Political Randomness

[hepcat]

We’re gonna need a bigger doll!

[Blackhawk]

Also, PETA doesn't get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to reporting.

[hepcat]

People for the Eatin’ of Tasty Animals has never steered me wrong in the past.

[Moliere]

But you're really morphing into a troll, dude. It's pretty unpleasant.

Yes, because pointing out your statement that Trump hypothetically is going to beat a beagle to death with a golf club compared to Fauci ACTUALLY torturing and killing beagles is obviously an uncomfortable truth that you and hepcat don't want to face. So you dismiss me as a troll and dismiss PETA as a source even though you can easily google "Fauci beagle studies". Doing that would force you both into a cognitive dissonance, which can be avoided with name calling and dismissive arrogance to anyone that contradicts the OO narrative.

[hepcat]

Dude, you seem to take delight in trying to belittle anyone who agrees with someone else on OO….unless they’re agreeing with you, of course. You’ve turned troll. Whether I just didn’t notice it before because it wasn’t directed at me, or it’s a recent development, I don’t know. But go back and read through your posts. It’s like it physically pains you when more than 3 people agree on something. Then you have to lash out with passive aggressive insults…or just plain old insults.

[Holman]

But you're really morphing into a troll, dude. It's pretty unpleasant.

Yes, because pointing out your statement that Trump hypothetically is going to beat a beagle to death with a golf club compared to Fauci ACTUALLY torturing and killing beagles is obviously an uncomfortable truth that you and hepcat don't want to face. So you dismiss me as a troll and dismiss PETA as a source even though you can easily google "Fauci beagle studies". Doing that would force you both into a cognitive dissonance, which can be avoided with name calling and dismissive arrogance to anyone that contradicts the OO narrative.

Hoo boy. OK, here we go.

1) My "Trump beating a beagle" hypothetical was clearly a response to Kristi Noem absolutely torching her political future by bragging about bravely murdering her own poorly trained dog.

2) I don't know what Fauci ever did with beagle-death experiments, but if you've ever paid any attention to OO discussion of animal rights then you know I'm committed to minimizing animal suffering as much as possible.

The gray areas appear when a small number of animal deaths might serve research to mitigate the suffering of thousands or millions of others. Knowing what I know about medical (as opposed to commercial) research, I can accept that some deaths might be necessary.

3) I never dismissed PETA as a source. (And you're thinking of someone else there.) While I think their ad campaigns often strike the wrong note, I'm on record--within the past two or three days--asserting that the ethical arguments for vegetarianism are incontrovertible and correct.

4) My calling you a troll is a direct response to your dismissing people's hatred of Elon Musk, which hatred is entirely justified due to Musk's taking control of a useful global communications network and doing everything he can to use his controlling authority to boost racist, fascist, and authoritarian voices as much as he has been able. Does that make him a hero to you?

[hepcat]

Edit: not worth it.

[Alefroth]

It's pretty sick that someone would show a picture of dead Beagles not because killing Beagles is bad, but because it makes Fauci look bad.

[Alefroth]

I'm on record--within the past two or three days--asserting that the ethical arguments for vegetarianism are incontrovertible and correct.

Where's that discussion taking place?

[Holman]

I'm on record--within the past two or three days--asserting that the ethical arguments for vegetarianism are incontrovertible and correct.

Where's that discussion taking place?

It came up here and here most recently. But I've argued the same for as long as I've been on OO, even as I continue to violate genuine ethical principles because eating animals is easy.

We all suck.

[Blackhawk]

The gray areas appear when a small number of animal deaths might serve research to mitigate the suffering of thousands or millions of others. Knowing what I know about medical (as opposed to commercial) research, I can accept that some deaths might be necessary.

3) I never dismissed PETA as a source. (And you're thinking of someone else there.) While I think their ad campaigns often strike the wrong note, I'm on record--within the past two or three days--asserting that the ethical arguments for vegetarianism are incontrovertible and correct.

I agree with your gray areas. There are situations where direct observation is the only way forward. I am also on the same page (or at least in the same chapter) as you on vegetarianism. I have worked with animal rescues in the area (I'm the local 'bird guy' when they get overloaded.) I worked with wildlife rescue in Reno. My son volunteered a the local Humane Society for a while as a way to gain work experience. Me and my family are very pro-animal.

And it was me that dismissed PETA.

They're a borderline extremist group that hurts animal rights movements by taking absurd positions, that pushes bad science in order to make their claims (remember, milk causes autism!), making over-the-top statements (eating meat is like being a Nazi during the holocaust), and takes such a black-and-white approach to animal rights (if you wear fur, you're a bad person - just like if you have a pet), that they look, frankly, nuts. Try handing out happy meal boxes full of fake blood to small children as a 'tactic', along with 'your mommy kills animals' pamphlets that tell the little kids to keep their parents away from their pets because are obsessed with killing animals. Did I mention that they're against seeing eye dogs?

There are animal rights groups that are less well known that do a great deal of good that aren't batshit insane.

And that's why, when PETA is used as a source, I tend to ignore it. They have no issue twisting the truth (and ethics) to fit their ideals.

[Isgrimnur]

Spoiler:

[Alefroth]

I'm on record--within the past two or three days--asserting that the ethical arguments for vegetarianism are incontrovertible and correct.

Where's that discussion taking place?

It came up here and here most recently. But I've argued the same for as long as I've been on OO, even as I continue to violate genuine ethical principles because eating animals is easy.

We all suck.

Thanks. I never wander into random randomness.

[hepcat]

You should. It’s where you can find things such as soundtracks to 60s Italian spy movies.

[Alefroth]

Oh really? That sounds pretty interesting.

[Isgrimnur]

I never wander into random randomness.

[Blackhawk]

Random Randomness is the corner hangout bar of the sitcom that is OO.

[waitingtoconnect]

Personally I still get around the Peppa Pig episode my kids watched where the pig family eats bacon…

[Isgrimnur]

Random Randomness is the corner hangout bar of the sitcom that is OO.

I've been gifted the nickname of Cliff Claven before.

[Blackhawk]

I was never a fan of Cheers, but I guess that makes me... Frazier? Annoying, but tolerated.

[Alefroth]

I never wander into random randomness.

Should I start at the beginning?

[Isgrimnur]

It’s a n option. Or a random page.

[Alefroth]

Or a random page.

That's fitting.

[Alefroth]

I never once thought puppy killing would become part of the culture war.

[GreenGoo]

Fauci got there first.

I don't understand this. I don't give two shits about Fauci. It's the right trying to demonize him personally, because it somehow undermines his professional role and judgment.

If Fauci killed his wife and drowned puppies on the weekend, he would have been replaced by someone else with the exact same credentials and medical opinions, because those medical opinions are demonstrably correct. If anything, Fauci should be vilified for not being stronger and more firm in his stance.

So fuck Fauci. I hate that I even know his name. And it's your fault.

[Kurth]

But you're really morphing into a troll, dude. It's pretty unpleasant.

Yes, because pointing out your statement that Trump hypothetically is going to beat a beagle to death with a golf club compared to Fauci ACTUALLY torturing and killing beagles is obviously an uncomfortable truth that you and hepcat don't want to face. So you dismiss me as a troll and dismiss PETA as a source even though you can easily google "Fauci beagle studies". Doing that would force you both into a cognitive dissonance, which can be avoided with name calling and dismissive arrogance to anyone that contradicts the OO narrative.

This is incredibly stupid. Kristi Noem killing her misbehaving hunting dog to a joke about Trump one-upping her by beating a beagle to death with a golf club to . . . Fauci killed beagles in scientific experiments at the NIH?

Seriously, WTF?

And fuck you for making me look at pictures of dead beagles during breakfast this morning.

[Unagi]

Doing that would force you both into a cognitive dissonance

Okay, so to sum it up: These two stepped into what you saw as your crosshairs of "cognitive dissonance" opportunities, and you took the shot?
Bleh.

And just to be clear, what is the opinion I should adopt on Anthony Fauci if: I want to be regarded as someone who wants dogs to be treated kindly but doesn't want to equate abusing one's pet dog with every aspect of scientific testing done on animals?

[Zarathud]

The photo of the 2021 Tunisia beagle sand fly experiment wasn't funded by Fauci or the NIH or NIAID. Politifact found that photo of living (not dead) puppies to be inaccurate, although the AID (not Fauci) had funded two other dog drug studies in the last 10 years involving a parasite and HIV/AIDS. That's probably why only an image was posted, not any analysis.

[LordMortis]

I guess it is easy to google, huh?

[Zarathud]

When right-wing anti-Fauci memes are cross-posting PETA allied investigations, the bullshit alarm should be activating.

[hepcat]

I guess it is easy to google, huh?

When googling, it’s best to phrase your question around the answer you want.

[Isgrimnur]

[Max Peck]

And that's why, when PETA is used as a source, I tend to ignore it. They have no issue twisting the truth (and ethics) to fit their ideals.

To be fair, when it comes to killing puppies, PETA knows a thing or two.

In 2011, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) behaved in a regrettably consistent manner: it euthanized the overwhelming majority of dogs and cats that it accepted into its shelters. Out of 760 dogs impounded, they killed 713, arranged for 19 to be adopted, and farmed out 36 to other shelters (not necessarily "no kill" ones). As for cats, they impounded 1,211, euthanized 1,198, transferred eight, and found homes for a grand total of five. PETA also took in 58 other companion animals -- including rabbits. It killed 54 of them.

[hepcat]

Just to be clear: you're saying Fauci works for PETA now?

[Blackhawk]

Hell, no.

PETA works for Fauci.

[Unagi]

Could you guys PM each other, work out the narrative in private, and only then present it here as a fully-formed directive? Watching the sausage being made kinda breaks the spell a little.

[El Guapo]

How Michigan Ended Minority Rule.

Needs to happen in several other states as well.

[LordMortis]

Can't read it but I've lived it. I didn't think it was possible in 2016. And in case I haven't said it enough in all these threads, fuck the Chamber of Commerce who put up roadblocks and fought against rejecting minority rule every step in the courts and lost legal challenges at every step, including all the ones that were put on the ballots.

It's not over yet and lord knows our legislature has a long history of being broken to fix but things look better here. Now people not to get content and stay home or at least vote by mail if they do.

[Alefroth]

Ffs, I knew things were bad, but I didn't realize meat processing plants had virtually no regulation-

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... kes-rivers

“There are over 5,000 meat and poultry processing plants in the United States, but only a fraction are required to report pollution and abide by limits. As one of the largest processors in the game, with a near-monopoly in some states, Tyson is in a unique position to treat even hefty fines and penalties for polluting as simply the cost of doing business. This has to change,” said the UCS co-author Omanjana Goswami.

[Smoove_B]

Yes. There's a skeleton crew of federal inspectors and the industry is largely self-regulating - because that's what the food manufacturing/processing industry lobbied for decades ago.

At every corner, capitalism continues to deliver.