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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dislike all animals?

253 replies

PineappleFwitters · 02/10/2016 09:32

I've never liked animals. From the time I was a child, probably due to a dog chasing me at age 4. Dogs, cats, birds, farm animals, I don't like being around them and don't like them near me. I have no interest in seeing videos of funny cats or dogs in YouTube either.

However, when I tell people I don't like animals, they look at me like I should be committed! Or worse, they think I advocate cruelty to animals, which couldn't be further from the truth. I would never try to injure an animal - I'm a vegan FFS - I just don't like being around them.

Am I really that unusual?

OP posts:
MakemineaGandT · 03/10/2016 18:00

I'm not keen on animals either.......I just don't know how to deal with them at all. I don't dislike them in themselves and would obviously not wish them any harm......but I don't have any desire to touch them etc. I am very open and friendly with people and definitely an honest person - the "I don't trust people who dog like animals" nonsense really annoys me!

e1y1 · 03/10/2016 18:01

I love animals. But as long as you don't hurt them, then doesn't bother me if you don't like them.

JaimeLannister · 03/10/2016 18:11

Is our attachment to our families and love for them worth more than other social animals? Elephants and orcas have very strong family bonds.

When it comes to love how can we measure it? Is the life of an elephant who is a devoted mother less than a woman who has harmed her child?

pollyblack · 03/10/2016 18:33

You can be interested and amazed in different species without actively liking them though!

Of course wildlife and nature is amazing- i still don't really like animals. I don't think they are inferior, I just don't really have to like them, so i don't. I don't really like having animals near me, i never have the desire to touch an animal- no matter how cute they seem to others.

Headofthehive55 · 03/10/2016 18:45

No I never have any desire to touch an animal. I don't like fur, or dog hair. Mind you I don't like beards either.

Fairybella · 03/10/2016 18:47

I don't like cats... If another cat poops in my damn garden I will cork its little arse

JaimeLannister · 03/10/2016 19:10

But if you find something amazing how can you not like it? Sorry, I'm not trying to be argumentative, I just don't understand.

I don't want to touch many animals. I will never pet a shark but I find them fascinating and like learning about them. I want nothing but the best for their sharky lives!

MrsJayy · 03/10/2016 19:22

But if you see something on Tv think wow that is amazing how can you not like it that is what i dont understand either.

MrsJayy · 03/10/2016 19:26

If i touched a chimp it would rip my face off doesnt mean i dont like them and find them fascinating or a giraffe i can watch them being giraffey for hours they could break my leg with a swift kick.

bakingaddict · 03/10/2016 19:33

I'm the same as pollyblack I have a natural scientific curiosity about animals and I think lots of them are fascinating but I wouldn't say I like animals. I would never want a pet or anything like that. I find it fascinating how all the different animals have evolved in response to their environments and how we have so many from perhaps few common ancestors way back in the days of the primordial soup. It is this complexity of species and the seemingly endless possibilities of evolution that inspires awe in me and my fascination with animals but not a personal like of them.

anotheronebitthedust · 03/10/2016 19:44

Does anyone remember the "save animal or human in an emergency?" threads of a few years ago. They ran to over 2000 very heated posts in the end. It was when I'd only just joined mnet and to be honest I'm surprised I stayed!

The thing that annoys me when I say "I don't like dogs" is that it is always taken to mean "I dislike dogs" (or, to the ardent dog-lovers "I hate dogs" whereas what I mean is far more apathetic - I don't *like" them, but I don't dislike them. I feel pretty much exactly about dogs as I feel about lawnmowers, garden gnomes, dark chocolate, golf courses...a huge variety of things that I have no particular strength of feeling towards one way or the other whilst recognising that others do like/loathe them for various reasons. However it's only dogs (or other animals) where not liking that thing apparently (to some people) constitutes some sort of moral failing...

pollyblack · 03/10/2016 19:55

Mrsjay

I don't really know. I saw a programme about seahorses once, very interesting and informative, but it didn't make me have any feelings towards seahorses! I observed, i learned, i appreciated, that's it. I don't feel fond of them!

I don't really seek out to learn about animals in general, I'm not that interested. A bit like I'm not interested in sport. I am really interested and passionate about loads of other things though.

MakemineaGandT · 03/10/2016 20:02

pollyblack

I'm not interested in sport either - I know I'm in the minority but I don't feel remotely engaged when watching eg the Olympics.

I realise I'm in the minority, but I'm just baffled by what others "see" in sport - I just don't get it at all!

flirtygirl · 03/10/2016 20:15

I like animals in the wild where they belong, and i have respect for them.

However i dislike pets and the thought of pets in the house. Its a no forever, no hair spit saliva poo etc, to deal with for me.

No benefit of any pet could outweigh this.

Im a vegetarian, im careful with what cosmetics i wear and used to do a lot of welfare work for animals but will never have a pet with hair in the house.

My kids can have a rabbit or a fish if they look after it themselves.

flirtygirl · 03/10/2016 20:17

Also to those who say they dont trust those who dont like animals thats fine as i wouldnt want to be friends with someone who had that point of view and i could never be with a spouse who wanted a pet that lives indoors.

Konyaa · 03/10/2016 20:18

A I can't stand people who make blanket generalisations like humans betters than Animals in these bizarro drowning situations. Which human? Which animal?

Random dog vs Donald Trump? Random dog.
Random dog vs random baby? Random baby but will give both a solid try.
My dog vs my baby? Obviously my baby but the loss of the dog would be devastating for both DH and myself

Thankfully we don't usually need to choose.

But it's incredible how those without pets or those disliking animals are the first to profess they totally know what that love is like, and that it is stooooopid, and humans are so much better.

Okay then. I'll trade my gorgeous pup for say - Nigel Farage to come and sit by my feet snoring loudly. Cos humans are more important than animals. We've been told.

limitedperiodonly · 03/10/2016 20:30

But not all animals do belong in the wild flirtygirl. Many of them have been bred by humans to live alongside us, such as dogs and cats. And then there are adorable hairless pets that would appeal to people like you

To dislike all animals?
MrsJayy · 03/10/2016 20:33

Bless those cats they look like defrosted chickens 😀

limitedperiodonly · 03/10/2016 20:34

I'd adopt one MrsJayy and give it a little jumper

SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 03/10/2016 20:39

Oh dear - poor kitty :( A cat's fur is such an integral part of cattishness too.

Piscivorus · 03/10/2016 20:43

I'm not bothered about animals on the whole and can take or leave most people.

I save my dislike for anyone that refers to an animal as a furbaby. Those people should be hung, drawn and quartered

MrsJayy · 03/10/2016 20:59

Friend of mine adopts naked dogs those Chinese crested and they have jumpers

Original poster
PineappleFwitters · 03/10/2016 21:10

OP, you do also back up my theory that a lot of vegans are vegan because they really dislike animals, rather than like them.

Nah that theory is bollocks, given most other vegans I know are animal-mad. As I said, I may not like animals but I abhor cruelty to any species and find the dairy industry repellent, and that's why I don't eat them.

OP posts:
PinkyOfPie · 03/10/2016 22:49

Are you saying I should save murderers, paedophiles?

Humans, yes.

I posted earlier saying I am indifferent to all animals and dislike dogs. One of the most depressing threads ever on MN was one where people said they'd save their animal over a stranger's child in a fire.

However, there are people I'd happily step over and save a fucking goldfish before I'd save them. The man who abused me for a start, who has gone on to live a very good life. He can get to fuck. Roy Whiting, Ian Huntley, Josef Fritzl. Not a chance would I save them over an animal. And sorry but anyone who says they would is a virtue signalling do-gooder who may think their liberalism makes them a good person but actually it just makes them one step away from an apologist.

It's definitely one of those 'only on MN' moments

EastMidsMummy · 03/10/2016 22:55

Bullshit. You don't know anything about me or what I have experienced so... one step away from an apologist?? you should be ashamed.