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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For still being cross at DP regarding sickening video? (graphic detail)

103 replies

UpInSmoke · 30/08/2011 15:21

Last night DP said to me he had a video online he wanted me to see. I asked what it was and he said to just watch it. So I started watching it and it appeared to be a large ocean type animal thrashing around in water. I asked again what it was and he said to keep watching. The video zoomed out and I realised there was a lot of screaming going on in the background and what appeared to be a person in the water with the animal. I said "what on earth is this?" and he said "just a few more seconds". It then descended into a horrifying video of what looked like a whale repeatedly attacking the person in the water as people watched in horror screaming and running around frantically trying to get the person out. On more than one occasion this giant whale threw itself onto the person, dragged the person around by the arm and swam into the person violently. When it cut out I was really cross at DP and asked again what the hell the video was supposed to be showing and he said it was a video of a whale trainer being killed at seaworld.
I felt physically sick after realising the person had died seconds later, went to bed thinking about it and it's still on my mind this morning.

We're supposed to be visiting Seaworld in May. DP said I needed to see "the truth" about these places (he has always been against us going to the park) but I feel he could have made his point better than this. AIBU? I can't get it out of my head Sad

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 30/08/2011 17:10

well to start with i thought he was being unreasonable.
horrible to try and make someone see something upsetting

however, if he feels strongly about it (and i do too, and i agree with him) and he has tried to get his point across before without you wanting to hear it then I can't blame him for trying shock tactics.

you could have stopped watching if you didn't like it or weren't sure what it was about couldn't you?
I feel quite strongly about places like Seaworld, keeping giant animals in captivity for the amusement of people like you who don't want to know about the downsides....

HuntForGalaxyHazelnut · 30/08/2011 17:11

OP YABU

It sickens me that these intelligent animals are kept in such tiny pools, split up from their family groups, artificially inseminated to breed more small killer whales to 'entertain' the public. They have no chance of a normal life, and paying to go and watch them perform unnatural stunts, before being pushed back into their small pool until the next show is sickening.

Also agree re: Gorillas, or any wild animal being kept in zoos. For all the money spent on building zoos, feeding the animals, vets fees etc, natural parks could be set up in the animal's home country so they could live there in the wild.

I am by no means an animal rights activist, but this blatant disregard for wild animals and supporting natural eco systems really riles me. [rant over]

thisisyesterday · 30/08/2011 17:13

"I find it difficult saying no to the kids. "

try a bit harder then. my kids know why we do not go to the circus, zoo, seaworld type places

they are cruel to animals. end of story. and i will not pay people to keep animals like that.

the ONLY places I might consider going to would be ones where they are doing breeding programs for endangered species, or rescuing animals from other zoos etc

LucyGoose · 30/08/2011 17:15

Sorry, I smell a made up story.
This video of the trainer being killed has never been released, so not sure where her husband would have found this.

LucyGoose · 30/08/2011 17:16

PS: Sea World is disgusting and should be shut down.

MrsDBouquetVAMOSRAFA · 30/08/2011 17:23

Lucy

There is a video of a trainer being 'attacked' at SeaWorld, but not the huge Orlando one, it's SeaWorld Mexico, I think. It was a male trainer.

I came across it via the site I put a link up for.

It is nowhere near as awful as the OP described though.

There are lots of videos on 'youtube' that claim to be of the attack on Dawn, but they clearly are not. I think you are correct that actual footage of what happened has not been released, and why should it be ? I would imagine that the only people who need to see it are investigators etc, to determine if there were contributing factors to what happened. There is also lots of conflicting stories about what happened, I suppose we shall never really know the truth. People do do love to glorify and embellish things, especially when people cannot respond.

MrsDBouquetVAMOSRAFA · 30/08/2011 17:24

Sorry for the 2 'do's'. Don't know what happened there !

LucyGoose · 30/08/2011 17:26

To clarify - the story is not made up but the video OP is prob referring to is another attack, from years ago. Not from last years attack.

Nonetheless - don't give those scum your money.

Sorry to have posted 3 times but this makes me angry, people need to open their eyes as to what is happening to these animals and how they are treated in such inhumane conditions.

MrsDBouquetVAMOSRAFA · 30/08/2011 17:29

Lucy

Clarified. Wink

Post away !

I am just in the mood for a good rant. It may well last into tonight, as I have to have my dinner now. Blush Will be back later.

And Killer Whales in captivity are well worth ranting about. Smile

scrappydappydoo · 30/08/2011 17:54

Op - I think your dh was bu and drastic to show you a graphic video with no warning but I do think that if he doesn't want to return to seawold you should respect his opinion.

We visited seaworld a 4 years ago and I hated it - I felt so uncomfortable with the ways the animals were treated. We've been back to florida several times and despite the fact I'd love to try their new coaster we have not returned to seaworld out of principle as I was so disgusted with it. Also FWIW I dodn't think they do contribute that much to conservation - they might advertise it but they don't demonstrate it.

LucyGoose · 30/08/2011 18:23

Here is some disturbing reading for those that are unaware of what goes on at SeaWorld.
Its not a nice, "fun" place for the animals.....

theorcaproject.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/keto-tilikum-express-stress-of-orca-captivity/

noblegiraffe · 30/08/2011 18:55

I'm not sure how a video of someone being mauled to death exposes the 'truth' about Seaworld. What truth? That killer whales are dangerous?

PedigreeChump · 30/08/2011 18:58

Well, I have been educated about SeaWorld,thanks to this thread, having never really thought much about it before. But videos of people dying/being killed on Youtube is one of the things that saddens me about the internet, and if my DH showed me one deliberately to upset me, I would be unbelievably angry.

YANBU, but I think you need to think seriously about visiting SeaWorld.

tadjennyp · 30/08/2011 19:39

I went to Sea World San Diego in May and saw Shamu swimming round and round his little pool. He looked so frustrated (not that I have any expertise in determining how an orca feels) that we didn't go and see his show. The sea lions seemed pretty happy though. We then went to SD zoo and the wild animal park the following couple of days. They both do some amazing conservation work, especially the wild animal park, having two of the last four of a certain type of rhino, for example. I don't want to go back to Sea World, but can't fault the wild animal park really.

MumblingRagDoll · 30/08/2011 19:43

So where DID the OP go?

sungirltan · 30/08/2011 19:46

yabu. sounds from your later post had raised concerns with you in the past about the ethics of seaworld etc. vid sounds awful and i doubt i could stomach it but he had a point to get accross that was valid and important. if it was my dc i would feel the need to tactfully explain why they werent going to visit again and that there are times when we learn more about a bad side to something we have previously enjoyed and that being informed about our choices is all that matters really.

Vallhala · 30/08/2011 19:48

YABU imho as I would and have done the same as your DH.

Vallhala · 30/08/2011 19:50

"So where DID the OP go?"

Dare I suggest that she went UpInSmoke, Mumbling? :o :o

(Okay, okay, you can slap me groan).

Pinot · 30/08/2011 19:52
thefirstMrsDeVere · 30/08/2011 19:55

You shouldnt go to seaworld.

I suspect that you OH has tried to tell you what hell holes these places are but you didnt listen. So he showed you.

Do you know that there has never ever been an incident of an Orca killing a human being in the wild. They only do it in captivity.

That Orcas can live to 90 in the wild but they last about 12 years in captivity?

I know this because a lady on R4 told me today.

Those two facts would be enough to keep me away from somewhere like Seaworld.

MrsDBouquetVAMOSRAFA · 30/08/2011 19:56

tadjenny

That's one of the things I find most offensive about SeaWorld.

All the whales are called Shamu.

BalloonSlayer · 30/08/2011 19:58

As someone else has said, all the arguments and information on this thread have caused me to feel I now would never go to Seaworld either.

However, someone who shows someone else - especially someone who is unprepared for it - a video of a person's grisly death just to prove a point is behaving abominably, in my view.

I doubt the poor trainer spent their dying moments thinking that their life's work was in error . . . I would imagine their thoughts if at all coherent would have been shock, bewilderment and grief that the animal they loved had turned on them.

To use the trainer's death to prove a point such as this is below the belt, and frankly beyond distasteful.

MrsDBouquetVAMOSRAFA · 30/08/2011 20:01

Lucy

Thanks for the article.

It makes me wince to see Tili's dorsal fin like that. I woner if it causes them distress ? I would imagine it's painful.

bubblesincoffee · 30/08/2011 20:05

yabu. Your dh probably felt he had no other way to get through to you.

The Cove is definately worth a watch, as is Sharkwater for anyone else that may be interested.

I think you may have been reffering to Discovery Cove in your earlier post. Please don't go there either, it is just as bad, if not worse.