight vegetarian. It seems she replaced meat with chocolate).

Comparing a group that has a selection bias to the population at large is not good statistics.

Compare non-overweight meat-eaters to vegetarians and you would have have a better idea.

[MechAg94]

Got'ya.  Peta often makes arguments that aren't made to get the average person to see the positive aspects of their world view, but to pander to their base.  I don't think even the craziest of us want food-providing animals to suffer unnessacarily.  Most hunters I know have a strong respect for the animals they hunt.

BUT I still don't completely understand.  The average american would find eating a dog repulsive, but they have no problem eating a pig.  If I point out to someone that a pig is as intelligent as their dog they either deny it or find some way to not fully acknowledge it.  PETA is trying to say that just because the fish is ugly, doesn't mean it doesn't feel pain like a kitten.  They just failed, like they always do..

I'm a vegetarian (13 years), so I get to deal with the crazies all the time... often times they've only been vegetarian for 6 weeks (and won't be in another 6) and they'll start telling me blahblahblah people are evil blahblah.... I've had so many of those chicks come on to me just b/c I'm a vegetarian... too bad they are mostly crazies (and I'm married).. it's great watching their heads explode when I tell them I collect guns.  I'd also kill and eat an animal in half a second if I deemed it neccessary for my survival.  For now it isn't neccessary so I see no reason to put an animal through undue suffering just so I can eat meat.  Just my opinion though...  Oh yeah, statistically speaking I'm going to live longer than all of you, so hahaha.

I agree with you that many people are either hypocritical, overly emotional, or just grossly naive about where meat comes from and eating it.  Also agree that there is no one more fanatical than a fresh convert. 

I grew up around cows, hunting, and fishing.  I never had illusions about where meat comes from and most of the beef we ate was grass fed on my grandfather's land. 

[Balog]

For now it isn't neccessary so I see no reason to put an animal through undue suffering just so I can eat meat.  Just my opinion though...  Oh yeah, statistically speaking I'm going to live longer than all of you, so hahaha.

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=grill

http://maddox.xmission.com/hatemail.cgi#PETA

[charby]

PETA really needs to get on the anti-masterbating campaign.

[jackdanson]

I had a co-worker years ago who was a rabid vegetarian. At every, every, lunch meal he would harangue one or all of us about the evils of eating meat. Friendly jibes about his choices were met with defensive outbursts. Ignoring him was treated the same as tacitly agreeing with him and resulted in more harangues about coming out of the meat-eaters' closetinto the sunlight of vegetarianism (I kid you not, that's a direct quote).

Yeah that is a genuine *expletive deleted*bag.  Many vegs act that way.. make us all look bad.  The thing is, I've "converted" close to a dozen people... but I've never actively tried to do it.  If someone asks me a question about it I will answer them and explain my beliefs, but I've never harassed anyone about it.  The fact that I am in fairly good shape helps a lot... it's the "hey, I want to look like that , what do I do?"  To think that strictly going vegetarian will get you in good shape is asinine though.. you have to balance your diet and work out.. just like non-vegs.  But the fact that you (generally)have lower caloric intake makes it easier to lose weight.

There is a selection bias to vegetarians: not many are overweight, not many are smokers. (Ironically, I DO know an overweight vegetarian. It seems she replaced meat with chocolate).

I think that is the point.  Being a vegetarian DOES help you stay thin, simply because of the lower caloric intake.  Staying ideal weight REALLY helps you live longer.  Therefore being a veg helps you live longer.  I had an exgf who became a vegetarian (and no, I didn't try to convert her, she decided on her own!) and didn't lose any weight, in fact she started to lose her hair.  Her veg diet consisted of salad, crackers, and chocolate.. obviously that isn't enough to keep someone healthy.  I suggested she add some tofu, black beans (vegetarian chili is good!), soy milk and nuts to her diet, but she claimed "that stuff is gross".  I then suggested maybe she should start eating meat again.. which she did.

I agree with you that many people are either hypocritical, overly emotional, or just grossly naive about where meat comes from and eating it.  Also agree that there is no one more fanatical than a fresh convert.

That is what really gets me.  I live in a suburban area, but work in an urban area where most people haven't even shot a rifle, much less gone hunting.  What irks me more than anything is when they all start giving one of the hunters that I work with trouble about hunting.  As I said, they have no trouble driving through mcdonalds, but someone who actually harvests the food themselves is looked upon as in the wrong or crazy.  It's asinine.  

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=grill

http://maddox.xmission.com/hatemail.cgi#PETA

natural selection.. if the animal is dumb enough to not get out of the way of the combine.... heh j/k

This guy is as crazy as peta is.  Of course this happens.  I don't think peta's response was bad in this case.  They run into a problem with their logic because they are usually so violently against animal death.. I am not.  I truly am trying to simply LIMIT animal suffering, not stop it completely.

PETA really needs to get on the anti-masterbating campaign

.

Then I REALLY need to keep being a vegetarian..if only to make up for the millions (perhaps billions) of kittens I've killed since my 12th birthday.

[BlueStarLizzard]

i eat meat. i like meat. i generally eat what is accepted by my culture. in other words i go along with the general cultural norms for what is an eating animal.

in other words i don't eat horse, cats, dogs and rodents/non game animals. i might if i was starving. *shrug*
if i was raised in places where eating dogs and cats was the norm, i'd eat dogs and cats. *shrug*

and i really don't think calling fish kittens is going to stop me from eating them.

PETA has a lot of issues. including the simple fact that a lot of animals would go exstint if it weren't for their domestication.
and who would keep a horse if they couldn't ride the darn thing? or keep a cow if they wern't getting milk or gonna eat it when it gets big enough?