A conflict.. it's a circus!

[Ginevive]

OK, here is my venting/opinions-and-advice seeking thread.
I have a good friend who is pretty much becoming a big animal rights activist. She is mad that the circus is coming to town, to the point that she plans on taking a bunch of people to the venue and taking pictures, trying to find some sort of animal neglect/abuse.
i just don't see the big issue here. I know how stringent the laws against animal cruelty are today, and I am even a bit surprised that they still allow them to use wild animals, such as tigers and lions, in this litigous world we live in. But do you think it's a bit too far, to go out there and pick them apart?
I don't know. Something about this whole thing bugs me. I don't know how to reply when she starts talkin about this stuff; if I REALLY say what's on my mind, I will probably lose ehr friendship, and I don't want that. But I see this could become a big wall in between us; her being a vegetarian/PETA type person, and me being a redneck chick who cooks deer meat and keeps pythons.

[TekWarren]

I think making a fool of herself at the circus is just ridiculous. I mean if she has pets say dogs...would she be open to someone from the outside to come in and inspect every little thing she does to take care of HER animals...and would she "pass"?? I am all for the protection and proper care of animals but consider this: circus animals, pets, etc, eventually will be past the point of being "wild" animals. I'm not saying all will be...for all we/she knows or does not know...these animals could have been captive bred, rescued from poachers, etc etc. Alot of these "activists" have no clue what they are protesting, its not like the keepers of these animals don't know what they are doing...obviously they have a vast knowledge of the animal and keep them happy enough to form bonds with them and train them to perform.

[Ginevive]

Argh, I have to agree with you. I just don;t want to even talk about any animals with her, ever again! lol.
She is not a bad or flaky person. She is one of my best darned friends on earth. We are into the same music/fashions, etc. But we CAn strongly disagree on alot of things, and this is just another one!!

[Coyotemoon]

Sometimes even the best of friends disagree on things. My best friend and I don't see eye to eye on a couple of issues so we've agreed to not discuss those issues so that we don't risk saying or doing something that would cause a rift. Maybe you need to sit down with your friend and tell her you don't agree with her view on this matter. Tell her that will not change how you feel about her and the friendship you share. Explain to her that you don't feel comfortable discussing that subject and that in order to prevent possible friendship meltdown, you'd like to refrain from talking about it. Sometimes there are things that even friends should not get into.

[Ginevive]

That is definately true. See, when we first got to be friends, it seemed like we would think alike on everything. But as years wear on, you notice a lot of subtle differences, and they are the seeds of later conversations, and sometimes even fights.
My whole beef with PETA, is that they are so vehemently against having pets such as ball pythons. But I think that is something that all of us on this forum already know about!

[frankykeno]

Ditto every darn thing Coyotemoon said! (well said!)

Gin, I think it's best too, to just sit down with your friend and agree to disagree and consider some subjects as "off limits" in order to preserve a friendship hopefully you both treasure.

Hope all goes well.

~~Jo~~

[Coyotemoon]

I respect others for their views. Without our views, beliefs, and convictions we wouldn't be who we are. People always think I'm strange because I don't see the world like everyone else does. I'm very opinionated too. My best friend and I reconnected after many years apart. We thought it would be like old times but it was far from it. We basically had to become friends all over again. Talk to your friend, though it may hurt her at first, I'm sure she'll understand. Be sincere and understanding of her views even if you don't believe in them.

[Ginevive]

Thanks guys. I think that you are both right. Kind of like, "agreeing to disagree..."

[TekWarren]

Sometimes you just have to bite your tongue...heck even my wife and I have completely different views on things. Imagine that! LOL

[Ginevive]

Yeah, me and my man do, too. You can't agree on everything. And if you do, there's something wrong, hehe.