Delete If Need Be...

[Nice_Bass]

Hopefully this does not ruffle any feathers as that was truly not my intention, but here it goes.

I am no fan of PETA.  I don’t agree with their views, and I don’t agree with their tactics.  I most likely eat more fish that I catch than 95% of folks on here.  I enjoy the experience, believe in proper/responsible selective harvest of different species, and teach my child the same. 

That being said, the recent article on the main page concerning PETA as a terrorist organization was one of the most poorly written, strictly ideological pieces I have ever read.  I liken it to a small town opinion piece that I read around my parts in the local paper; by small minded uninformed individuals. (Not that this is what the writer is) 

In a week that we had many die on our own soil from a real terrorist, as well as a day after dozens shot just north in Chicago by what I would also consider terrorist(s), not to mention all the murders in all of our own hometowns I would suggest the author to take some real reflection at what affects our own lives.

It is not that I truly believe the writer was incorrect that PETA is an ignorant organization.  Merely, he did not substantiate any of the information with facts.  He instead wanted to conjure opinion with phony emotion of him breaking dishes and pointing shotguns.  Quite frankly, my kid would laugh at a giant fish handing out “violent cartoons”, she may not laugh at a guy that says he is going to point a shotgun at someone else.  Until you have friends killed by one, may want to keep that one to yourself.    

There are no doubt some concerns out there in limiting the outdoorsman’s use of natural resources, however unless we ourselves become good stewards not just in the outdoors, but also in the responsible tending to those against those beliefs- we are not going to change any minds.  He had the soapbox to bring up those issues; wetland use, lead bans, public hunting grounds, etc. etc., but he did not use real situations, facts or lobbies against the outdoorsman unfortunately.  

I think we can all logically agree that PETA is a joke in most communities and lack any real fortitude in changing minds or policy- so let’s not give them the time of day.  Instead, give them the same treatment the bikers give those crazy westboro extremists and just block them out-its obvious who is winning that battle in public opinion.

It’s also clear by the information on the writer that he is an experienced fisherman and really do not intend any disrespect to him personally.     

 

As an aside, I understand this is a slippery slope being that this is a quazi-political conversation, however thought it would be safe since it related to an article on the website…hope we all can remain civil!  J

 

Rant over.

[J Francho]

Sometimes I wonder if the most ridiculous claims of PETA's actions weren't completely manufactured by their detractors.  I don't care for them either, but there are wing nuts on both sides of the equation.

[deaknh03]

Sometimes I wonder if the most ridiculous claims of PETA's actions weren't completely manufactured by their detractors.  I don't care for them either, but there are wing nuts on both sides of the equation.

Your right on with that statement.

[flyfisher]

PETA when originally started was a good grass roots organization.  While i may not have agreed with the majority of their stances i could see where they were coming from and respect their choices.

 

Fast forward a few years and it has become a sensationalized media grabbing machine whose intent is really muddied.  I have friends who were active participants and have since left because of the shift.

 

As long as they don't harm me or my family i coul care less because as you stated, their influence really isn't there anymore.

[clayton86]

I'm a PETA member

People Eating Tasty Animals

[deaknh03]

I've been called a PITA before.

[Sam]

The only thing I know about PETA is that when they wanted to protest how LSU handles Mike the Tiger (a real Bengal tiger as our mascot) the LSU officials and Baton Rouge police politely told them not to come on the LSU campus for if they did the LSU and Baton Rouge police departments could not insure their safety.

 

They slithered away and never showed up.

 

Darn, LSU never makes national news other than for football and baseball. I bet if PETA had shown up LSU could have made it on 60 Minutes!

[slonezp]

The real sad thing is many people value animal life more than they do human life. 

[K_Mac]

We have to be careful not to be guilty of the same tactics we condemn in others. Nice_bass I agree that using threats and emotion to protest PITA using threats and emotion is not going to help our cause.

[AK-Jax86]

I'm a PETA member

People Eating Tasty Animals

Lol me too nice one

[RAMBLER]

I love animals, right next to my mashed potatoes and gravy.

[flyfisher]

The real sad thing is many people value animal life more than they do human life. 

so true...look at the bashing michael vick got for dog fighting with protests, rallies etc but not a thing about donte stallworth, ray lewis, dez bryant etc...

[Marty]

Nice_Bass, that was a good post. I just read the article and it seemed over the top, written by someone who doesn't seem to have things in perspective. Fighting ideas with a 12-gauge isn't the best way to settle differences. A real tough guy. There's an implication that PETA has more power than it actually does. I believe their efforts to restrict fishing have -0- chance of succeeding.

 

He writes: "PETA's goal is to impose their will..."

 

The fact of the matter is that's what all advocacy groups are trying to do, including those that the author supports and including those that are benign in the eyes of most people.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I find it humorous that a PETA said something to be in regards to my leather motorcycle jacket. First off I didn't even know they existed in Alabama. Anyway. I told him he could have the jacket in exchange for letting me turn him into a coat. Boy did that set him off. He ranted about how wearing any once living thing was wrong. Even if I were to stumble upon a road kill cow it would still be wrong to make clothing out of its carcass. I politely asked him what his jacket was made of. Cotton responded the animal worshiper. I pointed out that by his argument cotton comes from a plant that was once living. At least until it was brutally ripped from the ground by whirring blades and flung without a care into a cold steal bin to slowly die. I told him I disagree with the indiscriminate killing of defenseless plants. "Plants don't have feelings" responded the animal lover and his associate who had since walked up. I asked how he knew that, had he asked a plant how if it had feelings? Now they are both stirred up and complaining at me. I'm having the time of my life with them at this point. I told them until I could wear a person and until cows stopped killing the poor defenseless plants I would continue wearing leather and any other animal product I wanted too. At this point they were screaming at me and calling me a murderer and a neanderthal. I decided to walk away at this point, but only to further antagonize them.

I went to the nearest hamburger restaurant. And purchased a large plain hamburger. Then went back to the animal nuts, who were now forcing there beliefs on some unfortunate woman. I walked over and announced loudly. "This cow died for my Burger!" Back at me they focused their attention. I listened quietly and set the burger on the end of their table. I announced "now my friends this cow died for nothing. His death was purely in vain." I turned leaving my hamburger and began to walk away. I hadn't made it ten feet when the cow lover hurled the burger at me. Poor fellow I think I hurt his feelings or something. He looked on the verge of tears at this point. I let out a roar of a laugh at this poor schmuck and walked away. I ain't never seen them back down there since that night.

Also as of now I am restarting my organization. PETP People for the Ethical Treatment of Plants. I am now excepting members. We eat animals in order to save the plants!

[aquaholic]

So what exactly are you upset about ?

[tomustang]

I wouldn't doubt the article was poorly written, like peta's articles with filler propaganda.

[pbizzle]

Also as of now I am restarting my organization. PETP People for the Ethical Treatment of Plants. I am now excepting members. We eat animals in order to save the plants!

Where do I sign up?

[Bluebasser86]

PETA members have bombed labs that test products on animals and have openly encouraged violence against people to protect animals. Sounds a bit like actions of a terrorist to me. With that being said I understand that's the far end of the spectrum and most of them are probably just trying to stop some of the more extreme activities. That's why when they protest fishing tournaments (like they did at the Classic a few years ago) they only get one or two people to show up.

I agree it was a very poorly written article with nothing to back up the terrorist claims and then threatening violence for them giving pamphlets to your kids just shows you're no better than them. How about if they try to give it to your kid you don't let them?? The article seemed to be trying to get the same blind following that the author was bashing from the celebs that are PETA members.

[flyfisher]

I went and finally read the article and it is not a great article at all and i hesitate to say it is an article as it is totally an opinion piece, more like an editorial.

 

There are extremists in every group from those who bomb abortion clinics, to PETA, to those who murder in the name of their religion.  I am a pretty tolerant guy and can even handle more extreme measures than the next guy.

 

You can talk and hand me flyers all you want.  I take that as a learning opportunity for me and my family and go from there.  Now if things were to get physical it would be a different story but that rarely, if ever happens.  I have also read that many of the instances where someone is doused with paint or whatever it is actually staged by PETA to get a reaction, and sure enough it did.

 

Also keep in mind most people only think of something as propaganda if it is something they don't agree with because if they do it is considered the "facts"....

[deaknh03]

I went and finally read the article and it is not a great article at all and i hesitate to say it is an article as it is totally an opinion piece, more like an editorial.

 

There are extremists in every group from those who bomb abortion clinics, to PETA, to those who murder in the name of their religion.  I am a pretty tolerant guy and can even handle more extreme measures than the next guy.

 

You can talk and hand me flyers all you want.  I take that as a learning opportunity for me and my family and go from there.  Now if things were to get physical it would be a different story but that rarely, if ever happens.  I have also read that many of the instances where someone is doused with paint or whatever it is actually staged by PETA to get a reaction, and sure enough it did.

 

Also keep in mind most people only think of something as propaganda if it is something they don't agree with because if they do it is considered the "facts"....

Tolerant? You sure your a philly fan?

[flyfisher]

In general philly fans are very tolerant.  They will argue till they are blue in the face and stand up for their team for sure but will also be the first one to critique their own, just ask McNabb and Reid....The media blows out of proportion all the philly stuff really.  I have been to games all up and down the east coast for all different sports and the worst fans for being douchebags were the skins fans at fed ex....and this was not an isolated incident but pretty much every game i have been tom which is 4 now the results are the same.

 

It is like if you have a sister....you can yell at her, call her names all you want but if someone else said the same thing it wouldn't be pretty  

[deaknh03]

In general philly fans are very tolerant.  They will argue till they are blue in the face and stand up for their team for sure but will also be the first one to critique their own, just ask McNabb and Reid....The media blows out of proportion all the philly stuff really.  I have been to games all up and down the east coast for all different sports and the worst fans for being douchebags were the skins fans at fed ex....and this was not an isolated incident but pretty much every game i have been tom which is 4 now the results are the same.

 

It is like if you have a sister....you can yell at her, call her names all you want but if someone else said the same thing it wouldn't be pretty

I'm only busting on you. I do know what your saying, I'm a Boston fan, and nobody is tougher on their teams than us. But at least we have respect for Santa. 

[flyfisher]

We do too.....the fans were throwing snowballs at a replacement santa who was drunk and deserved every snowball that he got hit with......lol  I just wish i was there for it.

 

People also forget how when the bin laden story broke, a lot of people found out because the phillies were playing a prime time game and the chant of USA, USA broke out over the stadium.  I had a friend there and many didn't even know why people were chanting but it didn't matter because it was USA....they then put it up on the score board.

[aquaholic]

I kind of like the article. Sounded like the author may have been harassed recently and was venting his frustrations. PETA could be considered a terrorist group as they have used terror to push their opinion. im not going to post links but a quick google search and you'll find what you need. 

[rockchalk06]

We see the crazy hippie extremists on campus all the time. We do animal testing here for medical and science purposes. The amount of negative crazy words that are spewed amazes even me. I don't have an opinion on it either way, but these people are willing to go to jail while reaping the benefits of animal research.

I agree they have their crazies and I assume in the beginning it was once a genuine good hearted organization, but fanaticals breed fanaticals.

The writer should tread lightly on slinging the word terrorists around. Especially this time of year. But define terrorism and you would be surprised on what actually defines it and how several organizations thread that thin line.