PETA is once again making the news with another of their poorly conceived animal cruelty campaigns. This time, the near-militant not-for-profit decided to post a billboard in Greenville, SC that claims, “Feeding kids meat is child abuse.”
How does a hamburger equate to punching a kid in the face? Well, apparently PETA got the idea after the mother of a 555-lb 14-year-old boy was charged with neglect. Never mind the fact that millions of other kids eat hamburgers, hot dogs and other kinds of delicious meat products on a daily basis and are in perfect health.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for animal rights, and certainly never want to see an animal treated poorly. But Jesus Christ PETA, JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP! The way they’re going about the whole issue is just petty, childish and completely baseless.
I know they think that any publicity is good publicity, but that’s just plain wrong. I guarantee that billboard in South Carolina is not going to convince one single person that kids should become vegetarians. The only thing that sign is doing is MAKING ME ANGRY!!
Hulk mad. Smash things.
It’s campaigns like this that give PETA a bad name, no matter what your view on animal rights. And I for one, am sick of it. For added ammunition, here are just a few of the many other stupid, bullshit campaigns PETA has endorsed and carried out:
• Protested the Westminster Dog Show by wearing Ku Klux Klan outfits and claiming that breeding purebreds was the same as ethnic cleansing.
• Tried to convince Majesco to make a vegetarian version of their Cooking Mama video game for Nintendo DS by releasing a flash game (Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals) that has kids preparing a turkey by plucking feathers, ripping out innards and cutting its head off.
• Protested an attempt by NASCAR fans to break the world-record for the largest group chicken dance because KFC was a sponsor.
• Equating farming to slavery by juxtaposing pictures of chained elephants and dead cows to African-American slaves and Native Americans.
Comments
Diana
July 29th, 2009 - 6:47:23 PM
Considering all the dumb stunts companies use to get kids to eat their garbage (the Weinermobile, Ronald McDonald) on an infinitely bigger budget, the PETA campaigns seem pretty mild. Childhood obesity is out of control, so if there's going to be an advertising crackdown, it should be on the fast food pushers.
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Joel
July 29th, 2009 - 8:12:35 PM
Diana I love you! The author of this article needs to recognize it's not PETA who's being childish.
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Charles R.
July 29th, 2009 - 8:40:01 PM
I agree with Diana too. Do we really want multibillion dollar corporations telling us what to eat, with no dissenting voices? I think I've only seen a PETA ad on a handful of occasions in my entire life. We're bombarded with the fast food brainwashing on a daily basis. Some restaurants even hire front groups like the misnamed "Center for Consumer Freedom" to promote their unhealthy "food" and fight animal welfare reforms. The question should be, "Who else is sick of McDonald's, Burger King and KFC?"
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haley
July 29th, 2009 - 9:53:47 PM
i have to disagree with you, Diana ( with great respect) because I, being 14, have never been enticed by the Weinermobile or Ronald McDonald to eat "unhealthy", even when I was a little kid. I will agree with you on one thing though, I haven't seen many peta ads but lots of fast food ads. None-the-less, I have never once been over-weight and I am a BIG time meat eater and it's just SAD and LOW for peta to use human misfortune as another campaign for their animal-rights propoganda. PETA, I believe, are the real child abusers. I say this because Ingrid Newkirk once said that all their ads have been directed towards children and always will be. This is abuse because PETA frightens these kids with gruesome images of their mothers and fathers plunging knifes into fish and rabbits. How is this sensible? Kids don't look at this and say, "Oh, I'm gonna quit eating meat" or "Oh, I'm never gonna wear fur". They look at this and become scared to go to sleep,scared of their parents, maybe even scared to go back outside knowing that PETA employees are sitting there waiting to hand them these pictures. I agree whole heartedly with the man who wrote this article!! I don't like PETA at all!!! Oh btw, I'm not sick of McDonald's, Burger King, or KFC, actually Burger King is awesome and I love McDonald's Quarter Pounders. I want to try the Kentucky Grilled Chicken but haven't got around to it.
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haley
July 29th, 2009 - 9:54:50 PM
god was my comment that long?!?
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Asclepia
July 29th, 2009 - 10:10:23 PM
"i have to disagree with you, Diana ( with great respect) because I, being 14, have never been enticed by the Weinermobile or Ronald McDonald to eat “unhealthy”, even when I was a little kid...Burger King is awesome and I love McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. I want to try the Kentucky Grilled Chicken..." Alas, the brainwashing is so thorough that people don't even realize it has happened. The unhealthy food is bad enough, but the complete disregard for animal welfare is the real tragedy.
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Maya
July 29th, 2009 - 11:07:28 PM
Poor Haley is typical of those who are indifferent to animal welfare. She's a victim of advertising though she clearly doesn't recognize it. She knows she wants "to try the Kentucky Grilled Chicken." Why? She is highly offended by children seeing DRAWINGS of animals being killed, but no objections to eating animals that have been killed. And like most meat eaters, she probably has no idea what methods were used to kill those animals. She has obviously been fed anti-PETA propaganda. She admits, "I haven’t seen many peta ads but lots of fast food ads," yet is able to give detailed descriptions of PETA's campaigns and not only knows the name of PETA's founder, but is even able to quote (or perhaps misquote) her. People don't like to be reminded how their destructive behavior impacts animals and the environment. It's easy to say, "I’m all for animal rights, and certainly never want to see an animal treated poorly," but talk is cheaper than a fast food burger. MEAT.org
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Jonesy
July 30th, 2009 - 6:08:28 AM
You forgot my favourite bit of PETA insanity: urging us to rename fish "sea kittens", so we'd think they were too cute to eat. I just laugh when I see so many people get bent out of shape when someone criticizes PETA. And you think the meat-eaters are brain-washed?
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Dave M
July 30th, 2009 - 7:17:57 AM
But what can we, as rational people, do when there are so many--for lack of a better terms--STUPID & IGNORANT people who support these animal rights terrorists? I mean, what exactly?
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Lynn
July 30th, 2009 - 7:46:22 AM
Mmmmmmmmmm...sea kittens taste great with lemon, garlic and tartar sauce!
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chris
July 30th, 2009 - 8:42:01 AM
PETA actually does a applaudable job with their marketing tactics. They run on a non-profit organization budget, yet combat the meat industry well enough to get under their skin.
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Jinjinhana
July 30th, 2009 - 9:02:47 AM
Woohoo! Right on Jeff Wysaski! I couldn't have said it better myself! :)
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Jinjinhana
July 30th, 2009 - 9:04:48 AM
I'm sure no one likes the fact that animals are abused, but PETA is going WAY OVER THE LINE!! They are only embarassing themselves for a very serious cause.
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Cheryl Jewhurst
July 30th, 2009 - 10:08:04 AM
I don't agree with all of PETA's advertising concepts either however the ranting language used in your blog is not about to convince me or anyone else that you have a any kind of valid point to make. On the contrary, people who get mad and threaten to smash things are usually the sort of morons who take their anger out on the family pet. Are you one of those? Child obesity IS a huge problem in North America and the fast food restaurants DO target children and teens in their aggressive advertising campaigns. It's a simple fact. PETA has every right to advertise aggressively in return in their attempt to contradict the fast food chains. Let's hope you get over yourself, that you calm down, that no family pet was hurt in the process and that tomorrow, you'll find something more worthwhile to blow off about.
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Brad
July 30th, 2009 - 10:51:05 AM
Damn straight, Jeff! I'm sick and tired of the way PETA gets publicity. They understand that the more ridiculous their press releases or ad campaigns sound, the more likely they are to have a "news" story written about them. Meat is not child abuse. Failing to set a limit is the problem, in that case. You could get fat eating vegetables if they tasted good enough to eat that much of them. @Maya - "She has obviously been fed anti-PETA propaganda." She hasn't seen many PETA ads, but has seen enough to know the tactics they use. The organization's actual goals could still be admirable (though I don't trust them), but you'd never know it, because of the way they present themselves. (from a recent "news" article) Do you really need to express disappointment over the president's actions when he kills a fly in a TV interview? PETA's problem is that they look like all they want is attention in order to get donations from people. If they could show that they were accomplishing some good, they would have more support. You know what? PETA doesn't care about human children. They only care about humans with the same beliefs (or money). They don't think meat is child abuse; they think it's forcing children to commit animal abuse. However, nature dictates that we have the ethical right to eat animals. I'm not just talking about the comparison to carnivorous predators. In nature, the prerogative of any species is the survival and proliferation of its own kind. Animal rights crackpots want to say we're no better than any other animal, but also that we have an obligation to protect other animals. Those ideas contradict each other! If we are the only species capable of recognizing that another species needs protection, there's your evidence that we are superior. If we aren't superior, we have no obligation to care any more for any other species than any other creature does. Creatures that have less regard for their own species than others have no right to condemn, admonish, or advise their own species. It's that simple for me.
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petaisacult
July 30th, 2009 - 10:56:07 AM
Typical zealot peta fans, whining on about meat as though it was an organophosphate compound. God forbid anyone should suggest eating a balanced diet and point out studies and empirical data that suggest eating some meat is good for you. If a plant and plant product based diet is good for you, eating bucket of refined sugar everyday must be perfectly safe?
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BADKarma
July 30th, 2009 - 12:00:54 PM
PETA's goal, like that of every other branch of the Veganist Jihad, is to outlaw all human contact with animals, period. They have gone from their early tactics of smearing American food producers in low-key, entirely fictional, press releases (back before they had millions of dollars to play with) to increasingly obscene, high-profile publicity stunts designed primarily to increase their own funding. PETA, like the H$U$ and all the other Vegan Jihadist cells, does not give two craps about animals, and never has. They are all about exerting complete, draconian control over the rest of humanity and making of themselves our "benevolent" Overlords and Masters.
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Bobbi
July 30th, 2009 - 12:01:45 PM
Billboards and advertising don't cause obesity. The uncontrolled movement of the hand shoving food into the mouth, along with sitting your ass in front of the TV playing video games all day, every day has far more to do with obesity then what is actually being eaten. PETA is trying to place the blame somewhere other then where it belongs because it suits their personal agenda to do so. It's just that simple.
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David Marfatso
July 30th, 2009 - 1:06:42 PM
@ Dave M "But what can we, as rational people, do when there are so many–for lack of a better terms–STUPID & IGNORANT people who support these animal rights terrorists? I mean, what exactly?" I have an idea. We can start a restaurant industry front group, I mean, a "consumer group," and shake down a bunch of "beverage companies" and restaurants like Outback Steakhouse for funding. We'll get bloggers to blithely reprint our press releases and spend all day on the computer, twittering our lives away while getting fatter and fatter. BermanExposed.org
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Bobbi
July 30th, 2009 - 1:20:21 PM
Wow....here's a novel approach. How about if we all just use some common sense? Exercise your right to do this free thing called RESEARCH and educate yourself about what is true and what is not true. Whoa....tough concept, huh? Before you donate your hard-earned money to any of these groups, do some research and see what they actually do with the money. Do they actually help animals or do they spend the money on outrageous advertising that does nothing but turn your stomach and piss you off? Humane Society of the United States: They raise outrageous sums of money. But have they ever actually used any of it to help an actual animal in distress? Have they given any of the money they've raised to any of the actual Humane Societies that exist in the United States? How many people donate money to these organizations without having a clue about how that money is being spent? If the Center for Consumer Freedom gets some of those people to actually THINK before they DONATE, then they've got my support. And I like my steak rare, thank you very much. As my t-shirt says, "Meat is murder, tasty tasty murder...."
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Diana
July 30th, 2009 - 1:49:53 PM
"Exercise your right to do this free thing called RESEARCH and educate yourself about what is true and what is not true." Yeah, when I see people eating fast food, I think, "Those are educated deep thinkers who have done research."
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Bobbi
July 30th, 2009 - 2:05:22 PM
Yeah, and when I see people like you posting on some blog on the internet, I think, "There's a person that needs to live in a socialist country where they tell her when and what to eat and how many children she can have and where to work and what to think." Stick around, if Obama has his way, you won't have to move.
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haley
July 30th, 2009 - 4:01:05 PM
Amen Bobbi, I agree with you 110%.
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haley
July 30th, 2009 - 4:09:24 PM
To tell the truth, I don't need to see fast food advertisements to make me want a burger, I do it on my own. And just because I enjoy one of those high-caloried Quarter Pounders every now and again doesn't make me unhealthy. I go home and eat carrots, celery, potatoes, and green beans. I'll eat the heck out of rice and chicken. This doesn't sound unhealthy to me one bit!!!!
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Peter
July 30th, 2009 - 8:00:31 PM
"As my t-shirt says, 'Meat is murder, tasty tasty murder….'” Thanks for that thoughtful, intelligent contribution to the animal welfare debate. I can see all of that thinking, research and self-educating has really paid off.
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petaisacult
July 30th, 2009 - 8:05:10 PM
@Diana Believe it or not, some of us fast food eaters have. I could also level similar accusations at Peta members, considering the amount of pure misinformation, misrepresentations and downright lies I've seen them publish. Still, by the sounds of things, you've so invested your indentity in this worldview, you'll only accept facts that agree with it.
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Alejandro
July 30th, 2009 - 8:12:58 PM
Well, Dave M., to use one of your favorite expressions (which you're too old to be using, by the way), "You got pwned!" ConsumerDeception.com
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Cheryl Jewhurst
July 30th, 2009 - 9:14:29 PM
I'm so relieved. I was beginning to think that most of the people who take the time to make comments on blogs are intelligent, respectful types who just want to have an exchange of ideas. Fortunately, the comments from this blog have shown me the error of my thinking. Name calling, swearing and acting like spoiled children is always good for winning debates. Especially when you can as a last resort, start calling people terrorists just because they disagree with you. Unfortunately, I waited until after I posted my first comment to have a look at what happens on the rest of this site. It gave me huge insights as to the mentality behind the owner. And thus the readership. I happen to believe it's wrong to inflict unnecessary pain and suffering on any living being. If that makes me a terrorist than someone has redefined the definition. However it's plain to see that intelligent debate isn't ever going to occur on this blog so I'm taking my sorry terrorist ideas out of here. You rednecks all have a good time ya hear? Enjoy your disease ridden meat too. Hope you don't choke.
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Flu-Bird
July 30th, 2009 - 10:07:46 PM
PETA is strictly a bunch of stupid mindless hippy freaks we certianly dont need these annoying jerng us how to live and forcing their stupid vaganism down our throats
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haley
July 30th, 2009 - 11:31:08 PM
"Fortunately, the comments from this blog have shown me the error of my thinking. Name calling, swearing, and acting like spoiled children is always good for winning debates. Especially when you can as a last resort, start calling people terrorists just because they disagree with you... You rednecks have a good time ya hear? Enjoy your disease ridden meat too. Hope you don't choke." First let me clarify to you that I respect the opinions of vegetarians. I think it's good that they stick up for what they believe in and don't support animal cruelty cuz it aint right. It's when they start condemning us meat-eaters because we eat meat and then start saying that we are all merciless and crap that I start getting upset. Who are they to judge me? They don't even know me! God gave me a RIGHT to eat meat anyway(Romans 14) and only He can judge me on the matter. I am not merciless to animals cuz I eat meat. I love my pets and wouldn't eat them if they were the last things on Earth. I love meat too, does that make me cruel? Does that make ANYONE who eats meat cruel? I know plenty of people who are big-time meat-eaters but also really compassionate for animals (my Mom for example stopped in the middle of the road six or seven times in the past month to move baby turtles out of the way because she didn't want them to get hit, and she eats meat). Secondly, I found it really ironic how you got all upset about somebody calling you or whoever terrorists and then you turn right around and call us rednecks. Truthfully, I do believe PETA is a terroristic occult, but that doesn't make you a terrorist. I enjoy my "disease-ridden" meat (which is actually quite tasty), but that doesn't make me a redneck. Because of my beliefs, people will judge me. All you can do is pray for those people cuz it says in the Bible that if you judge you'll be judged. And what can I do about the pople who I disagree with? Maybe voice my opinion on the matter but that won't change anyone's mind. Anyways, have a wonderful day everyone! I hate PETA, but if you don't then deal with those of us who do!!!!
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petaisacult
July 31st, 2009 - 1:34:04 AM
Cheryl, if you object to being categorised as a terrorist, perhaps you'd like to stop arguing in support of Peta, who are on record as giving money to people who espouse such violent tactics as arson ( evidence here : http://bit.ly/Lb61O ). By all means, feed exclusively on rotten, disease and faeces covered plants if it's what pleases you, but your suggestion that there is any room for an intelligent and respectful exchange of views with most Peta supporters is complete hogwash. You either agree entirely with their, frankly questionable, opinion on the ethics of animals for human consumption utterly and without question ( I have seen vegans attacked attacked online by members of Peta for daring to dissent with them ) or you are the enemy and to be destroyed. Take your ball and go home if you like Cheryl, that's up to you. I doubt you'll convince anyone that it's possible to reason with a band of violent zealots by playing the wounded swan routine, though.
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Bobbi
July 31st, 2009 - 7:15:41 AM
Peter July 30, 2009 - 8:00 pm “As my t-shirt says, ‘Meat is murder, tasty tasty murder….’” Thanks for that thoughtful, intelligent contribution to the animal welfare debate. I can see all of that thinking, research and self-educating has really paid off. You're quite welcome, Pete. What do you do to support animal welfare? Rescued any strays lately? Oh, and btw, I enjoy a big old ice cold glass of "cow pus" too for those 'orthodox' vegans out there. ;o)
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Adam
August 3rd, 2009 - 7:55:52 AM
Thank you! PETA has always been about going too far... Yesterday they were yelling at 4 year olds at the Circus in Dallas for the abuse of Tiger and Elephants. Stay Classy PETA. Have they have ever cared for large animals or understand the what it takes to keep them safe. Normally, I let crazy/stupid slide because they just dont know any better, but this time I am looking for Anti-PETA org's to donate to. Good job PETA you have finally influenced somebody!
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Jake
August 3rd, 2009 - 12:38:45 PM
Just yesterday, at a Christian revival tour, Rock the River, PETA delivered their blasphemous "Jesus was a vegetarian" campaign. This organization is perfectly representative of the bottom of the barrel.
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Detritus
August 3rd, 2009 - 4:26:14 PM
Wow PeTA was busy yesterday. Just yesterday I was eatin' me a chili cheese dog when outta nowheres this vegan jihad PeTA activist in a lettuce bikini grabs my hotdog and I says, LET GO OF MY WIENER YE TIN HORN TERRORIST! But she replaced it with a tofu dog with all the fixins and bought me another beer and I don't remember nothin after that.
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talfonso
August 7th, 2009 - 1:45:59 PM
Here's another reason why I am sick of PETA like you - I live near Tampa, an hour from Walt Disney World, and they are trying to keep me away from one of the resort's theme parks, Disney's Animal Kingdom! HELLLLOOOOOO!? It's my second favorite Disney park to Epcot, and you're trying to stop me! Let me get my Disney fix - I have a Seasonal Pass and you're not going to stop me from meeting Eeyore and riding Expedition Everest - it's my favorite Disney ride - please!!!
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Jimbo
August 7th, 2009 - 3:32:49 PM
They took our jobs! Dey tuk err jerb !!!
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Patrick Simons
August 20th, 2009 - 8:17:02 PM
excuse me....Im from Lansing, Michigan, and Im certainly not a redneck. Circuses and fast food are very bad sure. "Jesus is vegetarian", thats not blasphemous at all. People who were exclusively vegetarian in society 2000 years ago rarely lived long, since being 35 was considered ancient way back when. "Jesus is vegetarian" is like saying "Jesus was white", both statements have very great chances of being wrong. I certainly agree with all that and your right to say it. But seriously, one of Michigan State University's animal research laboratories, used for testing large scale farm animals for diseases and verterinary students, was bombed, and the man who did it received $70,000 in his defense from your organization. Since 1998, PETA killed at least 21,339 animals. When I was a boy, we occasionally had to lock our pets indoors because your vans drove up the street. You guys really wanted to be in our town and tried to convince my family on several occasions to give up our pets. The Ingham County Sheriff's Department ticketed one of your organization's vans for "dumping deceased domestic animals in a public waste receptacle" (dumpster) as the State Journal put it. During 2008, seven of the 2,216 animals PETA brought in were found homes. This is actually a new record, statistically speaking, for your organization. How do I know this??? PETA files an "Animal Record" Report with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumers every year since 1998. This is, of course, a national report, and is public record. PETA has a budget of 37 million dollars annually, immune to federal taxes. The president of PETA bought a gigantic freezer with that money. hmmm... The reasons you guys do these "ur dur lets make us some fun of sum rednecks" (see several posts, above) tirades is because for the most part, PETA members are wealthy socialites who make eight figures a year from New York City and Los Angeles. Or rich college students who believe everything they hear, because well, college students are stupid. umm "They took our jobs!", Matt Stone and Trey Parker made their own anti-PETA episode already. They dont like your organization. Great job, kid. Dont do this "dee dee dur Ahm a Redneck hahaha you cant afford college but my parents can" tirade on me, I graduated college. I voted for Obama. But seriously, Im very bored right now.
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jedin
August 29th, 2009 - 9:51:12 AM
Damned rights Patrick. all of these PETA people need to pull their heads out of their asses, and stop calling the kettle black. If they really worried about humane treatment then they wouldn't spend their time euthanizing (murdering) animals that already have homes and were just found outside doing their business. You wanna know where your missing cat is? ask the people in the PETA van.
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Steve
August 29th, 2009 - 9:56:15 AM
Cheryl, just out of curiosity. How clean do you really think the ground water is that grows your vegetables? With all of the pollutants poured into lakes and rivers by chemical plants, and the toxins spewed into the air by cars, are you so sure that your food isnt desease ridden. Happy pesticides! Oh, crap I may have just made her join the green party! :P
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haley
August 31st, 2009 - 6:08:51 PM
exactly. animals being used for meat are required by the government to be ridden from disease, to be vaccinated and other crap(unless of course you are eating meat you've hunted yourself) however, vegetables need lots of water, fertilizer, pesticides, etc. in order to grow properly, which could be dangerous to the environment. i don't really care about the whole environmental movement peace thing or whatever but that's still a nice tidbit to bring up.
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petaisacult
September 4th, 2009 - 4:49:15 PM
Also, isn't the most environmentally friendly source of fertilizer a cows bottom?
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haley
September 6th, 2009 - 4:41:13 PM
i would think so
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Birdzilla
September 13th, 2009 - 11:37:13 PM
PETA is for the extremly stupid only a brainless idiot would have absolutly anything to do with these stupid PETA wanks
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Robbie
February 2nd, 2010 - 8:17:42 AM
Definitively bad form and bad ideas. They are over the top, and basically the CNN of the animal rights world. Bombastic, over the top, and just plain silly.
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