04/23/24
January 27, 2010
Weir-d?: US Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir has been taking some heat about his inclusion of fox fur on his most recent costume. Both PETA and Friends of Animals have criticized the skater and his designer for the use of the fur. The FoA sent this open letter to Weir. His response: "Every skater is wearing skates made out of cow. Maybe I'm wearing a cute little fox while everyone else is wearing cow, but we're all still wearing animals."
PETA really needs to decide what they're fighting for. They want to go after Weir for wearing fox fur on his costume but haven't said a thing about the skaters wearing leather skates.
Peta is the devil
posted by BornIcon at 11:22 AM on January 28, 2010
Well, there is a functional use of leather in skates that, to my knowledge, can't be replicated synthetically, whereas fox fur is strictly an embellishment that can be replicated without unnecessary killing. It's not an exact comparison.
I have an armchair theory that PETA actually does some good in desensitizing the public to animal welfare. With all of their batshit proposals and hysterics, it may help other organizations fighting for more measured progress succeed. I may be way off-base, and if I'm right it's almost certainly an unintended consequence, but it's how my gut has felt for a few years now.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:48 AM on January 28, 2010
Well, there is a functional use of leather in skates that, to my knowledge, can't be replicated synthetically...
Your probably right about that but still, isn't the point of PETA to stop killing animals no matter what they're belong used for? I don't know much about PETA except that they seem to be trying to do some good when it comes to cruelty of animals but you can't pick and choose what battle to fight when all the skaters are wearing something that is made from animals.
posted by BornIcon at 12:10 PM on January 28, 2010
isn't the point of PETA to stop killing animals no matter what they're being used for?
I honestly can't say if that's their intended goal or not. I've never been a member of PETA or given them a donation.
But I, as an individual, will absolutely reserve my right to wear leather gloves and shoes for safety reasons at work while discouraging the senseless slaughter of animals for the sole purpose of accessory.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:24 PM on January 28, 2010
The point of PETA is to get publicity through any means necessary -- no matter how shameless -- to further its cause of promoting animal rights. They're brilliant at generating millions of dollars in free publicity through the press.
posted by rcade at 12:27 PM on January 28, 2010
I thought PETA was created to convince hot female celebrities to strip naked for photo shoots.
posted by grum@work at 12:49 PM on January 28, 2010
They want to go after Weir for wearing fox fur on his costume but haven't said a thing about the skaters wearing leather skates.
I would guess they left that one alone because the cows were killed for food and not specifically for their hide, whereas the fox was killed solely to make Johnny look extremely gay.
posted by smithnyiu at 02:39 PM on January 28, 2010
whereas the fox was killed solely to make Johnny look extremely gay.
Normally, I would feel compelled to call you out for the homophobic comment, but that cracked me the hell up.
posted by Joey Michaels at 05:18 PM on January 28, 2010
The part I don't get is how everyone dances around the issue of Johnny's homosexuality. He's flamingly gay and completely unapologetic about it. I think it's great.
Not to mention he's pure poetry on ice. Ohhhhhhhh Johnny.... stay fabulous.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:29 PM on January 28, 2010
In my meat-fed, leather clad opinion, I think PETA needs to focus on animal abuse instead of animal use.
We "use" cows for food and clothing, and as long as the animal is treated ethically all is fine. Why is that different for the fox? Most furs now come from farm raised animals, as opposed to wild animals captured in very inhumane forms. I have no problem with a fox fur being worn any more than I do leather shoes being worn. I'm not for clubbing baby seals, or catching a fox with a leg trap that causes suffering for days. It doesn't matter much to me that no one eats the fox meat. (Do people eat fox meat in other countries? Can the fox meat be used for animal feed?)
Does PETA get upset with the use of live minnows for fishing? Just wondering as that seems like a very painful way to go...a hook being inserted into your head, and then being used as a lure for some bigger fish to eat you.
posted by dviking at 05:31 PM on January 28, 2010
whereas the fox was killed solely to make Johnny look extremely gay.
..not that there's anything wrong with that. That was pretty funny though.
In my meat-fed, leather clad opinion..
That sounds like the intro of a Freddie Mercury autobiography. Dirty!!
posted by BornIcon at 07:36 AM on January 29, 2010
PETA sucks. Or so I've heard.
posted by mjkredliner at 10:49 AM on January 29, 2010
PETA sucks. Or so I've heard.
Were they hunting with M-16's? WTF!?
posted by BornIcon at 11:40 AM on January 29, 2010
PETA may be being labeled as a terrorist organization which is cool.
I have a friend who is convinced PETA are a subgroup of the Meat Marketing Board.