My Fur Coat. Sure I miss it. Flame away

[elehhhhna]

It looked exactly like this without the trim on the sleeves.
I wore it all over downtown Chicago once the temps hit 30.

There is nothing WARMER, more lightweight, and durable than fur.

Your parka won't cut it when it's 40 below zero outside. Sorry.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. .

:popcorn:

[arwalden]

32. Wheee!

:rofl:

[BikeWriter]

58. Pass the popcorn, please? Thanks.

[Thtwudbeme]

2. Why don't you move further South, and wear something less tacky?

?

[elehhhhna]

14. I was happy to give it my sister when we moved to Texas.

Tacky is your opinion.
You sholdn't get one.

[Thtwudbeme]

18. You are correct, "Tacky" IS my opinion

"unethical," and "immoral" come to mind too-

Hey, you said "flame away," right?

[Shell Beau]

47. Geez.... I think jokingly.

[elehhhhna]

59. mink is a renewable resource.

The stuffing in your down parkea? Don't think about it? The petroleum byproduct super waterproof fabric? Nevermind.

Mink would be exterminated as vermin if not used as fur. Better to live & die & be worn by me than never live at all.

I don't get the unethical or immoral part. I am otherwise a cafeteria buddhist/methodist/catholic/jew/etc. and do not harm animals. In fact I catch & release the various snakes, gekkos, lizards, red wasps, birds, turtles, etc. that wander into the house or onto the property. I cried when the damned squirrels nest blew out of our palm tree (it was the softest, most perfect bowl of the BEST, cleanest, finest spanish moss...), and again when she ran by with her baby in her mouth.

I am firmly against Circuses, most private and MANY public zoos, hunting exotic or captive species--in fact, hunting for trophies altogether-- unecessary testing anything on animals, blah blah blah. But the cavemen and native people were RIGHT about fur. Farmed fur, that is.

[Placebo]

62. You sure do make a lot of sense.

:) :thumbsup:

[shockra]

71. The fur trade is not environmentally friendly.

Direct environmental damage

The farming of animals for fur, while a profitable venture for fur farms, has proven to be an environmental disaster for the planet. So much so, that advertising claims by the fur industry that it is "environmentally friendly" have been deemed false advertising by the Advertising Standard Committees in England, Holland, Finland, Italy and Denmark. Why?

<snip>

- Finland is the world's largest producer of fox. The Finnish National Board of Waters and the Environment said "Environmental problems in the functioning fur farms are still remarkable". In the Finnish town of Kaustinen the taking of ground water had to be halted, and the direction of the current changed due the the waste dumped by fur farms.

- Fur farms are a source of air pollution as well. Finnish fur farms produce 1,500 tons of ammonia every year!

<snip>

Processing of Fur

- In dressing furs, caustic chemicals such as formaldehyde and chromium are used, and these are environmental contaminants which the fur industry has been in trouble for, such as in 1991 when two fur processing plants were fined $1.6 million for "total non-compliance with hazardous waste regulations".

- Tests carried out for the Ford Motor Company found that the production of wild-caught fur costs over 3.5 times as much as fake fur in energy terms, while farmed fur costs over 15 times as much as fake fur.

http://www.nerzfarm-orsbach.de/external/www.cafteire.net_environment.htm

[MsAnthropy]

3. In August?! I'm sweating just looking at that thing!

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. I'm sure its original owner does too.

:hi: I'm just saying.

[Thtwudbeme]

5. Nahhh Liberace is dead...

nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Liberace wouldn't have been caught dead in a black fur.

:P

[Thtwudbeme]

9. ba da boom!

;)

[miss_kitty]

6. I got no probs with people in the extreme cold wearing

utilitarian fur. But owning fur in-say Seattle-is wrong. It never gets cold enough.

[elehhhhna]

15. Women in Houston, Dallas & New Orleans wear them when it hits 40.

That's silly. Too hot.

[miss_kitty]

22. they're assholes

that's needless and wasteful. People here are assholes for wearing them when it hits 25 every 5 years or so. They can afford non fur that is as effective and dressy for mild temps like that.

[BikeWriter]

26. They're assholes? I wear my leathers when and where I want...

I feel Ladies are entitled to do the same with their furs, without being called names.

[miss_kitty]

67. fine

that's your opinion. mine is mine. I'll still call people in temperate weather zones who wear furs 'assholes' or worse. I am allowed to form opinions and to make language choices for myself now.

[smbolisnch]

68. I couldn't agree with you more.

eom

[BikeWriter]

69. Lol! I know a number of women who wear furs in temperate weather...

who it would be dangerous to call assholes, but you go ahead and talk your rap. Just my opinion. :-)

[smbolisnch]

78. But how could you call them anything BUT assholes?

I mean, seriously? :shrug:

[BikeWriter]

89. You're safe as long as you don't do it to their faces.

[Tallison]

94. What, at the risk of

being turned to a skin coat? Even more vulgar. :eyes:

[smbolisnch]

102. Oh, but I would.

Without hesitation. :D

[miss_kitty]

82. right on, my friend

I don't really care about the danger. :)

And BTW, I have no problem with leathers for bikers. I consider it safety equipment. I physically cringe when I see an *asshole* on a bike in sandals, shorts and a t-shirt. Still, it's their choice, and maybe they'll prove Darwin was right, once again.

I wear leather too. But only for warmth.

:hi:

[BikeWriter]

90. Yep, I wear leather frequently. I like it.

I still see no difference morally between using a hide or using the hide plus fur for decoration.

[LynneSin]

8. Pennsylvania gets fricking cold and I've never needed a fur coat

thank you very much

[elehhhhna]

16. 30 below/50 below windchill with 30 mph winds cold?

[LynneSin]

19. We've had it

we've had it all - especially up in the mountains!

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. I am from Wisconsin where it gets bone chilling in the winter time, and

I have never needed a fur. Parkas are awesome. That's why you see so many at Lambeau when the stadium is packed and the temps dip below. :hi:

[no name no slogan]

21. speaking from Minnesota

where the weather is very similar if not identical, you really don't need fur these days. you can get by perfectly well with a good parka-- even when the windchill is -50° and you've got two feet of snow to shovel out of the drive.

and if it ever gets TOO COLD for that, just stay the hell indoors! chances are nobody else will be out either! :hi:

[elehhhhna]

60. Parkas are not de rigeur in Downtown Chitown.

Had they been i may have considered it.

The next best thing to a fur ws a quilted down coat. An EXPENSIVE one.

The fur was warmer.

[Shell Beau]

10. My grandmother tried to give me her mink coat

that my grandfather bought her way back when. I refused it 1) Because I live in Mississippi 2) I don't wear fur 3) It screams "please look at me" 4)They make heavy and warm enough coats now-a-days! Just my 2 cents.

[ismnotwasm]

11. My mom gave me a fur coat once.

It evidently was made of unborn calf skin (and fur) Completely grossed me out. Not off a mink farm obviously--low end fur. She has one of seal fur. I eat some meat and wear items from leather, but I've also read books like "Earth Ethics" which heightened my awareness considerably. I've changed many of my habits regarding to animal products and what I buy and don't buy. I continue to educate myself regarding this issue. Fur is one of those items I would never buy. But, until my own side of the street is clean, I won't throw stones.
Peace.

[AlCzervik]

12. I really like the design but i hate the material.

I grew up in Massachusetts, i know cold and we wore parkas and they kept up warm.

[madrchsod]

13. nothing better than a fur coat in the winter

and nothing better than rabbit lined gloves...ya i belive there is nothing wrong with wearing fur...so sue me...

[BikeWriter]

31. That fur ruff on the parka hoods in Alaska sure helped...

The ice from your breath breaks out of it better than any synthetic. I wear biker leathers frequently. The leather has saved my hide more than once. I don't know of anyone who does not use animal products of one form or another.

[miss_kitty]

83. when my mom lived in alaska

she had a fur parka with wolverine fur tim on the hood. The wolverine fur tends to keep the breath close to the face. I think fur is essential in places like Alaska and Norway, Russia Siberia, close to and above the Arctic circle.

[MuseRider]

17. Long underwear

unless you are wearing a short dress an addition of long underwear will do you much better. They make the kinds that are easily and comfortably worn under even good clothes. Seriously, I work in Kansas outside on my farm and it gets -40 windchill sometimes and I have never needed fur.

My guess is that the little animals who originally wore that fur also miss it and their lives.

[xchrom]

23. wearing fur is stupid -- but you just want an ignorant flamefest.

i find it fucking creepy that you can't be evolved enough to live and let live.

[BikeWriter]

35. Is wearing leather stupid, too? Do you?

[cssmall]

50. Now, I'm not saying I wear fur, but I am saying this.

If my ancestor hadn't have worn fur, then there is a distinct possibility that I would not be here. The Don River valley is exceedingly cold, especially since Summer and Winter are basically the only seasons. I see no problem with people wearing fur in environments that they are necessary in.

That being said, I nearly slapped someone at my High School prom for wearing a fur coat in April in Little Rock, Arkansas. Stupidity for stupidity sake is just wrong; however, we cannot tell Native American tribes in Alaska and Canada, or Russians to not wear fur and leather, to them it is a necessity of life.

[Shell Beau]

51. You may be on to something there!

[Tallison]

95. I don't think OP is concerned

with survival. See post #60, parkas are not "de rigeur in Chitown...."

[Texasgal]

24. Sorry...

but that has got to be the UGLIEST thing I have ever seen.

[Tallison]

97. Off topic...

I'm listening to Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta' Shaking 'Goin on" right now, to which your little panda sommersaulting looks even cuter! Couldn't help but watch it and grin for 30 secs. :D

And, BTW, I agree w/your post.

[meow2u3]

25. My fur coat is sleeping--and he purrs!

The only kind of fur coat to own--or have it own you!

[Misunderestimator]

27. I loved putting "No FUR" stickers on the backs of women wearing those dead

animals in elevators... when I lived in NYC. Gave me such satisfaction to see the snickering looks on the faces of everyone who only seconds before were subjected to her "I am richer than any of you and I have no heart or soul therefore I can wear dead animals" attitude.

[Shell Beau]

29. I am not sure if you've seen Ace Ventura 2, but Jim Carrey

see's a woman or man (?) wearing a fox stole around their shoulders, and he knocks them out and wraps them around his shoulders to see how they like it. I loved that part. I am not too keen on people wearing fur if they don't have to.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

30. When I die, I'm going to donate my flesh to some PETA person

so they can make it into a stole and a pair of shoes.

[WeRQ4U]

36. I agree that it's a little creepy, a tad unnecessary and REALLY ugly, but.

There is no reason to call someone names and tagging their clothing is stupid. That's just rude. If you dont' like it, fine. Be civil.

Putting stickers on people's clothing while they're not looking is something that 2nd graders learn not to do. Why can't grown ups?

If you want to have a civilized discussion about it, fine. But don't be a child.

[Misunderestimator]

38. I think it's rude to kill animals just so that you can wear them.

Call me a child all you like.. doesn't bother me one damn bit.

[WeRQ4U]

43. Neat. Some people don't.

Express yourself to their face. Don't be a little kid and put stickers on them. Can't you have a discussion about your hatred of fur without resorting to things that preschool bullies do?

Do you point and laugh and snicker at them. Wow, that's effective.

[Misunderestimator]

44. Wow... I guess I struck some nerve with you... LOL

:rofl:

[WeRQ4U]

46. Kinda like people who wear fur strike yours.

:toast:

[Modem Butterfly]

37. I got mine from a family friend who had no one to leave it to

I don't wear it since I live in Atlanta, but if I did, I'd be heartbroken if someone ruined it. It's a nice reminder of the lady that gave it to me.

[Misunderestimator]

39. Ruined it with a little sticker? That would be hard.

I inherited one too... I gave it away. I should have thrown it away.

[Modem Butterfly]

41. I have more regard for the person who left me mine apparently

And yeah, little stickers can be hard to get off fur.

[Misunderestimator]

42. I have more regard for the animals.

:shrug:

And, no, the stickers come off very easily.

[Modem Butterfly]

48. That's a really good argument for not buying it 40 years ago

But it's not a good argument for throwing it away today.

I am sorry that you inherited something you did not want. That's a shame for both you and the person who left it to you.

[Misunderestimator]

52. No, it's not a shame... They didn't have the awareness back then

that we do now. I don't blame them and I don't blame the person I inherited the coat from. Not a bit. But why on earth would I want to wear dead animals that were killed for status?

[Modem Butterfly]

53. You didn't have to throw it away

You could have had it made into a blanket, you could have had it made into Teddy Bears, you could have done a lot of things with it. Someone thought highly enough of you to leave you something that was very valuable and to which they probably attached a lot of importance. And you just threw it away because it meant nothing to you.

Man, that's really sad. I don't wear the fur coat that was left to me, but all I have to do is touch it and think of the person who left it to me, how her husband gave it to her for their wedding anniversary, and how he had worked two jobs to get the money to buy her a really nice fur, no short hairs and no small pieces. When it was first given to me, it still smelled vaguely of her perfume. I could never just throw it away like it was just another piece of trash.

[Misunderestimator]

54. I said that I gave it away, and only wish I had thrown it away.

I do not want to help perpetuate the barbaric practice of making animals into fur coats by using a fur coat in ANY manner. And I wish I hadn't passed it on to someone else.

I wish I had thrown it away.

[friesianrider]

Haha, I used to do that too!

Fur just feels...:puke:

[smbolisnch]

61. You are my kind of girl.

:yourock:

[bicentennial_baby]

73. I love you more every day

:loveya:

I just yell rude and obnoxious things at those women when i'm in NYC...i'm very hostile to the fur crowd, very hostile... :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

28. Ah, but you don't mis it 1/10th as much

as the critters that went into it...

[SOteric]

33. If that were true, you'd think that

all those polar explorers would have been wearing fur instead of parkas. Which, they weren't. So, I'm betting if warmth is the only issue, you just haven't found a good parka.

[no_to_war_economy]

34. ditch the coat and move somewhere warmer

[GreenPartyVoter]

40. Wear woven fur instead

http://www.vipfibers.com/why-pet-fiber.htm

[hyphenate]

81. Thank you SO much for that link!

I have been saying it SO many times over the course of the last two years why couldn't I just collect all the shed fur of the cats and have it made into yarn. I can't weave or knit or even crochet, but this is definitely a superb idea!!

[JVS]

45. Maybe you could get a new one.

[Dukkha]

49. is fur even considered fashionable anymore?

Even in these cold Ohio winters I've never seen one. I saw some in San Francisco at the opera, and it was like 40- 50 outside. The rich brats were just looking for an excuse to wear their furs. I'm sure it's still worn a lot in the nordic countries.

I highly doubt fur is more durable than synthetic coats. If your into the look than just wear the guilt-free fake fur. I'll stick with my battered 15 year old trench coat. Parkas just look stupid and I keep warm enough from the car to the doorway.

[flvegan]

63. Sadly, yes, but only to vapid egomaniacs.

Even here, in Tampa, FLORIDA, you'll see them at any society event from November to March.

[smbolisnch]

65. "vapid egomaniacs"

That sums it up quite nicely.

[Ladyhawk]

55. I grew up around men who trapped and hunted for fur.

It was done so inhumanely. My father, brother and their hunting buddies killed animals out of season to keep the dogs fresh, then threw the unusuable carcasses on the road so it would look like cars, not dogs, had done the damage. To keep the dogs "fresh," they would allow them to harass live raccoons on leashes. When the brave hunters :sarcasm: were finished training the dogs, they would pull the raccoons out of the trees, usually ripping off several nails from the animal's sensitive hands and feet.

One of my father's friends used leg-hold traps to catch bobcats. Have you ever seen an animal in a leg-hold trap? I have. I set one in the garden to catch rabbits. The rabbit I caught had twisted around so violently in the trap that its legs were hardly recognizable, but it was still alive. I had to shoot it with a pellet gun several times to put it out of its misery. Ever since then, I've hated leg-hold traps and what they do to animals. Luckily, they've been banned in my state. I also deplore the activity of hunting for furs and trophies. I've seen it up close. Hell, I've done it. Never again. Never again.

The only reason I would ever hunt again is to feed or clothe myself. I even have mixed feelings about eating meat, but right now I can't afford to change my diet too much (diabetes).

[Roon]

56. ANIMALS ARE FOR LOVING..

NOT WEARING!!!!

[Ilsa]

57. I don't live in severely cold temps, so I would never attempt

to shame anyone who chooses to wear fur. But I'll never wear it. I don't care where I live. I don't want to have anything to do with that. Many years ago, I bought a beautiful fake beaver-look coat. Gorgeous. But I rarely got to wear it when I lived further north and even less now.

[sniffa]

64. i Love my fur coat

i Look quite the pimp in it.

[BikeWriter]

66. YOU BEAST!

;)

[bicentennial_baby]

72. please tell me you are kidding

seriously...no, no, no.... x(

fur is disgusting :puke:

[expatriot]

103. No flames, just a link.

http://www.furisdead.com/feat/ChineseFurFarms/

[Dastard Stepchild]

70. With pleasure!

[shockra]

86. LOL.

:rofl:

[Dastard Stepchild]

93. yeah....

I thought it was funny. :)

[newfaceinhell]

74. just doesn't look right without the red paint

[BikeWriter]

75. That sounds like an illegal and dangerous suggestion to me.

[newfaceinhell]

76. then apparently you are having problems with your comprehension

[BikeWriter]

77. Not if you're suggesting vandalism.

[newfaceinhell]

79. I wasn't "suggesting" anything. I was making an observation.

[BikeWriter]

80. I'm making an observation that such vandalism...

could result in severe pain and a long stay in a hospital.

[newfaceinhell]

84. Clothes rails can't feel pain, and most hospitals wont treat them.

[BikeWriter]

85. My point is, the vandal could be hurt. They would be...

if they were to vandalize any of my own garments or those of a woman accompanying me.

[newfaceinhell]

87. lol...ok, tough guy

:rofl:

[BikeWriter]

88. Hey, look. You're the one who brought up vandalism...

You think it's cute, I'm not amused.

[xchrom]

92. lol -- i am!

:rofl:

you do know this is the internet -- right?!?!

[SKKY]

91. I won't judge you. I have 4 leather coats myself...

...not to mention about 10 pairs of leather shoes. Nope, I won't be throwing the first stone here.

[PittPoliSci]

96. what's the difference between fur and a leather jacket?

or belt? or shoes?

I guess it's okay to kill ugly animals right?

Seriously, where's the outrage over leather?

And it seems to me that if you aren't a 100% vegan/vegetarian you have no room to criticize someone who wears a leather jacket/fur coat because you partake in the slaughter of animals to eat.

Killing animals is just that, no matter whether it's garments or food, ugly or cute.

And if you have a problem with that, then don't eat meat or buy fur coats.

[Pithlet]

99. For me, the difference is more aesthetic.

Leather isn't a status symbol, but fur in the lower 48 is. Fur is tacky looking and just screams "Look at me!!! I want you to notice that I'm a member of the affluent class." I don't feel that way about all status symbols, because some of them actually have a function, like a sports car. But fur is all about the vanity, and nothing more, unless you're near the arctic circle.

I don't think most people aren't as impressed as the fur wearers imagine they are. Personally, I think they are vulgar.

[PittPoliSci]

100. i see your point

i don't suppose i ever thought of fur as a status symbol, though it clearly is.

i would never wear fur because i think it looks hideous.

Do you think the affluent say "oh, only poor people hate fur because they can't afford it?"

i'd imagine they do.

[Pithlet]

101. Of course they do.

They're wrong much of the time, but I'm sure that's another way they rationalize it.

[expatriot]

104. well both are bad but there is are levels of evil

leather is bad because, besides being the skin of cattle, it increases the profit margin of slaughtering cows but the difference between leather and fur is that animals killed for their fur are killed solely for their fur. I am not talking about small time trapping in which the meat is also eaten, I am talking big time fur farms

http://www.furisdead.com/feat/ChineseFurFarms/

[trof]

98. Cool coat. Or warm, I guess.

;-)

[Texasgal]

105. I cannot believe that this

STUPID thread is still alive.... ugggg.