To find people who dislike animals a bit cold in general

[Tinhatattheready]

Yes it’s probably goady. Yes I’ve made an apt name change but...

Honestly - anyone I’ve ever met who’s “not an animal person” always seems to be a bit... off.

I’m not talking about those who are say scared of dogs, or a bit mistrustful of cats. I mean those who are very much “it’s just an animal” (and no I don’t include farmers in this either.

I know plenty of people who are nervous of animals and they’re lovely / but have known maybe around 3 people who really are jist “who cares” and they are not so nice.

@PablosHoney and I’ll let you see the vote for yourself.,,

Have you just compared the emotional depth in the Lion King - a cartoon about a lion... With Sophie's Choice a story about a mum deciding which of her children will die?

It’s not about the vote, it’s about your comments.

That’s me. I’m not interested in animals really. Same way I’m not wildly interested in sport or astronomy. I’m definitely not cold. Or cruel.

It's me too – apart from sport, which I love. I'm a tad eccentric, granted. But neither cold nor cruel

@doadeer yes I agree I was wrong - it happened to be the last two films I’ve watched.
That was t my point - my point was “if it’s just a film than it does t matter” bit I chose wrong. And I’m sorry

@Stripesgalore

I don’t know anybody who thinks animal cruelty is okay.

So you only know vegans then?

I agree. I think of them as generally lacking in emphaty and quite self-absorbed.

And yes I do judge and wouldn't be close friends with people with the described attitude. I would think they lacked compassion and they would be very far from my way of thinking.

[quote Tinhatattheready]@doadeer yes I agree I was wrong - it happened to be the last two films I’ve watched.
That was t my point - my point was “if it’s just a film than it does t matter” bit I chose wrong. And I’m sorry[/quote]
But you said I was coming across as cold for not crying at Bambi or the Lion King. Actually, I've never seen either Bambi or the Lion King but I know what happens and I can't imagine that I would cry at them.

Some (though I’m sure not all) animal lovers seem to think you either love animals or you love animal cruelty. I don’t “do” pets because I don’t want the smells and the germs in my house. But of course I don’t agree with animal cruelty, and I’m kind to my friends’ pets. A very good friend of mine lost her dog recently to cancer and I sent her flowers because, even though I don’t understand loving a dog as much as she loved him, I do understand that she did love him and I’m sad that she’s sad.

I personally find people who love animals can be a bit odd. Calling their pets their “fur babies” and getting cross when you’re not absolutely delighted that their dog jumped up at you and got mud all over you. So I suppose I judge them - but it is a free country.

@PablosHoney oh I see. I have made one odd judged comment - and I’ve reported myself - so is that enough of a sack cloth?

My op still stands though / I do find people who don’t like animals cold. I may be wrong - they may be lovely. But to be honest / if you’re one of them - I do find you maybe not to be my type of person (and am sure the feeling is mutual)

OP, have you ever seen pictures /videos / read articles about animals reared for meat? If so, did you feel moved by them? Enough to give up meat?

I don't mean to keep getting at you, but the thing that strikes me about your posts is that you're overly focused on the more performative actions - caring for pets, going "awww" at kittens, crying at films. But somebody who doesn't act like this may well care deeply enough about animal welfare to change their lifestyle - ie. actually give up animal products. And yet you'd probably judge them to be "cold".

I agree. People who don’t like animals are cold and usually very selfish.

I agree with you in general OP, although I will never have an affinity with people who dislike animals as I am an animal-loving vegan who works in the veterinary profession! I will never understand how people can be like 'it's just an animal' when that animal is an actual sentient living being with thoughts, feelings and experiences. It blows my mind.

Sorry, I see that by the time you said that, you weren't referring to cartoons but to films in general. Apologies.

I do feel emotional at particularly emotional films but I don't cry at them.

I think your way of thinking is coloured by the very anthropomorphising general tendency of UK culture as a whole — which is very focused on the appealing qualities of certain animals as pets, and less so on, say, the welfare of animals reared for slaughter, or the conservation of habitats. Never until I moved to England had I seen someone step over a homeless person without so much as a glance at them to give food to their dog.

I’m vegetarian, often vegan for periods, I donate to and volunteer with conservation charities, but I am not interested in pets, don’t have any, and I don’t go mushy over kittens. I don’t think that makes me cold.

@Tinhatattheready apologies...half asleep after chasing after LB who was intent on feeding every single duck and goose at our local aquadrome today.

I think I can see what you're saying but then, surely if you were a true animal lover then you wouldn't eat meat? Surely eating any animal, to some degree makes you 'cold'? Why is it OK to eat chicken, fish, pork but not cat or dog? They are, at the end of the day all animals.

I find the opinions interesting on here. I was at the park today and there were two dog owners with huge dogs who were right in the middle of the path. The dogs were barking really loudly and my toddler was very scared. I had to walk onto the grass to get away from them as my little boy was crying, he got a shock and the dogs were being really hyper. The owners were laughing and totally oblivious that they were causing any upset.

I find many (not all!) dog owners to be highly self absorbed and they assume you love their pets. If I went to someone's house with animals I don't want to be licked or an animal jumping up on me. I don't like it.

Not a single person who meets me would ever say I'm cold... I'm quite the opposite. I'd just far rather plan with a human baby or child than an animal.

If a friend lost a beloved pet I would be incredibly sensitive and appreciate they would be heartbroken

@unoeufisunoeuf1 you make a very fair point. I only buy my meal from a farmers market (a luxury to be fair) which I am told is well reared bit obviously I don’t go down and check.

I don’t like animals and I am cold

I like animals but can't really be arsed with pets, it's just more housework and looking after something else.

Don't like animal cruelty and will spend more to buy organic eggs and meat, I have an interest in where my food comes from (as it tastes better too), that extends to fruit and veg too, I know organic British produce is better for the environment and ecosystems than things airfreighted and covered in pesticides.

I don't go gooey over kittens though so I'm probably a bit cold in that sense.

Actually a lot of animal mad types are the absolute worst. Dog people can be particularly awful. Horse fanatics also a special breed of mad. It's seems like its difficult to be an animal and human person.

I guess I would be one of those people. i’ve never wanted a pet can’t see the attraction, i don’t go gooey eyed at animal videos - again just does nothing to me. i don’t consider myself cold. i am a normal loving person. i actually find people who profess to ‘love’ animal weird. i mean i love my children my husband my mum but keep it within my own species you know? also that habit they have of putting human emotions on animals strange “.oh look he’s angry/sad/jealous” also somewhat infantile. i would never hurt an animal because they obviously feel pain but to suggest they can experience the full range of complex human emotions is i believe simply not true .

It isn’t just about the offensive film comparison it’s the lack of introspection that I already mentioned, you can not calm yourself a true animal lover and eat them I’m afraid. I don’t need you to like me, and no I don’t think we’d get along and weep over Bambi together 😊

I'm not fussed about animals, never had a pet due to allergies so they never featured in my life particularly.
Maybe I'm cold and a terrible human being that isn't to be trusted. I'm okay with that.

Then again Princess Anne is an animal lover and I'm not that fucking cold.

@PablosHoney are you a vegan?