Value judgements...

[zan]

Does it wind anyone else up when people start ascribing moral values to wild animals? I was out on a boat trip yesterday to see some puffins, and there was a woman (who I believe must have worked at the reserve in the past) sat beside me with her mates, pointing out all the birds as we headed in. That was all fine, until she spotted a black-backed gull and declared (loudly) that those were the 'evil ones' because they will attack and kill young seals. It maybe wouldn't have been so bad, but there were children obviously interested in what she was saying and now they'll be off with the idea that those gulls are bad... Grumble.

Anyway, rant over! Just needed a wee vent!

[Dogghound]

Yes indeed... this is very annoying! These people need to take time out and read or observe how a balanced ecosystem works and the predator prey relationships which make the nature we all love work. Baby seals? they will feed on afterbirth or still born/dead pups but not predate them. I hate the whole misconception that because something is a predator or damages property etc it is bad. If she used to work on the reserve you would have thought she would have a better understanding of ecology.

[zan]

Yeah, it's especially annoying when it's people who should really know better... I guess it all comes down to which animals are cute and fluffy (and therefore perfect in every way) and which ones aren't (and are therefore bad). Makes us sound awfully superficial doesn't it!

[STYRBJORN]

A recent poster referred to a fox as "noble". That remark made me seriously angry. As said, a black backed gull is a black backed gull and it does its black backed gull thing as evolution made it. Equally a fox is a fox and does its foxy thing, and ascription of our moral values to either is an insult to the animal and the hearer/listener.

[zan]

Indeed! I'm glad it's not just me who gets wound up by this

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by zan

Yeah, it's especially annoying when it's people who should really know better... I guess it all comes down to which animals are cute and fluffy (and therefore perfect in every way) and which ones aren't (and are therefore bad). Makes us sound awfully superficial doesn't it!

Unfortunately this way of thinking has lead to so absolute conservation disasters in the past. Often only local but im sure with that mind frame these will continue.

[PMG]

No you're not on your own here zan I always hope that the listeners to this kind of nonsense have the ability to think 'what a wally - its not like that at all' sadly of course nothing could be further from the truth! Sometimes it seems to me that the more outrageous a statement is (about anything) the more folk believe and up and run with it like its tablets of stone .... Its annoying and these days I'd be quite likely to pipe up in the (nicest possible way - which often goes down like a lead ballon with the person being disagreed with - particularly if they are leading a group) and set the story straight ......... You would hope that people leading a group would either have the proper facts or keep quiet or admit they didn't know the answer -- thats how I conducted my working life in the great outdoors.....

[diggleken]

Quite right Pauline.
However, we cant get away from it, this ascribing virtues or negatives, its everywhere - we just need to bear it in mind and take appropriate/corrective action where warranted.
Noble animals? try this! Horses, Elk, Bulldogs, Chimps etc nobleanimals - Google Search
Does noble mean theyre lauded above others or that they can be happily shot at if theyre a difficult moving target?
Cheers
Ken

[PMG]

LOL Ken

[zan]

Absolutely! Although I don't think the woman was really leading anyone - she was just there with her mates, but had worked there in the past and knew more about the wildlife than they did so was holding court it bothered me more that there was a wee girl listening who was obviously really interested in the wildlife and has now gone off with the idea that some animals are just inherently bad.