#like i do in principle support euthanasia and right to die and stuff. but i dont fucking like it when it seems like the vibe is

[fiftysevenacademics]

You don't have to publish this but ty for pointing out WADTT's logical flaw in cetacean husbandry. If you browse their blog more you'll find more posts like that unfirtunately (it made me unfollow them a long while back). They're deadset on believing pro-caps are all hardcore PETA/HSUS AR activists who want to toss out rehabbed and currently captive cetaceans to die in the wild when irl a lot of pro-caps really just want to stop the captive breeding programs and taking of wild cetaceans

Previous waddt anon - aw man I messed up but I meant anti-cap not pro-cap, my bad hope it clears things up

Yeah, they used to post useful stuff about animal behavior, and, of course, they still do, but lately they’ve gone way too far into defending stuff that probably isn’t really worth defending, and over time, I’ve gotten the picture that their main mindset is “humans use animals, that’s OK, get used to it, I’m the definitive voice on what kind of human use of animals is humane,” and frankly, I disagree with a lot of that sort of commentary they post. 

It’s made me realize that they come from a basically anthropocentric POV, which is weird, considering that their whole blog is supposed to be about de-anthropocentrizing views of animals on the Internet, and then, it turns out, they also think humans have the right to breed, manipulate, and do basically whatever they want with animals, as long as they adhere to a few key points and that’s where they lose me. Like…. I vehemently disagree with dog breeding, and they support it. I’ve almost unfollowed them over their pro-breeder stance, but keep telling myself no, people are assholes and going to breed dogs anyhow, at least they promote something vaguely resembling “responsible”… and then this whole thing about orcas. Like, I am not opposed to zoos, in principle. Some animals, given the correct environment and social groupings and enrichment, can live perfectly happy, normal lives in captivity. Lions are a good example of this. But that orca post? 

They equate all people who support animal rights with horrible groups like PETA, that also advocate euthanasia for most rescued pit bulls and other ridiculous shit. They are opposed to animal rights, as a principle, and this is why I believe they are, in spite of their blog’s stated purpose, anthropocentric. I believe animals have rights separate from human interests and intrinsic to the animals themselves. I believe we humans, as the de facto colonialists and rulers of the planet, have an obligation to understand animals so that we can relinquish our control over them to give them the free rights they have. We should do the same thing for our fellow humans. Rights are rights, and we humans have to look out for each other, and we have to look out for animals. 

I don’t believe WADTT has this viewpoint. I believe that they are still in this “humans can use animals” mindset. I know that they are a dog trainer/sitter, with some kind of college degree in animal behavior, and are trying to get a career off the ground that is aimed at promoting a science-based view of animal behavior, as well as combat what they believe are hysterical animal rights activists AND over the top assholes like Cesar Millan. I guess the only point where I disagree with them is in the animal rights thing. They are opposed to animal rights, even though they promote animal welfare. FWIW I hate blogs that constantly hit people up to donate to their Patreon. I’ve unfollowed several blogs just for that, but for some reason I’m still following this one.

I believe in animal rights, but that being said, I’m a vegetarian, but not a vegan. I’m not perfect, and I make my excuses just like that blog does. People could say the same shit about me. It’s Tumblr, so, you know, if you’re not perfect, you must be evil. This is why I haven’t unfollowed them yet, though every time I see them defending dog breeders I get closer to it. 

Life is messy, we all have contradictory viewpoints, and there is no point trying to be holier than thou.