Big Think

Evan Staff on April 3, 2008, 5:34 PM

I agree with Mrs. Newkirk. In my opinion, there are some phenomena that cannot be sufficiently explained solely via text.
It seems to me that a major problem that people have with PETA is their use of graphic content in their presentations. The inclusion of such content has lead many (including myself) to consider PETA's practices unethical in the respect that they display content that could be dismissed as 'fearmongering' or as 'shock imagery'.
After viewing this video, I decided to go ahead and watch a video on PETA's website. Though I wasn't entirely surprised by the things presented in the footage, I came to an understanding that such cruelties are most effectively pointed out in the visual realm.
However, I have to say that I disagree with PETA's efforts of manipulating the minds of children, with youth-oriented pamphlets containing outrageous statements such as this:

"Since your daddy is teaching you the wrong lessons about right and wrong, you should teach him fishing is killing. Until your daddy learns it's not fun to kill, keep your doggies and kitties away from him. He's so hooked on killing defenseless animals, they could be next."

In my opinion, vegetarianism is such an attractive concept in realms ethical,physical, and environmental that PETA really should avoid unnecessarily scaring away prospective vegetarians with such blatantly sensational and propagandistic material.
The statistics and footage are enough; PETA's only crutch is its use of material that can easily be viewed as radical and manipulative.
When the graphic material is from actual footage, it is an exhibition that does not require a narrative to prove its point. When the graphic material is created in cartoons in order to evoke fear in small children, PETA also has hypothetical blood on its hypothetical hands.

Evan Staff on April 3, 2008, 9:34 PM

I agree with Mrs. Newkirk. In my opinion, there are some phenomena that cannot be sufficiently explained solely via text.
It seems to me that a major problem that people have with PETA is their use of graphic content in their presentations. The inclusion of such content has lead many (including myself) to consider PETA’s practices unethical in the respect that they display content that could be dismissed as ‘fearmongering’ or as ‘shock imagery’.
After viewing this video, I decided to go ahead and watch a video on PETA’s website. Though I wasn’t entirely surprised by the things presented in the footage, I came to an understanding that such cruelties are most effectively pointed out in the visual realm.
However, I have to say that I disagree with PETA’s efforts of manipulating the minds of children, with youth-oriented pamphlets containing outrageous statements such as this:

“Since your daddy is teaching you the wrong lessons about right and wrong, you should teach him fishing is killing. Until your daddy learns it’s not fun to kill, keep your doggies and kitties away from him. He’s so hooked on killing defenseless animals, they could be next.”

In my opinion, vegetarianism is such an attractive concept in realms ethical,physical, and environmental that PETA really should avoid unnecessarily scaring away prospective vegetarians with such blatantly sensational and propagandistic material.
The statistics and footage are enough; PETA’s only crutch is its use of material that can easily be viewed as radical and manipulative.
When the graphic material is from actual footage, it is an exhibition that does not require a narrative to prove its point. When the graphic material is created in cartoons in order to evoke fear in small children, PETA also has hypothetical blood on its hypothetical hands.