General Discussion

DirkGently

(12,151 posts)

198. It's the same logic as all bigotry.

Thu Jun 19, 2014, 06:13 PM

Jun 2014

Anecdote. Anecdote. "See!"

Response to counter-anecdote, showing good behavior, or bad behavior of others:

"Well, there are good ones -- a few, probably -- and bad others, but not many, so ... (insinuation of genetically determined inferiority / penchant for evil.)"

I guess deciding that genetics make for good or bad character is just easier for people than understanding things like meaningless naming conventions, cultural patterns, or confirmation bias, but I thought we had a smarter crew here.

I have a "pit bull" story. Visiting a friend in a small rural town. Nice family with several dogs, living on a small lake in the forest. I had met the Shepherd-mix (friendly) but not the Pit-looking one.

Laid down on a chaise by the lake to dry off, and here she comes: "Molly." Head the size of a manhole cover, chest to match. Muscles on top of muscles. I observed her demeanor carefully -- no question big dogs demand extra vigilance -- and we'd not been introduced.

She ambled up calmly and laid her gigantic noggin smack on my chest. "Pet me, please." Among the sweeter dogs I've met.

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Highlight:

Children Need Pit Bulls: A Picture Book [View all] baldguy Jun 2014 OP

BAD IDEA! boston bean Jun 2014 #1

I wish people would spay and neuter roody Jun 2014 #2

That is very true! etherealtruth Jun 2014 #5

Pit Bulls are killed out of unreasoned hatred, uninformed fear & outright prejudice. baldguy Jun 2014 #7

millions of unwanted dogs aof all breeds are killed elehhhhna Jun 2014 #21

And what of the *wanted* dogs that *should* exist? Do they get killed as well? baldguy Jun 2014 #23

Pitbulls are being killed....because they bite people wercal Jun 2014 #88

Thank you for your post. SheilaT Jun 2014 #91

Post removed Post removed Jun 2014 #101

Haters are gonna hate. NutmegYankee Jun 2014 #105

I voted against hiding the post you're responding to. delrem Jun 2014 #133

Some of their owners have freaked me out. nt arthritisR_US Jun 2014 #137

But now you speak about their owners. delrem Jun 2014 #138

Untrue - the three most aggressive breeds are Dachshunds, Chis and Jack Russell Terriers adigal Jun 2014 #150

I've been around my share of dachshunds and jack russells, SheilaT Jun 2014 #159

Here's the link adigal Jun 2014 #164

That's such BS. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2014 #189

What do you think about the fact DirkGently Jun 2014 #211

+++++++++ uppityperson Jun 2014 #212

Ok show me a youtube video of a 911 call "My Chihuahua is killing my mother and I can't stop him!!!! Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2014 #214

You're mistaken. Killing machine stories go back at least a hundred years. Boudica the Lyoness Jul 2014 #221

Oh dear. You understand what an "anecdote" is, right? DirkGently Jul 2014 #223

Please don't consider irresponsible roody Jun 2014 #145

This is so silly....I have brought thousands of dogs up from the south adigal Jun 2014 #149

Why is it necessary to bring thousands up from the south? TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #171

We don't kill most breeds up here and we have no puppies adigal Jun 2014 #185

Sounds like the south needs to come into the 21st century TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #187

In the suburbs and rural areas, they don't care adigal Jun 2014 #188

Yeah, it sounds pretty back asswards. TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #190

You forgot, BAD and IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS! nt arthritisR_US Jun 2014 #136

I tried to post an image etherealtruth Jun 2014 #3

No, they don't seveneyes Jun 2014 #4

Thanks for the reminder to donate to Victoria Wilcher, TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #6

Victoria was maimed because of her own kin. baldguy Jun 2014 #12

..and their four-legged shredding machines. TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #16

So, you are advocating the murder of a member of my family baldguy Jun 2014 #19

What are you babbling about? TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #22

"Those dogs got off easy..." Considering those dogs were KILLED, baldguy Jun 2014 #24

My money is on the lovely little girl, and not the dogs. TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #25

And would you finally admit you would kill my dog as well? baldguy Jun 2014 #28

Make sure it sticks to gnawing the red rubber ball in the background TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #29

So you acknowledge that the responsibility is on the owners, then. Scootaloo Jun 2014 #30

Bullshit! The BSLs you support take away well-behaved, properly socialized dogs from their families baldguy Jun 2014 #31

Alcoa or Reynolds? TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #37

You support BSLs. BSLs kill innocent dogs & deprives their humans of loving family members. baldguy Jun 2014 #39

I don't know what a BSL is, never heard of it, TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #50

Breed Specific Legislation, which goes along with fearing or hating all dogs of a particular style uppityperson Jun 2014 #60

A family friend has a son with no penis or testicles, thanks to a Pitt bull joeglow3 Jun 2014 #98

How is that *MY* dog's fault? baldguy Jun 2014 #106

How is Sandy Hook *MY* guns fault? joeglow3 Jun 2014 #107

Train your gun NOT to shoot someone. baldguy Jun 2014 #108

So, you oppose all gun legislation? joeglow3 Jun 2014 #110

Far from it. All guns should be registered & all gun owners should be licensed. baldguy Jun 2014 #114

So, you put pit bulls up there with constitutional rights? joeglow3 Jun 2014 #118

You put the "rights" of inanimate objects over those of living, breathing, FEELING creatures? baldguy Jun 2014 #120

No. I put them both down extremely low. joeglow3 Jun 2014 #121

But you're willing to allow humans to continue to be massacred by guns. baldguy Jun 2014 #123

Real numbers don't tell the story joeglow3 Jun 2014 #128

Real number do tell the real story. baldguy Jun 2014 #130

I never said keep all the guns joeglow3 Jun 2014 #134

Guns can be locked up Boudica the Lyoness Jul 2014 #222

Looks like a cute dog. MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #33

Awww, cutie pie. roody Jun 2014 #40

Yes, she is. baldguy Jun 2014 #42

This message was self-deleted by its author Mugu Jun 2014 #47

Love her ears! get the red out Jun 2014 #54

we've been looking for that dog! snooper2 Jun 2014 #57

Awwwww BigL Jun 2014 #78

She is a beauty malokvale77 Jun 2014 #96

There are no bad guns, only bad gun owners. joeglow3 Jun 2014 #99

This sweetie looks just like my neighbor's Pit that chased off some creep following me home IVoteDFL Jun 2014 #183

That is EXACTLY what my redneck neighbor said about his gun. joeglow3 Jun 2014 #97

Creepy comment. "Kin?" Like "those people?" Really? DirkGently Jun 2014 #61

I don't agree it's entirely due to their upbringing. hollowdweller Jun 2014 #8

As you imply, we humans should breed dogs for companionship and behavioral traits... targetpractice Jun 2014 #15

You can breed for temperament. You can't ensure temperament by DirkGently Jun 2014 #63

You bring up a good point about socialization beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #72

"Hate me all you want, I'm gonna love you right back... Demo_Chris Jun 2014 #9

Does it include photos of children mauled by pit bulls? LisaL Jun 2014 #10

. baldguy Jun 2014 #34

Pit Bulls are like firearms. dilby Jun 2014 #11

30 vs 30,000 baldguy Jun 2014 #17

Compare number of pit bulls in the US to number of Firearms. dilby Jun 2014 #18

You can't even multiply correctly. baldguy Jun 2014 #20

No I think my figures look about right. dilby Jun 2014 #41

A gun death by suicide is less dead than a gun death by murder? Sorry, it don't work that way. baldguy Jun 2014 #43

I think that is the argument gun owners always make. dilby Jun 2014 #46

Guns can not be trained not to shoot. 10,000 kids are injured each year by guns, with 500 dead. baldguy Jun 2014 #48

Are you actually comparing a gun to a living being? etherealtruth Jun 2014 #111

People are "just like firearms" in exactly the same way. DirkGently Jun 2014 #66

That is true and it's why I don't leave my children alone with strangers. dilby Jun 2014 #67

Nor would anyone argue for leaving them with a strange dog. DirkGently Jun 2014 #68

This again??? Really?? n-t Logical Jun 2014 #13

Children probably shouldn't be around dogs capable of such immense bite pressures. Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #14

Yeah, because a spike-studded collar just radiates cute and cuddly. scarletwoman Jun 2014 #26

Ha! Good point! elias49 Jun 2014 #44

A poor choice artistically, considering the intended message. Throd Jun 2014 #45

Again, judging individuals based on what they look like is irrational. baldguy Jun 2014 #49

Maybe if all whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #27

Way more inspirational for children than TV MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #32

. baldguy Jun 2014 #35

Really? De Leonist Jun 2014 #69

Not everybody is a dog whisperer cpwm17 Jun 2014 #87

Misbehaving ? De Leonist Jun 2014 #92

What might that dog have done to... say, a toddler? nt MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #203

Hard to say..... De Leonist Jun 2014 #206

I knew this thread would go this way. flvegan Jun 2014 #36

Reminds me of nothing as much as the Heritage Foundation panel on Benghazi: baldguy Jun 2014 #38

Very poor argument. DetlefK Jun 2014 #51

99.9999% of Muslims in the world do not want to kill you. baldguy Jun 2014 #102

Do have hard numbers? DetlefK Jun 2014 #205

here is a rational voice on the topic of kids and pits DrDan Jun 2014 #52

Bad logic, up and down. Any large dog can do harm. DirkGently Jun 2014 #58

I have wondered for some time - which group originated this "you cannot identify" meme DrDan Jun 2014 #62

Eck. Cheap shot. And it's simply the truth regarding pit bulls, like it or not. DirkGently Jun 2014 #65

Of course whenever you want to post a media account of a courageous pit whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #71

Not anything I ever post DirkGently Jun 2014 #74

I don't ascribe concepts like 'evil' to animals whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #76

And you can't tell either biology or instinct from a dog's appearance. DirkGently Jun 2014 #79

So my neighbor was wrong about what kind of dog he had? whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #85

So if this one awful dog was a "Pit Bull," you have proved something? DirkGently Jun 2014 #89

I don't remember any cases of a poodle ripping out the tongue of a child, or any other breed for DrDan Jun 2014 #147

Don't you know some folks don't want to hear that? theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #155

their excuses are getting lamer and lamer . . . as the attacks pile up DrDan Jun 2014 #157

Well, Golden Retrievers sometimes tear children's legs off. DirkGently Jun 2014 #174

Because focusing on nebulous claims of "breed" gives you selective memory? DirkGently Jun 2014 #173

I don't believe anyone has claimed ALL attacks were from pit bulls DrDan Jun 2014 #175

Okay, Dr. Backpedal. What exactly DO you claim? DirkGently Jun 2014 #176

the facts are clear - pits do MORE than their share of bites, deaths, maulings, and tragedy DrDan Jun 2014 #177

Buut .. none of your "facts" have held up yet. DirkGently Jun 2014 #180

So your horrific anecdote proves a case DirkGently Jun 2014 #182

How about a husky eating the head of a child? uppityperson Jun 2014 #194

Yep. Agree. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2014 #81

The dog in the Bakersfield attack was a lab/chow mix. Jenoch Jun 2014 #127

That's right -- thanks. Chow Chows can be bitey DirkGently Jun 2014 #135

Animals don't just "get angry" unless your asshole kid sticks a pen in his ear adigal Jun 2014 #154

oh really . . . DrDan Jun 2014 #156

You are taking one attack, which has extraordinary circumstances, nd painting a whole breed adigal Jun 2014 #158

that "one" pit bull attack occurs daily - and typically a child is the victim DrDan Jun 2014 #160

Sigh. They don't attack more than other dogs. adigal Jun 2014 #163

the injuries are significantly more serious, hence the increased scrutiny DrDan Jun 2014 #170

I do understand that. I hate what happens to pits in the wrong hands. adigal Jun 2014 #186

We had a family friend have their 3 year old's penis and testicles torn off by a pitt bull joeglow3 Jun 2014 #179

I pulled a fox terrier off the genitals of a friend's toddler. uppityperson Jun 2014 #195

With the pit bull, there was no "in time" joeglow3 Jun 2014 #196

I have students who characterize an entire race of people as bad or lazy because of a few kids adigal Jun 2014 #161

no hatred or fear - just able to see the violence and havoc these dog create daily DrDan Jun 2014 #162

Please don't make assumptions that I don't adigal Jun 2014 #165

It's the same logic as all bigotry. DirkGently Jun 2014 #198

And the original post reads: "Children Need Pit Bulls" TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #166

In England, they were the Nanny Dog adigal Jun 2014 #167

Do you have a citation for that? XemaSab Jun 2014 #199

Yep, all those mauled "asshole kid"s had it coming, right? nt Union Scribe Jun 2014 #209

I wish more could be done get the red out Jun 2014 #53

I volunteer at the local Humane Shelter. dballance Jun 2014 #55

May you have a million blessings for your work. Thank you. n/t adigal Jun 2014 #168

Dear Pit Bull haters.... De Leonist Jun 2014 #56

Yeah I've met several whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #59

I'm sure that was a sad and horrific experience for your son and wife to go through.... De Leonist Jun 2014 #64

I remember the neighbor getting the dog as a puppy whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #70

I was savagely attacked by a Great Dane when I was 17. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #73

Were you maimed? whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #75

Yes, but slightly. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #77

Sorry to hear that whatchamacallit Jun 2014 #80

My world view is constantly evolving. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #84

Indeed. The mythology of Pit Bull superpowers. DirkGently Jun 2014 #83

The Dane that attacked me was an intact male, a pregnant female was on the premises. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #90

That seems the one pattern that is repeated. DirkGently Jun 2014 #95

Your posts upthread are outstanding. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #100

Thanks. Rather avoid protracted arguments, but DirkGently Jun 2014 #109

Your willingness to speak up makes me want to do the same. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #117

How do you know that's a pit bull? XemaSab Jun 2014 #126

Bless you!!! Your post restores my faith in mankind. n/t adigal Jun 2014 #153

And I invite you to sit down with the son of a family friend of ours joeglow3 Jun 2014 #210

Ugh....I don't honestly know what to say to that De Leonist Jun 2014 #215

That is a point pit bull supporters try to use joeglow3 Jun 2014 #216

I don't deny that..... De Leonist Jun 2014 #219

Do you have a link to the claim that most pit bulls are automatically put down? pnwmom Jun 2014 #82

A friend had 2 mixed breed dogs of different physical compositions. Guess which one bit, was deemed uppityperson Jun 2014 #86

I have rescued hundreds of pitbulls and the only dog that ever bit one of my kids adigal Jun 2014 #151

These threads always end the same way War Horse Jun 2014 #93

They certainly are High Maintainance...... De Leonist Jun 2014 #181

I suspect you are right War Horse Jun 2014 #191

No one, child or adult, needs an assault dog. nt Llewlladdwr Jun 2014 #94

Are you serious ? De Leonist Jun 2014 #200

I've done a 180 on pitbulls... WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #103

You are a wonderful person! etherealtruth Jun 2014 #112

Is that sarcasm? WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #115

I have a pitbull rescue etherealtruth Jun 2014 #144

"Only a punk would hurt a cat or dog." WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #201

Thanks etherealtruth Jun 2014 #207

You are one of those rare people that make me think there is still hope for the human species. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #116

Well, balls, I think I should quit posting for the day on that note. WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #119

The injuries inflicted upon me by animals pale in comparison to the damage done by humans. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #122

I'll leave you with one more before I turn in for the night... WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2014 #124

A local guy here in Dallas... malokvale77 Jun 2014 #104

To the people who want to ban Pit Bulls: How would that work, exactly? beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #113

My family is dogsitting a pitbull for a friend, and he's one of the sweetest dogs I've met killbotfactory Jun 2014 #125

in our local shelter, 50 of 60 available dogs are pitbull mixes "surrendered by owner" kwassa Jun 2014 #129

Maybe you should ask the owners. Some people just shouldn't be allowed to have a dog. baldguy Jun 2014 #131

The dogs are not victims. kwassa Jun 2014 #132

Shelter dogs are indeed victims. beam me up scottie Jun 2014 #139

It is one hell of coincidence, then, that all these dogs given up are pit bull mixes ...... kwassa Jun 2014 #192

They got them for a fashion accessory. roody Jun 2014 #146

Because of ignorance like seen on this thread and landlords who are idiots adigal Jun 2014 #152

Because bad owners seek them out to begin with? DirkGently Jun 2014 #184

Whatever. Not a dog I will get for my 7-year-old. kwassa Jun 2014 #193

Do you want to explain the "real" reason? DirkGently Jun 2014 #197

I don't know what the problem with these dogs is. kwassa Jun 2014 #204

"These dogs" = "those people." Judging by looks is just bigotry. DirkGently Jun 2014 #208

Again, +++++++++++ for your well stated civil posts. uppityperson Jun 2014 #213

Some of the latest victims theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #140

Prove that those dogs were pits! XemaSab Jun 2014 #143

Says someone with an OP quoting Clifton. flvegan Jun 2014 #217

Why do you like pit bulls? XemaSab Jun 2014 #218

Why do you hate them? flvegan Jun 2014 #220

The hits just keep on comin' theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #172

ANYONE Jenoch Jun 2014 #141

As a child I was attacked by a pitbull Separation Jun 2014 #142

In Georgia, they are not allowed to be adopted, only rescued adigal Jun 2014 #148

No they don't. NCTraveler Jun 2014 #169

I have big dogs gwheezie Jun 2014 #178

The hell they do. Owl Jun 2014 #202