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Original poster

What the fuck is wrong with people these days?

123 replies

Soubriquet · 21/05/2018 17:00

A 12 year old boy stuck his hands through the bars and when a meerkat bit him, he killed her. The meerkat was pregnant at the time.

Why has his parents not taught him to keep their hands out of enclosures? Or not killing?

Where was his parents when he decided to do that?

I don't agree with him receiving death threats as some people are saying but I bloody hope he gets a good bollocking

OP posts:
maxthemartian · 21/05/2018 18:42

Poor kid my arse. Poor meerkat though.

WhiteCoyote · 21/05/2018 18:44

Jesus Christ he didn’t mean to deliberately kill it. The pp of him being a sociopath etc is gobspmackingly ridiculous.

A study by Hal Herzog indicated that many perfectly normal law abiding citizens had done things of cruelty to animals in thier childhood, some people could not even talk about it for the shame. You can read it in his book some we love, some we hate, some we eat.

The boy did something very stupid he’s never going to forget and likely feel extreme shame for for the rest of his life. The reaction of grown people to child is both hateful and shocking.

LionAllMessy · 21/05/2018 18:47

The thing is, what this boy did is horrible, but the fact he did it shows something is wrong in his life (poor parenting?) –how does sending him death threats change anything for the better?

Same with a PP saying good that local kids would make life difficult for a girl who tortured a kitten. Torturing a kitten is not the behaviour of a normal, happy and well cared-for child. Do you think having her neighbours bully her is going to encourage her to be better in the future, or worse?

People acting out expressions of anger and moral outrage are only really thinking of themselves here.

SpanielsAreNuts · 21/05/2018 18:50

It is thought he swung the 18-month-old meerkat on to the ground as he withdrew his hand in pain.

Ashedload link said the above. That does not sound deliberate. More that he was an idiot to put his hands through to try and stroke her and accidently slammed her into the ground in a pain response, whilst trying to withdraw his hand. Not that he deliberately attacked the poor animal.

I think, that he was an idiot to put his hand through but certainly does not deserve death threats. I also think the zoo were irresponsible in the way in which the animal was housed - if you don't want to risk an idiot trying to stroke the animal them don't have somewhat there can get their hand in. Chester zoo have a solid but clear sided, tall enclosure for theirs.

steff13 · 21/05/2018 18:53

Terrible. Did anyone else read about the zoo in China (I think) where there kangaroo was stoned to death by people throwing rocks at it, trying to make it jump? People are the worst.

crunchymint · 21/05/2018 18:56

It is common in zoos in some countries not to have as many bars that make it impossible to touch the animals, as is common in this country. So even more reason that a 12 year old should be taught not to do this. There were signs up saying they can bite.

Hopeful88 · 21/05/2018 19:00

He put his hand in, was bitten and shook the meerkat off which resulted in the death of the meerkat.
It's an unfortunate accident not a deliberate killing. It's a reaction to shake off what is biting you.
I feel for the meerkat and it was stupid to put his hand in but the death was a freak accident.

BalaBrith · 21/05/2018 19:00

The poor meerkat

Thewhale2903 · 21/05/2018 19:13

steff13
Another reason door are a bad idea.
What makes people feel as if they have the right to do this?

LadyDeadpool · 21/05/2018 19:13

"The boy's father has also spoken out about the incident, accusing the zoo of not taking better care of its animals."

Yes blame everyone but your child who broke the rules and killed an innocent animal. No respect taught, no lesson learned.

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 21/05/2018 19:15

I totally agree with Pengggwen. Cultures have different attitudes to animals and the U.K. are some of the kindest, so it’s not a case of “yoof nowadays” at all. I get unreasonably annoyed by big dramatic headlines then you find out it’s in a country miles away that you know little about and have little connection too. No idea why it made international news really.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 21/05/2018 19:16

Dreadful accident,but a startled frightened hurt child will go into flight &panic mode
unfortunately, he’s roughly thrown the meerkat to dislodge it.and poor animal died
The boy needs reprimanded for putting hand in cage,and an appropriate sanction

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 21/05/2018 19:21

Op is provocatively phrased he didn’t kill in a malicious,purposeful manner
He was bitten, He naturally was frightened and panicked by vigorously dislodging the meerkat
adults threatening a child should be ashamed of self,and if the adults incite fear or undertake aggression they should be referred to police

Branleuse · 21/05/2018 19:29

He was a child who got bitten and threw the thing that bit him. Hes hardly a fucking serial killer.

userxx · 21/05/2018 19:29

I think when he's been bitten he's shook his hand and the meerkat has hit the floor hard. I did this with a hamster once, it lived and was ok, just my reaction to get it off.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 21/05/2018 19:30

It said the meerkat died instantly so it’s pain would have been minimal if it was even aware of pain at all.

starryflamingo · 21/05/2018 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 21/05/2018 19:40

Clearly a measured and sensitive response there starry.were you came to a balanced conclusion
Good job you didn’t go radge and start banging on about consequences
Cause only an utter raver would do that. Meh

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 21/05/2018 19:42

What kind of idiot would want violence committed against someone to punish them for violence? How does that even make sense?

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 21/05/2018 19:51

If we are getting to it,the kid was retaliating, reacting to a painful bite
The boy is at fault,as he initiated the bite by putting hand in cage
And sadly animal died. But it was an instinctive response to dislodge the animal

LionAllMessy · 21/05/2018 19:55

Killing an animal is so wrong! But beating up a 12 year old is all good.

WhiteCoyote · 21/05/2018 19:57

I’d be more worried about the criminal mental health of adults who think it’s ok to hurt the 12 year old than about the 12 year old himself.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 21/05/2018 20:00

Indeed,I’m aghast that adults can’t see a 12yo adolescent has poor judgement and not functioning at atypical adult cognitive range
And to think it’s acceptable to threaten a child is really reprehensible

Myotherusernameisbest · 21/05/2018 20:31

My guess is he panicked and try to shake it off. At least I hope that's what happened and it wasn't deliberate.

When I was about 9 the school hamster bit hard on my finger when being handled and I remember just instinctively shaking my hand rigorously to get it off as it hurt like hell. Thankfully a teacher nearby grabbed my arm and was able to prise it off. Otherwise I fear that poor hamster may have been flung off, the poor thing. I still can't believe I reacted like that as I'm the biggest animal lover going but I was a child and instinct must have kicked in which was basically to get it off me.

It was fine by the way, thank goodness, though probably had a headache poor little thing. But if that teacher had not been right there it could have been a different story and I would certainly have been heartbroken if my reaction had caused it to die.

brizzledrizzle · 21/05/2018 20:42

Perhaps the threats will be carried out, It wouldn't sadden me as much as the killing of a sentient creature in such an evil way

This beggars belief.