Ignorance of general public

16 April 2009, 01:45

Shack

Along roughly similar lines, I once made the mistake in a neighborhood party of bragging about how many dolphin we caught in Florida on a fishing trip and what good eating they are. Numerous people started backing away and had nothing more to say to me, until I eventually figured out a quick politically correct explanation was required. Then everything was fine again. (I'm secure in the knowledge nobody here needs the same explanation).

Did the show itself have the name right on the buff?

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16 April 2009, 04:12

Shof

There is a multitude of ignorant people out there. I told my sister in law that I'd love to hunt elephant and she absolutely went off on me!

She then proceeded to tell me that they were endangered, on the verge of extinction and how the elephants mate for life.

HOW DARE I even possibly think of helping push an animal to extinction, as well as destroy a family unit!!!

It took me a little while to get her calmed down and explain that elephants are actually overpopulated in many areas, that they're destroying local ecologies and in no way on the verge of extinction.

I even showed her the same information on the internet cited by reliable sources and experts on the subject of elephants.

When I asked her where she got her information, she told me about a "Friends of Wildlife" flyer she got in the mail.....

16 April 2009, 05:41

Sevens

I don't think we can expect the general public to be up to date on every animal species, but it sure would be nice if they had some general knowledge about animals. (i.e. tigers are not from Africa, porcupines do not shoot quills, elephants are not going extinct)

I think everyone will have a few areas they are the "know-it-alls" in. For a large majority of the board animals/hunting happens to be one of those areas.

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16 April 2009, 05:48

JBrown

quote:
Originally posted by Blacktailer:
Yes, after the incorrct guesses, the host told them it was a cape buffalo.
At least the second contestant was on the correct continent with her guess!

What really gets me is when Animal Planet has a blurb about an upcoming show and asks: "Will this water buffalo survive against a pride of hungry lions?"

Jason

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16 April 2009, 07:44

JPK

I've had the dolphin confusion happen, the water buffalo confusion happen and the elephant diatribe happen, amongst many other ignorant similar occurances.

The worst was following that stupid Nat. Geo show, "Gentle Giants", iirc, about elephants and how gentle and blah, blah, blah the were. Yea right! Hardly a fact in the show.

JPK

Indy

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16 April 2009, 09:35

Futrdoc

another answer would be "they won't give me their ivory if i don't"

People hear something, they repeat it. they rarely check sources, and they sure as hell aren't going to worry that their opinion might be wrong as long as it makes them feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

I've had the dolphin and the elephant conversations in the last month. I hope that I educated someone and that they'll repeat it, and maybe even start checking sources.

16 April 2009, 09:48

Shack

Here's a tactic for you. When someone came over and saw my mounted species of about every kind of duck in the Miss. Flyway she said "how could you shoot those beautiful birds.."

My answer..."well first, there's your sustained lead method, and then the swing through from behind method and you also of course have your point and shoot or snap shooting and they're probably other..." She interrupts and says "that's NOT what I meant".

Says I, "Oh I see, well, think of it like this...it's free food"

16 April 2009, 09:48

JPK

quote:
Originally posted by Wolfgar:
In all fairness to the public, I wouldn't know the difference between a putter or a nine-iron...to each his own.

The difference is that it is benign to be ignorant of the difference between a putter and a nine iron (assuming of course you don't hit the links!) but is is not benign to regurgitate agenda driven propaganda or even just misinformation, let alone believe it.

The dolphin thing is simple ignorance, same as the water buffalo thing, but the elephant-on-the-virge-of-extinction, as gentle, and no killing, bunny hugging, that stuff is malignant.

JPK

Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.

16 April 2009, 18:39

Larry Sellers

Butch - Ditto on that. All you have to do is watch Jay Leno's "Jaywalk" segments to prove the total ignorance of todays folks, especially the so called educated, younger ones he has on. Geez!! Obviously a lot of people in our Country live a very, very shelterd, small scale life style? Oh well, this type fits the current Federal Government model just fine!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:
Originally posted by butchloc:
well in my humble experience the general public is quite ignorant

16 April 2009, 19:14

Thunder Head

I have a new favorite saying:

GOD MUST LOVE STUPID PEOPLE, BECAUSE HE SURE DID MAKE ALOT OF THEM !!!

Alot of people get there limited animal knowledge from animal plant, Nat geo. and discovery channel.

You generaly dont see anything outside of the predators, that is not all feel good bunny hugging stuff.

I have walked in the foot prints of the elephant, listened to lion roar and met the buffalo on his turf. I shall never be the same.

16 April 2009, 20:05

WannabeBwana

quote:
Originally posted by butchloc:
well in my humble experience the general public is quite ignorant

Unfortunately, many are wilfully so. My job entails dealing with folks on all sides of the spectrum, from animal production/use to animal welfare to animal rights.

I had a phone conversation with a woman last week about feral cats. She insisted on referring to them as the "children", the "kids" and the "little people".

I had to remain professional and resist the urge to reach through the phone and strangle the silly bitch.

16 April 2009, 21:54

L. David Keith

The public seems to think all Elephants are cuddly pets. I just ask the nay-sayer's: "When was the last time you petted a wild Elephant?" Then I make them a deal: "You come to Africa with me. I'll put you in front of a wild Elephant. You pet it and live; I'll pay your entire trip. You die, and I get your life savings." No one wants to take me up on the offer...can't imagine why????

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17 April 2009, 03:59

almostacowboy

quote:
Originally posted by Shof:
There is a multitude of ignorant people out there. I told my sister in law that I'd love to hunt elephant and she absolutely went off on me!

She then proceeded to tell me that they were endangered, on the verge of extinction and how the elephants mate for life.

HOW DARE I even possibly think of helping push an animal to extinction, as well as destroy a family unit!!!

It took me a little while to get her calmed down and explain that elephants are actually overpopulated in many areas, that they're destroying local ecologies and in no way on the verge of extinction.

I even showed her the same information on the internet cited by reliable sources and experts on the subject of elephants.

When I asked her where she got her information, she told me about a "Friends of Wildlife" flyer she got in the mail.....

I've got a 30-something step-daughter of the same mindlessness. I was watching Craig Boddington dispatch a tusker on TV one Sunday and she hysterically shreeked "You don't shoot elephants no matter what" at the TV.
She forms her opinions on hunting the same way she forms them for Presidential candidates and social policy - based on her feelings. I have to add that this is a women who "felt" she was "gluten intolerant" for 2 years before going for tests which showed - see if you can guess..........no gluten intolerance.

"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value."
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17 April 2009, 04:01

cable68

quote:
Originally posted by Shack:
Along roughly similar lines, I once made the mistake in a neighborhood party of bragging about how many dolphin we caught in Florida on a fishing trip and what good eating they are. Numerous people started backing away and had nothing more to say to me, until I eventually figured out a quick politically correct explanation was required. Then everything was fine again. (I'm secure in the knowledge nobody here needs the same explanation).

Did the show itself have the name right on the buff?

Just say mahi-mahi or dorado and you'll never have that problem again.

17 April 2009, 04:29

Wendell Reich

It is simply a lack of interest in wildlife.

My 3 year old nephew knows all the animals in the trophy room, simply because it interests him.

I do find that anti-hunters and non-hunters have very little interest in wildlife. They would rather travel to Europe and look at buildings.

I would, personally, rather lay naked on an antpile.

To each his own.