Comments on: PETA activists try to suck fun out of circus http://eclecticana.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/peta-activists-try-to-suck-fun-out-of-circus/ my continually unfinished masterpiece Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:42:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: janet http://eclecticana.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/peta-activists-try-to-suck-fun-out-of-circus/#comment-121 janet Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:42:02 +0000 http://mrbitterness.wordpress.com/?p=229#comment-121 welllll, personally, I think PETA's a bunch of NUTS. I also personally believe that saying anyone "convinced" the animals do do things outside of their nature is a bit naive. I mean, I know that animal treatment has come a long way, and trainers in the U.S. are much more compassionate and gentle than the trainers of the 1920's circuses, etc., but we all know there are punishments and rewards when training ANYthing, from a tiger to a toddler - and I only punish my dog when I have to, not when she won't do a trick right for all the paying customers. Does that make sense? I may be babbling, I'm sorry - I FURTHER believe that laughing at animals is just fine. I laugh at my dog all the time, when she does things that are funny - whether on her own or when I "convince" her to...I laugh at my cat, too - and I don't feel it's demeaning. I know they laugh at me, too. I went to a circus in Phenix City a few years ago - shortly before I left Alabama, and while I was not appalled by any hideous treatment, nor did I witness any, the whole set-up, for some reason, did strike me as slightly sad and ridiculous. I was awed by some things, bored by others, laughed at still others - but I doubt I'll go to another one. Give me a fair with rides and food and balloons any day... p.s. you have a Lab?! lemme see pictures, darlin welllll, personally, I think PETA’s a bunch of NUTS. I also personally believe that saying anyone “convinced” the animals do do things outside of their nature is a bit naive. I mean, I know that animal treatment has come a long way, and trainers in the U.S. are much more compassionate and gentle than the trainers of the 1920’s circuses, etc., but we all know there are punishments and rewards when training ANYthing, from a tiger to a toddler – and I only punish my dog when I have to, not when she won’t do a trick right for all the paying customers. Does that make sense? I may be babbling, I’m sorry – I FURTHER believe that laughing at animals is just fine. I laugh at my dog all the time, when she does things that are funny – whether on her own or when I “convince” her to…I laugh at my cat, too – and I don’t feel it’s demeaning. I know they laugh at me, too.

I went to a circus in Phenix City a few years ago – shortly before I left Alabama, and while I was not appalled by any hideous treatment, nor did I witness any, the whole set-up, for some reason, did strike me as slightly sad and ridiculous. I was awed by some things, bored by others, laughed at still others – but I doubt I’ll go to another one. Give me a fair with rides and food and balloons any day…

p.s. you have a Lab?! lemme see pictures, darlin

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