Why are people who don't like animals treated like freaks?
in Psychology ·
William Collins11 said:Perhaps the title misses the mark—maybe even the subject itself—so please, moderators, feel free to delete or move this if it’s misplaced. (Or if I'm repeating something already posted.)
To be clear, I am one of the people mentioned in the title. The reality is that I simply don't like animals; yet, whenever I admit this in social settings, people look at me as if I were—without any exaggeration—a cold-blooded killer. I truly don't understand why.
Growing up, I never wanted pets, nor did I ever own them... I just never felt that need for that kind of companionship.
Let me clarify one thing immediately—I am strictly against any form of animal cruelty, abuse, or killing. What I see online—people starving animals or beating them to death—it makes me physically ill; it's horrific. I don't hate animals in the sense that I want them all wiped out, but I simply do not love them.
For instance, the other day I was grabbing coffee with a friend and her group of acquaintances—people I barely know. She had this little poodle that wouldn't leave me alone for a single second. It was jumping on everyone, barking, whimpering... and everyone else thought it was "absolutely precious," while I found it so irritating that I could barely stay in my seat. Eventually, I ended up snapping at the dog and pushing it away—mostly because it was trying to lick my face. The reactions from the group were indescribable... they looked at me like I was some sort of monster, or someone mentally unstable. They couldn't fathom how I could yell at a dog or push it away... they pushed me to the point where I went home in tears.
The truth is, I just don't like it when animals jump on me, or lick me, or the smell, or the fur... I can't imagine having a pet in my house—not even a canary, let alone a cat or a dog.
Why does society label those who don't love animals as outcasts, or as cold and terrible people? (Perhaps I am exaggerating slightly, but that encounter truly shook me.)
Has anyone else here dealt with similar experiences?
Adding to everything you said, I would say that I'm actually afraid of all animals; it isn't exactly a full-blown panic attack, but there is this heavy sense of unease.
Anything that crawls or flies gives me the creeps... birds are a special case; I always feel like they're going to get stuck on me. As for dogs and cats, I can't decide which causes more paranoia. Maybe cats, because I can't sit still while they're weaving through my legs. With dogs, maybe the big ones are less scary since they'll either eat you or just ignore you, but those little ones... man... they think they're nothing, but they bark and jump and lick, and I just end up feeling so uncomfortable, especially with the judgment from the people and owners around me.
To be fair, I feel terribly when animals suffer; some things I see actually make me cry... so in a way, I do care about animals, I just want them to stay far away from me, because they just trigger this anxiety and panic.
And yeah, I can't stand the idea of a dog licking me anywhere... I don't even like being licked by my friends when we're out at a cafe.🤣
Actually, I don't think it's about how I was raised... I had plenty of animals at my grandmother's place, so it's not like I haven't been around them since I was a kid.
Go ahead and crucify me, but I just don't click with animals, and I don't think there's much that can be done about it.🤷