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PETA: Too Extreme?

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What is PETA, anyways?

PETA stands for: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It's a group that was founded for the purpose of spreadin awareness for animal rights. There are about two million supporters in the United States and their slogan is "Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment."
It sounds good, right? I mean, who DOESN'T want animals to have the best life possible?

However, PETA has taken a perfectly good message and has run with it a bit TOO far. They have been associated with outrageously extreme acts over the past twenty-eight years of their existance.

Has PETA taken it way too far?

Your mother, the animal killer

PETA once stood outside of a Broadway show and handed out fliers to small children whose parents were wearing fur. What the the fliers look like? See above.

A little extreme, huh?

Inside the flier, this was stated:
"...And the sooner she stops wearing fur, the sooner the animals will be safe. Until then, keep your doggie or kitty friends away from mommy - she's an animal killer."

Some more of the extreme things PETA has done

PETA has a history of doing things that defy logic.

  • One extreme member of PETA bombed a lab that tested animals for the purpose of finding cures to various diseases. PETA put forth $45,000 towards the defense of the man. This is one particular instance, but similar scenarios have occurred time and time again.
  • PETA has reportedly thrown red paint on people wearing fur coats. This makes no sense, as the animals have already been killed for this coat. Now you've destroyed it and the owner will probably just buy another one, thus giving more support for the very thing you were trying to protest against in the first place.
  • PETA's ultimate goal has been described as "total animal liberation" which even means they hope to achieve people no longer having pets! They are even for the "liberation" of SEEING-EYE DOGS! (I guess they would rather have puppies roam the streets than be given love and warmth by a good family?!?!)

What do you think?

Although you may be a reasonable PETA member yourself (and of course, you aren't doing any of the extreme stuff), what do you think about the organization as a whole?

Do you think PETA has been too extreme in delivering their message?

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No, they're doing a great job!

Gregg says:

The wiping out of pets is stupid, but only some PETA members believe in that. I agree with some of the things they do. But others I disagree with. Its like politics. You might believe some stuff from one political parties side but other things they believe you MIGHT dislike. Its an analogy.

Eloise says:

It's just like any organization. Some people take it too far. I say PETA is great, but some of the people involved need to tone it down a bit and help animals in a different manner.

Skye Bleu says:

It's not PETA itself that's so bad. Its just some of the people who are in it that go overboard...

sacha McElligott says:

i would choose in between extreme and doing a great job.
we can place blame on behalf of the organization but rather the individuals in which commit these extremities.

Laurie Marshall says:

no they do what is right people who put animals through hell should go through hel also

Taylor C says:

you asked everyone of their opinion after you have given all of the bad facts... give them both positive and negitive then ask for opinions and you will find a more truthful response. The facts you give are a one sided bias sarcastic slur against peta and most of the instances you gave were not actually performed by peta members... just sayin.

ellen strack says:

No, Peta is AWESOME !

Padalecki says:

Bloody hell, you Americans are so dumb, it is hard to comprehend. You say "PETA are extreme, the things they show in their videos are hideous" - PETA didn't do these things! That's the whole point, they are extreme images - that's what they want people to see, to be aware of what really happens. All you people would rather close your eyes than see the truth. Suppose I cannot expect educated opinion from people who have more trouble spelling than a 3 year old?

dude says:

loljk

John says:

I support PETA and will do whatever it takes.

BeingAVeganAthlete says:

PETA is extreme and over the edge, yes. But, for any kind of lobby group with a passionate purpose, you have to be. Having bake sales and doing puppet shows will not get your message across to the masses. Shock and awe the people and it will stick in their minds. Is it not extreme for McDonalds to bombard the public with commercials that portray everyone who eats their Brazilian grown grade F beef as being fit, young, healthy go-getters that live in a fantasy-like world - all due to the awesome nutrition and energy obtained from this empty calorie laiden piece of cooked, murdered flesh?

Xylius Schaaij says:

PETA is doing an awesome job at making people red, and the bombing of that lab definately cleared the scenery around that place! And I just LOVE their take on comics, that comic made me think; 'If mommy kills animal's, could she make a fur coat for me?'.

For those PETA (Proliferation of Eco-Terrorism Association) folks, all above was sarcasm, except the last bit, I would definately like a rabbit coat, they're warm! And one more thing, you people will probably starve on grass, while I enjoy freshly cooked deer meat!

Vladi says:

I would throw red paint on people wearing fur coats too. You must admit that people who are happy with animals being slaughtered just to make a warm coat are pretty extreme. Suppose they wanted to kill your dogs so their skins could make a handbag? Or, perish the thought, strangle me to make some fur gloves?

kel says:

i am a very proud and active member of peta and i just love the way you pick and choose what you put on here (that was sarcasm for those too dumb to know the difference). nothing is said about the hundreds of thousands of animals that have been re-homed and are lovingly nurtured due to our work. if you want to get into a debate about things going too far stop and think for a moment, how would you feel about seeing a horse stunned with a cattle prong until it learned it's routine for the circus, or looking into a foxes eyes as it is hunted down and mercilessly destroyed in the name of sport? as for your comments on the above leaflet, sometimes words just don't work. as with children you tell them off and they keep up the bad behaviour, but take away a toy or give them a punishment and the chances are their behaviour will change. sometimes words are not enough, it is sad to see in this day and age, a time where the internet and choice of food and everything else is abundant that you choose to live in ignorance - trust me when i tell you that after this life it will not be bliss. no matter what religion, culture or country you are from it is easy enough to make a change. sure people will mock, but haven't people always mocked what they either fear or don't understand? it is up to our generation to teach the rest that you can say no to animal testing (that has no relevance in today's science) and animal products. you have no excuse not to.

a VERY proud peta member, FREE KEVIN KJONAAS!

kimberly wilson says:

Whatever it takes to help animals in any way,I'm for.I don;t think anything is too extreme if it helps animals in any way.It's these mentally ill,satanic,sick bastards that are against animals that i hate.Anyone who purposely hurts animals is,in my opinion,mentally disturbed and demon-possessed.

Yes, the group as a whole takes it way too far.

Yessir says:

Im gonna go eat a steak and kill varmit.

killpeta11 says:

PETA IS A BUNCH OF ANIMAL FUCKING HIPPIES

D0G says:

I think PETA's intentions are great it's just the way they go about it can be extreme. I understand when animal equal rights activists post/show pictures/videos of how slaughterhouses work, they want you to see the truth and how badly the animal suffers. It's wrong to show that to children though, there are plenty of non-graphic ways you can teach children about animal equality.
What is extreme is to bomb laboratories where animals can be and probably are still inside. Throwing red paint on someone isn't gonna make them realize that they are doing something wrong, you need to properly educate someone that there are just as warm and beautiful alternatives to animal fur.
Some of the members can be or are pretty physically aggressive towards people. Like the Tofu incident.

That's all I gotta say about it.

desertdarlene says:

I think PETA has a good foundation of principles and I agree with their premise. However, sometimes they get so ridiculous, especially when it comes to violence. I have heard that PETA supports ELF which sets fires to building projects. I wonder if they knew that when they burned down one of those projects, they may have destroyed a family of baby killdeers nesting on site. When their supporters bomb buildings, birds nesting in the building probably died,too.

Meat Lover says:

They're too radical, who cares if someone has a fox fur coat. There's 30 million foxes who cares if 10 disappear

Logic says:

Their intentions are good but their message is flawed. They are extreme and their ideas are not grounded in reality.

Nabeel says:

yeah. theyve taken it too far. infact they kill more animals than anyone else. out of 3015 cats found at the shelters peta euthanized 3000 because they were "unfit" and then they started handing out disturbing propaganda to children at mcdonalds in burger boxes. when you go after the kids its too far

Yoshi<3 says:

They have unnecessary actions and take everything to the extreme.

catlover says:

They are extremists. Overboard.

Anonymous says:

PETA is too extreme. They even went their way to say that Super Mario, a video game character in a fantasy world, is a straight-up animal killer just for wearing the Tanooki suit that you get from touching a leaf. Seriously, it's just fictional.

Tyler says:

There are always extremists in a group, but aside from those people the bigger issue is that the general Peta message is too extreme. You cannot take an utopia based position and truly affect change. You have to make concessions and make gradual change.

darciefrench says:

Yes, I believe they've taken things too far - I stopped paying attention to them.

Lisa says:

Another articule discusses peta (or a member/supporter) placing aa 12yr old child in a cage dressing her in a animal suit....

Really, Yes they take things too far. The point of the articule expresses how this tactic has a negative affect. Personally i think guilt would be a better tactic. People are saying that the organization isn't to blame for random supporters doing extremities, but they paid 45,000 to support a bomber.
Regardless they support the message of these acts. The rap industry is blamed for its listeners acts, as well as videogames and movies. Peta is directly and at times indirectly at fault. Either way you can't justify them supporting a bomber for any cause.

Anonymous says:

PETA has to be extreme in their message. Animals rights is not a priority among people. Extremity is the only way that the group will be heard and make change especially in the legal arena.

Jen says:

i think they are going a little too far.......
but im still with peta for some things like the fur stuffs.

Animal Lover says:

PETA is a comprised of completely deranged, mentally unstable, violent people who are willing to kill and maim other human beings in the name of animal liberation. Your pet dog does not want to be liberated. He enjoys his life.

Isaac C. says:

I think PETA is definitely too extreme. Especially with the images and videos of how Mc Donalds slauters chickens. They are retarded

Ruby says:

I think that PETA has it's heart in the right place, and that yes many animal issues should be taken care of. Yet, I do think that they can be a little too extreme, and any group that is an extremist needs to calm down, and take things a step at a time. I love animals, I hate abuse, and I dislike extremists.

Mark says:

PETA is waaaaaaay over the top. The things they show in their videos are some of the most hideous things I've ever seen. I've killed my own food before and a good person eats what they kill. A good person also knows to put the animal he or she has shot out of its suffering as soon as possible. Only future serial killers and wannabe serial killers enjoy the actual slaughter, but eating meat is part of a healthy diet, according to every food pyramid I've ever seen. The funniest thing I saw was one of their commercials that said "Eating meat makes you fat!" Who are they trying to scare? My 13-year-old daughter?

tb says:

i say yes they have i show animals and i DO NOT treat them the way PETA say the farmers do. i am very proud of all my animals i lgive them love and care every day!!!!! why cant they just leave the farmers out of this and go do something else. you know what. they complain bout animals getting killed when there are babies getting killed more than animals and i dont see anyone jumping and doing anything bout tht now do u??????

james says:

well peta does have the right cause at heart but they let their weak emotions empower their weak winds. people like peta weren't raised right by their parents, their parents must have been weak and lacking in culture. Once you compare an animal to a human being you crossed onto a whole different world, because animals are just animals and if peta really wanted to save animals they wouldn't be killing thousands of poor adoptable pets in their Virgina Headquarters. So peta stop your damn crying you weak bastards, its not our faults that your parents did a horrible job raising you guys.

james says:

well peta does have the right cause at heart but they let their weak emotions empower their weak winds. people like peta weren't raised right by their parents, their parents must have been weak and lacking in culture. Once you compare an animal to a human being you crossed onto a whole different world, because animals are just animals and if peta really wanted to save animals they wouldn't be killing thousands of poor adoptable pets in their Virgina Headquarters. So peta stop your damn crying you weak bastards, its not our faults that your parents did a horrible job raising you guys.

Govegnotvegan says:

I'm a vegitarian against PETA. I believe that if PETA stopped being so extremist, people would think better of vegitarians. More people would then become vegitarians, or at least be more supportive of our choice. Also, every species cares most about their own species, so what's wrong with us caring most about OUR own species?

antipeta says:

you tree hugger KEL if the horse was stabbed with a cow prong then why wouldnt their be marks? and jus because you give animals a home DOESNT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT to do what you want. i love animals and happen to be the owner of a couple pets and frankly I think you should be worried about the animals who are in fact accualy abused. You think that RODEOS are cruel for crying out loud when I walk out in the pasture the horse come and walk with me and beg for treats wich I happily give them o so abused I know if they were really that abused then they would just buck not run so there is proof enough gooten tag

CarrieU says:

all you people who say yes they take it to far are the people who have common sense. these people are so stupid they are going to be the end of our country. they want to shut down all ranches,farms,Dairy farms ect. then what gonna happen huh?

Luke says:

Yes

AlexandraHubbard says:

PETA is completely radical and is anti-pet. Their attacks on dog shows are reprehensible!

PJ_Deneen says:

I call them People Engaging in Terrorist Activity. They are way too extreme. The suggestions you made below make a lot of sense.

Ener-G says:

Extremism rarely accomplishes anything but backlash. (You know from your science class that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). There's no doubt about how badly some people treat animals, however, including ourselves as human animals.

 

So what SHOULD PETA be doing?

PETA spends a lot of money but accomplishes seemingly little towards their cause.

It would make sense for PETA to raise money and apply towards the following causes:

- Building adoption shelters for stray animals and keeping them fed and happy

- Buying chunks of rain forest so animal's habitats are not destroyed

- Providing good people with the supplies they need to adopt animals and get them out of underfunded pounds

- Make pamphlets that inform people what they can do to help, rather than making propaganda to instill fear in every person who has ever eaten meat or squashed a mosquito

- Put forth the time and effort to investigate and eradicate laws that allow puppy mills to exist

- Donate money to animal clinics in suffering areas of the country, and help build and fund clinics around the world so animals can get proper treatment like they have never been able to

- Push for laws that will make punishment for dog fighters more severe

Guestbook

Did you learn anything from this lens? Did you enjoy it?

  • desertdarlene Apr 13, 2012 @ 10:35 am | delete
    I agree with their premise, animals have feelings and they should be respected. But, they are even against people having pets which is very therapeutic to many people. I think animals and humans benefit from each other's company.

    I also know that they spend absolutely NO money on saving or protecting animals. Compare that to a hunting organization, Ducks Unlimited, which spends millions on habitat and species conservation and restoration. Plus, some high level PETA say that they don't love animals at all and don't care about species extinction, which is my #1 concern.
  • Lucy Mar 27, 2012 @ 12:37 am | delete
    I have mixed emotions about PETA... Their intentions are good, however they do things that should not be done. Animal testing for example, I don't agree with pain if it could be prevented in any way. We has had many medical breakthroughs because of testing. I have a skin condition that causes my skin to just slip off of my muscles caused by lack of connecting fibrils, but because of animal testing they were able to find a cure and in the near future hundreds of others wih my condition won't have to undergo excruciating pain.
  • vance Mar 23, 2012 @ 11:04 am | delete
    hate peta and hope they all burn
  • thebestmousetrap Dec 12, 2011 @ 11:25 am | delete
    You are right, also I just wanted to let you know I linked to your lens, as I discussed PETA on my bestmousetrap lens: http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mice-in-your-house
  • darciefrench Aug 22, 2011 @ 6:17 pm | delete
    I agree that PETA has taken things to the extreme. Angel blessed.
  • Tony Apr 15, 2010 @ 12:37 am | delete
    It really frustrates me when you hear people condone violence and terrorist actions against humans to protect animals. And they call the one's keeping animals sadistic. The people in the animal industry don't hurt animals because they like it. They do it because it's more profitable and cheaper to be cruel and neglectful. It's not right. But then neither is hurting your fellow man to make a point. That's worse. Why! Because it's premeditated.

    The industry needs to change and the only way is to get the common people on your side. PETA merely alienates and insults most of us by trying to tell us that everything involved in keeping and farming animals is bad, including having pets. I've had all many of pets, particularly dogs, and they were loved and cared for more than nature itself would have done. Nature is often cruel too PETA! What are you going to do? Wipe-out the whole ecosystem so you don't have to watch it happening?
  • AlexandraHubbard Feb 4, 2009 @ 11:16 pm | delete
    I totally agree with this lens. It is very informative and your suggestions sound sensible.
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