Guest guest Posted August 4, 2003 Report Share Posted August 4, 2003 I have a situation that I wanted to share and see if anyone else has gone through this... My niece will be having a birthday party at Marine World (captive live sea animals such as whales, dolphins, etc... that are on display for people to see - they also have an amusement park as well). Anyway, me, dh and dd are all vegetarian and usually don't visit such places that have animals in their un-natural environment. But I do want to be a part of my niece's birthday celebration and she really wants us to go. I haven't really mentioned my concerns to my brother - as he doesn't really 'get' us being vegetarian anyway... So, I guess I am just seeing if anyone else has been in this situation and how they handled it. Thanks! Melodese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2003 Report Share Posted August 6, 2003 > <mudpuddle > Subject:Birthday Ethics > > I have a situation that I wanted to share and see if anyone else has gone > through this... > > My niece will be having a birthday party at Marine World (captive live sea > animals such as whales, dolphins, etc... that are on display for people to > see - they also have an amusement park as well). Anyway, me, dh and dd are > all vegetarian and usually don't visit such places that have animals in > their un-natural environment. Oh, that's too bad they had to pick such a spot. :-( You don't want to upset your niece or your dd, but you can turn it into an educational experience, if you decide to go. You could talk about how small the tanks are compared to the ocean, and that you'd bet those animals would love to be swimming in the great big ocean with their families. You may also notice some repetitive stress symptoms to discuss - animals swimming in circles, banging their bodies against the side repeatedly.... This was the most distressing thing I saw at an aquarium a couple years ago, a beaver swimming the same tiny route for hours on end.... That's when I vowed never to go back to such a place. You might want to just point out a few sights while you're there, and the start the discussion afterwards, since they're all likely to be too distracted to hear lectures on animals in unnatural environments.... ~Doh -- Taking into account the public's regrettable lack of taste, it is incumbent upon you not to fit in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 Thanks for your response Doh. The educational twist may be a good idea. It is so sad to see the animals in that kind of environment and maybe the others will take notice too! Thanks again, Melodese Doh! [dohdriver] Wednesday, August 06, 2003 9:08 AM Re: Birthday Ethics > <mudpuddle > Subject:Birthday Ethics > > I have a situation that I wanted to share and see if anyone else has gone > through this... > > My niece will be having a birthday party at Marine World (captive live sea > animals such as whales, dolphins, etc... that are on display for people to > see - they also have an amusement park as well). Anyway, me, dh and dd are > all vegetarian and usually don't visit such places that have animals in > their un-natural environment. Oh, that's too bad they had to pick such a spot. :-( You don't want to upset your niece or your dd, but you can turn it into an educational experience, if you decide to go. You could talk about how small the tanks are compared to the ocean, and that you'd bet those animals would love to be swimming in the great big ocean with their families. You may also notice some repetitive stress symptoms to discuss - animals swimming in circles, banging their bodies against the side repeatedly.... This was the most distressing thing I saw at an aquarium a couple years ago, a beaver swimming the same tiny route for hours on end.... That's when I vowed never to go back to such a place. You might want to just point out a few sights while you're there, and the start the discussion afterwards, since they're all likely to be too distracted to hear lectures on animals in unnatural environments.... ~Doh -- Taking into account the public's regrettable lack of taste, it is incumbent upon you not to fit in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 The education twist is a great idea for open minds that would be the children without their parents. I too have witnesses some pretty horrible things with circus animals and I expressed my dismay with folks standing near me. They were totally oblivious to my feelings and they have their own spin on how this housing of animals is perfectly fine. If I were you I would save my self the heart ache and send a gift. Lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 Not to mention that going and trying to educate the people around you is pretty rude. Don't go if you don't approve, but don't ruin a child's birthday party, please. You'll feel crappy for being there, he'll be miserable, and everyone else will be too angry to learn anything from what you say anyway. Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 I may be wrong - but I dont think the intent of this comment was for her to try and educate other people or their kids but to use it as an educational experience for her own child. , " Sandra Mort " <sandra.mort@o...> wrote: > Not to mention that going and trying to educate the people around you is pretty rude. Don't go if you don't approve, but don't ruin a child's birthday party, please. You'll feel crappy for being there, he'll be miserable, and everyone else will be too angry to learn anything from what you say anyway. > > Sandra > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2003 Report Share Posted August 18, 2003 Ohhhh, ok. Then I misunderstood. My apologies. Sandra I may be wrong - but I dont think the intent of this comment was for her to try and educate other people or their kids but to use it as an educational experience for her own child. , " Sandra Mort " <sandra.mort@o...> wrote: > Not to mention that going and trying to educate the people around you is pretty rude. Don't go if you don't approve, but don't ruin a child's birthday party, please. You'll feel crappy for being there, he'll be miserable, and everyone else will be too angry to learn anything from what you say anyway. > > Sandra > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2003 Report Share Posted August 20, 2003 > " smartgirl27us " <thesmartfamily3 > Re: Birthday Ethics > > I may be wrong - but I dont think the intent of this comment was for > her to try and educate other people or their kids but to use it as an > educational experience for her own child. Exactly, thanks. Just little things you can notice and comment about. The discussion can come at home, afterwards, since parties aren't exactly when kids' attention spans are at their best, anyway. ~Doh --------- One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one. ~Agatha Christie. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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