"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.

[Angelgal]

I havn't been a member of this site for very long, but I do not recall seeing any bashing... this forum is great! It's full people so willing to help you and educate you. When my Angel became ill, everyone was so kind and so helpful, the support and suggestions were amazing and made a big difference. I took everything to heart and did everything I could and everything was much appreciated. Sadly, she didn't make it but we tried so hard...


When I came here, I found out I had been doing some things wrong, and that there were many ways I could improve the quality of life for her. I feel terrible that I didn't get the chance to really do that for Angel, but the process had been started.

I learned a C&C cage was a lot better then a petstore bought.
I learned about fleece as a bedding
I learned a lot more about AB use in GP's/handfeeding etc.
I learned why its important to rescue, and not support BYB (petstores)
I learned there were better quality products out there to feed

As much as it kills me, I am not able to take in any guinea pigs at this time. I am heading to college in the fall and I feel I would not be able to give them the love, care and attention they would deserve. So I'm forced to wait, I do not want any pets of mine neglected! (I already have arrangments for the Chin) However, when the time is right I would love nothing more then to adopt 3 or 4 wonderful little squeaky piggies - I don't care how far I have to drive to do it though from doing some current searching it would be at least 2 hours.

This place is amazing.
Though I would like to add, I agree with what was said - there is nothing we can learn from breeders, at least nothing good IMO. I have to honestly say, I would rather learn from a rescuer then a breeder any day!!!

[Bennalaya]

I realize that I am new here and that this thread has not been responded to in a few weeks, but I've been lurking here for a couple of years. I think the issue is that some people have pets because they think pets are cute and funny and sometimes make you smile. Then there are people who consider animals their furry (or scaly) members of their family. I belong to the latter group, as do most members here. It's common for people who see animals as more than just cuddly little things that stroke our ego and make us feel happy at our convenience to get highly frustrated with people who don't understand and are not willing to understand our stance. It's not uncommon for people who feel very passionately about a certain issue to respond in a heated manner, especially when one person is being willfully obtuse.

Back when I had my two boars, I tried to join another cavy forum that shall not be named. I about had a stroke when I read a thread about a twelve year old girl who was just singing the praises of feeding her cavies miniature Snickers bars because "they love the peanuts". So, I got pretty upset and told her to cease feeding her cavies candy bars ASAP. I got a warning for "offering unsolicited advice". Then I was banned when I told a member not to use sawdust from her dad's woodworking shed for cage filler. I was told that the site was a "place for support and sharing the love of cavies, not unwarrented attacks in the form of opinions". Sorry, I didn't realize that discussions on the proper feeding of cavies was considered "taboo".

Suffice it to say I was appalled, and those are the sorts of websites that will monny-coddle the ignorant, praise the foolish and cheer on anybody who is able to drop $30 on a PetSmart cavy, throw it in a hamster cage and think cavies can live on a diet of candy corn and grass clippings. I'm glad I joined this site and that members here refuse to make apologies for being passionate about loving cavies and helping them in any way they can. I couldn't be a member of another cavy forum that applauded teenage breeders. True story, there were teenagers on that site who were encouraged to post about breeding their cavies.

And, for what it's worth, I don't believe inexperience is an excuse. Impulse buying a small animal because they looked so "sad and helpless" as you passed by them in their 12" x 36" glass cage at PetCo whilst buying dog food is not commendable - it's selfish and detrimental to your cavy's health and happiness. I'd never owned a cavy before my two boars, but I went online and researched my options and equipped myself with information for about a year before adopting. After all of the great articles I read online about breeding mills and how disease-stricken pet store animals are, that was never an option.

[Schneeflöckli]

I don't agree with this forum in every point, but in generally I find it great. Because:

You really stand up for animals and want to rescue them
You are against pet stores
Your are against breeding
You are against the common, two small cages


That's just great and that's why I'm still in this Forum. I know you don't accept my way of holding guinea pigs, but I can live with that....It makes me sad somehow, but I accept it.
But all in all it's a great forum and a good way to improve my english as well

[MotherofGambit]

I am new, to this forum and to cavies, so I figure seeing how I posted that in my introduction title that people feel they should inform me of how to better care for Gambit (my cavy). I have been informed he needs a friend and while I can't do it now, I am not yelling at people for telling me that. I understand they are social animals, but at this point in time I cannot adopt another pig. I have seen some people getting offended by what looks like simple misunderstandings. Owell. Overall, I like the forum. It makes me feel more secure about the idea of having a cavy of my own, and I am sure Gambit is happy someone told me what he can and cannot eat safely. :)

[Taboo]

I think there are mean opinionated people here. For instance, the people who told me off in my introduction thread.

[MotherofGambit]

I think there are mean opinionated people anywhere you go. Just take it in stride.