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TheNoNamedOne
05-15-2008, 07:41 PM
The biobigot through personal likes and dislikes favors one animal for protection and adoration, and the other for villification and killing. And no, that is not dependent upon threat of disease or danger that the biobigot chooses some to kill, but simply on prejudice:

Noble eagles, nasty pigeons, biased humans (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/29/healthscience/29angi.php)

In sum, I was suffering from a severe case of biobigotry: the persistent and often irrational desire to be surrounded only by those species of which one approves, and to exclude any animals, plants and other life forms that one finds offensive. ...

Biobigotry is different from the impulse to avoid organisms that can hurt or sicken us, like yellow jackets, mosquitoes or poison ivy, or to fend off traditional household pests like mice and roaches. Rather, it is the dislike we direct toward creatures that live outdoors and generally mind their own business, but that behave in ways we find rude, irritating, selfish or contemptible. The squirrels are gluttons, the crows are schoolyard bullies, the house sparrows are boring and look like mice when they skitter along the ground. How we love those noble falcons and eagles that lately have blessed us by nesting on our skyscrapers and bridges.

An excellent article those quotes come from that I encourage you to read. Perhaps it will pique a little to cause thought on the point.

Bigotry dwarfs the soul by shutting out the truth. --Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Odie
05-15-2008, 08:29 PM
Really interesting and very true. It's easy to feel attached to those animals which fill us with awe or to which we attribute noble characteristics. The regal lion, the powerful grizzly bear, the adorable panda.

Speaking of which, would China have put as much effort into the preservation of the panda if it wasn't as ridiculously adorable as it is? What if it looked like a newt?

This reminds me of a comment some scientist made on some N.G or Discovery program about how the creatures who are in most danger of extinction are insects and other kinds of creepy crawly un-cute critters, mostly because it's hard to raise awareness or get anyone to give a darn about something that's well... ugly :(

kombu_kid
05-15-2008, 10:06 PM
I think it may have to do with the number of a particular species too.......if there were bald eagles hanging out on every telephone wire, rooftop and tree branch.......sh**ting everywhere.....people would really start hating them, just like they hate crows & ravens.

P_chan
05-15-2008, 10:59 PM
Yep, I'm a biobigot then. I don't like to see dogs mistreated, but have no problem biting into a juicy steak. But I don't really see anything wrong with that.

Cathleen_38
05-15-2008, 11:11 PM
Okay,

bugs that are a nuisance - kill.
bugs that are useful keep.
stand up for bugs rights at your nearest bug center! lol!
hold bug ceremonies for bugs that died- bug funerals Poor bug.
watch the movie Bug's life and get sappy for bugs everwhere!
and as for them biting bugs well, that makes me buggy!