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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that people who don’t like pets shouldn’t be judged as “cold”?

310 replies

ByMellowScroller · 11/11/2024 22:44

Not everyone loves animals, yet people think it’s a red flag. AIBU to think it’s just personal preference and nothing more?

OP posts:
LetsRedecorate · 12/11/2024 21:38

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 21:15

Yes, dogs use their natural sense of smell to sniff stuff out. It's not intelligence. It's instinct and Pavlovian response. The cleverness comes from the people training them to do it, not the dogs. It's the equivalent of asking a 2 year old to point when they hear a bell ringing.

And when they've finished, they lick their balls. Because they are big, dumb animals. Sometimes they can be charming, but they're not smart. People are smart. Dogs aren't.

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What - female dogs lick their balls? That’s some magic shit there! I never knew! 😂

Thanks, your posts have made me chuckle tonight!

Catsmere · 12/11/2024 21:32

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 21:15

Yes, dogs use their natural sense of smell to sniff stuff out. It's not intelligence. It's instinct and Pavlovian response. The cleverness comes from the people training them to do it, not the dogs. It's the equivalent of asking a 2 year old to point when they hear a bell ringing.

And when they've finished, they lick their balls. Because they are big, dumb animals. Sometimes they can be charming, but they're not smart. People are smart. Dogs aren't.

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You think human males wouldn't lick their balls if they could reach them? As it is so many are constantly fiddling with them.

You seem to have an active dislike of non-human animals, not just indifference to them, from your comments here. That, or the forbidden t-word.

YouCantFightInHereThisIsTheWarRoom · 12/11/2024 21:30

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 21:17

Why are you so angry? Maybe you'd be much calmer and happier if you had a dog. Cuddling a dog lowers blood pressure.

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Don't be so ignorant. Not for everyone. Cuddling a dog would raise my blood pressure.

SabreIsMyFave · 12/11/2024 21:27

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 12/11/2024 21:26

It's not people who aren't into pets who are calling others "sociopaths" on this thread....

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👏

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 12/11/2024 21:26

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 21:13

It is indeed ignorance. But it's the anger that I'm noticing. They are all so angry and aggressive...

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It's not people who aren't into pets who are calling others "sociopaths" on this thread....

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 21:18

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 21:17

Why are you so angry? Maybe you'd be much calmer and happier if you had a dog. Cuddling a dog lowers blood pressure.

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Why do you think I am angry?

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 21:18

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 21:13

It is indeed ignorance. But it's the anger that I'm noticing. They are all so angry and aggressive...

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Angry and aggressive? The dogs, is this?

www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/police-search-savage-dog-after-9677933

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 21:17

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 21:15

Yes, dogs use their natural sense of smell to sniff stuff out. It's not intelligence. It's instinct and Pavlovian response. The cleverness comes from the people training them to do it, not the dogs. It's the equivalent of asking a 2 year old to point when they hear a bell ringing.

And when they've finished, they lick their balls. Because they are big, dumb animals. Sometimes they can be charming, but they're not smart. People are smart. Dogs aren't.

Show quote history

Why are you so angry? Maybe you'd be much calmer and happier if you had a dog. Cuddling a dog lowers blood pressure.

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 21:15

LetsRedecorate · 12/11/2024 20:55

Yep - did you see how the person you responded to calls all dogs simpletons (what about those who work with the army or police locating explosives, drugs or missing people?). Thats not venom, but it is ignorance.

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Yes, dogs use their natural sense of smell to sniff stuff out. It's not intelligence. It's instinct and Pavlovian response. The cleverness comes from the people training them to do it, not the dogs. It's the equivalent of asking a 2 year old to point when they hear a bell ringing.

And when they've finished, they lick their balls. Because they are big, dumb animals. Sometimes they can be charming, but they're not smart. People are smart. Dogs aren't.

Thepeopleversuswork · 12/11/2024 21:14

GoldCat255 · 12/11/2024 21:06

I don't trust people who have pets. They tend to be childish and immature.

I freely admit that my love for my cats is completely immature. Guilty as charged.

But I have to spend about 16 hours a day having my shit together so let me have that.

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 21:13

LetsRedecorate · 12/11/2024 20:55

Yep - did you see how the person you responded to calls all dogs simpletons (what about those who work with the army or police locating explosives, drugs or missing people?). Thats not venom, but it is ignorance.

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It is indeed ignorance. But it's the anger that I'm noticing. They are all so angry and aggressive...

Thepeopleversuswork · 12/11/2024 21:12

@XenoBitch

Looks at any of the million threads about hating dogs on here, and you will see plenty of examples. Crap like dog owners only have dogs because they want something to control, or dog owners are socially lacking somewhat. No one in those threads can leave it as "I don't like dogs"... it always descends into vitriol towards people who actually have dogs. And that is a huge red flag.

I agree with this actually. I think there are a lot of very irresponsible dog owners and I do understand people’s frustration at having dogs imposed on them but the levels of venom aimed at dogs and their owners on here is really very irrational and weird. Almost as bad as the “people haters” but that’s a whole different rabbit hole.

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 21:09

GoldCat255 · 12/11/2024 21:06

I don't trust people who have pets. They tend to be childish and immature.

What a very mature comment 😂

SabreIsMyFave · 12/11/2024 21:08

GoldCat255 · 12/11/2024 21:06

I don't trust people who have pets. They tend to be childish and immature.

That's just a ludicrous comment. FGS. 🙄

GoldCat255 · 12/11/2024 21:06

I don't trust people who have pets. They tend to be childish and immature.

LetsRedecorate · 12/11/2024 20:55

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 18:42

Thank you. I understand it now. I think you have just confirmed why pet haters are judged as cold and inhuman.

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Yep - did you see how the person you responded to calls all dogs simpletons (what about those who work with the army or police locating explosives, drugs or missing people?). Thats not venom, but it is ignorance.

TheRealSlimShandy · 12/11/2024 19:33

Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years. Cats pretty much domesticated themselves 🤷‍♀️

Back in the real world, I think I only know two people who aren’t keen on pets (and one has a dog for the sake of the kids - so it’s not about ownership). Not all of them have a pet, but most will say hello to a dog, or smile at a cute kitten picture or whatever:

Catsmere · 12/11/2024 19:15

kitsuneghost · 12/11/2024 15:08

The fox thing is a natural circle of life
A pet killing a smaller animal isn't normally for food. They are also bred animals and not naturally occurring in the environment.
People get pets for selfish reasons which encourages others to breed for greed (sometimes very badly)

No I don't hate cars. Accidents happen, nobody ever means to squish a squirrel, they don't chase after them in their car in the local park.

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Carnivores' instinct to hunt isn't removed by domestication, and there's more to it than hunger. This sounds rather like the people who judge animals acting as they evolved to as if it's a moral failing - the "cats are cruel" types.

RedeemingCreature · 12/11/2024 18:50

All pet owners think pet-free people are cold and heartless. All pet-free people think pet owners are emotionally immature, bonkers and their houses stink.

Tis the law.

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 18:49

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 18:42

Thank you. I understand it now. I think you have just confirmed why pet haters are judged as cold and inhuman.

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Thank you, Doctor Dolittle.

dermalermalurd · 12/11/2024 18:48

It's not about whether someone has pets. That irrelevant. It's people that say they don't like animals. I know they aren't my people. It's an empathy thing.

PyreneanAubrie · 12/11/2024 18:42

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 18:24

What venom?

I have no pets. I don't see the point. They don't give me joy so I don't indulge. I don't have venom for pet owners or pets, but I think they're a bit infantile. Owning a pet feels like a poor substitute for an actual human relationship, like a doll or a teddy bear.

For me, cats are like houseplants. Emotionally indifferent. Sometimes attractive, sat in a sunny window but not when they shit in my garden which I don't enjoy, or try and walk over me in other people's houses which is unpleasant and spiky.

Dogs are mostly like stupid toddlers who will never grow up. I can see why people might choose a dog for their dumb loyalty and excuse for a walk. They are absolute simpletons, though. And, of course, sometimes they are vicious dangerous brutes.

Guinea pigs and hamsters are like rats. Creepy vermin.

Caged birds are grimmest of the grim.

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Thank you. I understand it now. I think you have just confirmed why pet haters are judged as cold and inhuman.

Jifmicroliquid · 12/11/2024 18:33

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 18:32

Inhuman.

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Maybe so. I’m perfectly happy with that.

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 18:32

Jifmicroliquid · 12/11/2024 18:31

Of course I prioritise my guinea pig over other human beings who mean nothing to me.

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Inhuman.

Jifmicroliquid · 12/11/2024 18:31

MasterBeth · 12/11/2024 18:09

I think it is literally inhuman for you to prioritise your guinea pig over any other human being. Grotesque.

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Of course I prioritise my guinea pig over other human beings who mean nothing to me.