And since I suspect you’ll bring this up:
“Until then, if I see a dead animal in a photo on “Cute Overload”–to which I do turn for my “daily dose of cute”–you better believe I’m going to say something.”

My point there was that I think I have a right to say something in the comments section if an image makes me sad. My point is not that your friends are bad people.

[We ARE done with this argument now. Move on. - Ed.]

brit – My “rage” isn’t about the turkey–as I said above, the rest of my family eats turkey. I don’t think they’re evil, nor do I think the senders of this photo are evil.

As I also said above, even though seeing the carcass made me sad, I didn’t feel compelled to write in until I saw some of the comments.

So please, if you’re addressing me, take the time to read what I’ve said.

I have not said anything against the people who submitted this picture.

As a personal friend to them I do not like the comments made about this picture, I thought it was sweet that the ferret could share in Thanksgiving festivities. But please keep in mind the people who have sent this in are feeling really bad right now for sending it in. Just don’t get self-righteous in your rage that there is a turkey in the photo.

I appreciate your reply eeyore. My point is this:

If different people write comments in which they say the dead turkey makes them sad, what is the harm? This particular photo made me sad, but I didn’t feel compelled to write anything until I saw the intolerance expressed in the other comments. If you have a gripe with one particular person, please work it out with that person, and desist from lumping anyone who voices sadness or concern into one category.

I’m 39. I’m not hysterical or ignorant. I recognize that people still eat turkey. It’s still a tradition for the rest of my family. Do I enjoy seeing the turkey carcass? Not much. Do I enjoy seeing jokes made about food animals? Not much.

As a vegetarian, I can tell you that I’ve had people get aggressive and condescending about my food choices without me having said anything to provoke their animosity. Merely the fact that I’m not partaking in the meat is enough to send some people over the edge.

I’ve been through enough of these comment threads now, that I’ve seen a lot of that same vitriol hurled at anyone who questions the cute, or expresses concern about what they perceive as troubling. I’ve seen people making comments like “Waiting for the nuffers and commentroversy…” as though daring someone to make a “nuff” comment. Which makes me suspect that some people come here to pick a fight.

My request is this: If someone makes a comment in which they say the image makes them sad, just let it be. Why start a fight by ridiculing them or telling them to leave? Just let them be. Please.

I personally know the people who sent this in, and they are young and have a therapy animal in their house. D: So please why do you make this such a big deal? They didn’t know.

The prominent butt-u-lence on that turkey is the only thing that bothers me.
Whoa, say nay to the butt-tu-lence, say nay. Turkey Butt, Turkey Butt, Nay Nay Nay.

I’m not referring to any “one comment”. I’m referring to “chronic” nuffers. That harp and harp and HARP. To me, THAT is bullying. And it seems to be going on now whenever I look at the comments. And yeah, I’m probably not going to look at comments anymore…cause it really irritates me to see THAT bullying. Some of the nuffers aren’t vegetarians. It’s been happening waaaay before this particular picture post.

It’s the constant harping I think is despicable. And making someone who posted a pic of a beloved family pet, cause they thought it cute and wanted to share…feel guilty and bad. That’s wrong.

I’m thinking a lot of these people must be very young. I’m not. And you learn that you can’t please all the people all the time, and that you can’t always get people to see your side of it, and majority rules, and we are not safe anywhere from things that might possibly offend us. It isn’t fair, but that’s life. I have a special needs kid. I have places I visit to chat on the internet and am never safe from seeing the word “retard”…as it is a part of slang these days. Sure I could blow my stack and harp and post a giant rant everytime someone says that word. But really, what would I get out of it? Nothing. I would whip myself up into a frenzy and ruin chatting with people I enjoy chatting with. The people who say it, don’t mean anything by it. If they haven’t lived your situation, there’s no possible way they could understand.

You have to let it go at some point. Everyone in the world who doesn’t live in our own world…isn’t a bad person.

Sure, there ARE times to speak up for what you believe in. But if you’ve spoken up, and others don’t see it your way..or they continue to say/do things that upset you…then you don’t keep at them, it’s not healthy for yourself.

I think the reason people have “blown up” and sworn at someone, or posted thoughts as I have..wasn’t from any particular post under this picture. It’s been building from seeing so many negative posts over time. It’s in no way aimed at vegetarians. Like I say, I’ve seen plenty of trouble caused here over non vegetarian issues.

If you’re going to start banning people, could you please ban people like Liz, who tell other people to *shut the f*** up”?

If you don’t like that some people have a problem seeing dead animals/fowl on a cute site, and that they say so in the COMMENTS section, then why don’t YOU just stay away from the comments?

And eeyore – Are you so oblivious as to think vegetarians come to this site looking to stir up trouble?

“Any true animal rights activists wouldn’t be wasting their time here harrassing people looking at cute animal pics.”

Are you insane? OF COURSE animal rights activists visit Cute Overload–it has picture of cute animals. DUH.

We all come for the cute animals–but “veggies” don’t distinguish between companion animals and edible ones. They’re all cute to me–yes, even turkeys. And frankly, if “cuteness” was the determiner for what makes something edible or not, I can think of a lot of people who’d be considered food.

As sick as you are of “nuffers” I am so sick of the bully tactics in these comments. If you want to make this your private club, where the only thing people can say in the comments section is “ooh,” “aahh,” and “so cute,” then do it, and keep people like me out. Make the comments thread a private club, and set out rules like this: “In joining this club, I agree to never say anything negative in the comments section, and never to express concern in the comments section.”

Until then, if I see a dead animal in a photo on “Cute Overload”–to which I do turn for my “daily dose of cute”–you better believe I’m going to say something.

Gaah! You bullies infuriate me. I need to go make some tea now and shake you all off.

Alright. Please for god’s sake look at the ferret. It’s not like the turkey is the center piece. The ferret is.

Next time I hope they’ll be sure to post a ferret eating a “fake” turkey.

“If you’re really that sensitive, yet unable to tell the difference in real and perceived “abuse”"

Come now. That turkey is _really_ dead. I can’t remember seeing a dead animal on CO ever before, and like Colleen said, I like the site because it cheers me up in the face of a depressing world. For many veg*ns, thanksgiving is a difficult time because of having to navigate family situations that make us uncomfortable. CO has always been a safe zone, so it was extra upsetting to see that picture this week. Maybe I’m wrong, but I really can’t remember ever seeing dead animals on CO before, so I could hardly have taken your advice to “stay away”, not knowing what was in store.