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Uncategorized Thursday, April 28th 2011 at 2:03 pm

Calling Animals ‘Pets’ Is “Derogatory,” Says New Academic Journal

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Agree or disagree? According to a staffwide editorial in the Journal of Animal Ethics, a new academic publication devoted to “the exploration of progressive thought about animals,” the word ‘pet’ “is surely a derogatory term both of the animals concerned and their human carers … The word ‘owners’, whilst technically correct in law, harks back to a previous age when animals were regarded as just that: property, machines or things to use without moral constraint.”

(Telegraph via TDW)

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  • Kaitie Kudara

    …What are we supposed to call them, then?

    Also, is ANYTHING considered politically correct anymore?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1157851424 Scott Beeson

    I would say how stupid this is but my fiancee would probably see it and murder me. She got mad at me last night for refusing to say goodnight to the “kids”. Oh, oh, maybe that’s what we can call them instead of “pets” and the government will give us a tax break?!

  • http://twitter.com/IM_SH IMSH

    I guess the canine that I am harboring at my residence will now be referred to as a vicious attack dog. Wouldn’t want to offend the pooch with a derogatory three letter word.

  • Asreal

    My initial reaction when reading this one: FFS!

    Are these people PAID to split hairs!? I tell you what, why don’t we ASK the animals if they’re feeling wronged – everyone raise a paw! Wait, that’s going against animals with fins too… damn!

    I can think of several derogatory terms for the people writing that publication, either that or salute them on a most excellent troll.

  • http://twitter.com/IM_SH IMSH

    Update: My four-legged friend caught this post and read that I called him a pooch. He now thinks we need to go see Dr. Phil.

  • Jackbondnj16

    “The word ‘owners’[...] harks back to a previous age when animals were regarded as just that[...]”

    So wait… animals AREN’T animals anymore? That sentence alone should accurately describe the lunacy involved in writing this ridiculous article. Personally I think people like that are trying to get people like us used to hearing outrageous assertions until we start to accept their crazy ideas.

  • http://www.bradleyfarless.com/ Brad F.

    This is just stupid, and the fact that time and thought was put into it is a good indicator as to why things never get done in this country. People are so full of bullshit. I love my cats, but they’re just cats. Yes, that’s right. A cat. An animal. I own them. They have no freedom to do what they want or go where they want. It’s going to stay that way.

  • Senor Chang

    you deserve a throne and a minimum of 6 days of getting what ever you want whenever you want for loving that woman.

    Just saying.

  • Erik Kraemer

    Thank god we don’t have this in Germany. We say ‘Haustier’ which is translated as ‘pet’ but more literally is HOUSE ANIMAL. Come to think of it, my roommate qualifies for that too!

    That said I read the the article to see what they suggested we replace the word with. ‘Human Carers’???? Have they ever HAD a cat. Cat’s don’t CARE!! If I dropped dead he’d look a moment then look at the bird on the fence again.If I want eye contact with the cat, I hold a tin of catfood in my face!

    ‘Wildlife’ should now be called ‘Free-Living’? Sounds like ‘Free-Range’ (think: eggs) to me.

    Might I suggest they just call up the dictionary printers and have them change the definition to this new hippy-love version and spare the rest of us. Change the word, not the people. Pet now means an animal companion as opposed to the old version which read, oh wait, ‘animal companion’

  • Ajvonott

    Are these so-called academics aware of the term anthropomorphism? My dogs and horses really do not know I own them, their only concern is the food an affection I give them. They respond to a familiar sound- I could name them DIRT, MUD, IDIOT- and it would not change their response to the sound. They have been trained to come to the sound, not a name. I really could not name then IDIOT because I would be afraid that every time I called out for IDIOT I would have all these academics running up to ask whay I called them?

  • Gmsses

    I hope the government isn’t funding this. I like animals, cooked or deep fried.

  • Marmot1

    Would it be considered politically incorrect to call these people …. “stupid bastards?” Their infertile minds have atrophied to the point where this is the best they can come up with and frankly, they’re just boring!!!!

  • http://profiles.google.com/kaiodan Kerry Amburgy-Dickson

    ACK! The PC movement is destroying this country.

    The animals DON’T CARE what term is used to refer to them.

  • Johnwill888

    These people are just flat out nuts

  • Alicat422004

    I agree totally! This is beyond stupid! Pretty soon it will be okay for murderers to go on murdering.. They have a right to their anger. Pets are our family no argument. We know that, we have many many rescue centers out there to protect them.. Maybe we should have as many for the abused/starving children in this country. I’m sorry these PC idiots are totally out there. Get a life. Don’t waste our time with this crazieness.

  • Wellville

    Canine citizens. Feline citizens. Muskelid citizens (ferrets). It won’t be long before they’ve got the vote. I bet George Bush would get a lot of attention from the canine citizens, lol. Bush, tree, lawn…

  • http://www.PuppyandDogs.com Lori

    Crazy!  We treat our dogs like they are kids and we love them dearly but we do call them “pets”!  You can call them anything you want as long as you say it in a nice tone they will wag their tail and give you a kiss, lol