Conference misery::feline_v1

    Gulp - glad I didn't watch that. If there's any category of person
    that I would gladly watch drown (or worse), it's people who are
    deliberately, voluntarily, *gleefully* cruel to animals...
    
    I can understand people disliking animals. I can understand people
    fearing, and maybe even hating them, to the extent that they wouldn't
    want to be around the creatures. I can certainly understand people
    thinking that animal lovers are crazy. 
    
    BUT - to *want* to inflict pain on something that isn't doing any harm
    to you, that I cannot understand. There are a few species of critters
    that I'm not fond of myself, and there are some for which I wouldn't
    weep if they all vanished from the face of the earth, but when I have
    to take it upon myself to dispose of the odd invader, I try to make it
    quick. It isn't the beastie's fault that I don't like it...
    
    -b

    Well, if you don't know what kind of a response to look for, at
    least you know you have plenty of people (REAL people) in this and
    other notes files who will back you up.
    
    This morning, the girl down the hall was kind enough to knock on
    my door and let me know that Chauncey was in the hall waiting to
    be let in.  She also informed me that she saw a woman from the next
    building yelling at him to get away from her and kicking him at
    the same time (not hard but enough to mean business).  Unfortunately,
    the woman disappeared before my friend (who was watching out of
    her 3rd floor window) could put a stop to her behavior.
    
    Most animal haters start out as children who learn to hate animals
    from their animal hating parents.  Fortunately, I was brought up
    in a decent, humane, household with plenty of pets and was taught
    to love and respect animals at a very early age.  Thanks Mom & Dad!
    

    
    
      I had heard that the show was going to be on and purposely did not
    watch it for fear I would EXPLODE.  If I ever see anyone abusing
    an animal, I pity the scumbag after I get through with them.
    
                                    Donna
    

    What kind of show is "People are Talking", and why would
    they think such persons worthy of even being listened to?
    I wonder how they even found them (or perhaps 'dredged
    them up' is more appropriate)?  Is it a day-time talk show?
    
    Is there an audience at all, or can people call in to the
    show when it's in progress?  If so, what were some of the
    reactions?
    
    Donna

      It is a talk show, its on at 12:30 - 1:30 on channel 4. Tom Bergeron
    is host. Sometimes I watch it while having my lunch (I work second
    shift) as they do discuss some interesting things, but I couldn't
    watch that show that day. I knew I couldn't handle it!
    
                                     Denise

    I sincerely believe there is a special hell for people who purposely
    abuse animals.  It consists of every type of abuse these people
    have perpetrated or even thought of.  
    
    Bernice

    Once, I was on the phone with Citicorp/Visa when I saw one of my
    cats trying to open the microwave [from other notes you may recall
    that leftovers 'hide from the cats' in the microwave].  After several
    "no's" and "get downs" to no avail, I said to the gentleman, "Excuse
    me while I go beat my cat."
    
    WELL! When I got back I was appalled that the man had taken me
    seriously and was now lecturing me on cat abuse.  After several
    minutes I _WAS finally able to convince him that beating the cat
    was an unlikely behaviour from a woman who relocates kangaroo mice.
    
      Annie

    Re: .4
    
    Yes, there is a live audience and the phone calls are live too.
    
    One woman was on stage and saying how she gave up her husband for
    her farm and all the animals (I would too!) and this woman
    called in and said that woman was insane and she was proberly a
    very lonely person to only be surrounded by animals and not people.
    
    I mean, where do these people get off saying this!  The lady later
    said she did have friends and she started to compare people to animals
    and I agreed with everything she said!  She said animals are not
    judgemental, fight with you, boss you around, hold gruges, care
    if you are fat, care if you make alot  money (as long as you make 
    enough to keep them fat!), unconditional love, love, love...that's
    all they want BUT that's NOT all they give!
    
    Excuse me while I kiss my cat
    
    Linda
 
    

    Yes, I certainly do hope there is a special "bad" place for people
    who abuse animals, in this life as well as the hereafter. Because
    I get so upset, I try to avoid the horror stories. Yet I experience
    the tragedies often. I hurt each time I see a dead body on the road.
    I remember seeing people place animals on the road so they are killed.
    Some are more kind and abandon them. I am trying to find a home
    now for one such sweetie (see note 1179).
    
    Unfortunately, animal abuse seems to be an unsolvable problem. 

    I unfortunately saw this show myself and 20 minutes into it was
    disgusted with these maladjusted people.  It was very obvious to
    me that people who dislike/hate animals are people who are very
    selfish, selfcentered, and from the sampling from the show - neurotic
    people whom I would not last 5 minutes in the same room with.  All
    they could talk about were how disgusting animals were with there
    shedding and how it would "dirty" there precious furniture and how
    horrible it was to have a cat rubbing its self on there legs.  
    
    Fear is one thing but I will never understand the contempt they have
    for animals.
    would'nt let those people within 1 foot of my home 

    I've never seen the show - but I am wondering what is the
    caliber of the program. It seems to me that a show which
    has on it - and actually holds a discussion with - people who are
    maladjusted is of little worth. However, sick people get   
    encouragement to perform  their cruel acts from programs and
    people like this. I wonder how many cats and dogs got kicked that
    afternoon because that show and of people who took it seriously.
             
      

    Re .11:
    
    I normally try to avoid adding fuel to fire, however:
    
    On a previous edition of that show, the subject was Satanic worship;
    there was some discussion of animal sacrifices and/or mutilations.
    The next day or so, some animal corpses (mostly decapitated) were
    found on Revere Beach outside Boston.
    
    There are other examples of "copycat crimes," that is, crimes that
    mimic a reported crime. [Apologies to the feline species for the
    "cat"; but that's what they call them.]  These include fake bomb
    threats, senseless killings, and the like.
    
    Any show that dwells on abberrent behavior might actually encourage
    it.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr. 

    Don't you see though - the producers of that show got exactly what
    they were looking for - a show with "animal lovers" would never
    of had the impact that "animal haters" had...as you can see just
    by reading the note.  You can imagine the outcry nation-wide.  The
    same with the other show on Satanic worship...I watched part of
    that one and turned the TV off after a few minutes because it was
    nothing more than media garbage trying to stir up a pot full of
    stink - and they did it successfully...sounds like they did it
    again with "animal haters".
    
    The point I'm trying to make is there are "wierdo's" in every crowd.
    "Animal Haters" are definately a minority and the real bad guy is
    the show itself...so instead of getting all upset about the few
    wierdo's (becuase you'll find them in ALL aspects of everything!!)
    ---blame the show and it's producers...don't watch a gargabe show
    and let it affect you like this - then WE have won and the show
    has LOST and with poor ratings - won't be around long enough to
    accomplish upsetting caring and loving decent people that are not
    knowingly boosting these ratings by our VAST responses again.
    
    There are also child abusers, spouse abusers, animal killers,
    murderers and on and on and on....we can't stop it all, but by 
    refusing to take part in their little games, it might help to
    put a stop to it.  
    
    Let's take this to the dump where it belongs.
    
    GO HOME AND KISS YOUR CAT!!!
    
    Wendy & Beeps
    
    

    Re .13 (Wendy):
    
    > ......so instead of getting all upset about the few
    >wierdo's (becuase you'll find them in ALL aspects of everything!!)
    >---blame the show and it's producers...don't watch a gargabe show
    >and let it affect you like this - ...
     
    Or, if it really bothers you, rather than writing the show (they
    eat up controversy!), or the newspapers (published letters might
    get people to watch the show), write the show's sponsors.  That
    often helps.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    Your probably more on target Steve.  No sponsors - no show.
    I wonder if any cat food commercials were on during this
    time?????
    
    W.....
                                 

    I ran thru the tape again last night....no cat food commericals
    
    THANK GOD!

    Who were the sponsors? - I'd like to know too. 
    I don't think it matters whether it is a "Pet" food 
    or hand creme - the theme of the show was
    disgusting and the sponsors- not matter who they are - 
    should have a reaction from the audience to which it is
    catering. 

    Sponsors buy advertising based on the time slot, not the content
    of the program.  That's why the disclaimer that the opinions expressed
    are those of the participants, not the station, management, or the
    sponsors.  Of course, if sponsors get negative feedback, they might
    think twice about buying time in this slot.  I think, though, that
    the complaints are best directed at the producers of the show. 
    If people complain, and thereby stop watching, they are going to
    have a difficult time selling advertising to any sponsor.  Call
    WBZ at (617) 787-7000 and ask to speak to the producer of People
    are Talking.  The producer is directly responsible for the content
    of the show.  BTW, they can give you a list of up-coming shows and
    welcome you to be in the studio audience (I would have loved to
    have been their when those *&^$@# animal-haters were there....).
    
    Mary

    .13  You said it all!
    
    In reading this note and replies I couldn't help think "that darned
    WBZ did it again".  They only do shows about "garbage" to see how
    much response they'll get.  The more letters/calls, the more popular
    they think they are.
    
    These kind of shows do more harm than good.  Think of any youngsters
    that were watching!  @#$$%#@
    
    Pat