Animal "Cruelty"

I got a web feedback email from a fan. Apparently, I linked to something showing animal cruelty:

Do you check the stuff you link to? Just saw what I would I describe as cruelty to animals displayed as a link through your site. Hope you actually review and censor the stuff you link to. Would really hate to think, after seeing your photo, that you approve of such stuff.

Wow. I would hate to be considered cruel to animals. I'm what I think is a nice person (or if not nice, then likeable), and I don't remember linking to anything glorifying animal cruelty, except perhaps Cat Prin and the 8 Reasons to Hate Cats cartoon. I mean, abusing animals is an early warning sign of potential axe murderers.

Oh, he was talking about this:

BTW, the link I refer to was the cat/packing tape vid.

Aha, another weird Japanese video, which, like Cat Prin, at most inconveniences cats, or gives them minor discomfort. I have two big problems with this argument:

1. Talk about hyperbole ... when simple harmless tricks with your own pets amount to animal cruelty, I've got to wonder what happens if this guy accidentally steps on a bug. Is training your pet animal cruelty? Is feeding them weight-loss food animal cruelty? Stop over-exaggerating. If I were yanking its tail or shaving it, then maybe. Besides, packing tape is an excellent grooming material, much much more comfortable than the wire grooming brush. Trust me, I've used both on myself.

2. Hey, just because I link to something does not mean I necessarily endorse it. I've also posted a link to the PETA pamphlet "Your Mommy Kills Animals". Go look at it. Kind of funny on the one hand, and kind of horrific on the other. Detailed photos of skinned animals. PETA suggests this be shown to children. Seriously, pick something a little bigger than "cats with packing tape on them" if you want to criticize this site's content. Like the weird fundie that commented:

shit fucking athiest [sic] bitch! You'll burn in Hell

... because I linked to a Scientific American article.

Related Entries

• How to pet a kitty

  Another fun and educational comic from The Oatmeal How to pet a kitty - The Oatmeal...

• Proof that animals use tools

  Cats in particular. This one might just be ready to take over the world. YouTube - Genius Cat Uses Forcefield Against Dog...

• Cats are Weird

  Though this one appears to be a cunning linguist. YouTube - Kitten suckles air *ORIGINAL*...

• Cats are fun

  My cats do shit like this all the time. You don't see me filming it. YouTube - THE BEST CAT VIDEO YOU'LL EVER SEE...

• She and Her Cat

  Cute little anime story. Worth a watch. YouTube - She and Her Cat...