Posts by Jonathan Hayes85

feralranger said:These "lovers" who imprison animals are nothing more than pretenders; in reality, they are suffocators and jailers.

My cat, on the other hand, is a free spirit... he gets his meals, he has shelter when it rains, he has access to a warm room when the temperature drops... some days he stays indoors, other days he spends the entire day outside... he is entirely free to come and go as he pleases...

I consider myself someone who loves animals, though certainly not in that pathological, suffocating manner in which many of their owners claim to "love" them...

that's how I treat my cat, too. I actually respect her instincts and that wild side she still has 👍

Those people with the controlling tendencies clearly don't grasp animal psychology or basic nature; honestly, they’re just thinking about themselves.
And those who let their pets run wild and bother everyone else? They don't care to understand—or even try to empathize with other people if they aren't already narrow-minded.
Actually, I suspect it's intentional. It’s just more selfishness and looking at everything through a self-centered lens.😠

Amy Young12 said:Maybe I’m just a freak, and honestly, I don’t care. 😁

I love wandering through the zoo, stopping by a cage to stare at the animals—and I always find myself wondering how they even manage to get food into a tiger. 😁 Are they cute? Not even close.

If a fly or a mosquito starts buzzing around my head being a little nuisance, there’s no debating it: I want them gone.

There is absolutely no way I would let some animal roam around my house, lounging on my couch, my bed, or my armchair, or weaving through my legs while I'm trying to cook in the kitchen. The mere thought makes my skin crawl, but hey, if you guys think that's normal, go right ahead. That's on you. ☕

Back when I was in elementary school, I saw a car hit a cat, and my heart didn't even skip a beat.
When a neighbor's dog got mauled by another dog, I felt a tiny bit bad for it only because I was used to seeing him trot through the yard at least twice a day. But did I cry? Nope.

I guess this whole discussion is really just about cats and dogs. 😁

Then you have those people who don't even bother with a muzzle and just stroll through a crowded downtown plaza with their dog.

That’s exactly what I don't get—everyone here is claiming they aren't animal lovers just because they don't want a dog living in their apartment or whatever.

Your personal take on hygiene, or whether you're comfortable kissing a dog or an iguana on the mouth, doesn't actually define whether you love animals (wildlife, small critters, anything at all).

The topic is about people who don't love animals, not specific lifestyles involving pets. That part was just a side note that drifted into the conversation. 🙂

Lisa Baker6 As requested by Sarah Garcia84:
It seems I’m a total outlier in your eyes—everything except for that one specific thing you mentioned. Or am I? ☕

Personally, I find people who offer zero inspiration or fascination—you know, the ones who don't contribute anything remotely positive to the conversation—to be total oddballs. They just seem completely detached from the real world around them. Is it just me? It feels like they're living in a bubble while the rest of us are actually dealing with reality.
They’re what makes life worth living. 🙂You know, if you're looking to dive into that world, there’s plenty out there. You've got cartoons, documentaries, magazines, books... the list goes on. What else do you need?
Ever since we started actually paying attention, it’s become pretty obvious that the world is just teeming with endless varieties of life. It's everywhere. You look around and see an infinite array of species, all sporting the most bizarre patterns and colors you could imagine. Each one comes with its own set of weird abilities, strange instincts, and entirely unique ways of surviving. It's almost overwhelming, isn't it? Just constant, chaotic biological diversity happening right under our noses. Blah, blah, blah.

crimsontinker99 As I was saying:
Yeah, I agree. But let’s be honest—we aren't exactly normal to them either, are we? We're just as much the oddballs in their eyes. And frankly? It doesn't bother me one bit. 😍 Does it even matter if they like them? As long as they aren't causing harm or leading others down a dark path, who cares?

Look, I didn't say they were psychopaths. I just find the whole thing bizarre. Since when did being an animal lover make someone a weirdo? Honestly, having that much extra empathy isn't exactly a burden. If anything, it broadens your perspective instead of narrowing it. Why would anyone want a smaller world?

Andrew Peterson6 said:I've had owners tell me "he won't bite" more times than I can count—usually right before their massive beast starts snarling and lunging at me (one actually got me once). And of course, suddenly it’s my fault! They start blaming me: "You shouldn't have stood up," or "You shouldn't have run," or "Don't sit down!" Like, excuse me? I'm just living my life on a sidewalk. Dogs are animals, for God's sake; owners should be the ones adjusting to people, not the other way around.

Honestly, this drives me insane. Back when I had a dog, I never let anyone get close if he was panting like crazy or just looking miserable. You know the type—jumping all over your jeans and leaving slobber everywhere? Even if the dog wasn't even remotely dangerous, I wouldn't allow it. If things actually looked sketchy, sure, I’d grab a muzzle. But otherwise, what's the big deal?🤷
You can't explain that part either, and you won't. Honestly, if it were actually understandable, they wouldn't be acting this way in the first place. Would they? 🙂

I honestly think there’s something fundamentally broken about people who feel absolutely nothing for animals. None at all. You know the type—people who see a stray, wounded, or starving animal on the side of the road and don't feel even a tiny pang of empathy? Or the folks who spot a little hedgehog in their backyard and react like they’ve just stumbled upon a concrete pillar? They can't even show a kid the magic of the natural world, from the tiny grace of a butterfly to the majesty of a dog, a horse, or even an elephant. There is so much wonder out there 😲 but these people? They’re just strange 🤷

Amy Young12 said:Look, I don't "melt" over babies OR animals.

But there is one thing I just don't get.
If a kid knocks over a flower, digs dirt out of a potted plant, smashes a glass off the table, or puts their feet right on the furniture—they get yelled at or they get a spanking. But if a cat jumps on the table or pees in a planter? You just gently move them away. 🙄

What’s the alternative? Should we just toss the cat out the window? Or perhaps give it a stern, judgmental look and explain, in fluent English, that well-bred, civilized cats don't use house plants as litter boxes or treat the dining table like a playground?🙄
There is a fundamental difference between a human infant and a pet.