AIBU?
Animals dont get insulted if you call them pets
RitaBix · 28/04/2011 19:10
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8479391/Calling-animals-pets-is-insulting-academics-claim.html
I cant even think af anything to say. I am flabbergasted
BeerTricksPotter · 28/04/2011 19:17
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Salmotrutta · 28/04/2011 19:32
Heard it all now..................... 
"Free-living" as opposed to "wild-life" too ................ hahahhaha
Who exactly is it offensive to? I'm damned sure the pets don't care.
Although we all know someone who treats their pet like a baby don't we? Usually to the detriment of the pet.
BeerTricksPotter · 28/04/2011 19:38
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tabulahrasa · 28/04/2011 19:44
I apologized to one of the cats, told her that I realize now that referring to her as a pet insulted her and that any such insult was unintentional. That of course I didn't actually own her (even though I paid for her) and we were partners in a mutually beneficial equal relationship.
She looked deeply and meaningfully into my eyes, then went off to lick her bum on the windowsill.
Do you think she's forgiven me?
Psammead · 28/04/2011 21:20
Ok. Ok.
I sort of see the thinking behind it. Stop using language which sets 'us' against 'them' and society will stop thinking along the lines of superiority/inferiority etc and all living things will be treated equally and with respect.
Except with all the sexist, homophobic, racist, classist, disabilist, ageist language that is bandied around, the word 'pet' is the least of our worries.
And the guy who researched this has obviously never had a cat. Only cat owners know what it is really like to be looked upon with pure, unadulerated disdain, disrespect and in some cases, hatred.
MadameCastafiore · 28/04/2011 21:31
Just called my labradoodle a pet and she said she doesn;t give a shit as long as I feed her and take her for a walk!
She has a male name though and has only once mind you taken offence and told me she would like to be called something a tad more feminine!
BeerTricksPotter · 28/04/2011 22:24
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BeerTricksPotter · 28/04/2011 22:33
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