Question about buying supplies from a pet store that sells animals

[Susan9608]

I agree. You should either try to answer the OP and address relevant posts, or get off the computer and spend more time with your Guinea Pigs.

I think this post was pointless.

[Adorable]

The pointless posts can go on forever, but they only end up being a distraction.

Can we get back to the original question now?

[Susan9608]

I’d hope no one would call my posts pointless because I try to add something of value that applies to the question, instead of just some fluff.

Well, what's good for the goose, you know ....

Besides, wasn't your original question answered? Didn't you say:

Originally Posted by salana
When you go into a pet store and buy a bag of oxbow, they don't know if you're anti-petstore, or if you bought a pig from them and are continuing to buy food. All they see is the money. And since they are getting money, they assume their business model is working, and they will continue it.
Thanks. That is the connection I needed.

And I think it's hilarious, by the way, that you've totally reversed yourself on the whole being less hostile/more welcoming/etc by being just as rude and hostile in this thread as anyone else has been anywhere else on the forum. Guess you've come around, huh?

[Adorable]

Thanks for following me around to find just the opening you were looking for to say that. It’s nice to know that my efforts to fit in aren’t going unnoticed.

[Paula]

Originally Posted by Adorable

Thanks for following me around to find just the opening you were looking for to say that.

I hardly think you're so special that a mod would expend the energy to follow you around to find an opportunity to address you contradicting yourself. Especially when you make it so easy.

[gooberific]

Thanks for all the laughs, everyone!

Anyway, to answer the ORIGINAL POSTER (spelled out, not abbreviated, per rules, *suck up*), I understand how hard it is to ignore the convenience of Oxbow being available at PetSmart. It really all depends on YOUR values. What YOU do on YOUR own time while you are away from this forum is all on YOU. I've talked people into buying Oxbow instead of Hartz while picking up Cavy Cuisine at PetSmart.

Why do I sometimes buy it from PetSmart? Because it's across the street from my college campus and on my way home. Why do I NOT always buy it from some other place that doesn't sell animals? Because I've got commitments. And stuff to do. And if those commitments take me past the places that sell Oxbow Cavy Cuisine, then by all means I'm going to unstrap my son from his car seat, pull him into that place kicking and screaming because he wants to GO PLAY and "No get piggie pood!"

Besides, it saves me a whopping $3.72 by getting the 10 lb bag at the exotic animal hospital WHEN THEY ACTUALLY HAVE IT in stock, so I actually have to call first -- and imagine that, they're on my contact list in my cell phone -- as opposed to buying two 5 lb bags that they sell at PetSmart.

You know what else I buy at PetStupid? Carefresh. I use so little of it at a time, but because Wal-Mart is retarded and only sells their brand of Carefresh in small bags, it ends up being CHEAPER to buy the largest bag of Carefresh from PetStupid -- always with a coupon. Why do I always have a coupon? Because I took every single "Save now" coupon off every single bag of Carefresh they had at PetStupid one day. The young guy who handles the small animal department on the days I frequent, only laughed and said he didn't blame me. I asked him if he thought that might discourage people from buying pets/supplies from there. He said it might, and grinned. Then we played with the piggies for about 10 minutes.

Yep, I'm selfish. I like convenience and saving money. But hey, the cost of Carefresh offsets the same price savings buying Cavy Cuisine from the vet! So, on those days that I have things that bring me past where I can get stuff from places that don't sell animals... and if I actually have money... yep, I'm all for that. But my view, personally, is that buying supplies from a store, they see you are buying supplies. They always ask if I got my pigs there. I scoff at them in disgust and chew them out. I've never been kicked out yet! I've had discussions with people behind me in the checkout line buying Carefresh for a bunny, or some other small animal. I drop names of shelters and tell them all the sad stories of sick animals that usually come from pet stores. They agree they wouldn't even get fish from that store.

Do I feel guilty when I buy from PetDumb? No. Should I? Maybe. I'm more on the fence. I really think that buying just supplies there is okay. There is a supply and demand for supplies. There is a supply and demand for animals. The demand for supplies goes up when the demand for animals goes up. But if the demand for animals goes down, and the demand for supplies goes up, it should send a different message to the number crunchers.

[Adorable]

Originally Posted by gooberific

but because Wal-Mart is retarded

Why would you put down an entire group of people who have nothing to do with WalMart and can't help the way they are?

[Ly&Pigs]

Walmart and it's employees have nothing to do with this conversation. Please again get back on the original topic which is buying supplies from petstores.

[gooberific]

Right, bad choice of words. How about this:

"The Wal-Marts near me MAKE NO SENSE by carrying ONLY small bags of their care fresh type products, that even when you buy the double-sized bag has NO difference in price than when you buy two small bags."

Because really, in the kitchen, I tend to let my guard down and say things like that are retarded because they make no sense. I did not PUT DOWN an entire group of people. Because people who are "slow" (synonym of retard, in the dictionary/thesaurus/musical sense) might work at WalMart. They might not. So really, I'm using it AS AN ADJECTIVE. To indicate that WALMART is slow in their ways of thinking, because they can't fool us all into thinking we're getting better deals.

Maybe I should start applying my adjectives to people instead of corporations so it makes more sense, so that when the one single quote pulled out of one of my longer posts should apply to a specific person instead of a corporation.

Would you prefer that?

And at any rate, I did want to add one thing about the original question. If you feel the need to ask this question on an internet board, you need to sit yourself down and ask YOURSELF what your ethics, values and beliefs are. It's fine to get ideas of what others think, but those opinions are readily available all over this site. This question has been asked over and over.

Will someone please draw a roadmap to the search function?

And my apologies to any of those I offended by using "retarded" as an adjective, as well as to anyone I might have offended by being more outspoken than usual (for me).

(Edited to add: And for anyone who thinks using "retarded" is putting down a group of people, believe you me I do NOT refer to anyone who is disABLEd in any way, shape, or form, as such because I have physically and mentally handicapped individuals in my own family.)

[Adorable]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

Walmart and it's employees have nothing to do with this conversation.

Exactly. Using a derogatory term like that is no different than putting down people who care about the welfare of Guinea Pigs/animals in general. Even if you think their beliefs are "useless" to society.

[Paula]

Originally Posted by Adorable

Exactly. Using a derogatory term like that is no different than putting down people who care about the welfare of Guinea Pigs/animals in general. Even if you think their beliefs are "useless" to society.

You're seriously not even making sense anymore. Attempting to make a legitimate argument out of something that just isn't, IS pointless and somewhat pathetic, really.

There's not any way that a reasonable person would take Gooberific's comment on WalMart, as a company and their choice of product line, as a personal attack on anyone or anything. If you can't understand the difference then perhaps you need to reevaluate whether or not you should be participating in these types of discussions.

*Somewhat* on topic - the WalMart near me still sells live fish. For that reason I've always chosen not to buy any pet supplies there and limit my other purchases there to items I simply cannot get elsewhere.

[Adorable]

You don’t think it’s legitimate to point out that singling out retarded people is wrong? Maybe it’s you that needs to re-evaluate.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Adorable

You don’t think it’s legitimate to point out that singling out retarded people is wrong? Maybe it’s you that needs to re-evaluate.

That isn't what Gooberific said--NOT that I endorse or defend what Gooberific said. That comment was not acceptable in my book BUT you are twisting what and how the word "retarded" was used.

Knock it off now, I don't want any further discussions on this particular point, get back on topic or I'll hand out infractions.

[Adorable]

It’s obvious that I’m being targeted. Feel free to give me whatever infractions you deem necessary for standing up for people who can’t defend themselves.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Adorable

It’s obvious that I’m being targeted. Feel free to give me whatever infractions you deem necessary for standing up for people who can’t defend themselves.

Gooberific was not at any time attacking or belittling mentally or physically challenged individuals (retarded). There is no need for you to defend any type of person or people. You are creating an argument out of a poor choice of words NOT on any sort of attack on a human or humans.

Get over it and move on.

[Adorable]

That's pretty much what you said when I got the infraction. Thanks for the public recap.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by Adorable

That's pretty much what you said when I got the infraction. Thanks for the public recap.

You don't like it? Then maybe you should have stopped when I asked you to.

I'm done discussing this in public. If you wish to talk more about this you can PM me.

[Tarot]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

Gooberific was not at any time attacking or belittling mentally or physically challenged individuals (retarded). There is no need for you to defend any type of person or people. You are creating an argument out of a poor choice of words NOT on any sort of attack on a human or humans.

Get over it and move on.

Actually, when I originally read someone say "retarded" I literally did a double-take. I have a Special Needs son and seeing that word tossed around lightly is indeed highly offensive to those of us who struggle with those issues on a daily basis.

If this was a case of trying to take a stand over corporate vs. privately-owned pet stores because of the implications those actions bestow upon the world's over-packed animal shelters rather than the simple "oh its just a word" theory of insults to a minority of the population, I might get on board.

Its kind of hypocritical to defend cavies' rights and then shrug off a term like "retard" like it was harmless. I wonder if on Special Needs boards, if insulting rodents is dealt with in the same condescending manner.

[sophistacavy]

VoodooJoint is right, you're not even making much sense at all anymore, at least not to her and I.
And thank you Gooberific, you go girl!

[salana]

All right, this thread has become stupid and useless. I'm closing it because I'm sick of the whining.