So why does PETA pronounce its name "PEETA?" Is it because they're

[Redstone]

"People for the Eethical Treatment of Animals?

If so, what are the eethics they think we should employ in our treatment of animals? Are there, possibly, some eesthetic issues as well?

Is it possible that they just really, really like that round bread that you can cut in half and make pockets in, so they want to think of it every time they say the name of their organization?

Or are they just obnoxious twits? Your opinions invited and appreciated.

Redstone

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I hardly know where to begin, my dear Redstone!

I can hardly answer, since I am laughing so hard at your characterization of them!

:rofl:

[Redstone]

7. Well, they are. And they know it, and for some perverse reason, like it.

Redstone

[flvegan]

22. And WE, not just THEY

think that ethics is a very important part of who we are.

Sure...if it's puppies or kittens...or some sad story, we can alllll gather 'round because of our compassion...our ethics, right?

But day to day?

You know what? Fuck this...

I expected more. Remember what "they" means when you use it.

[Katherine Brengle]

31. Thank you, flvegan--I'm with you on this (AND "them")... n/t

[Redstone]

32. I don't think you need to be getting hostile with me.

Slow down for a minute, and you'll realize that. OK?

Redstone

[LeftyMom]

37. A great deal of his identity is wrapped up in this issue.

To be honest, I don't think it's fair or realistic to paint such an unflattering picture of the AR movement and then expect somebody who is deeply connected to it not to take that personally.

Maybe he could have been gentler in what he said, but he's probably not the only one. And I say that without any hostility or anger. I like you and of course I think the world of him- I don't want to see you fight.

[Redstone]

51. But, m'dear, I asked a simple question. I did not ask for emotional

responses that don't answer the question.

I do consider flv to be a friend. But he's not answering the question I asked.

Redstone

[GirlinContempt]

52. "r are they just obnoxious twits? Your opinions invited and appreciated."

[billyskank]

89. That is what is known as a leading question

It's just a cowardly way of saying "I think you're an abnoxious twit."

Methinks the OP deserves a fucking good flaming. :grr:

[LeftyMom]

55. The answer as I see it: It sounds better.

The english language is as much about the exceptions as the rules.

It's not common for vowel pronounciatons in acronyms to differ from the base words. Take fubar for example, it's pronounced with a long o sound rather than the u in up, simply because it rolls off the tongue better that way. ASAP is another one, using a longer a rather than the clipped a in as. It's just about pronouncability.

Whether you asked for emotional responses or not, the original post reads a bit hostile. :shrug:

[flvegan]

39. "Or are they just obnoxious twits?"

You attack them, you attack me. The anti-PETA, anti-animal advocacy bullshit is heading to the boiling point around here.

If it's all in fun, I'm happy to laugh...

[Laelth]

2. Not concerned with pronunciation, personally.

Who cares about pronunciation, anyway? I am content with observation. :evilgrin:

-Laelth

[Redstone]

4. Well, this COULD be a part of why they rub many people the wrong

way, couldnt' it? Pointless, twittish mispronunciations do tend to raise people's hackles.

Redstone

[flvegan]

15. Maybe

folks feel rubbed the wrong way, as opposed to PETA rubbing them the wrong way.

[Katherine Brengle]

35. Maybe...

folks' arteries are so clogged with animal fat that everything feels wrong...

:shrug:

[ContraBass Black]

49. The men leaning against the building staring are creepy.

And I'm a man.

[Laelth]

65. You're right. They are creepy.

I'm hoping those are her PETA escorts/allies as opposed to random, stalking creeps.

:shrug:

-Laelth

[ContraBass Black]

No, the one in the black jacket is leering.

:scared:

[izzybeans]

3. I think it was because Baba Ganoush was already taken

Tahini would have worked but they went with Peta to satisify the pro-whole wheat faction of the grain coalition.

[Redstone]

5. Nah, not "Tahini." Sounds too much like "Wahini," and that would offend

Hawaiian women, who tend to like their roasted pig at luaus.

Redstone

[bettyellen]

6. they don't want to encourage bringing animals home or stroking them.....

[Redstone]

8. As usual, BE, you figured it out. Hey, how did that Oscar party work out

for you? I remember that you were looking forward to it, though I don't remember if the looking-forward was with enthusiasm, or not.

Redstone

[bettyellen]

17. i won the pot, heh heh... and it was on the fourth floor of a walkup

so i did not miss running down to take the cig brakes too much.
i'm on day 15 now. :)
:hi:
but Peta believes we shouldn't have pets right? assholes.

[Blue-Jay]

9. Prolly a buncha "law-tay" drinkers, eh?

[Redstone]

10. That'd be my guess.

Redstone

[flvegan]

11. Well, considering the English language...

vowel, followed by a single consonant, and then another vowel sort of invokes a long vowel in the first instance.

[Blue-Jay]

12. Like "vay-gina"?

:D

[flvegan]

13. No, nothing like that.

Welcome to why the English language is amongst the most difficult to learn.

[Blue-Jay]

14. That's true.

English is an odd bitch of a language. It's a wonder that anyone can speak it at all.

[Redstone]

36. No, it does not. Especially not in an acronym. You're letting your

emotions get the better of you, here.

Relax, would you? That's advice from a friend.

Redstone

[Katherine Brengle]

38. Um, here's a question--

Who the f* cares how people pronounce it? Maybe we pronounce it the way we do because it is easier than trying to say "pet-ah" like we are talking about our cat and then exhaling after a sip of Diet Coke.

This entire thread is just a lame attempt to crap all over a decent organization working for a goal everyone ought to support in a civilized world.

[Redstone]

44. So why would you think that pronouncing it "pet-ah" would have

anything to do with Diet Coke?

I'm talking logic here. You're not. If one letter of an acronym refers to the word "Ethical" then logic would dicatate that it be pronounced as a short "e" as it is in the referenced word, yes?

Redstone

[Katherine Brengle]

56. That is a silly argument, lol--

I don't think that the sound of the word "ethical" has anything to do with the acronym. The acronym is a totally separate word, made up of the first letters of the words in the name of the organization. Once the letters are extracted, it doesn't matter what the originating words were, or how they sounded.

That's just foolishness, and like I said in another post here, a lame excuse to bring PETA up so people can rag on it.

[flvegan]

42. I don't see periods between the letters.

It's a common pronunciation.

[Redstone]

48. My friend, please stop beating a dead horse with a broken stick. It's an

acronym, and the E stands for "ethical," which is pronounced with a short E, not a long one.

I know you like animals, but you're letting that cloud your vision here.

Trust a pal on this, would you?

Redstone

[flvegan]

57. Peep this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=4884317&mesg_id=4884915

[Redstone]

59. So? I asked a simple question. Why no simple answer?

Redstone

[flvegan]

62. You just got the simple answer.

[no name no slogan]

16. Because it's easier to say than "COMPANION ANIMAL-A"

...since the term "pet" implies a patriarchical, human-dominant relationship. Remember, we must use the proper "PC" language to shield ourselves from somebody's true status, because apparently reality is too hard for some people to deal with).

So, instead of being batshit insane, you are now "have a brain disease".
Instead of being bald, you are now "folically challenged"
Instead of being a fucking moran, you are now "mentally challenged"
Instead of being a total dickhead asshat fuckwhistle, you are now "socially impaired".

:hide:

[LeftyMom]

18. There is a distinction there

This really isn't the thread to get into it in detail but as I see the matter it has to do with a symbiotic relationship versus one centered on ownership and authority.

[no name no slogan]

21. I don't disagree with that, but

at the same time butchering the language in order to make a very subtle distinction is a little on the overkill side, IMHO.

[LeftyMom]

25. I don't see how it's butchering the language

Language exists to meet human needs and changes all the time. Coining a new phrase is nothing special, either it catches or it doesn't.

In any case, while "companion animal" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, it's positively melodious compared to the corporatese that's crept into the language in the past decade or so.

[petronius]

83. Corporatese...

I foresee a bleak future where the English language consists entirely of a blend of corporate jargon and self-help mumbo-jumbo... :(

[flvegan]

27. How is restating or redefining "butchering" I'd ask?

[Kali]

82. what, no grey area in between?

[flvegan]

19. Seems like it goes a tad bit beyond pronunciation

with some folks.

Just guessing.

[LeftyMom]

20. You're so perceptive

:rofl:

Off topic: Hi sweetie! How you doing this evening?

[flvegan]

24. Well, I was fine until this disgusting bit of shit reared it's head.

I guess everyone has an opinion...much like an asshole, right?

I'll count to 10 before this post gets deleted. I'll start rolling up my welcome mat now.

How are you?

[LeftyMom]

29. Pretty good.

Practiced driving some more today. Today's near-death experience count was zero!

I am much less timid behind the wheel if I get to control the stereo, it turns out. :evilgrin:

[no name no slogan]

26. Nah. It just depends on the battles you choose to fight.

Some people think that making the language do acrobatics to suit their perceived slights is the same as addressing the real problems in society. For example, calling my pet cats "companion animals" does nothing to alleviate the fact that, as domesticated critters, they are dependent upon me for shelter and food.

Another example: I have a chronic, long-term mental illness that could very well kill me before I reach age 50. I honestly don't care if you call me crazy, insane, apeshit, "fucked in the head", whatever. What I DO care about is that my mental illness receives the same kind of treatment and coverage that any other chronic illness (like cancer) receives.

It's about priorities.

[flvegan]

34. Heh

If you think that your cats could't make it without you? Whatever.

The difference is well pointed out in your second paragraph. I wouldn't call you any of those things. If someone else set it forth, rather than call you "crazy, insane, etc" I'd flip it to "mental illness" as it's a better definition. AND I'd hope you got whatever treatement and coverage was available to you.

Priorities has nothing to do with any part of this conversation.

[no name no slogan]

43. Yes it does. And names are just names.

And maybe my cats could survive without me, but I doubt it. They're pretty low on the food chain around here.

And priorities has EVERYTHING to do with it.

Oh, and BTW, "mental illness" is now passé-- it's as derogatory as "mentally retarded". We are now people "who have a brain disease". :wtf:

Quite frankly, I'd rather spend my time fighting factory farms (and preserving small-scale, humane farming) than going around hectoring my friends and coworkers for eating meat. I'd also rather tell my family where their fur comes from then getting in their face and yelling "FUR IS DEAD" or tossing paint on them because they're wearing fur.

There's many different ways to make your arguments. Alienating a potential ally with obnoxious, preachy behavior is not one of the better ways.

[flvegan]

46. Your words

"mental illness," so the passe and derogatory, you get to own.

And, for the record, I'm not hectoring my friends, nor yelling/tossing anything.

[no name no slogan]

58. but so are "apeshit", "crazy", "mental"

like I said, names are just names. I honestly do not give a shit what anybody calls it. What matters to me is that I (and other psychos) are not treated like 2nd class citizens because of something that is quite possibly biological and/or hereditary.

And I'm glad to hear you don't throw things or hector your friends. I actually have a lot of vegetarian/vegan friends, and was even a vegetarian myself for a couple years. And unfortunately, I know a lot of very "militant" AR people who end up alienating potential supporters, just because of their confrontational, humorless attitude.

Some people think that violent (physical or verbal) confrontation is the only way to get your message across. I don't agree with that-- and quite frankly I resent those who think that they can change my mind about an issue by trying to shout me down.

[LeftyMom]

60. I don't see how being empahtic and uncompromising in a disagreement is

"violent." Standing one's ground in verbal discussion causes no black eyes.

[no name no slogan]

66. standing ones ground is one thing. Trying to shout down/drown out

my voice is another.

And refusing to listen to my voice because I happen to disagree with you on tactics is even worse.

[LeftyMom]

67. When have I done that?

For that matter, when has anybody on this thread? :shrug:

Listening but sticking with my own views hardly means I haven't listened, merely that I have considered your viewpoint and disagree with it.

[no name no slogan]

72. I gotta go, the Ambien's kickin in

and if I continue on I'll end up posting the brazilian joke (we really don't need that).

I just wanted to say that I appreciated yours and flvegan's words on this thread-- the vast majority of which I agreed with, btw. We may differ on methodology, but at the end of the day I think we truly want the same (or very similar) end result.

I appreciate the efforts you have put forth and respect your opinions (and would be able to respect them more if my monitor would stop melting and warping while I type this). This has been an interesting debate, and I hope we can still walk out of this as allies, if not friends.

As for me, the lava lamps are making strange colors on the wall, and I've got "Piper At The Gates of Dawn" on the MP3 player. Off to lala land and then to bed.

Nighty-night comrades! ANd thanks for the brain workoutkk!!!!!

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[flvegan]

61. And I, like you,

would like to not be treated as such.

And I don't see any of the "some people" you refer to, here.

[no name no slogan]

68. Thankfully, I have not seen them here

but like any kind of rights movement, they exist. To deny that is to bury your head in the sand.
Every movement has its wingnuts who refuse to acknowledge and respect their opponents, regardless of whether s/he agree with him/her or not.

And to me, that's the biggest obstacle. Why should I respect somebody who thinks that, if they shout louder than and verbally harass me and call me a "murderer", I will somehow come around to their way of thinking?

[flvegan]

70. Of course they exist

but to invoke them here, in a forum that you admit hasn't seen them (that neither of us, admittedly know of) isn't right.

[no name no slogan]

73. but they're everywhere, like communists

don't look under your bed, it could be RED

Seriously though, my sleeping medications are taking over, and it's time for the rational side of the brain to pack it in for the night. I just wanted to say that I appreciated the discussion and it was good to hear your side of things. Not everything we hear is exactly as it really is. THe only way to know for sure is to go to the source. THanks to you and LeftyMom for the great discussion. Have a peaceful evening! :hug: :thumbsup:

....(now to go track down that first Floyd record).........

[flvegan]

74. Agreed.

Peace, bro. See you on the common frontlines tomorrow...

[RevCheesehead]

23. Hmmmm.....

:popcorn: Got something to drink around here?

[Redstone]

41. Something to wash away the saltiness of the popcorn?

All I did was ask why a specific acronymic letter gets pronounced in a way that defies logic: the logic being that the letter of an acronym be pronounced as if it were the donating word, and this is what I get.

Yeesh.

Redstone

[flvegan]

54. Say it out loud

CEPA (see-pa)
FNMA (Fannie Mae)

Or, how do you say something like LOL out loud?

I tried to take examples outside this forum...

[RevCheesehead]

69. I just though of a new sig line for you.

Redstone: It's what's for dinner.

:hug: Nice to see you, my friend!

[Katherine Brengle]

28. I don't get why people rag on PETA...

Personally, I think that what they do is important. I have donated in the past and will again.

[LeftyMom]

30. It's a hobby around here.

:shrug:

[Katherine Brengle]

45. Clearly. I think it is pathetic.

Also, for those of us who are concerned with issues like animal experimentation, factory farming, antiobiotics and hormones in our food, as well as health issues connected with meat and dairy consumption, it is offensive.

[no name no slogan]

33. I think it has more to do with the methods than the ideology

n/t

[Katherine Brengle]

47. What should they do--write some polite letters to meat packers...

and ask them to stop torturing and killing animals? Start passing around a petition to get the US military to stop testing weapons and chemicals on animals?

I think most of us know that while these are good additions to an issue campaign, they are not enough by themselves.

[no name no slogan]

64. good start. So are blocking factory farms, boycotting companies...

Large-scale factory hog farms are a big problem in many parts of the country. I have seen instances where local citizens have organized and stopped further construction of these farms-- or had them closed down outright.

Writing letters to meatpackers may not help. But boycotting their products, and educating your friends/neighbors about the benefits of small-scale, local agriculture will.

Not to mention the example you set in your own life. One of the reasons I became a vegetarian way back when (I'm an omnivore now) was because of the example of one of my veg friends. He is a kind, gentle, compassionate soul who lives his life in service to other people. He sets a great example by his day-to-day actions, his compassion, and his tolerance toward those who do may practice a different lifestyle.

He has had much more impact than any self-righteous in-your-face protester ever could.

[Katherine Brengle]

85. Exactly right!

All of these things done together is an effective strategy. I am vegan, and while I do not preach to people, I do get a lot of opportunities to share information when people ask me why. I always preface by asking if they really want to know.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

40. in all honesty i dont know why peta bugs people so much

i mean with so many fundy things going on it hardly seems worth the effort

[crispini]

50. IBTL!

Nice flamebait! :popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[RevCheesehead]

76. It's a crispi critter, for sure!

hey, woman - how are ya? :hug:

[crispini]

80. Doing good!

How are you? :hug::hug::hug:

[RevCheesehead]

84. I'll take as many hugs as I can get.

Hanging in there, as best I can. :hug::hug::hug:

[Floogeldy]

53. This post expresses frustration and denigrates PETA.

.

[Redstone]

63. No, it only makes fun of them for mangling the English language.

Redstone

[flvegan]

71. Forget it.

Good night.

[Floogeldy]

75. "PETA" is an acronym.

How it is pronounced is a distraction from PETA's principles. Is this an English language post, or a cheap dig against PETA?

What's up?

[RevCheesehead]

77. I always thought it should be pronounced Pet-a.

As in pet a nice doggie. :shrug:

Pita is too much like falafel... or loofah, if you have a big giant head.

[arwalden]

78. I've Always Thought That Was A Pretty Kooky Organization

[Inland]

79. Because it's easier to understand when spoken

With PET-ah, the second syllable disappears in speaking and it's easy to misunderstand. The same reason why TV announcers say "AA-dult" instead of "uh-DULT", even though I've never met a person who says the former in actual spoken conversation.

[Kali]

81. and what about the whole

t vs. th thing?

[petronius]

86. FAFSA HEPA OSHA MoMA ...

When you figure out PETA you can work on these...

[Dangerously Amused]

87. Hey Redstone. Usually I like your posts.

Most of the time your posts are fair and logical; you seem to be the voice of reason, the calm in the storm. But I don't much appreciate this post. I didn't really expect such generalizations and name-calling from you.

Then again, I'm just another obnoxious twit.

[Misunderestimator]

88. Same reason FEMA is pronounced FEEMA. Not everyone in PETA is an obnoxious

twit. Some are, but why the blanket insult?