"Mean" to people who don't agree with the site's views?

[theresaj]

So going through some of the threads here it seems some people come here and bash the views of this forum then whine that you here are "mean". Well the short time I've been here people have been nothing but helpful to me here, not mean. So yeah I've seen this accusation on a lot of the threads in this topic and I don't really think it holds any water. Just immature, ignorant people trying to get member's goats. It's funny, people come on here and attack the views of the forum, break forum rules and then WAAAH you're mean! When they're banned cause of their own stupidity. From what I've seen nobody's been banned from the site for maybe differing views on veganism or PETA, they were banned for being standoffish jerks and attacking someone trying to teach people something. I just, don't get it.

[frashy]

I know!

People take things too personally, and say just because someone was informing them a better way to care for their pet, that somehow that means they were told they were a terrible person everyone should be ashamed of.

You DO become a bad pet owner though, when you learn something, and take it as a personal offence, and selfishly focus on the fact of how you were so offended, without improving anything for you and your pet. We as the humans are the ones who are responsible for keeping up with their needs, not willing to do what's best for your animal is in no way acceptable. You only become guilty of a bad pet owner when you have the chance to change for the better, but selfishly close your mind and do nothing about it.

Ignorance is only to be ashamed of when you had the chance to learn, but you closed your mind and still remain ignorant.

*knowledge is power*- just don't take what you didn't know personally!
We all have been there anyways.

[-PiggyPrincess-]

I havn't been a member for very long but I came across this thread and I have to say I completely agree! I have noticed that quite a few members take things to heart. Well they oviously havn't heard of constructive critisism. Can't they see that others are trying to help them become better pet owners not put them down?! They should take it as a compliment, as it shows how much other owners care about other people's pets as well as their own. They are only trying to help. Why can't they see this? It should remain a friendly site not one with people complaining and taking offense to comments and remarks. Lighten up people!

[iowapiglover]

I couldn't agree with you more, all of you! I guess if we all knew EVERYTHING we wouldn't ask so many questions and there would be no need for the forum.

[rxqueen]

It's pretty funny what people consider "mean" in regards to this forum.

I'm in a vegan forum on myspace and I get called stupid on a fairly regular basis. In fact, there is a lot of name calling and fighting there, so when I come here it's a breath of fresh air. Everyone is trying to be helpful to eachother and people are focused on presenting reliable information. I think people take for granted the fact that in a lot of internet forums you can get away with saying just about anything.

I haven't seen many trolls here, and I haven't been called stupid.

So as far as people in this forum actually being mean, I have yet to see it.

[Gemiinii]

I don't understand it much either. Why would someone waste their time on a site that doesn't accept their point of view (specifically someone who believes in breeding, etc) when there are plenty of other sites that would readily support them? I definitely agree about the immaturity of these people and hope that they learn something while they're here (though I doubt it). I absolutely love this site and am grateful for it, and I believe that there are many more people here who feel the same way rather than those few who don't.

[Myspoiltpiggies]

I was one of those people who used to feel like I was being 'attacked' on here. But I am more mature now and I know that you are all only trying to do what's best for my animals.

Before I joined this site -
I bred 6 of my sows.
I had my guinea pigs in small hutches.
I had more guinea pigs than I could handle.
I bought my guinea pigs from breeders and petshops.
I showed my guinea pigs.

Now -
I will never breed again.
My guinea pigs live in C&C cages. One is a 2x6 housing 4 sows. Two are 2x3 with a 1x2 loft housing 2 boars each.
I have 8 guinea pigs. I like this amount and feel like I am closer to each one now. I don't want to ever go above 10 again (I had 21 at one point!).
I will adopt from now on.
I don't show my guinea pigs

This forum has made me and my guinea pigs' lives a trillion times better.

[Sammy and Peanut]

OMG, you took the words right out of my mouth! Are you a mind reader or something? Those peopl are just losers who have too much time on their hands, so they come here and stir up trouble. It's so annoying, and takes up space on this website, that instead could be useful info.

[i-love-nev]

I agree to a certain point, HOWEVER, my only problem with this forum is that you bash breeders and people who show they're guinea pigs like they know nothing, when really we could learn ALOT from them.

[PixieStix]

Originally Posted by i-love-nev

I agree to a certain point, HOWEVER, my only problem with this forum is that you bash breeders and people who show they're guinea pigs like they know nothing, when really we could learn ALOT from them.

Honestly, rescues and people who rescue and freqent this forum and GL tend to know much more than the average breeder. Breeders have loads of pigs and so often cut corners in care (too small, crowded cages, no/little veggies, outdoor/shed housing, no toys/accessories, little individual attention, etc etc). Not only do they not have much knowledge of basic care, but they skip out on vet care as they have so many pigs, they feel they don't want to 'waste' money on one. So, little knowledge of basic care, vet care, not to mention so many breeders know next to nothing about genetics, please specify what there IS to learn from them. Unless knowing how to roll their hair up so it can be unnaturally long just so it's pretty (and who cares about the comfort of the pig), the desirable shape of their head (because that's more important than health), or just how much sheen we need on those satins with osteodystrophy count as things we could learn from them.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by i-love-nev

I agree to a certain point, HOWEVER, my only problem with this forum is that you bash breeders and people who show they're guinea pigs like they know nothing, when really we could learn ALOT from them.

It's not they we think they "know nothing" it's that they don't care.

There is NOTHING a breeder can teach the people of this forum that the RESCUERS don't already know. Better yet, the rescuers know the right way to do things. Not the cheap, easy and convenient WRONG way.

Sorry, we are not interested in having the breeders teach people how to build the perfect cavy shed, how to treat mites with skin care products or how to build cages that look like inner city housing projects.

I would think you would understand all of this by now Nev.

[salana]

Originally Posted by i-love-nev

I agree to a certain point, HOWEVER, my only problem with this forum is that you bash breeders and people who show they're guinea pigs like they know nothing, when really we could learn ALOT from them.

Like what? How to build a CO2 chamber to gas lethals?

What I learn from breeders is the outcome of their hubris: what lethals suffer from, and how many of them live. I learn that covert roans and dals can have eyepatches and blue eyes. I learn that they would never breed a sow they love. I learn that they estimate 1 in 5 of their pigs' pregnancies goes wrong somehow. And yes, I learn that some would rather breed dal to dal and gas the lethals, than keep good records and breed dal to self only, avoiding lethals.

Basically, I learn that breeding and showing makes people turn their pigs into commodities, not pets. I keep pets. What do you keep?

[theresaj]

Yeah, it seems like some breeders just do this like a kid doing a science experiment. "Hmm! I wonder what happens if you put this and this together." not knowing what not to mix or mixing it anyway just cause they want to see what will happen. It's just turning them into furry living 'experiments'.

[VoodooJoint]

OHHH, this is fun Salana. Let's see what I've learned from breeders

-to dissuade people form providing large cages because a pig supposedly died in a C&C cage and dissuade people from providing floortime because once someone's cheap futon broke and fell on a GP. http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...uck-grids.html

-act like it's not a lot to breed ~30 litters a year and then lie about what happens to all of those animals. http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...ty-thread.html

-breed dal to dal and then feed the resulting lethals to a snake. As an added bonus make the person who does this president of the ACBA http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...ight=president

-dump old, useless animals at a petstore or shelter- http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...hi-im-new.html

-refuse medical treatment for a pregnant sow and allow all of the babies to die. HELP my guinea pig is sick!! - Guinea Pig Home Forum and just for the record - Guinea Pig Home Forum

I could go on and on. Thank goodness I listen to the rescuers instead of take the breeders' advice and examples.